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Author Topic:   Help Improve a 1980 13-footer

JimmyJames1979 posted 07-13-2015 10:18 PM ET (US)
I picked up a 1980 13-footer as a gift for my Father that I would like to give to him for his birthday this coming September--his first boat. While the boat is turnkey, I would like to give her a fresher and cleaner look (exterior and possibly interior). The transom has had some Marine Tex repair and there is black bottom paint. The inside isn’t so bad but the exterior hull and top side rails definitely have some water-tight nicks.
[I would like to] add a forward thwart bench, with a either a backrest or third captain chair) I would appreciate any advice on where to order the bench. I am not sure where to get benches other than wood.
I don’t have the time or the know-how to do the work--although I wish I could--so I contacted repair guys. One suggested an AWLGRIP job, inside and out. The other guy thought the boat was in good shape and that the gel coat should be restored. They only had pictures to go from.
I like the idea of restoring the gel coat, but I would like her to look as clean as possible--without restoring to original condition--and there are some decent nicks in the hull. I know pics are hard to go by, but could anyone please offer any guidance as to how I might approach the items listed above, especially my options with making improvements with the exterior?
Any thoughts on replacing the rub rail?
I’m trying to strike a balance between being cost-efficient and making her look good. Thank you for any thoughts and opinions. Here are some pictures--the boat with blue top-side paint is not mine, I kind of liked it's look. Any thoughts?):
http://s771.photobucket.com/user/JimmyJames1979/library/Boston%20Whaler

contender posted 07-14-2015 12:22 PM ET (US)
Best to go talk to some fiberglass boat place up in your neck of the woods. There will give you an idea of the cost and ideas on changes. Being a 13 I would get a seat with a back rest for your father and a cushion to sit on. This is a subject that can cost you $100 to $5000. I would use some type of medium to spary off the bottom paint, and pay to have it done. Good luck
jimh posted 07-17-2015 09:54 AM ET (US)
Advice on replacement of rub rails is given in the FAQ. See
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/#Q13
Advice on hull repairs is given in the FAQ, See
http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/#Q5
Seating on flat thwart seats is only tolerable for about five minutes for anyone over the age of ten years old.
jimh posted 07-17-2015 09:56 AM ET (US)
Based on one of the images in your gallery, it looks to me that the rub rail has already been replaced with something other than the OEM rub rail on that 13-footer.
jimh posted 07-17-2015 09:57 AM ET (US)
The gel coat on the boat shown in the image gallery looks very good. It ought to be possible to restore it without too much trouble.

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Author	Topic: Help Improve a 1980 13-footer
JimmyJames1979	posted 07-13-2015 10:18 PM ET (US) I picked up a 1980 13-footer as a gift for my Father that I would like to give to him for his birthday this coming September--his first boat. While the boat is turnkey, I would like to give her a fresher and cleaner look (exterior and possibly interior). The transom has had some Marine Tex repair and there is black bottom paint. The inside isn’t so bad but the exterior hull and top side rails definitely have some water-tight nicks. [I would like to] add a forward thwart bench, with a either a backrest or third captain chair) I would appreciate any advice on where to order the bench. I am not sure where to get benches other than wood. I don’t have the time or the know-how to do the work--although I wish I could--so I contacted repair guys. One suggested an AWLGRIP job, inside and out. The other guy thought the boat was in good shape and that the gel coat should be restored. They only had pictures to go from. I like the idea of restoring the gel coat, but I would like her to look as clean as possible--without restoring to original condition--and there are some decent nicks in the hull. I know pics are hard to go by, but could anyone please offer any guidance as to how I might approach the items listed above, especially my options with making improvements with the exterior? Any thoughts on replacing the rub rail? I’m trying to strike a balance between being cost-efficient and making her look good. Thank you for any thoughts and opinions. Here are some pictures--the boat with blue top-side paint is not mine, I kind of liked it's look. Any thoughts?): http://s771.photobucket.com/user/JimmyJames1979/library/Boston%20Whaler
contender	posted 07-14-2015 12:22 PM ET (US) Best to go talk to some fiberglass boat place up in your neck of the woods. There will give you an idea of the cost and ideas on changes. Being a 13 I would get a seat with a back rest for your father and a cushion to sit on. This is a subject that can cost you $100 to $5000. I would use some type of medium to spary off the bottom paint, and pay to have it done. Good luck
jimh	posted 07-17-2015 09:54 AM ET (US) Advice on replacement of rub rails is given in the FAQ. See http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/#Q13 Advice on hull repairs is given in the FAQ, See http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/FAQ/#Q5 Seating on flat thwart seats is only tolerable for about five minutes for anyone over the age of ten years old.
jimh	posted 07-17-2015 09:56 AM ET (US) Based on one of the images in your gallery, it looks to me that the rub rail has already been replaced with something other than the OEM rub rail on that 13-footer.
jimh	posted 07-17-2015 09:57 AM ET (US) The gel coat on the boat shown in the image gallery looks very good. It ought to be possible to restore it without too much trouble.