Different type of restoration...

[arjone01]

Some friends had a different request to help do a complete restore on their boat. Believe me when I say this thing was trashed. It's a Starcraft, all aluminum hull, 1971 model. All of the wood flooring was rotten and destroyed, no carpet left, seats were trash, transom was rotten and resemble balsa wood, hull was a 70's lime green and severely oxidized.

I wish I had the before pictures and process pictures but the owners have them, I just snapped these on Saturday when I wrapped up the project.

I literally had to start this thing from the ground up and learn how to put it all back together as I went because it had literally fallen apart. All we had were the windshield, aluminum railings and components, all upholstery pieces had to be reconstructed (except for the seats). New paint, interior pieces built and covered. All new components and wiring. Only thing bought were the seats from the boat seat store. And Lots of polishing of aluminum pieces with steel wool.

All in all this thing set out, weathered and rotted for over 15 years. Now it has a new life.

Again, I'll try to get some beginning and process pics.









All new Interior pieces built and covered.


New Dash, stained.


Under the bow.




I had to be very innovative in how I covered holes. Couldn't exactly glass over them. Here is one with a new horn covering it.


Side/ski storage.










Back compartment painted and clean. All wiring clean, tanks strapped down.




This project took a lot more than meets the eye. Definitely out of my element and I was VERY surprised at how well this old boat came out.


Modified by arjone01 at 12:18 AM 2/28/2011

[haveme1]

Looks great !!

[Big Bass Man]

Nice work

[totalbeverage]

WOW , that turned out great

[limitedex]

Wow that thing looks great. I can't believe it can handle a 75hp!!! Bet that baby moves!

[Marooned]

Wow! Very nice Aaron. You did a great job on that.

[AirForceAngler]

That's pretty cool looking! Took some big cajones to hang a $12K motor on a $12 boat!

[omcforever]

[stratosjoe]

beeeeutiful great job !!!

[arjone01]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by AirForceAngler &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">That's pretty cool looking! Took some big cajones to hang a $12K motor on a $12 boat!</td></tr></table>

They've had this boat for 20 plus years and they plan on having it another 20 plus years. They'll never sell it so resale is not an option or on their mind. They'll see this boat till their death. With that said, they have a brand new boat, all over, with a new engine and warranty. I was VERY surprised at how well it rode when we took it for a lake test. The marine sales place that they bought their motor from were quite surprised as well.

They've been planning a restore like this for years, but I finally came along and was able to provide the services needed.

[red314]

I hope after all that work and time they take care if it. Nice job

Randy

[arjone01]

Thanks Randy, they most definitely will. They got it in rough shape over 20 years ago and used it a handful of times with the intent to restore it. Since then they had so many things go on and no resources to do it so it set in a barn up in Michigan until now. It was already pretty trashed when they got it for nothing. Now they will have it to enjoy.

[STRETCH1]

Awesome job, I did a restoration a few years ago on an old fiberglass Ranger and I know what you mean by there is a lot more than meets the eye. I know it was a lot of work but you brought it back to life whereas otherwise it would have been destined for scrap aluminum.

[B.R.ONE]

Boat looks great, you did a good job on it.

[ranger230v]

Excellent work, Aaron.