1980 Champion Swift

[timscryan]

Hi all,

Bought the below 1980 Champion Swift a couple months back, i love the boat. A lot of fun so far. It has a 1984 Mariner 115 tower of power, what a great sound that thing makes. I am posting today to ask for some repair advice. The boat is solid in most of the areas i have read about being a major concern, transom and stringers. I used a dead blow hammer and cant find any hollow or soft sounding spots. Boat feels solid in big wake. I did just find what seems to be minor rotting (maybe those two words dont go together) below the rear bench seat. The piece of wood next to the gas tank on the port side and the piece of wood spanning the back of the boat under the bench seat (worst rotting) also on port side. I have included pictures below. Some questions.... How critical or not to the structure of the boat are these two pieces of wood? Should i stop running the boat immediately and begin repairing (hoping to make it a winter project if possible)? When i do repair, what is the best approach?
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[MMosher]

Give Matt Snooks a call at Fractured Fiberglass in Mt. Home. He worked for Champ for years (now owns his own shop) and owns a Swift. https://www.facebook.com/Fractures-F...2214566477880/

[ChampioNman]

Matt is a good dude! And knows his stuff.

[Grawg72]

Another Swift! I am no longer alone haha

[kris_tx]

Nice looking boat

[timscryan]

Thank you guys! I am in communication with Matt, we will be talking this week, so he can provide some direction on where to start and really how to fix it the right way.

[Jon G]

Nice rig

Was that for sale in Streator, IL by chance?

[timscryan]

Yes it was! Was up for sale for quite a while too.

[Jon G]

It looked like the one I saw there, I about stopped and checked it out, but didn't have the time. there was one for sale in Pekin, IL a couple years ago also. It was green if I remember correctly. I've always Loved them boats.