I own a automotive Performance/fabrication shop and have been looking to get into offshore boats. I have always had a love for the water and cruising on the parents 03 rinker 270 viesta vee isnt cutting it anymore.

I went to go check out this boat I won off Ebay for the first time in person. It needs alot more work than I thought. The Gel coat on the deck half is cracking in a bunch of places and for cosmetic reasons should prob get a full recoat. The cabin is pretty clean but the upper deck will need the most work, reupholster, wood trim pieces replaced, New flooring. The captain and nav buckets developed fractures which someone had began repairing and did a piss poor fiberglass job. I dont like the way the seats are anyway so instead of redoing to repair they will prob be cut out, Patch the holes and run twin floor mount rotating buckets in their place. The wiring is all there and doesnt appear to be cracking etc but rather than dealing with the mess I will rewire. Outdrives appear to be in better condition than the one on my parents 03 boat and the transmissions oil/power steering has no leaks and fluid looks mint. Props are good as well. Hydrolic actuators are prob all shot and im assuming will not be in good working order. The hull itself is free of stress cracks and looks clean aside from a scuff in the front and the usual blemishes from objects in the water and docking over the years.

I am not afraid of a project and will enjoy doing a restore on the boat but it has been sitting uncovered and there is alot of water under the cabin floor. The fiberglass does not seem to be effected but being i know next to nothing about the actual hulls of boats this worries me. Is this an ok, and a common thing on boats that I shouldnt worrie about? What is the worst i should prepare for? Should I run for the hills before i give up my money?

Also, I was wondering if anyone on here knows of this boat and anything about it? Oh and whats the diff. between the 1982 hustler packages SS,LE etc?

Thanks,
Nick

Pics:

Here is some pics of the water:




Its hard to see the water but in the third picture you can see its up to the top of the right support.

it is possible for the stringers to be rotten b/c of the standing water..... and you need a good fiberglass man on that one

Im located in the Poughkeepsie, NY area and most likely will keep the boat at Whites Marina when its complete. Given the worst case senario. If the stringers are rotted can they be cut out replace and resealed? Or does this mean the hull is shot?

Do you know any GOOD fiberglass/paint guys in the area which I could consult? Im on something of a budget for this project and would like to spend the better part of it in the go fast department. If I do paint, Depending on the cost of a pro, I may actually do it myself. I would most likely stick with white and maybe two racing stripes down the deck or something or the sort. I have experiance in automotive prep and painting so im sure with some good prep and product information doing it myself isnt too far out of my reach.