Things to know about 1970’s 22 overnight?

Futi45

New Member
Nov 14, 2019
2
Texas
Boat Info
1975 22 cuddy
Engines
Ford 302 888
Hello I’m new to the forum. I’ve recently been gifted a 1970’s 22’ Sea Ray. It has a cabin and mercruiser Ford 302 888 outdrive. The boat appears to be all original including the trailer. The owner gave me the boat because he’s older and no longer uses it. He did however maintain the boat and for the most part everything works. I’m considering a refit. I like the looks of it. Cosmetically it’s showing it’s age. I’m Not sure if I should pull the motor and decks and go from there or just paint it and run it. A little about myself. I’m a professional aircraft mechanic I have the skills and tools to rebuild it but I know nothing about Sea rays. Are they prone to rotten decks,stringers and transom? Fuel tank aluminum or fiberglass? What about the power plant? I haven’t picked it up yet because I know little about it. I grew up on outboard powered boats so this is new to me. I’m not looking to make any money off it. I have a boat now. Thoughts?
 
Any 45 year old boat could have stringer/deck rot... especially if it lived most of its life outside.

I'd just run it for now and enjoy!

Best of luck and welcome to CSR!
 
Make sure you have all your safety gear on board and use it a couple times first. You will know right away what your going to need to do with it and if it is worth the investments.
 
Thank you for your response. The boat was mostly kept indoors. So far i can find no soft spots on the hull deck transom. The deck is covered in the original carpet. I can’t stand it. I’d like to remove it. Anyone done that? Will I find bare plywood or will there be glass over plywood? I’m definitely going to give the boat a roll and tip paint job. I will paint the deck with non skid or some kind of rubber coating. The previous owner doesn’t know if he ever had the bellows changed. What’s the expected service life? I may change them.
 
If the sterndrive hasn't been serviced in a while (say five years or more) then you need to have all the bellows and gaskets changed out, the oil changed, a new impeller put in.
As for the carpet, back in the 70's that was pretty standard and it's probably just bare ply under it. Cut away a small piece in a place that won't be noticed and see what's under it.
 
I have a 74 22srv great boats refit mine two summers ago under carpet is plywood. I had no soft spots at all and it lived out door with a cover on her. They are bullet proof have fun with her
 
I would most definitely follow Ike’s advice and have the outdrive serviced including bellows, water hose, and impeller.
If the boat has not been used much for the last few years that is even more of an issue with the rubber dry rotting and cracking. There may not be any problems with the boat now, but overheat it due to a failed water line, or get water intrusion to the gimbal bearing, etc then you will have mechanical problems.
My opinion - no water runs until you YouTube bellows jobs and impeller jobs on your model.
Given your skills, you can absolutely do this yourself and save tons of money. I am not a professional mechanic and I can do it. If you don’t have the time, since the boat is free, it is worth the investment to pay a mechanic.
 

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