23 CC -I/O Rebuild

[Matt1121]

Otterly Cool-

The guys name on LI is Gene Serafin or something like that. I guess he did some work on the Curtes Lee....a boat which is shown on the site. I would contact the owner and get his feedback on Gene's work.

Also, there were a couple of threads on Metan Marine's work and how a few guys were upset with the work he did on their boats. I would try and track down that thread and speak to those guys before you did anything.

Also, my friend Jodi has his own shop WILCO MARINE in Newbury, MA 978-465-9283. He has an excellent reputation but it is Northern Massachusetts and might be too far away from you.

[AJD414]

Otterly Cool, Have you contacted Hi Gloss Marine Refinishing? He's right in Patchogue at 90 Colonial Drive (Inside Dockside 500 Boat Yard). Telephone # 631-758-7998. He is about to begin restoration on my 79 Sceptre. I contacted Gene Serafin first but he only does fibreglas repair and did not want to get involved in extensive paintwork, which my boat needs. Hi Gloss work looks good and he's got a clean, well organized shop. My job is big and he was pretty flexible in pricing. If you need additional info call me at 786-3457. Tony

[CapeGuy]

Otterly dont waste your time with metan... he is a thief. He will high ball you then get another 10% on top of contract. I have not only dealt with his hassle, but spoke with two previous guys that had work done on their seacrafts. Not a pretty sitiation. Please do your homework and get a quality boat yard to do it!

[OTTERLY COOL]

Hi guys. Thanks for all the responses - looks like I'll be able to find someone local. For those of you who asked I want to do the following:

Keep I/O but check and, if necessary, repair transom
fix 2 soft spots in floor
awlgrip hull (exterior)
new fuel tank
new wiring system
gel-coat engine compartment
fix something rattling on port side of hull(can't find it)and add new foam
generally clean up the gel-coat stress cracks
(mostly around gunwale - the guy who had it before me put about 200 screws into the hull; most of them did absolutely nothing ?????)
new windshield
clean up console and add porta-pottie (for "her")

The boat is seaworthy now - she was fishing when I bought her. In fact, the guys who worked at the yard ( a "new" seacraft dealer) used this boat, which had been traded in on a new 23, for their own fishing trips even though they could have used a new one ( the yard's demo).

I guess that also answers some of the questions that were raised as to why not just get a new one. THEY'RE NOT THE SAME. I don't think the new ones have the "build" the Potter hulls have BUT in any case, the hull is NOT the same design. The new hulls are 8'6 wide not 8. That's a small difference, but it's enough to through the ride off. And they just don't look right - they look like other mass produced boats with a high price tag. There really isn't anything special about them.

Anyway - thanks and keep talking to me.