88 Hydra-Sports 20' Bass Boat re-do

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I picked up this boat last winter, with a vision of projects to come   Basically, I want the motor.  The boat was solid, but had been neglected the last few years of it's life.  Actually got it from the original owner though, so I have all the history on the motor.  Here it is after the long drive home, tucked in the shop.

Edited by Mr.Diesel - 06/08/2012 at 10:44am

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PS-Guy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List INACTIVE Senior Admin. Joined: 12/02/2008 Location: Elkhart IN Status: Offline Points: 2009	Post Options Post Reply Quote PS-Guy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: 88 Hydra-Sports 20' Bass Boat re-do Posted: 06/08/2012 at 10:13am
	I picked up this boat last winter, with a vision of projects to come Basically, I want the motor. The boat was solid, but had been neglected the last few years of it's life. Actually got it from the original owner though, so I have all the history on the motor. Here it is after the long drive home, tucked in the shop. Edited by Mr.Diesel - 06/08/2012 at 10:44am
	Feel free to contact me for help on your project! Pontoon Seats

PS-Guy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List INACTIVE Senior Admin. Joined: 12/02/2008 Location: Elkhart IN Status: Offline Points: 2009	Post Options Post Reply Quote PS-Guy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06/08/2012 at 10:25am
	Not bad, but the pictures actually make it look better than it really was. The Gel Coat is badly oxidized, carpet shot (missing up top) and of course the seats are gone. But I only found one very small soft spot. It must have been top of the line in it's day...dual axle trailer with brakes, aluminum rims, 4 live wells, Hot Foot, elec/hyd jack plate, extra tilt/trim out back and on the wheel. I stripped it down the rest of the way and set out to restore the Gel Coat...
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PS-Guy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List INACTIVE Senior Admin. Joined: 12/02/2008 Location: Elkhart IN Status: Offline Points: 2009	Post Options Post Reply Quote PS-Guy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06/08/2012 at 10:31am
	In the above pics, I have the boat stripped fully of all carpet & doors, and I'm getting ready to wash it down. I used a restoration product called PolyGlow. It requires the entire surface to scrubbed down with the pad and cleaner. It takes some time and elbow grease. After it has dried you apply the product with a shami-type applicator. This boat took so many coats up above the trim I forgot how many I put on. Only took 4 below to make it look new again. I'm VERY impressed with this stuff. While it was a LOT of work, I don't think the finish above the seam could have ever been wet sanded and buffed back. It felt like an 80 grit sanding disk. Again, hard to tell but here is an after pic:
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PS-Guy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List INACTIVE Senior Admin. Joined: 12/02/2008 Location: Elkhart IN Status: Offline Points: 2009	Post Options Post Reply Quote PS-Guy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06/08/2012 at 10:35am
	Next up: the new 24 oz carpet from BoatCarpetBuys.com . I went with Midnight Star. I did the floor and the upper deck first. Then I used a piece of PontoonStuff CCA Decking to build a "shelf" so I could dump the small peds originally used, and go with a more traditional bass boat bench.
	Feel free to contact me for help on your project! Pontoon Seats

PS-Guy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List INACTIVE Senior Admin. Joined: 12/02/2008 Location: Elkhart IN Status: Offline Points: 2009	Post Options Post Reply Quote PS-Guy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06/08/2012 at 10:38am
	Once that was done, you would think it was all down hill...NOT! Man covering all those doors is a LOT of work! But I kept at it, and the 24oz Spartan carpet and PontoonStuff adhesive was really easy to work with. I used a bead of Liquid Nails around the edges to help hold them down. Installed an old pair of buckets I had and this old boat is looking new again!
	Feel free to contact me for help on your project! Pontoon Seats

PS-Guy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List INACTIVE Senior Admin. Joined: 12/02/2008 Location: Elkhart IN Status: Offline Points: 2009	Post Options Post Reply Quote PS-Guy Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06/08/2012 at 10:43am
	I found the best way for me to do the job was to lay out all the doors on the carpet and cut each piece at the same time so I could get the nap going the same way. Don't tell any one, but I still managed to screw one up . The doors are a little snug, but we will see how they do over time. I know at least one will need trimmed, and I plan on using the "beard trimmer trick" where you simply "shave" some of the fibers off of the inside of the opening. Over all I'm really impressed with how it turned out. The carpet feel REALLY plush under foot and looks great! Now it's time for a water test of the big Suzuki
	Feel free to contact me for help on your project! Pontoon Seats

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group Guest	Post Options Post Reply Quote Guests Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 06/08/2012 at 12:18pm
	You've got a lot farther on yours than I did mine. I had to trim the console trim and modified an opening for a gauge. I'll get my neighbor to do my carpet later on. Just waiting on the boatseatstore to get new bass seats in. Looking good as always Ty. I'll have to see about that poly product though. I was prepared to do a lot of wet sanding on mine.