restoring a ranger?

[G P]

I have a 1987 Ranger 360V. The gel coat is in bad shape the carpet is in need of replacing. This was my first boat and last unless I win the lottery or something. My question is would you consider doing a restore on a boat this old and how much would you put into it.
I know the speal about its up to me, but what do you guys consider is a good $$$ number for putting into an old boat. My other option would be to upgrade about 10 years and try and find a boat in the 95, 97 year range.
One other thing to mention I have a wife that would rather see me not put any money into the old boat. Who listens to them anyways.......Any suggestions?.....Gerry

[CHARLEG]

If the hull, transom an motor are in good shape the rest is cosmitic. It all boiles down to if ya like the boat an finance to fix it up. I've had mine for about 3 or 4 years now an still say I'm going to fix things up but its a fishing boat to me. Mabe some day I'll replace the carpet.

[sooner fish]

Hard decision to make. The devil you know vs. the devil you don't. If the boat is sound you can probably fish from it for the rest of your life. I don't really know what "restore" means, but I can tell you that you probably won't gain much market value by making an old boat look like a newer one, and it probably won't ever be worth as much to someone else as it is to you. You will improve the quality of your time on the water by making sure the main and trolling motors are reliable, and that the systems on the boat work properly. Carpet is fairly inexpensive, and you can probably do it yourself. There are also some good after market seats that you can get to replace ones that are bad. My theory on the finish is that you do the best you can to bring it back and then preserve it best you can, beyond that you accept that you own a thirty year old boat. I would make sure the trailer adequately supports the boat, has fully functional lights and good rubber. Rust and scratches don't bother me much. I want to fish, not work on teh boat.

With that said, if you always dreamed about owning this particular boat, then I say hell, knock yourself out. There are some guys here who have done a great job of restoring some really cool older boats. Great thing about a Ranger is that you can get all of the parts you need.

One of the real benefits of owning an old boat is that you don't have to worry yourself sick about it's condition. I am willing to fish close to the rip rap and go into the timber if that is where the fish are. When I owned a new boat some of that stuff drove me crazy, and that first scratch or gouge was tough.

Good luck with what ever you decide to do, and post some pictures so we can follow the progress.

[cart7]

If the boats paid for you're starting at $0 vs. a mid 90's used boat which will probably set you back at least $10k and it will probably need something done to it within it's first few years if not immediately.

If you love doing the work hands on, which many of us here do, you'll save yourself tons of $$ and have the pride of your own workmanship plus you can post pictures here and we'll all you.

I've got a '86 Champ which I intend to handle in stages.

Transon redo with Seacast.

Front Deck insert with total carpet job.

new windshields.

New gauges, partially done.

Eventually, a nice used engine.

Trailer repaint.

I figure I'll probably spend around $5k total doing the work myself and have an outstanding boat. Far less than the $10k + if I did what you've thought about. I already love the ride and the fishability and that's the most important. The rest as they say is cosmetic.

[merklerob]

what said is true. if you go to a 90s boat will you be any better off. you know what you got, does it do the job is it structually sound........ bought a 94 boat that needed structual work. all the inside ribbing was not sealed. that newer boat may look better but be a money pit.

i spent $1200 to structually rebuild the boat ribs, floor, transom carpet..... for seat $500-1000. $1200 to add hydralic steering, paint the boat $500-????.

try using vertglass [west marine] to restore the gel coat. [needs to be done every other year] above the water line only.

[G P]

Thanks guys, I guess I'll keep the boat. The carpets not that bad but its a color that I changed to along time ago. I don't really care for it anymore but it is in good shape. The get coat is horrible on the top, the trailer fenders look like crap. Just noticed i'm having a problem with the front tie down seems to be seperating from the boat a little. It's not loose though. Is that a problem to fix? I would imagine it could be.....Gerry