* Boat rot repair nightmare *

dicor

dicor

New Member
Feb 19, 2011
835
boat Barnegat Bay, NJ (hopefully) - live Bucks Cty
Boat Info
270 DA 1998
Engines
7.4 Merc w/Bravo III Drive
Watch these videos. This fellow bought a SR Bowrider that must have been sitting with with water in it for a long time. He's doing a total stringer/transom replacement by himself and is recording the entire mess. What a nightmare!!!!!! I've got massive respect and sympathy for this guy. I think I would have sunk it by now. Start with the one that's titled 'Another day tearing apart my Sea Ray', it's sobering. And there is more to come. It's like a mini series.
I've got a Marine Survey coming up in a week and tales like this make me realize that a good survey is invaluable.
 
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wow, that is some job he's got. he's making progress which is impressive. but it looks like he's got a long way to go still.
 
This guy is a board member by the name of friscoboater. I don't think he has posted since he found the wood rot.
 
Poor guy. I really feel for him. I must say I learned a lot just by watching his videos. I have a survey coming up as well and there are a few things I learned that I will be looking for.
Thanks for posting dicor.
 
I know what you mean I'll be going over every inch of the boat looking for soft spots myself. I just left a message with the surveyor to verify that he does in fact have the equipment used to detect moisture. I find it hard to believe that boats are still being made with materials that can rot. I know some boat have eliminated wood completely like DONZI but I would think wood rot in boats made recently that sell for around $100K would have been history. I know I'll get replies like 'if well maintained it should last forever'. But the fact remains if water finds it's way to bare wood from wherever leaky window seal, ac drain whatever and goes undetected for a while that's it damage done.
 
Wow, that sucked me in. I just burned up about 2 hours there. Pain in the butt but he will have a better than new boat soon thanks to the hours of brutally hard work. If anyone deserves a nice summer on the water with family this year, it is him. And to SeaRay, maybe spend the extra 30 seconds making sure there is resin on the end grains, thanks.
 
I remember the guy now, drove to florida to get trailer then somewhere else to pick up boat then home only to find this mess.I feel for him too ,its a second trip i belive for him, first one was a glastron.
 
I've watched all the videos, looking forward to this weekends update. It's actually well done and very informative.
 
Sure is. The guy really seems to know what he is doing. Kudos for attempting this job. I could not imagine trying to do this job on a 30 footer. I bet there are a lot of them out there, that would look like this if you tore into them. Pretty scary. Imagine owning an older 45 footer and finding it in need of something like this. YIKES.
Turtlesboat said:
I've watched all the videos, looking forward to this weekends update. It's actually well done and very informative.
Click to expand...
 
I wouldn't give him too much credit yet, after all he managed to buy TWO boats with the same problem. but he seems to be dealing with it well.
 
Didn't know he had two in this condition!
 
I couldn't even watch beyond where he started to show where the floor was ruined. It made me sick so I turned it off.
 
Hey guys, yes that is me, and I am a member of the boards here too. I am glad that I am helping others do the right thing and get a proper survey.

Let me set the story straight.

We purchased to boat over the internet, and even talked to the guy who replaced the deck two years ago. We have searched and searched and all the Sea Ray boats we saw had rotten stringers and a soft deck around the ski locker. I mean nice boats too. When I saw the receipts for all the work had been done to fix that, I was happy. So we drove from Texas to South Carolina to pick it up. We felt very comfortable with the guy because this was his fourth or fifth Sea Ray. He even had a Sea Ray necklace on, and a 33 footer docked behind the house. The deck felt solid as a rock (because it was frozen) and the sea trial went perfect. It was not until we got it back to Texas did things thaw out and really show its colors. I should have been more vigilant in checking her out, and instead I let her beauty seduce me. The wordI got from several mechanics in the area (take it for what it's worth) is that the mid 90s Bow riders and OV boats need to be checked thoroughly or passed up all together. They said that the construction practices then were not very good at all, and you can see that in my videos as I am taking it apart. I honestly believe that this is unavailable with a boat is a wet part of the country. There is too many places for water to get under the deck and soak the foam.

So anyway, I will get this one back on the lake and enjoy it. Thanks for all the interest guys.

The full blog thread is in my signature.
 
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Turtlesboat said:
I wouldn't give him too much credit yet, after all he managed to buy TWO boats with the same problem. but he seems to be dealing with it well.
Click to expand...

Hey now:grin: I purchased the Glastron knowing the transom might need to be replaced.

Good point though... LOL!
 
Let me say that I have very much enjoyed watching your videos of the Sea Ray rebuild and the others as well. I'm sorry you found yourself it the position of needing to do that job, but thanks for posting such a detailed chronology of your saga. I had a less involved but similar project on my last boat, a 1982 Sea Ray 260 SXL so I know what you are going through. We are similar in many ways, I like the challenge of a project and teaching myself new skills. I prefer to know about the project ahead of time rather than have it happen to me, but that is how life works sometimes. Anyway, keep up the good work and I look foreward to seeing the next installment of your project.
 
Welcome to CSR!

My wife and I watched the video linked at the top of this thread and then we went back and watched all of them in order. Wow. We were really sympathizing for you. What a project to take on and we are impressed with your "can do" attitude as well as with your skills. We wish you the best and thank you for putting your story online.

Did the original seller of the boat ever answer your emails?

Good luck with the rest of the project and we are hoping you make your Memorial Day timeline.
 
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