Converting a race boat to a pleasure boat?
 

If you found a really good deal on a race boat is it worth it to convert it to a pleasure boat. With that being said where is the best place to have this done? Glass shop?rigging shop? Is there some places that can do the whole project from start to finish? TnT? Grants custom rigging? Any insight on this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Kirk

i would go back to the factory to have it done, alot of people have called me about cutting the top off speedy and making it a 5 seater, that can be done really easy for about 20-40k depending on options, but i would always have the factory do it for resale, just my .02

This is an open cockpit boat, the stand up bolsters are towards the stern and the dash is half way back into the cockpit, so that would need to be cut out and glass work done, all the gauges moved forward new seats installed etc.

I have no valuable information to give you other than my $.02 opinion. If there was a really good deal get it done. Life is too short to say, "I wish I would have done that, or I wish I could a, I wish I should a..."

I have often thought that making the Motley Crew race boat a four seater would be an awesome pleasure boat with the 525's that are in it. I only need the $$$,$$$ to buy it, now that is another story. The Roman's may not like the idea, I have always liked their boat, and I always try to follow all of the NJ based race teams and and their boats. That is an aweseome Skater.

Go for it!

It just kills me when people talk about making a pleasure boat out of a race boat. Why not just buy a pleasure boat to start with?

Because you can get a raceboat for much cheaper usually....:whistle:





Of course it is usually because it is a ragged out, delamed, hunk of rotten balsa with a 300 hour, 100% WOT all the time engine in it that winds up costing more to convert to pleasure, rebuild/replace the engine, and fix everything else that is wrong with it than it would to just go pleasure in the first place.....:party-smiley-004:

KN, you're a funny guy..... 40k budget and you want to redo an entire race boat? I officially vote you tire kicker of the year.

It sounds like you may be eyeballing an Apache, correct????

Not a tire kicker. He bought my Fountain raceboat in 2000 and other boats since! Family and business make people shop a little different than they may have in the past.

Steve

Kinda unnecessary. The guy asks alot of questions before buying and wants to get the most for his money. I got no problem with that.

I Did it to my Cat -

Cut off a single F16 Canopy and built a custom 4 person canopy with a removable hard top section.

It's taken a while as I'm only working on it a few hours each month.. :angry-smiley-038:

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/f...-pleasure.html

It's a 34' Sutphen

Mastercraft I don't understand you animosity towards me, I never stated I wanted to redo an entire boat for $40,000. I'm looking at everything that is out there for $40,000. You also quoted me on my other post, I've never looked at your boat or ever been in a 28' Skater you must have me confused with someone else. I don't want this thread to take a turn for the worst, I'm just trying to find out some info.

Regards Kirk

Some Race boats are built & balanced much better than a stock pleasure boat.

Id rather kick tires for a while than get stuck with a flat one later. Its also easier to ask questions now before you get the all original "I could of told you that" from every boat expert here later. Good luck with your search KN.

Thank You

Quote:
Originally Posted by ItsPeanut
Id rather kick tires for a while than get stuck with a flat one later. Its also easier to ask questions now before you get the all original "I could of told you that" from every boat expert here later. Good luck with your search KN
X2
SOME OF US LIKE PROJECTS.......
JUST OUT OF CURIOSITY DO YOU HAVE ANY PICS?

Jim Lee took the 46' Skater "Zero Defect/Big Thunder" from race boat to bad-ass Skater. He raced it then converted it. The guy loves the boat.
I say if you got the time & $$, go for it. Just remember what everyone else has said. It is cheaper to buy the keys to a finished project than to do it yourself.

sorry for bringing back an old thread but does anyone have pics of the jim lee boat? i cant find anything on it?

Freedom US1. Quite possibly the most photographed Skater ever.
https://www.google.com/search?q=free...w=1024&bih=672

thanks but i was talking about before and afters. thanks

Zero Defect. http://www.biggerhammer.net/offshore...reeze/zero.jpg

cool thanks

Not a race boat but when my friend Bob owned Speed Racer, he had MTI convert it from a 4 seat to a 6 seat and removed the rudder/BPM surface drives for steerable #6s. He was originally going to trade it in on a new one but found it was MUCH cheaper to convert it. It also increased the value when it came time to sell it.

I think they are much cooler than a pleasure boat is. However unless you can do quality glass, engine and rigging work yourself I will tell you from experience that the price to do it real nice is real, real, real expensive. Also count on the re sale to be to a much smaller market. Anyone with a wife/girlfriend involved in the decision making process to will say NO to that one every time. " No seats?," "No Cabin?"....."NO WAY!!".
Cool for sure, Real tough to sell but worth it for the uniqueness I think.

thats what he is asking i think... how to make a race boat convert it to a boat with seats...i will be opening a shop very soon that will specialize in these conversions. if anyone wants to message me to discuss what your looking for feel free. i have some sweet ideas for cats.