Costs of restoring a 79 predictor

[chad_michaels72]

Hello All, I am fairly new to this website and really enjoy all of your posts and just love reading about all of you rebuilding these nice older boats. Early this winter I picked up this 16' 79 predictor with motor but doesn't run for $350.00. I intended to just use this boat as a fishing boat and still may as you can't hardly get a jon boat for that price without a trailer. Then I just happened to run across this site and I'm In love with the looks of this boat when its fixed up nice and now I'm thinking about restoring it. I know the boat needs a new floor and probably a new transom to but not sure of it. But anyways I'm wanting to get an idea of what it cost you guys with this kind of boat or one in similar size to redo the floor and transom doing the work yourself with or without the cost of the wood? I'm a skilled woodworker but I haven't messed with fiberglassing any but I"m willing to give it a shot. Thanks for any help, Chad. I love your guys website:drool:

[sawcat]

Chad,I'm new to this site also.I'm near completion of a '92 Pulse 185 and I didn't keep track of what I spent.I did at first but I've tried to forget.The good thing is it's been pay as you go.If you decide to go through with the rebuild your skill is one of many that will be needed.I'm a carpenter also but I learned enough rough fiberglass work helping on an Glastron Jet Boat rebuild to allow me to rebuild my mate' . Ideally if you find a friend that has a friend that is skilled in glass you get my point.At least practice on pieces of scrap with the glass not your Boat.I truely Love my Checkmate and seeing the way the hull was built made me appreciate it even more.That Glastron didn't lite a candle compaired to the mate'.Back to cost ,you know materials are the same for boats as everything else.It depends on what you use for a given job.I hope this wasn't discouraging.It's got to be a labor of love.Ask questions this board will help.We all want that Checkmate saved!

[175checkmate]

It really just depends on the amount of self control you have. If you do a search in the overhaul-in section on my trimate overhaul I have sunk a ton in my boat.
What started out as just a floor, transom, and seat boxes has turned into a complete transformation. I don't think there is a part that is still stock. It all has been modified some how.
Now back to cost.
You boat was built using regular resin, not epoxy. That's what I would use to put it back together.
For the floor you are looking at a few sheets of ( I used 3/4 plywood)
I would estimate 2 gal of resin. If I remember right they are about $38 per at home depot. It comes with 2 tubes of hardener, you will need to get a large tube for each gal.
The transom will eat another sheet of ply and more gal of resin
The fiberglass is a bit harder to estimate. I used both bi-directional cloth and matt. You can get this at Home depot as well. I used a bunch of both. They run about $12 bag.
I would say that if you where doing just the floor, (may be the stringer) seat boxes, and transom your total material cost would be between $500-$800.
Not counting the price of my boat ($3500) new powerhead, ($2200) I have about 5K in the overhaul. Yea I know It would only sell for about $6K.:brickwall:

[TRsCheckmate]

If I remember right they are about $38 per at home depot. It comes with 2 tubes of hardener, you will need to get a large tube for each gal.


This same resin is about $25 to $28 at Lowes or Meijer if you have one of those near by. Every once and a while Meijer clears out thier shelves and sells them for ~$20. As someone said earlier, it is pay as you go. A little bit at a time if you are on a budget.

[Boston Predictor]

25-28$ is a great price!

Im no expert on this subject, but I have done 3 floors, a transom and some misc glass work to diffrent boats. A bit of advice though, If you dont already have one make sure you get a fiberglass roller to get the bubbles out and spread the resin evenly. This tool will become your best friend.

On a nother note, to save money I went to the boat yard and asked if they had any extra fiberglass scraps they didnt need. They were more than happy to give me all the glass I needed and it wasnt junk either.
I doubt every boat yard would do that but it's not a bad idea to check it out.



Dont give up on it, save that mate!

[83PREDICTOR]

Cost of restoring a 79 Predictor

PRICELESS

[sawcat]

Hey Chad what did you decide to do? I just wanted to tell you that being a skilled woodworker will get you a very long way in rebuilding that Predictor. . Heck man you already own alot of the tools you'll need . Just trying to get you pumped! :thumb: SAWCAT

[Jamey]

I just finished my 80 Entertainer. I didn't have to get into a floor or anything, but had to put about 3k into having the engine and wiring updated (not including the work I did myself) and $1,500 on having the gel coat resprayed on the gunwale. To have the seats remade and reupholstered was around another $1,500. I put in the carpet, prop, stereo, a new carburetor and a LOT of hours, but total put about $8k into it to get it looking like new again. Worth every penny! I doubt I could sell it for what I have in it, but why would anyone sell a Checkmate???!

[chad_michaels72]

Hey that's a good one 83 Predictor lol. I'm still deciding sawcat, I'm gonna take the boat to my local marine shop and talk to the guy and see what he thinks. Do you guys know of anyone that restores older boats like this that could tell me whether or not I'm wasting my time on my boat being in the condition its in? I'm from southern ohio. Thanks for the reply's and help guys.:thumb:

[illMATTic]

shoot, i paid $1200 and now have around $5000 invested over the years and im still not done spending.:devil: Must Go Faster:drool:

[sawcat]

Hey Chad, I'll be checking to see what you found out. SAWCAT