'78 Sceptre 23 -- Complete Restoration

danielddavis · #1 06-17-2003, 03:38 PM

Hey folks. I'm new to the board -- just referred to the site by a buddy who saw my boat for the first time. I have a 23' Sceptre with 225 Merc Opti and I am planning to completely overhaul the boat this winter. I need a little help!!!

Any thoughts, ideas, suggestions, tips, will be MUCH MUCH appreciated. My dad bought the boat new in '78 and we have fished the boat HARD. It is fantastic -- we thought about buying a bigger Albermarle Express, but can't stand to part with the boat. I'm willing to spend some $$$ to make this boat even more of a fishing machine, so I can't wait to learn from the board.

Thanks!

Daniel

PipeDreamsMarine · #2 06-17-2003, 03:43 PM

Welcome to CSC.. Lot's of good advise and good people here.. Just watch out for the "4 boat theory guys"....Bring lots of beer .. we work on the Beer to project size idea ...

Welcome

ocuyler · #3 06-17-2003, 04:03 PM

Danial,

Welcome to classicseacraft.com! If you use the search option and look for subjects that may interest you, the answers are probably already there. Let us know if you need help navigating the site.

For the record, the "4 boat theory" guys are the ones keeping the economy going and are a shining example of proper nautical excessive/compulsive behavior. Danial, we hope you're not married because a complete resto sometimes requires a temporary seporation from family. A year or so ought to do it...

Seriously though, it's great work and even better when it's all done. Just beware of the aluminium welder types...

Finster · #4 06-17-2003, 04:19 PM

Daniel welcome aboard.

Well put Otto [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

And Don it's been recently modified to the "Boat Yard Theory". [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] Is there ever really enough?? [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

John R · #5 06-17-2003, 07:25 PM

Welcome to ClassicSeacraft.com

[B]RUN AWAY WHILE YOU CAN [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

danielddavis · #6 06-18-2003, 09:17 AM

Thanks for the responses and the welcomes. Glad to learn that it is okay to have 6 boats. I will have to admit I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I'm not planning on doing all of the work on the boat myself. Although I have some novice skill at fiberglass work, I'm not going to be able to make the time to tear this girl up and put her back together. I prefer to spend time pissed that someone else is doing it the way I would.

In all seriousness, I'm going to have someone in SC do the work (its not going to be a restoration, more of a renovation / restoration) I'm going to add rod lockers, combing, and do some work with the top.

Any suggestions on folks in the South that are up to this task?

PipeDreamsMarine · #7 06-18-2003, 09:52 AM

Welder types... [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] I haven't seen any T-top pictures for that nice shiney blue 23 you got Otto [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] .. Don't for get your hat for the NE gathering, if it gets too hot fer ya you can ride on mine, it's mighty nice in the shade.. [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] . But anyway.. Otto first beer is on me.. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img]

danielddavis · #8 06-18-2003, 10:39 AM

PipeDreams,

Just took a look at your site. Sure is some purty work. Have you ever made a hard top that was removable... strange question, but we park our boat in the carport all winter and have a soft top that we can take down to fit in the slot. I would LOVE to have a hard top with rod holders, radar, etc., but it would need to be able to come down once a year.

Any thoughts?

Finster · #9 06-18-2003, 10:45 AM

Yo, D.B. save some room in that boat for me and my boys. Their not aloud to have beer, but they can fetch. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

PipeDreamsMarine · #10 06-18-2003, 11:37 AM

Carla Dee..Making a hard top that you can remove once a year for storage is not a problem. You need to make certain consessions, the biggest one is the there will be some exposed wiring(some not much) and it will take you about and hour to take it off(undoing the wiring is the biggest part). But They do look nice and hold up just like a fixed hard top.

Chris.. no problem.. just bring their swimmies. I don't have the life jackets for the lil'ones yet.. [img]images/icons/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Otto... do you still have the old canvas?.. if so send it to me and i'll get one made and send it back to you if you want.. The only problem with Starboard is that it doesn't bend two ways at once, and when it does it makes a big bubble. Check your top for compound crown. Use a long straight egde, one that will go the whole lenght of the top. If it touches on the front and the back along with the middle bows your ok and it will work fine. If not it will still work but you may not be happy with the way that it looks.

If you go with the canvas. I can tell you how to lace it back on