1977 MFG 14’ challenger - need your input

Frankezincle · Feb 9, 2020

Hello first time on here- I have lurked many times between here and Microskiff.com-

I’m my search for l casting decks and layouts for skiff rebuilds and jon boats and many of my searches landed me here so I thought I would join.

I have acquired this rough shell of a 1977 MFG TriHull fiberglass fishing boat- for $80

There are several brands and makes out there with this tri- headral hull ; for example sears gamefisher and johnsen were similar-

Well this will definitely be a rebuild/ resurrection. I have named her ”the fugly goose” the transom and gunwales need to be cut out and replaced out completely. After much thought, I'm going to strip her down; cut it all out, sand her down and redo the transom and layout and new decks with .75” carbon-core, use mat strand and resins and lay basic fiberglass over the hull area that need reinforced: to make the hull and boat tough again - I’ll have Line-X spray the interior white and the hull slick black-

I need help to figure out how to fix/upgrade the gunwhales and the lay out as I want no wood - I was thinking composite trim- or 1/2 pipe of pvcor a rolled edge with new rubber rub rails

Any and all thoughts, ideas, do’ and don’ts or previous pics of any rebuilds would be greatly appreciated from you all- thank you

Frankezincle · Feb 11, 2020

:?: :?: :?: :?:

CedarRiverScooter · Feb 11, 2020

I think you are going to be upside down just buying the materials to save that boat, not to mention the labor.

LDUBS · Feb 11, 2020

I'm curious why you want to use Line-X to coat the inside and outside. I know this stuff is used for pick up beds. Do they make a product for boats? If it is anything like their bed liner product I would think you are setting yourself up for some horrible maintenance issues down the road if you have to remove the stuff. I may be all wet, but that is my concern with using this stuff on a boat.