Hello all! Recently purchased a 1989 maxum 1700xr. Definitely a project boat. It has seen better years. I am new to boatsbut enjoy refurbishing things and this project will probably be my most difficult yet. So let me being you up to speed abs if you have questions... I'll answer them later.
Boat was left outside with no cover for a year. Engine seems to be a 1989 force 2 stroke outboard. It needs to be bored out abs have new pistons and rings put in. This is proving to be a difficult task in its own as nobody around me is willing to touch such am old engine. I will probably just sell it cheap and buy a decent used motor.
I purchased a12 x 20 portable garage and propane heater. Today I finished setting up both and it got nice and toasty in there! I got to work right away. I took out the seats and will keep them for later as templates. Carpeting and flooring was ripped out. Side pieces we removed as well. In removing the right side piece...I accidentally broke both the plastic face plate that goes over the throttle and the black plexiglass towards the stern. I do not know what the function is on the black plexiglass. It has the maxum emblem on it but you can't see through it.... it it just a cosmetic thing? I might just get rid of it altogether if it doesn't serve a purpose. The deck is bare and the seat bases are left. What would you say is my next step? Thanks for your assistance!
I can tell you that a boat doesn’t get that bad in one year unless it’s under water. What you have is years of neglect. Be sure to test the stringers and bulkheads for rot, very common for boats left like this. Force was the bottom of the barrel when it comes to outboards and the line was closed a very long time ago. Look a running replacement as you suggest is the only way to go IMO.
How much did they give you to take it away? This will cost more then a running boat but in the end you will know what you have and every inch of it.
I paid 500 for the boat and trailer...I have probably put in about 1500 total already for the boat... trailer... tools...a portable garage and a propane heater
I paid 500 for the boat and trailer...I have probably put in about 1500 total already for the boat... trailer... tools...a portable garage and a propane heater
That’s $2K for a 30 year old boat that’s a mess. Once fixed up it will be worth $5-7K. Just saying.
Thank you for stating the obvious��. This is more than just money to me. I know I could make it really easy on myself and buy newer and new some with it.... but I like challenges and I don't mind "wasting my money". The reward will be worth it in the end
Since you are new to the forum and we don’t know anything about you and you said you are new to boats I was just trying to make sure you understood the costs for such a project. I hope you enjoy doing this boat and get plenty of get times out of it.
I do understand the costs... risks...etc....I understand that I'm gong to hit a low and probably mess up.... but I look forward to learning in the meantime. Everybody who knows alot about boats used to be on my shoes. Is a process that I look forward to.
Is there anything in particular that you'd like to know about me?
Boats left in the weather are know for get rot in the stringers and transom which are a wood core in the fiberglass. This would lead to having to cut the wood out to replace it. Try a Google search to see what I am referring too.
Good luck with the project. I do not agree with some here. You paid 500 for the boat and trailer. Tools, portable garage, heater etc. have nothin to do with the boat. In the end you will have fun and learn. Have fun and I would enjoy seeing the updates
So today I went out and get myself a dust separator..... and 16 feet of so vacation tubing.... and an oscillating multipurpose tool....i also found this really cool plug adapter that you can plug a main power tool like a grinder or multipurpose tool into along with 2 accessory tools such as a shop vac into so when you activate the main power tool...... the shop vac turns on automatically and shuts off automatically as soon as you shut the main power tool off. Will allow me to suck up dust while simultaneously using a power tool on the boat.....I can also flip a switch on it to just activate the shop vac alone without having to use said power tool.... and without having to have the shop vac up in the cramped boat with me! One thing I noticed recently is I have nowhere to rest my legs when crouched down in the boat so I went to goodwill and got a 2.00 pillow that I can kneel on while in there. That should really help me with not getting so winded. Might get back at it tomorrow
Went back at it today. It was moreso a cleaning day than I cut and gut day.... but I did some of that as well. Most of the debris that was sitting inside was picked up... swept up or vacuumed out. It was a nice feeling seeing her a tad bit cleaner and able to see mostly just her bare bones instead of a bunch of crap... made it feel more like I was actually getting somewhere instead of just making a mess. I yanked some foam out.... but towards the hull where the foam is water logged.... it is also frozen.... so this meant that I had to chisel the icy foam out. That was very tedious work but the little pry bar that I bought last night made a decent tool to pull it up. I also was able to cut out one side of the bow seat base.... this was an absolute b@tch to get out as the area closest to the captain's seat was full of foam. I was not anticipating this. Does anyone know if when I rebuild it.... if I can get rid of the foam and use the space for extra storage or leg room? The wind is kicking up. I think there's a storm coming. It got cold quick so I called it a day. Maybe I'll get back at it tomorrow.
Got back in the saddle today. Got a multi purpose tool recently and used it for the first time...... also was my first time using one so after trial and error and 2 quickly broken blades..... that bad boy really gets a job done! I removed the remaining bow seat bases as well as one of the Steen seat bases. That little tool made real quick work of it! Found more foam in the back. (Sigh). I had planned to put swivel seats back there upon rebuild.... but I guess it'll be more foam and then I think I'll Box it all in and just install a bench along the back of the boat. I do believe I got s little carried away with that tool abs went through the hull. My buddy found what appears to be a 12 inch Crack back there.... but I am wondering if it was really me.... because that would explain all the water logged foam back there. Idk.... doesn't matter.... I'll eventually be taking it off the trailer and patching the hull up anyways... I just add that to the list. Anywho.... I'm beat... gotta work 46 hours this weekend so I'll try to get back at it on Monday. Take care everyone!
It's been a while.. the house has been neglected with all the focus on the boat.. work and my kids... so I have had to focus more on housework.... but I got back at it today. Seat bases in the stern are gone. The flooring on one side under the bases is ripped up and the foam is all out. Foam was severely waterlogged again. I found a hole in the bottom of the hull. Not sure if it was me or if it was another hole from the last owner.... but after all this....I think she's got at least 4 punctures so far. I think once everything is out...I am going to patch up what I see first. Then put me stringers in and then.... take her out for a float test just to see if they're any other holes that need to be patched. I can't help but feel that this should be done as soon as possible before rebuilding anything else. Thoughts???
Boats left in the weather are know for get rot in the stringers and transom which are a wood core in the fiberglass. This would lead to having to cut the wood out to replace it. Try a Google search to see what I am referring too.
Hello.
I have been posting on here with updates, but nobody is responding. Am I doing something wrong?
Good luck with the project. I do not agree with some here. You paid 500 for the boat and trailer. Tools, portable garage, heater etc. have nothin to do with the boat. In the end you will have fun and learn. Have fun and I would enjoy seeing the updates
Hello.
I have been posting on here with updates, but nobody is responding. Am I doing something wrong?
Just got a new project boat!
Linear Mode
