20' Seafari: The Resurrection

[Dogbomb]

When you buy a boat that's been hibernating for several years,
you know you're in for an adventure.
The question becomes, how much of an adventure do you want?

I'm still trying to figure out the level of resto I want to do.
Paint and replace everything, or, do all the basics, shine her up and
have a stout, bullet proof vessel that I'm not afraid to use?

Time will tell!

I believe that I've overcome the biggest hurdle in beginning the
restoration, and one that I didn't expect: spiders!
Every time I'd crawl into the boat, I was met by a gaggle of pissed
off black spiders. Apparently, they missed the east coast...

I treated the entire boat with commercial Fipronil, paying careful attention
to the bilge, hatches, and hidden spaces. The next day, I was met by
450,000 dead arachnids. Hello shop vac.
Although I do love spiders, I couldn't handle
an army. Now I feel less terrified when setting foot in the cabin.

So yesterday I got started in earnest: the first thing to go was the
mangled bow rail. I will be beaching the boat a lot, and it's a
drag to clamber over a shin high rail, so I was glad to have it off.
Also, I think she looks good with that hardware but a memory. Sleek!

I wet sanded and waxed the port hull and started on the deck.
The old gel coat comes up glossy and I may not have to do much
painting after all.

Ripped out all the old wiring and all that was left of the rabbit's fur.
Removed all the rusty fasteners. Started getting the trailer sorted out.
It was a good day!

The outboard is still frozen. Probably always will be, despite my best
efforts. I have my eye on a 150 Optimax at a local boat yard, and
I see a re-power in the near future.

Ordered a ton of stuff from eBay: LED nav lights. A compass. VHF.
Steering cable. Trailer rollers. Drink holders. Important stuff.
Polk audio marine speakers and a Kenwood stereo
because you have to have tunes while you work...

This is going to take me months, and that's OK. It's good to have
a project!

Now only a few mysteries remain: What does the plaque behind the
steering wheel mean? Can I tell the year of manufacture from those
numbers? What kind of windshield molding do I need to replace the
old, gooey stuff hanging on so bravely? What do those little plastic
eyes at the bottom of the window glass do? Why did someone
think it was OK to wire the boat with lamp cord and place the
fuse box deep in the bilge?

Anyway, I've grown quite attached to this SeaCraft in the week that
I've had her, and more so now that the spider army has been vanquished!