Is this 14’ fiberglass bass boat worth restoring? Looking for rough repair estimates before we invest.
Hi everyone,
My son inherited this old 14-foot fiberglass bass boat from a family friend, so we have $0 invested in the hull. We live on a small lake where gas motors aren’t allowed, so our plan is to convert it into an electric-only fishing boat with a trolling motor.
We’re pretty handy and aren’t afraid of doing cosmetic work ourselves. We think we can clean, polish, and restore the faded fiberglass and install EVA foam decking. What we’re trying to figure out is whether the structural repairs are worth paying someone to do.
Here are the areas that concern us:
- Front casting deck: The plywood under the front deck (especially around the seat mount and over the livewell/fish well) has deteriorated and feels weak.
- Driver’s console: The floor around the steering wheel and to the left of the console feels soft, rotted.
- Rear deck: The plywood under the rear casting deck/seat area also feels soft.
- There are a few exposed areas where you can clearly see the old plywood has rotted (photos included).
What we’re hoping to learn:
- Based on these pictures, does this look like a boat that’s worth saving?
- Do these repairs appear to be limited to replacing deck cores, or do you think the stringers and transom are probably compromised too?
- If you were taking this to a fiberglass shop, what would you expect a ballpark cost to be for replacing the rotten plywood and restoring these structural areas?
- Would you repair these sections with new marine plywood, Coosa board, or another material?
- If the structure is repaired professionally, we’d likely finish the decks ourselves with EVA foam instead of carpet. Does that seem like a reasonable plan?
We’re not looking to create a show boat. But if it’s tied to our dock, it can’t be pile of junk. We’d just like a safe, solid fishing boat for our family and my son, and we’re trying to decide whether we’re looking at a $1,500 project, a $4,000 project, or a “walk away and find another hull” situation.
I’d really appreciate any honest opinions or advice from people who have restored older fiberglass bass boats.
Thanks in advance!
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