TOPIC: Forums suggestions

Hey all, Love the new site! The old 'glass on here is amazing. I have a soft spot for anything old, cool and USABLE. I like my old 1972 Triumph motorcycle, my old 1973 MGB, My old 1950 something Savage Model 99 huntin rifle, my old 1957 Johnson 18 HP outboard, my old 1966 (or thereabouts)Powercat 15t with 1970 Merc 1350 and my old 1975 Hydrostream Viper with a 1976 Merc 1750. You get the idea, I LIKE OLD STUFF!

The way all this old stuff gets used again is by rebuild or restoration, and in the galleries and other area here, I see a LOT of painstaking work has gone in to these old classics. I know I have two years of all my spare time in my two old boats (well, three if you count the 1960 something aluminum boat that I run my 18 HP Johnson on...) to get them to a USABLE state.

I won't compare my poor efforts to some of the complete RESTORATIONS I have seen here, but the point is, I suggest a forum for Rebuilds and Restorations. I love to look at and hear about how others got their old clunkers back in the water riding around next to all the modern expensive boats and watercraft.

It tickles me to death to see people walk by tens of thousands of dollars worth of modern fiberglass to ogle a classic boat at the boat ramp.

So anyway,I suggest lets at least start posting threads of our restorations and rebuilds, with LOTS OF PICS! I love to see people saving the old stuff that someone else gave up on.

Just my .02

Bernie

Yea, that 10's of thousands of dollars comment reminds me of one day... except now it's a 53 year old boat.

I let them hook up the cables... and what happens? My old girl killed their boat while their wives watched in horror.



I loved that boat.

Yeah I REALLY like passing them or better yet TOWING THEM IN! Usually due to more beer on board than sense, or gasoline, or worse yet, OIL.

About 2 years ago, I found my dream boat. John Gambill had found a lonestar meteor in their neck of the woods. I jumped, I had to have it. So much for my 2008 Tax return.

Seen in a few pictures, the poor thing probably sat on the ground for a long long time.

I lucked out and found someone heading my way from MI to NV to get a truck. They had to go through Utah. They were doing some hauling back from NV and had a small slot in which they could help me. I got it delivered from MI to UT for 500 bucks.

It arrived around midnight. My daughter greeted her new frog boat with a hug.

The whole summer was spent sanding...

and sanding...

And more sanding...

And after a lot of parts collecting... here it is right now. The windshield & tail lights are not seen in the photo but are safe & sound.

A happy meteor. I have a long way to go and I know it.

From my artistic point of view, there's only three motors that should ever be on a meteor. A Mercury, an evinrude 35 or a johnson 35. Everything else (while cool) is just too pointy to accent the curves of the meteor. IMHO.

Dang, thats alot of work you did to that old boat. Also must have been hard to find all those parts. I like the trailer too.

I too like restoration information and adding my 2 cents. I finished my first restoration 6 months ago and it looks okay. It was given to be for free 10 years ago and it sat untill the time came. Actually I wanted a ocean salty boat and also wanted to practice using fiberglass so when I restore my g3 it can be that much better. It turns out I didnt need practice at all.
Its a Sea Swirl p-14...Mike

EDIT::: I still have to figure out pics in here but here is a youtube video I made of the restoration I did. Its a tad long but goes through to the maiden voyage. Took 13 weeks.....Mike

Awesome Mike, my next project will be a lifted transom
on my 14 foot Pipestone. My 35 pushes her purdy good, but
a 50 hp would flyyyyyyy.
Thanks for the video, Jack in AZ

Really nice. Shows alot of work and how to do it right.

Hey Kelly, I know that's not your daughter's Natural Light in that picture, Right??!!

LOL at least she has a good taste in beer.

True, true

BTW, you do nice work Mike!

Here's a few of the Powercat rebuild.

As I found it.




The metal I found holding the transom on.



The inside after removing the 'custom' interior, all 500+ lbs. of it, and the center floor.



The rear deck removed to install the new transom. Thats the interior burning in the background and my Husky, Kenyan in the foreground after he rubbed his face after stepping in the ashes next to the burn pile....



New transom installed.



Rear deck spliced back on.



Center floor reinstalled and half of the truck bed liner (YIKES!) ground off the interior.



Bottom primer.



Bottom painted, deck primer.



Deck paint.







Rigging (FINALLY!)



The final result.

Excellent shots. Especially the last one!

Nice.

Kelly

I love this place.