My First Resto and Bassboat

Crazy weekend, my buddie called and wanted to fish a TX on Sunday at a local lake. We left Sunday morning and on the way he asked me "what was your first bass boat?" I told him it was the stro (1989 Astro 18FDX with a 150 Merc) and my first resto. I replaced the carpet and seats and a complete wet sand with a custom cover and I had it looking new. He asked what happened to it and I told him I sold it in 98 to a local guy and haven't seen it since. It was a great boat but had to sell it cause I bought a 2000 Procraft and it had to go.

Later that day while fishing (we were flipping some docks) we came across a dock that had a bassboat in it and I asked my buddy is that an Astro? He said yeah its been sitting here for a couple of years. I told him to get me a little closer I want to check it out. I said "man that looks like my old stro!" As we got closer it was my old boat! I could tell it had been sitting in the water for awhile http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/sick.gif All that work and it just sitting in the water getting blisters http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/crying.gif

Just thought it was a little crazy that we were just talking about it this morning and here it is left to the elements http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/mad.gif Oh well, not mine anymore http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/crying.gif

Here are some pics of her...
[img]http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/w...v/ceed2de6.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/w...v/ee474998.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/w...v/dfb4e85b.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i735.photobucket.com/albums/w...v/ae4575c3.jpg[/img]

How much did you buy it for and how much were you able to sell her for after the restore? She looks good.

I got beat up on it, should have never sold it in the first place. I think I paid 4 grand for it and put another 2 into it then sold it a few years later for 5 http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/doh.gif

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by totalbeverage &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I got beat up on it, should have never sold it in the first place. I think I paid 4 grand for it and put another 2 into it then sold it a few years later for 5 http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/doh.gif </td></tr></table>

no way, you gained a ton of knowledge that you have since past on to all of us. I think you came out of it great!

That is a pretty color blue, looks like bthe clearcoat is coming off of it.

I would have bought it myself. Did you sell it to get something bigger or newer?

That boat looks like it is sitting WAY low in the water...in the back I mean. It just looks like the motor cowl is about in the water. Is that the way Astros sit?

The boat is probably sitting on something propping it up that way...

Still looks like you did a great job, and its well withstood the abuse.

Looks to me like the bow is sitting on the dock and the water dropped! Man, some people! I have waited sooo looong to own a nice boat. I hope someone runs a bullet through me if I ever mistreat my boat like that guy has!

mistreated? that boat is 20 years old and has already been restored once what do you expect its a $2000 fishing boat and it has better styling and better looking consoles than some of the newer boats that have reintroduced the all new side rod box as the latest greatest innovative add on http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/doh.gif

Merely stating that Frank put alot of work into this boat to bring it back to life and the guy who purchased it apparently hasn't cared as much for it. Which in my opinion is why Frank created his post to begin with. I have purchased a boat that hasn't been well cared for and I have put alot of hard work into bringing it back to life. It is a shame to see hard work not kept up with and I intend not to neglect my boat as the previous owner had. The value was not the determining factor in whether or not I should care or bother to invest so much time and hard work into my boat. As is obviously the case with many of the owners in the boat restoration forum whose love of their boat was enough to motivate them. I have read and followed many $2000 fishing boats brought back to life by the guy who loved the boat. Many have invested way beyond the market value of their boat yet that did not deter them. I am sorry my opinion does not fall in line with yours but that boat clearly appears to me as though the current owner does not appreciate it enough. My boat is 20 years and I am very glad I took the time to show her some love. My apologies if you are the guy who has neglected this OLD Astro! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/doh.gif I was just sharing my thoughts! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/doh.gif

he says it was a 1989 and he sold it in 1998 so he had to restore it in 9 years. it is another 13years old so it is 4 years past another restore that doesnt mean it has been mistreated . i had a old ranger that the clearcoat peeled off in three years after being stored inside.

Well good than! No need to beat myself up when my boat goes to crap. I feel better! It's only $2000 anyway! Wait a minute? How does this factor out for me? My boat is already 20 years old and I just did it's first resto? Should I not have bothered? Dang, I knew I just shoulda went fishin'! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif

It looks like the current owner has a cover rolled up, a battery charger working and is still using a motor toter. I don't see a brown scum line as if it was left in the water for weeks at a time. The carpet still looks good. He thinks enough of the boat to rent a slip at the dock. I'd say your old restore is in loving hands. http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/embeer.gif

Yes I must agree! My boat definitely ended up in the right hands! Nasty scum line on that jackplate though! Sorry fellas just don't see the love happening for that old astro! But we live in a free country and our opinions are shared freely! So let me just say thank you to all who have fought and died to give me my freedoms. Thank you for those who are sacrificing their freedoms for mine now! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/USA1.gif

Pretty sure the A in astro on the starboard side wasn't brown when it was restored as the rest of it looks white to me. So it has been sitting there a while.

frank i found her and its for sale call me http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/thumbsup2.gif