Boat forums?
 

Because I don't have enough pain and/or projects in my life I am looking at buying a 1987 Sea Ray Sorento boat as my next project. I anyone has ever worked on, restored or maintained an older boat, any advice (besides don't buy it) would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1689382469.jpg

Unfortunately way too much experience with boats... :D

Probably the best boating forum out there is https://www.thehulltruth.com/


For Sea Ray specific you have Club Sea Ray

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There is a boat forum called Fiberglassics that I am on from time to time. It mainly deals in fiberglass boats from the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s. We have a 1962 Span America runabout in the boathouse at the cabin, it was my Pawpaw's boat and that is why I joined that forum many years ago.


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I was on this forum which is pretty active for doing the kind of work you will likely need to do.

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat-restoration-building-and-hull-repair.40/

Here is my thread I started on that forum a few years ago. My boat was a lot of work due to having to replace stringers, bulkheads and floor. Boat manufacturers until the late 90's or so mostly used plywood for stringers/bulkheads and floors but they only coated and tabbed them using regular fiberglass resin. Fiberglass resin does not waterproof wood long term so you get rotting. I rebuilt mine with new plywood and tabbing using epoxy. I also used epoxy for all screw locations into the wood. My boat is now better than new structurally speaking. It legally holds 13 people so with grandkids we will keep it for a long time so it was worth it to me. It came out great and we still use it often.

https://forums.iboats.com/threads/1995-larson-214-lxi-floor-and-stringers.702533/

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http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1689598599.jpg

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Well at least you’re looking at a halfway decent brand, built pretty well compared to a lot of others.
Boats are sort of like hot tubs great when you first get them and after awhile the novelty wears off, they break and your just not interested in fixing them.

Tim, you missed a few things I would correct immediately. :cool:

I don't know what it is you do in the real world, but I bet you don't suck at it.

BTW, why are boats right hand drive?

I am not as good as I once was....

My day job since '91 has been special machine designer/engineer.... However I am happiest when I am trying to figure out how best to fix, build or restore something in my home shop. Cheapskate at heart so have always bought cheap/used/broken then enjoy the challenge of fixing. :)

We will (the collective "we") be the judge:cool:

Honestly, I have had a few occasions working on equipment on the farm where I have a WWTD moment: Do it quick or do it the Tim way.

I always choose "quick" but at least I think about it:D

Most common theory is from back in the rowing days, steering was accomplished with a big oar over the side.
Since most people are right-handed, the guy steering was on the right side.

Also why boats approaching head-on, the rule is to pass port-to-port.
This way, the steering oars were on the starboard side, not where they would bump into each other.

(just looked this up a couple days ago after my wife asked)

I think another reason is with single screw boats, the screw typically turns clockwise...so the starboard side has a tendency to raise...the weight of the pilot help... counter that effect..

I to have a SeaRay open bow. The two places I frequent most our Club SeaRay and iboats. Both links listed above.

The stringers/bulkheads I hope were totally encapsulated and sealed before the floor went down.

Cheers

Thanks everyone.
The boat was bought out from under me. I guess it was in much better shape than we thought as the first person that saw it bought it and left with it. Got there before me and it was gone

Oh, that's too bad...

P.S. I'm still driving your brother's 89 cab...

I always thought it was because everyone stayed to the right and this would be the only way for the driver to hold on to the dock/pier/lock etc..