project boat question

 Hey all, Im in the market for a new project boat to build over the winter. Looking for something around the  4.8 to 5.2 Glass and preferrably a runabout style. Looking for a Swiftcraft, Pacemaker, Haines, Bertram. The question is , Is there I any I should avoid? Any others than I should include in my searches? Derbens keep bobbing up, they seem to have a nice deep V but I cant find much on them. 


Posts: 4577

Date Joined: 01/02/10

 Jump on Australian Old

Tue, 2020-02-18 10:58

 Jump on Australian Old School Trailer Boats on Facebook. Lots of info there on all kinds of older glass boats. If a search turns up not much can always post a question and someone will know. 

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Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?

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Date Joined: 06/05/12

 Ah ok,  Will give it a go ,

Tue, 2020-02-18 11:02

 Ah ok,  Will give it a go , Thanks Dodgy

 

Laneo's picture

Posts: 101

Date Joined: 05/08/12

Penguin Huntress

Tue, 2020-02-18 11:45

 know the guy who owns this project boat and he doesnt cut any corners good buy if its what your looking for (he is getting rego and HIN number this week)

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/willetton/motorboats-powerboats/penguin-huntress-boat-no-rego-on-boat-or-trailer-/1240016111

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LANEO

Laneo's picture

Posts: 101

Date Joined: 05/08/12

Penguin Huntress

Tue, 2020-02-18 11:45

 know the guy who owns this project boat and he doesnt cut any corners good buy if its what your looking for (he is getting rego and HIN number this week)

https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/willetton/motorboats-powerboats/penguin-huntress-boat-no-rego-on-boat-or-trailer-/1240016111

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LANEO

Posts: 34

Date Joined: 11/01/19

chivers, penguin, fraser

Tue, 2020-02-18 11:50

not sure of the models, but all very similar good glass hulls. i have a chivers sportsfisherman (although a little bigger then you're chasing) and it has a glass floor and stingers, very little timber. bulletproof old boats

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Date Joined: 06/05/12

 Im more into outboards

Tue, 2020-02-18 13:26

 Im more into outboards thanks Laneo but his boat looks in good nick for sure.  And cheers fresh herbs yeah youve mentioned a few more good ones, I cant go much bigger due to wanting to storage in garage. But it is an option, looking for a real cheapy, replace floor and maybe do transom too. 

 

paul d's picture

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Date Joined: 16/03/13

 The Voyager , Baron and

Tue, 2020-02-18 15:50

 The Voyager , Baron and Glasscraft boats are also built solid. Great hulls

Paul

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Date Joined: 19/06/14

Excellent

Tue, 2020-02-18 17:14

If you're going to do a project, do it properly!
Don't be scared to rip out the floors and the transom and start from scratch, most old glass boats are going to be needing this kind of love. I've rebuilt a Penguin Phantom from the ground up and I'm currently rebuilding a 28ft Shark Cat.Dont under estimate the time and loot needed to undertake such a project. I'm currently 313 man hours in and it's looking to be finished at around the 500 hour mark. As for the loot factor....... Faaaaark me! 
 

Boat projects are for the mentally deranged me thinks :D 

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 My wife understands why I clean my rods n reels in the shower....

 

Swompa's picture

Posts: 3880

Date Joined: 14/10/12

 You can double down on that

Wed, 2020-02-19 07:12

 You can double down on that Faaaaaark me when the cheap marine ply you think you got as a bargain may as well have been cardboard and needs replacement after 12 months.

Posts: 668

Date Joined: 28/11/16

I haven’t heard good things

Tue, 2020-02-18 18:45

I haven’t heard good things about derben boats. Stick to brands mentioned above and you will have much better resale when it comes time 

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Date Joined: 06/05/12

 Ok thanks SperateKnob, thats

Tue, 2020-02-18 21:08

 Ok thanks SperateKnob, thats the way Im leaning. And Silver fox, sounds like you have untaken a big job, Im only  thinking a 5m or so rig. And yes a new floor is relatively easy thing to do but  Transom is a bigger one but .....step by step and plenty of Vids out there to give guidence

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Date Joined: 19/06/14

5 meters is bigger than you think

Wed, 2020-02-19 06:06

A small boat project can and will hand your ass to you on a plate. There's a myriad of different steps to be undertaken at different times. You've got to be thinking three, four maybe even five steps into the future as to when and how you're doing things. Interestingly so a transom is an easier job than doing a new floor. The transom tends to be two laminated pieces of marine ply yet a new rib and stringer system under the floor will be a much, much larger undertaking. Don't skimp on buying good marine ply and don't be shy with a super beefy fibreglass lamination layup, once the new floor goes down you will not want to repeat a job like that. Check out Andy @ Boatworks today on YouTube, he's a wealth of information when it comes to glass work. There's a hidden catch in what you're about to undertake. It's pretty addictive! . If you ever need any info feel free to ask. On that note it's time to go lay up some glass :D  

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 My wife understands why I clean my rods n reels in the shower....

 

bradz's picture

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Date Joined: 29/10/07

Its fun

Wed, 2020-02-19 10:49

It is addictive and fun. Watching Andy on Boatworks today helped me sort out so many issues that I couldnt work out myself. Also, once you get a level of confidence you start to see alot of guys on Youtube who think they are doing good jobs but are really doing some dodgy sh#t.

My rebuild took over 2 years. Its now on the water but still sorting out some design issues.

You will never get your money back!

I've committed to keeping this boat for quite a long time and using it to test out other fabrication skills that I have picked up along the way. Its amazing how much stuff you will actually do yourself on a boat you have rebuilt that you would never consider doing on a factory-finished boat.

I would only do it again if I had a dedicated shed. Its not the laminating of fibreglass which is the issue...its the god awful job of grinding old glass. Really satisfying, but bloody dusty and messy and the neighbours need to be really tolerant. As does the wife.

 

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I did then the best that I knew how. When I knew better, I did better.

Posts: 202

Date Joined: 08/09/11

got a 5 metre one you can have.

Wed, 2020-02-19 12:04

It seems to be a Pongrass with a different cabin bolted to it. I was going to change it into a runabout, but decided to stay with the Derben. The boat is currently without a trailer. regards Marrisy.

paul d's picture

Posts: 255

Date Joined: 16/03/13

 Nice 4.8 m glasscraft on

Wed, 2020-02-19 17:53

 Nice 4.8 m glasscraft on Boat Sales Western Australia FB page $2500 with motor. Worth a look. 
Paul

Posts: 546

Date Joined: 20/02/11

 Great boat with glass

Wed, 2020-02-19 18:29

 Great boat with glass stringers.

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Mulie

scubafish's picture

Posts: 962

Date Joined: 15/08/12

Penguin Huntress

Thu, 2020-02-20 11:26

Great Boat,but I would pull the inboard out put on a pod and a new 100 + . great project boat very sea worthy at end you would have a good boat for a long time ,Bit like my Penguin Phantom.

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http://img.gg/BQ91Sys

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Date Joined: 28/11/16

Yeah the penguin huntress is

Thu, 2020-02-20 15:17

Yeah the penguin huntress is a good solid hull. I think the Fraser are a bit light