Submitted by user thunderroad

My spring project. In good mechanical shape considering the non use but definitely needing cosmetic help.

Submitted by user wildwestten

This beautifully designed fiberglass boat is currently boasting a 1972 65hp Evinrude OB. She will need some restoration work in all areas including the trailer. But when this baby is done it will be out of site. I am looking forward to sharing this project and I strongly encourage feedback. As I have stated from when I first got started "This Is Going To Be Awesome"

Submitted by user lark2004

An old fibreglass boat of unknown make. The transom and floor were shot. The outboard is a 1968 Lark X 40hp with selectric shift. Some parts are from a 1971 bigtwin 40 and a 1975 bigtwin 40. Don't know when it will be finished, just working on it when I can.

Subprojects

• the kicker motor

Submitted by user jmatteo1

this is a project boat I bought for $750.00. I thought the trailer was worth it alone! She sat for 3 years, so there is plenty to do!

Submitted by user papakevin

Found a soft spot in my boat today. Let's investigate.

Submitted by user Tacklewasher

Little history to start: I bought a mid-70’s boat from my neighbor. Motor not running but a good, solid boat and perfect for my needs. I wanted a bigger (> 16 foot) aluminum boat that I could use both for tubing and fishing. In particular, I want a boat to go after salmon in the Fraser and Harrison rivers (Vancouver area) and, possibly, go after Sturgeon before they are made off-limits. Of course, the boat wasn’t running. It came with an OMC Stringer drive with a 120hp motor and 140hp leg. Had the leg re-done and the motor re-built (I forget how much and will continue to forget) and used the boat for two seasons. But it never ran right. For an 18’ aluminum, with a 120hp Stern drive, I expected 40 mph+ and barely saw 30. New prop only slowed me down. Revs never got where they should be, it backfired, and just never seemed to breath right. So I replaced the carb with a reman. Now I could barely do 25. Then the alternator went and the replacement would not bolt on so I gave up, packed it up, winterized it (but really only half-assed as I was pissed at the boat) and let it sit. Got to –40 (unusual for Kelowna) that January. Went to start work on it in the spring and something had cracked. Water poured out from under the exhaust manifold. That was the last straw. Packed it up and didn’t touch it (except to move it around the yard) for that year and the next. Finally decided I hated the motor enough that I was replacing it. Now the choice. Do I go with a different I/O or try to rebuild it for an outboard. Being an OMC Stringer, once the drive is removed, there is a huge hole in the back of the boat. So either way, I hade some repairs to do. An outboard would be cheaper, lighter and give me more room in the boat for fishing etc. so that was they way I decided. Found an 115hp for $1,800. Talked to the guy and went out to see it. Motorcycle wrecking yard just filled with motorcycles, atv’s and a few outboards. Motor was on a big (>25ft) wooden boat just rotted to crap. Be surprised if it would still float. After some playing around, the guy got the motor running and it sounded fine. Explained what I was trying to do and why to find out he has a similar boat to mine. Same make but a bowrider and he also has a 120hp motor and 140hp leg and it’s also a Stringer. But he gets 45mph out of his and it works. He offers me $500 for my setup bringing the cost of the outboard down to $1,300. I’m happy. I think what really interested him was that I had electric trim on my unit and his was manual (set it and never touch it type of trim). Now to get the outboard. Actually went pretty easily. Got everything except the throttle, shift and steering cables. They would be way too long for my boat so I didn’t try to fish them out. Trim/tilt works. Motor runs. Hardest part was taking out a couple dozen bolts so I could take a big piece of stainless as well. But he lent me a cordless impact gun that worked wonders (guess which tool I want next).