Well, my 1972 Stardust 53x12 has sprung a leak and has now been pulled from Lake Lanier, GA and is sitting on the back of a semi. There is about 8 finger size holes under the boat where the shower is located. (I know this because I stuck my finger in the holes.) SO, what are my options? I need a range of ideas here because I'm not sure to what extent I will be "keeping" the boat. I have been thinking about the following options but need some thoughts on pricing:...?

Weld some Plates to the bottom of the boat over the holes / sandblast the hull / add any additional plates if needed / repaint and drop back in the water? (Not sure about price for this job)

Have a professional team Spray On Rhino lining over the entire bottom hull and over the holes --> $6,000 - $7,000 dollar job (boat is now beach-able (no need to fix the holes I'm assuming.

Rip off the entire bottom metal / replace with stainless steel?? No clue about priceing, but I am assuming this would be considered a 2008 Hull by the coast guard and would help with any insurance concerns?

Junk the boat for scrap metal and see how much I can get?
(hate to see this as an option, but I'm sure that will be many of your replies)

Sell the boat as is? (Not sure how much i can get for it at this point)

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1972 Stardust
53x12 OMC V-8

The entire state of the hull needs to be surveyed. Thickness end to end. If it is only an isolated area---its acceptable to patch weld the area. if it needs a whole new hull it will cost more than another boat. That is the downfall of steel. before purchase they need ultrasound inspection done to tell the thickness and overall condition. Most steel hauls only rust out on the back quarter(near stern) Is that where your shower is? This is because they generally sit lower at the stern side and that is where water collects rusting it from the inside out(not the lake side)

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Boatless at the moment
www.spboatsales.com

What Dave said.

Replace, not patch, the bad plate.

A 35 year old rusty steel boat is near the end of it's saleable life.

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OLD HOUSEBOATER

Edited: 02/11/2008 at 07:50:37 AM by OLD HOUSEBOATER

No the Coast Guard will not consider this a new boat. The hull is just a component. Replacing a component does not create a new boat. Here's a quote from one of the engineers at the Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety.

"You're right, again. Once a boat leaves the factory we do not generally grant permission to change its HIN. In no case would I expect to see a model year change request granted. As one of my former colleagues used to say, "Even if you replace every part in your 57 Chevy with a brand new part, it's still a 57 Chevy."

By the way, I am the former colleague.

I agree with what has been said. Replace, don't patch, but before you make that decision get a complete hull survey.

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Ike
"Don't tell me I can't. Tell me how I can!"
New Boat Builders Home Page
My Boating Safety Blog
My Boat Building News Blog

Thanks for the info, the hull survey does sound like the best next step as this will help formulate a plan. I got an estimate from a nearby company where they specialize in "Stainless over Steel" Replacements on older houseboats. I looked at an old Steel Sumerset which now has the Stainless over the steel and he has brought all the holes above water level which is nice (knot sure about the generator and how this would then suck in the water thou) the stainless did look good on the boat. Plus he kept mentioning that the boat is now beachable I was priced an estimate to have my boat done would cost me $17,500 dollars on this size of a boat. I'm not sure if this would have any affect on insurance considerations when inspection time comes?

The good news about the situation, is that the Stardust's engine compartment stayed completly dry, and it was only the main cabin that had water up over the floor boards. I've known the shower area (near the middle back of the boat once you first step down the stairs, there is bunk beds on the right and the Head on the Left before continuing into the master bedroom) was probably a bad area, but with these stepdowns, the only way to look at the hull is to rip up the flooring. So the OMC V-8 and the Onan 6.5kw generator are still in good shape. Plus the roof was redone in 1999 and the old factory side AC units were replaced with top mounted RV style units. No flybridge or railing on the top so the holes are very limited on the roof / so it's in great shape.

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1972 Stardust
53x12 OMC V-8

I never heard of the stainless over option but it sounds like a well priced upgrade. I would be planning on keeping the vessel for a while thou to get your moneys worth out of it.

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Boatless at the moment
www.spboatsales.com

The only proper way to repair a steel hull is to cut out and REPLACE the rusted areas with new metal. If your into beaching you might consider thicker metal in the contact area. Overplating just forms a pocket that further promotes degradition of the original metal and reduces saleability of the vessel.

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OLD HOUSEBOATER