Stratos 93' 201 pro xl, 200 hp xp Restoration Paid $1300.00....

Need tips.
All that post I would thank you. I bought a manual on the engine.
This boat is in great hull shape, motor turns over, tilt, lower unit, engine, lower gears, trim, ALOT OF STORAGE, trailer new tires and bearings, pumps, tanks, transom, shooter prop, 95' 750 thrust all in the good.

Cons, #8 piston, low compression, Top side needs new rug, console is good but weathered, Trailer slide not braking,

Questions,

I think I need a new gel coat on the top of boat but is it better to strip and have the top side re painted?
(It is weathered and I can feel the gliter I run water over it but it still has a kinda dull look to it).


Should I restore this boat with the idea of factory to help the resale or just trick it out the way I find to my interest?

$1,300 is not bad price. I'm rebuilding mine and plan on keeping it till i die i assume. It all depends on what your wanting to have spent total when your done doing your resto work. If you plan on making it like new i figure it will cost you with new top coat alone about $1,200. i don' think i will restore another boat unless it is a good deal.
It all depends on what your wanting to end up with. You can trick it out and spend low to high money. I think if your going to trick it out use the newest products like led lights in the compartment boxes etc..

G.

Hey I saw your post and thought that maybe we could help each other out. I am about to buy a 1989 Stratos 201 w/ a good running 1997 Evinrude 225 Vindicator and a 23 ft trailer for $2500. I am getting a good deal on it because it has had some fire damage. I am going to have to replace the 2 gas tanks, the batteries, and some minimal wiring for the fuel pump and bilge. I will also replace the carpet on the back deck. Do you know how to access all of this? What is the easiest way to remove the deck to get to all of this? Email me at chadwolbach@gmail.com is you can give me some advise.

Chad, your choices to removing the deck are either cut the back corners on top of the deck at an angle like champ did on his boat or remove the entire cap. If it was my boat and i got it knowing it had fire damage i would opt to remove the top cap myself. You really need to remove it to see what the hull looks like on the inside and i'm sure the heat/frie inside the battery compartment has caused some damage and to ensure there is nothing worng that is not visible to the eyes. Depending on how much damage you have i think your best bet would be to remove the top cap. Keep in mind that removing the top cap will take sometime to repair depending on what damage you have or discover. That's my two cents. What do you other members think? http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif
G.

That sounds like a good idea. After removing the cap, I am going to want to re-carpet the back deck. If the wood does not have any rotting, do I need to replace the wood also? Any instructions or tips on recarpeting? The cap should come off pretty easily with the screws around the egdes right?

Chad before you make any attempt to remove the top cap please post some pictures on here or shared photos on photobucket.com or shutterfly. Pictures will help.

Removing the top cap is a pain in the @ff but if your not certain of the extent of fire damage i would want to have a piece of mind and that is why i would remove it. With that said if the damage is contained to the battery compartment area that it might not require removing the top. Your main concern is the structural integrity of the hull,stringers and especially the foam. If the fire was minimal and damage did not leave the compartment than it might be alright. But the boat has at least a drain hole in the floor near the seats? If it does than possibly heat/fire could have went up the chase where the drain hole is to the front part of the boat. Remove the drain hole and with a mechanics mirror see if there is any evidence of damage from heat or fire in that area.
I'm not suggesting you remove the top right away. I just thought it might be your only way for a piece of good knowing everything is A ok.

What caused it to have catch on fire anyways?
G.

electrical short he said. I am going to have someone inspect it before I buy it thursday