Originally Posted by cigrocket

You guys are always doing the wrong thing when it comes to projects. All you need to do, is never look, or save receipts for anything you buy that is boat related. This should have been learned a long time ago. That way you are always ahead.

Originally Posted by division1

I’m the world of upside down in a project let’s break it down ……….
you buy a running boat for 100k at this point that gets you a late 90 cigarette. So let’s just say you do that I’m not saying there isn’t any nice ones out there that will run the way they sit but at this point there all 25 plus years old. Everyone of them needs some sort of glass work , wiring work, paint work ect. After digging in to mine that was well kept in its life I found a crazy amount of exposed wires from the factory exposed wood ect. Know if a person buys a hull for less then 2k put time and elbow grease they then know exactly what they have. I’ll break it down even closer
my 90 topgun
purchase price 35k on trailer with headers and drives
575 sci power package 20k
interior 6k
so know we’re at 61k on the water
then I decided to redo
materials for transom stringers and all glass work 4k
miscellaneous material gel coat /paint for bilge ext 3k
paint job after all glass work 17k
so know we’re in the mid 80s so figure anther 10 grand for all new wiring all new switches and all new hoses. So let’s just be Generous and call it 100k for a 38 topgun new from stern to bow that you know is solid and the feeling of know you put hours of hard work you weathered the ups and downs of the project you made friends along the way to traveled states away to buy parts and meet other cool people in the industry most important you learned things along the way. That’s why people do projects Matt will have 30k in a cafe with all new wiring new fuel tank stringers and some piece of mind and along the way I promise you he will have good stories to sit and tell over a beer at kelly’s. Yes if we paid to have the work done it would be upside down. I have been told I prolly have over a 100k in glass work if I had to pay someone to do it so that would be a problem these projects are guys who either know what there doing already or guys who arnt afraid to research and learn with a bit of trial and error. Can’t wait to see how it turns out !!

Originally Posted by division1

That is what it’s all about. Yes these projects cost money but I can tell you this. I have been friends with the cafe owner for almost 20 years. I would not trade out crazy stories from our projects we have built or the states we traveled to buy a project for anything. Both our cigs have a great future. And both of our projects have weathered the ups and downs of life. I can tell you there’s no better feeling running across the lake knowing the boat you built is solid and when you get to your destination it will be conversation piece!! Your cafe project is coming along well to !! We might need those front mounts you have for this old girl !!