1978 18ft Fisher Marine (family) project.

[michaelj1978]

My grandfather and father bought this boat new off the showroom floor in 1978, the same year I was born. It hasn't seen any water other than rain/snow since 2006. Has been sitting in my mother's backyard since then. The interior has been refinished 2 times, it's on its 3rd 50hp motor. The 2005 50hp Johnson on there needs some lower unit attention. It was all a gift to me and I know it will take a lot of $$$ to get it back in the water but I have a lot of memories on that boat and want to make many more with my wife, son and mother. Size wise it's perfect. 18ft and very wide. I have no real idea where to go from here but want to get it ready for the water by spring of 16. I have a budget of around $4k.

The last time I helped my father restore it, he "rigged" the livewells out of coolers added the built in storage box and did some other electrical work as well as all new carpet and seats. My plan is to completely gut it and start from scratch. When I pulled the floor tonight I was amazed that the styrofoam pieces under it were so soaked with water they must have weighed 40lbs each. I imagine it added an additional 4-500lbs to the boat. I'd like to pop the motor off and strip it all bare. The transom is bowed out about 2-3 inches and needs the rotted wood replaced and put back in place. It also has a lot of holes from adding different fish finders and other odds and ends. There are numerous rivet leaks that need sealed. Lots of extra holes from the livewells I tore out. I plan on reinstalling the one in front of the steering column. 2 was overkill.

I'd like some opinions on the first things I need to do to it. I'd like to fix the leaks of course as well as possibly paint the outside and do some sort of all grey bed liner in the interior as well as figure out what kind of sealant to place on all of the rivets before I put the bed liner or paint the interior.

Ultimate goal is to reinstall the floor, console, motor, seats, rear storage for battery/gas and get it on the water asap. Just want to make sure I do all of the steps in the correct order and I want to do everything to make it last another 36 years, if not longer.

 

[michaelj1978]

Here are some more pictures

 

[michaelj1978]

And more...

 

[g0nef1sshn]

Thats a nice size boat and i think 4k is plenty to get it right depending on the motor issues. To start keep getting it cleaned out to bare hull inside. I filled mine with water to the where i needed it to check for leaks dripping out on a dry surface. Once found i fixed them then did another leak test same way. Gluvit is used to seal the seams and rivets from the inside. Its not uv friendly though, so you will either need to pime and paint over it or cover with another deck. And id would research more on the bed liner thing, some like it some dont.

 

[river warrior]

Just some advise. I saw a wire connected to what I think was the console. Probably a ground wire. You shouldnt have any wires grounded to the hull of the boat it will create corrosion and could weaken the seals around the rivets on your boat. Aluminum boat corrosion is definitely something to read up on before building your boat.