Help For A true Beginner?

[BARNABY55]

I see the transformations of the old seacrafts into watercraft that anyone would be proud to own. My question is, Where does one get started? I have never done any boat glassing,repair, gel coating, transom fixing. I would love to take on a projuct but quite frankly am scared to do so. When I do it I do it right so I am my worst critic and enemy here. Suggestions?

[Eric McNiff]

Ted - you are in for a treat.

7 years ago, I was in the same spot you are. I bought a boat that needed some work and just started pecking away at it. Half the time, I didn't really know what I was getting into- but I found the best way was to just talk to as many people as possible about the specific job I was doing and get a game plan together after. This web site is a great resource for that - chances are there are a handful of people that have done or are in the middle of doing the exact same repair/mod that you are doing.

I didn't know anything about glassing, gel coating, wiring, etc until I actually bought my first boat and started working on it. Once into it, I found that it is actually not all that hard or scary - it just takes some practice and a litte trial and error.

My advice - ask a lot of questions - specific ones - and you will have more than enough feedback (from this site, friends, boat yards etc) to get the job done right. Just look at it as a series of small projects.

[FELLOW-SHIP]

Well the first thing you need to do is go to your closes grocery store and buy at least 1 case of your favorite beer. Then after you have drank a few you will be able to think clearly about a PROJECT BOAT JOB “do I really want to do this”. I wish that I would have spent more time on this first step before I got into my project. Next step is to make a decision on the size and type of boat you want, think it out, and then stick with your decision. You don’t want to put all that work into a project and then at the end say you know I wish I would have picked this model instead. Then you need to except the reality that the project will take twice as long and will cost 50% more then you think it would cost. If you are thinking that it will cost less to buy a old boat in bad condition and fix it up for less money that what you could buy a newer used boat that some one is selling, you will be making a mistake, there are a lot of boats on the market that can be had for a fair price. But if you are thinking you want this boat and want to bring it up to almost new or sometimes better than new because of your customization then you can start on a boat finding stage. When I got to this place I was only interested in the hull and nothing else I finally found a guy that was willing to keep the 2 old motors and the trailer and t-top and leaning post and just sell me the hull. Now don’t get me wrong if that stuff was in expectable shape I would have bought the hull with that extra stuff. But usually on a project boat just the hull is what you want and if there is other stuff attached you are going to throw it away anyway because it shot. After you find your hull go back to the grocery store and buy more beer lots more beer. Everything about doing a project boat is more sweet than inspiration or abilities. To do a deck, transom, cap, gas tank, paint, gel coat, what ever is mostly just plain work lots of it and fiberglass with epoxy resin is not a difficult thing to do. Time, money, scratching, and more beer in what it’s all about. The guys here will give you a combined wisdom that’s equivalent to 100’S of yrs experience and 100’s of methods to do it plus books and internet sights that will do the same. Good luck
Fellow-Ship [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[BARNABY55]

I guess I am in trouble here because I don't drink beer. Perhaps asugar high from a case of cokes will do the trick.My objective is to have something different than the ordinary as a custom but would like the knowledge of re doing a transom. guess I will ask many questions and buy tapes..Hey this is not a buy with no money down seminar is it?...Oh Where is that Ship Shape show when you need it?

[PressureDrop]

ted, i know i was talking to you a few nights ago and i guess the best way to do it is the same way i did it, get an old shitty boat that is complete and take it apart little by little, and slowly, that way you know how everything gets where it is and how to build a whole new mess of boat!

Ben

[Mark]

O'douls in a pinch...

[BARNABY55]

Thanks for the reply, I have a chance to buy a 20 ft CC for almost nothing. I just do not want to ruin it by my lack of knowledge. Anyone in Tampa area want to guide me?

[Ikan Besar]

A 20CC for almost nothing? I wish I had lucked onto a find like that [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[BARNABY55]

Depends on what you call "nothing" I guess.