A great day

[Zklink5150]

Hello all-

my 260 had an incredible day yesterday and I just had to share it. First a little history...I bought the boat after sitting for 11 years. it seriously just fell apart. Every time I fixed one thing, 22 more things broke. All last summer I chased the previous owners neglect demons and beat myself to death mentally. The engine blew, the tops were dry rotted and ripped apart, the cockpit seats were cracked to pieces, stripes were miserable, finish looked like a chalkboard, etc etc etc.

I need to change my profile picture...it's not even the same boat.

Yesterday, it all seemed to come together simultaneously. It was a blank canvas in the am and a beautiful classic by the evening. The mechanic finished the sea trial of the engine, went very smooth, just in time for the upholstry guy who showed up to install the new distressed chocolate brown and tan cockpit panels and seats. Just as I thought it couldn't get any cooler, the stripe guy finished a project early and striped her.

The whole marina was buzzing about the transformation. Last year it was buzzing of "why did he buy that thing?"

To make matters even better... twice yesterday, I had to say, it's not for sale, but thanks. I went home with a huge grin last night.
Today we will get it fueled and stocked, ready for her splash next weekend.

Thanks for listening...

 

[Quint4]

That is a great story!...have fun this season.

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

Thanks for sharing your story. Just goes to prove, with boats if you don't keep up with things as they deteriorate you can quickly feel overwhelmed with the overall poor condition of the boat.

You've gotten over that hump of "I'm just going to dump this heap on the market and eat the loss" and have realized the benefits of sticking to your restoration plan.

Congrat's!

 

[Pietro]

To make matters even better... twice yesterday, I had to say, it's not for sale, but thanks. I went home with a huge grin last night.

that's great satisfaction!!!!

Post some pics of your "new" boat!!!

 

[DKRanger22]

Congrats on the transformation! Great story for sure.

Goes to show that our classic Sea Rays, if sound structurally, make some of the best and most desirable boats (for the money) out there. Amazing what a little cosmetic work can do for a boat!

Best of luck this season!

 

[88dancer300]

I will second the classic sea-ray. I am coming up to the end of a huge restoration of my 1988 sundancer 300. It was very well maintained by the two previous owners though. I just wanted to update her. Love the look of the classics, but wanted to take the cockpit and cabin out of the 80s. A 39 inch swim platform and an 1800 watt stereo system should wake her up!

Peitro knows, we have the same compulsive tear it apart, update it and make it pristine disease!!! LOL

 

[Zklink5150]

Thanks for all the responses. Great pictures too!! I'm not quite ready to snap photos yet as it's still in need of a fine detail and all the rest of her staged. I'll post the before and after, probably will be next weekend tho.

I have to agree about the classics. There's a certain feel about these old boats. I'm soo proud to own one. Seems like the next cosmetic project needs to be the windshield frame and seals.

Happy boating-

 

[Ka1oxd]

I did the same thing with my 1981 260 DA. Took a couple of years but it went great and once it was running it was so sweet. Now I have been working on my 88 340 DA. I will be splashing on the 21st of this month. A few more projects to complete.

 

[Danny Troy]

Zklink5150....... That's a great story. Funny, it sounds a little like the nautical version of the "Money Pit" movie. If you haven't seen it yet, try and rent it and you will see what I mean.

I'll think about you when things inevitably start going wrong on my new used boat, and it will give me inspiration to make the necessary repairs.