Started a new project this past week. I acquired a 1979 17’ Montauk that has been in my family since new. The boat has spent its life inland on freshwater in Conway, with a few trips to salt water on occasion. It mostly sat out of commission under a family shed for many years, but has recently had a new trailer put under it. It has never had bottom paint, and has been trailered its whole life. Overall in pretty good condition for a 35 year old Whaler that has never been reconditioned. I purchased without a motor, and this is where the work begins.
First step was to pressure wash the grime from sitting out for the past year after the motor was removed. and then strip everything down. I think I have decided to keep the bow rail off, as a few of the stanchions need re-mounting, and I think the bow rails are way to big on these boats for fishing.
I have ordered all the parts to redo the console, and I have new BRP binnacle controls, a new Ritchie compass, black decal, and new Evinrude tachometer. Heavy clean, and a full compound wax job will start this weekend, 3 types of wax, and high powered polisher.
Sure thing. This is going to be a functional/cleanup project. Not going for any kind of restoration medals here. Just a safe, modernized, stable platform.
Love my 61 model! Striped all the wood, installed a plastic concole and added an old 200 black max. off my old offshore boat, great inshore and striper boat cheap.
It’s Saturday, so of course that means more progress. Started off by cleaning the console and a few teak pieces. Bought some oxyalic acid from West Marine in concentrated powder form. This stuff is awesome. Lifts stains off the gel coat and strips the grime and grey off the teak with ease. I followed up on a few stubborn grease stains with Clorox bleach spray prior to a high speed compound wax. It’s amazing how thick the gel coat is on these old whalers. The console came out as smooth as a baby’s butt.
My little helper helped me sand and oil the first teak strips as I placed the new decal on the console and installed the new binnacle controls. After that it was time to put the rails and windshield back on as well as install our fresh teak. This decal has a carbon fiber pattern in it form a guy I found on Ebay, and it is automotive UV resistant vinyl.
Finally got the new teak gauge panels in and mounted all the switches and controls. Turned out pretty clean and retro I think. Next step was wiring it all up to the new fuse panel. Ran the 3 way wire to the rear for the lights, and the 3 way bilge wire to the back bilge. Hooked everything up to the panel with heat shrink connectors and then heat shrunk again.
Along with the teak panels the guy also made me new mahogany console supports as the existing ones were rotten. Solid as a rock now. Just the way Whaler intended.
It’s a great day to see the console back installed in the boat. Teak trim and all. Also got the hydraulic steering on along with the wheel. Also connected the throttle cables to the binnacle.
The Johnson 90 Ocean Pro off my current boat. It’s in such good shape and matches this hull so well I couldn’t see spending $11k just to get a new motor with fuel injection.
Gotcha. I saw the new binnacle and thought maybe you’d spent some $$ on an outboard. That boat will be nice, and I’m so glad you are getting rid of those ugly ace bow rails.
