I saw this boat on craigslist and it really was exactly what I was looking for.
I already had a 1985 Fisher bass with a 35 hp merc that was a great little fishing tool.
.. However there were three problems with it. The first being that is was only marginal for 2.5 people. I really needed and wanted to be able to take up to 4 or even 5 people. The second problem was the beating this boat gave you in the wind and waves. I'm talking wet, "WHAM, POW Holy break the hull batman" rough ride! In smooth water it was great but still the 3rd problem loomed. It was slow... It only went about 22 mph. That take a long time even in smooth water to do what I needed to do... find bait then fish.
Ok so I see this Sea Nymph on craigslist. Certified for 8 people, aluminum, Deep V, 90 HP motor, Deep side wells, CC HECK YES!
I talk with the guy and let him know I was interested.. His asking price was 3900 but I heard he would take 3200. Meantime I had already listed my boat as a turnkey deal for 2800. I planned to sell my boat and then buy his. In talking with this guy I got the Idea that he wanted to fish but this boat wasn't quite ready (To me it was nowhere NEAR ready). He had traded a friend his truck for the boat. I ran the idea of a trade by him and he agreed! YIPPEE!
I go out and make the swap and ring home the sukker! I decide that I need to do this right and not just do the bare minimum... I am sitting on what can be a REALLY nice boat! Its 19' long with a 90 HP merc and Center console. The hull is in great shape and the CC was crack free.
Now I knew there was some issues with rats getting int he boat.. I was warned... however I would soon find out how bad it really was! I stripped this thing and when I took up the floors I nearly puked. It looked like a swarm of rats had eaten tunnels and filled the bottom with about 2+ inches of rat poo. There were Bugs eating it, spiders eating the bugs and a stench so foul it would gag a maggot! I probably should have been wearing a HAZ-MAT suite but I went at that stuff and cleaned it up! The pictures don't quite do the disgusting fair justice, jsut trust me.. its was gnarly!
Now after a good cleaning out of the poo and old foam, I hosed it out really well and then power washed it all out nice and clean.. what a good feeling!
I pulled out the fuel tank and in a completely unnecessary act painted it red... For some reason my brain just says anything that holds gas needs to be red!
Now to replace the foam... I was going to pour in some new expanding foam but we came up with a better idea found on an internet forum.. Pink Insulation foam. There are a few benefits to this. The best is that if for some reason I need to weld the bottom of the boat (yes I can weld aluminum) I can remove the foam easily. The other is that it is cheap!
(FoAM PICS TOMORROW)
I will continue to post pics as we go... if you don't see them now you will see them soon. Please any suggestions would be great!
Tomorrow we are going to finish the foam installation and cut the new floors. We plan on sealing the floors with Thompson s water seal on the bottom and using spray in ruck bed liner for the top.