Thread: 50s Hartley

Originally Posted by danangles

Dos'nt anybody out there like a challenge ???

I don't want to sound negative but have a look around most boatyards and they are littered with challenges that never get finished. There is good advice here already, that is get a report on the overall condition then work out the skill level and cost required before committing to anything.

I'd bet a good usable boat could be found for far less than the cost of repairs to this one.

Cheers
Mike

yes, that is good advice guys. A chum who has restored some boats said I need to make sure the hull is rock solid before committing to any repairs topside. Makes sense. He also mentioned the west system products, too. Cheers. I have a chum from my fishing club - who built a boat like mine on his lawn - to check that the hull is not rotten.

How do I clean the slime and muck from the inside of the hull? Gurney? I need to dry her right out. So I thought gurney the slime and dirt - pump out the slimy water - and dry her out.

Any suggestions?

PS Yes, I know there are boats to buy better than this one but I'm penning a series of features on restoring this old bucket of barnacles - incl advice and help from this excellent forum. My feature on moving the boat from the mooring to my front lawn is in the next issue of Modern Boating.

Hi Dorian,

You have led us all, slightly astray with your initial post and questions.
Obviously you had always intended to do something with this old boat, hence the "magazine" article.

Clean the interior in the most efficient manner you can. Begin by lightly scraping up all internal surfaces and removing that rubbish. Then wash or gurney the inside.
By the time you finish scrubbing the inside of the hull, you will have hopefully found all the rot in the timber and ply.

As for drying out. Fan heaters and a Polly tent can be very effective. It will take some time and your power bill will be pretty bad.

I still think that Transom needs the chop, but get an expert on site before you make any further commitment.
Unless of course the "magazine" is paying for this project. LOL.

Paul.

Excellent! Exactly what I planned to do. Mucho thanks!!!

P.S. The "magazine" (quote marks?) is not paying for anything. The boat was given to me. I'm a writer. Thought it would be fun to write about it's transformation along the way.

Hi dorian, what motor and drive has it got, before committing to
rebuild check that parts are readily available. Fixing the transom
might be the least of your problems if you have to start locating
and importing parts. (Been there done that $$$$$). Im guessing
it is fitted with an early Mercruiser, OMC or Volvo, and as such
is probably worth more for parts.

Another good point MADMIX.

Paul.

It might be that the parts value of an early model drive-train could pay a lot of the cost
of newer equipment? It's a big job whichever way you slice it.

For inspiration (or whatever), you might like to look at the last year or two of back-
issues of Aust. Amateur Boat Builder magazine. A series called "Coronet Revival".
A bloke in UK doing a similar restoration on a '70s vintage glass boat of similar size &
style. I think it was in structurally better shape to start with though.
cheers
AJ

Hi b.o.a.t.

Old fibreglass boats are way easier than timber.

Dorian is taking on quite a project as a first timer. LOL.

Paul.

And good on him.
He understands this isn't an economic proposition - has other reasons.
Which, when you look at the number of partial restorations on eBay & the
Trader, seems to be 3/4 of the battle. Assuming the underlying boat is ok,
he'll have something he can crow about at the end of it.

Main risk is understanding that it's an all or nothing proposition.
A half-done restore will fail under pressure at sea when lives depend upon it,
not on the safety of the trailer in the back yard...
Might even have to start reading Modern Boating as well as AABB.

Sorry for the tardiness in reply - drowning in deadlines. The motor is a 55 Perkins diesel. It starts like a dream. No drama. My nephew is a diesel mechanic. I'm told parts are around.

Hey, everybody out there! For the last time....don't worry about the economics of this project. I have most of the resto materials given to me already. The boat was free. I just need advice along the way - hence me posting yawl notes from time to time. The boat is ply but the hull is sheathed in fiberglass we think. It has some rot in the topside. I have a chum from my fishing club coming over to assess the hull. That is a deal breaker of course. Will keep you posted. (thanks for the faith b.o.a.t.) I also have a feature on Fiji in current issue of NRMA's Open Road Mag. And a feature in current Aust Traveller Mag on a 50s caravan I restored. I'll get there!!!! Trust me! dorian

Hi Dorian.

Sounds as if you have your mechanicals well in hand.
Perkins are a lovely engine.

Lucky you getting some "free" materials to help your rebuild.

Keep us posted on your progress. Pics help a lot.

A lot of people on this forum will be happy to help you.

b.o.a.t. you are so right about lost dreams turning up on ebay etc. I nearly cry when I see a sale starting with, "UNFINISHED PROJECT" How sad.

Paul.

Originally Posted by dorian

Hey, everybody out there! For the last time....don't worry about the economics of this project.

G'day Dorian!!
Don't be put off mate...........go for it!!!
If the rest of the boat is OK (or at least repairable) go for it.........you won't lose out!! Worst case scenario........cut the whole transom off and replace it along with some decking. Had the motor been no good removal and fitting a pod to the new transom with an outboard would have been an option as well!!

I have 'renovated' a number of old boats over the years........all were said to have been past resurection by 'experts' at the time and yet all are still afloat......one of them (a TS16) for over 20 years now!!

My latest "little' job was a fibreglass dinghy (a 10' 6" Purdon) that was only a fibreglass shell in poor condition rotting in a back yard..............replaced every bit of timber in it painted it and launched the result last Sunday!!!

SO..........go for it matey!!!!!!