Project Cafe Racer 2022
09-21-2023 | 04:33 PM
#42
Registered
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 26
Likes: 8
From: Michigan
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 !!
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 !!
You spend god knows how many hours on the boat. Some spend years before the boat can even be running.
Last edited by Midwestcruiser; 09-21-2023 at 04:35 PM.
09-22-2023 | 09:51 PM
#43
Registered
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,003
Likes: 895
From: Cleveland ohio
I’m not forgetting that at all I’m aware time is money but in order to turn time into money you have to do so thing with that time unless you have a machine I don’t know about that turns time into money. To each is there own. Yep I’ve spent 3 years on my build and I have a brand new boat from front to back top to bottom. So I’m happy
11-10-2025 | 01:55 PM
#45
Registered
Joined: Sep 2025
Posts: 11
Likes: 9
From: Toledo, OH
Not sure if I should make my own but for now, I’ll revive this old thread.. Thanks to some shop talk with Division1.. I’m the new owner of this sweet cafe. Found this thread before I purchased the boat when I was researching it to find some history on it and finally am making a post as it’s in my possession. Way too cool of a boat not to get back on the water. Yes I know it’s gonna make me go crazy, yes I know it’s a lot of work, but as Matt and Eric have said previously, it helps when you can do a lot of the work yourself and is well worth it for friends you make and stories that come along the way. For the people that are interested, I will try to keep this thread updated with my progress on this. Here she is next to my 89’ 27 Fever
Last edited by morningbrando; 11-10-2025 at 02:17 PM.
11-10-2025 | 05:10 PM
#46
Gold Member
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,117
Likes: 959
From: Seaford, VA
Guessing the OP gave up on it. Did he get the stringers fixed, tanks back in, etc….?
good luck. I wonder what happened to my old Cafe. The guy had emailed me at one point but I can’t find his info……
good luck. I wonder what happened to my old Cafe. The guy had emailed me at one point but I can’t find his info……
11-10-2025 | 06:49 PM
#48
Registered
Joined: Sep 2025
Posts: 11
Likes: 9
From: Toledo, OH
I got it as it was left in this thread. No tanks or stringer. OP had a lot going on with running a business and some other projects going on and this got pushed to the back. Just decided to go other ways with things and I ended up with this. I already have the materials to throw a tank stringer in it and go from there. I also have motors, some cockpit interior pieces, and a few other things that I purchased before I actually took possession of the boat.
