So to start off I have an older 1997 scout 155 fish that for the second time has water trapped in the hull. When I bought this boat I knew it was not properly cared for so after I heard the water sloshing around in the hull the first time I drilled a hole in the bottom of the boat drained three five gallon buckets of water out, cut three holes that are now used for speakers and an access point, put fans and a dehumidifier blowing into the new holes as well as had all the hatch and other access points open and burnt up three shop vacs that I had taped to the hole in the bottom sucking water out all the while fans blowing and dehumidifiers going simultaneously to dry the boat out. This was about a four month long process and while that was going on I pulled every thru hull fitting and recaulked and reinstalled or replaced as needed, new scupper, recaulked every object that was attached to boat . I figured the boat should be dry and the entry point sealed up. I wet the boat a few times no water seemed to be present, So I go buy a brand new 70 HP yamaha have it installed and I am on site when it is mounted and watched the dealer caulk the motor bolts everything should be good now right ? Nope, water has now become trapped in the hull again and I am at a loss on what to do now so my question is to the boat Gods(Cracker Larry and Phin)is a refurb possible or smart? What my idea of a refurb consists of is an expert (not me) pulling hull and cap apart remove all foam, look for and repair the reason the water is getting trapped in the hull, replumb live well with all new plumbing , replace every single thru hull fitting, spray new foam and put back together if I am leaving something out please add it as I am not an expert on this type of thing. Cracker if this would be something you could accomplish plesase let me know me with some ideas and if you are to busy to take on another project like this could you give me some idea on what something like this might cost so I can kind of protect my self from somebody who mig
I appreciate you thinking of me, but I’ve retired from grinding fiberglass and digging out waterlogged foam. Enough is enough!
That is what will take to do it right. Pull the deck, remove the foam, clean it all up, inspect the stringers and transom for rot, probably have rot in both if it’s been wet very long. Cut out and replace stringers and transom, glass it all back together, fair, prime, paint…It’s a big and nasty job, and expensive. If you did it all yourself, maybe $3500 in materials. If you hire a pro, $10K or more. The boat may not be worth that much unless it’s has special sentimental value to you.
One more thought, that water has to be coming in from somewhere, and with everything you have done to seal the fittings, I would strongly suspect that the hull/deck joint has become separated. I would first pull off the rub rail and check that seam all the way around. I bet that’s where your leak is.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
quote:
Originally posted by Cracker LarryI appreciate you thinking of me, but I’ve retired from grinding fiberglass and digging out waterlogged foam. Enough is enough!
That is what will take to do it right. Pull the deck, remove the foam, clean it all up, inspect the stringers and transom for rot, probably have rot in both if it’s been wet very long. Cut out and replace stringers and transom, glass it all back together, fair, prime, paint…It’s a big and nasty job, and expensive. If you did it all yourself, maybe $3500 in materials. If you hire a pro, $10K or more. The boat may not be worth that much unless it’s has special sentimental value to you.
One more thought, that water has to be coming in from somewhere, and with everything you have done to seal the fittings, I would strongly suspect that the hull/deck joint has become separated. I would first pull off the rub rail and check that seam all the way around. I bet that’s where your leak is.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
X2
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
It isn’t worth it to ever do this with a hull unless it’s one you’re really really wanting and will love when done.
First thing to realize about boats is that it’s never as simple as you think it will be.
Also, the thing about that model scout is that you don’t have much material to work with. With an older, heavy-built boat, there’s 1/8 to 3/8" thick fiberglass in most places to grind back and then bond new stuff to. The scout 155 honestly does not have that kind of construction, and that will be the biggest battle for anyone trying to rebuild it.
Not saying it can’t be done- just saying it will be a battle… and it will take some different kinds of techniques that need to be done right or else you’ll have problems again in exchange for your current problems.
So question #1 should be, “Do I really love this hull and layout, or what I could turn the layout into?”
It’s just like restoring an old car. You will be willing to do more work and start off with one in worse condition if it’s what you really want to have in the end.
If it isn’t what you want, you’ll be upside down in it quickly to do it right, and you’ll end up resenting owning something you’re “trapped” in or either have to take a hit to resell.
Any boat can be fixed. The question is whether you’ve got the motivation to see it through and love it in the end. If not, it’s going to be a lot of pain and anguish for you, and you may want to think about cashing the chips in now before you go all-in.
That make sense?
What could be very helpful for you to is to find someone who used to work at Scout, building this same hull, and solicit their advice on how to best go about pulling the cap and repairing everything and then reclamping.
I’m not familiar with the boat’s construction and if it has grid stringers, prism beams over foam, or stringers bonded to the deck or what.
I suspect it’s stringers with joiner putty with the deck and cap clamped on. This can be pulled apart easily since no tabbing between the two
I agree exactly with Phin. Unless you inherited that boat from your Daddy, it’s not worth it. I’ve done a lot of these restorations, and once you pull them apart you are opening an ugly can of worms. At that point you either have to continue, or scrap it. You can’t sell it at that point.
That hull might have a value of $5,000, if you are lucky. You can put 6 months or more of work and many thousands of $ into it, and it’s still only a $5,000 boat. The juice ain’t worth the squeeze, as my Daddy would say.
Check that hull/deck joint, fish it as long as it will go, then sell it.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
First thing I’d do is take it to scout and get their input. They stand by their boats and will provide advice
2000 SeaPro 180CC w/ Yammy 115 2 stroke
1966 13’ Boston Whaler w/ Merc 25 4 stroke “Flatty”
www.ralphphillipsinshore.com
Who would have thought that some of the most respected people on this site would have responded to this topic? I am going to let Scout tell me what they think and they did tell me they take care of Scout boat owners but I dont think this will have a positive outcome for me but I sure do hope so. I agree that to make this right I would have to fork out some serious coin and to me this boat is just a boat so if Scout does not think it can be repaired I will take that and decide from there on what to do with boat motor and trailer . Being in my position I dont think it would be worth it to put that kind of money into something like that and even if I did I work two jobs and would have no time to take on something like this. Who knows maybe Scout can bring new life into that boat I have heard stories about Scout doing some great things for customers. Solid advice guys thanks .
Just as an example of what we’re saying, look at this scout for sale here. Boat, motor and trailer. Larger than yours, about the same age. $6K for the whole package.
http://old.charlestonfishing.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=155915
If the hull is in better shape than yours, buy that one, put your Yamaha on it, sell the Honda, your boat and the worse trailer. You can almost break even or come out ahead, and save a LOT of work.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
I have to agree
not worth the money, but my first guess would be the rub rail
Pm sent
Scout 185
Not to hijack a thread but you cause me to hsve a related question. Water in the bilge of a Scout 175 can be absorbed into the foam?
It depends on the year of the boat.
A 2002 hull is probably built with closed cell foam that does not absorb water. It was somewhere around 1996 or 97 when they switched from the early open cell foam that soaked up water like a sponge, to a closed cell that does not.
I’ve done tests on the foam that I use with water, gasoline, diesel fuel, motor oil and 2 cycle oil. Soaked samples for 3 months. Still as good as new. Yours should be OK. Anything built earlier than late 90’s can be a big problem.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
Thanks for the info.
UPDATE Monday I will be taking the boat to Scout for the final verdict . My fingers are crossed they can save this little boat.
Good luck 
Did you ever pull the rub rail?
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
Thanks Cracker , But no sir I figured it might be best to leave it as it is so Scout can see the whole picture not tampered with by my inexperienced hands. I’m kind of thinking they could probably see something I might over look if I messed with it .
UPDATE
I took the boat to Scout yesterday and after about an hour the entry point for water getting in to the boat was indentified . It was coming from one of the cockpit drains (the little brass tube that passes through the gunnel to outside the boat)that drains water out of the cockpit that over the years was corroded some and even though I resealed it up because its so wore out vibration and flex from use would just break the caulk joint and allow the water in the boat. But I was wrong the water is not trapped in the hull bilge area its trapped in the most outer part of the hull to up under the bilge area it’s an area that runs the entire length and width of the boat and it"s about a 2.5"-3" thick space that is foam filled which is completly water logged. Scout can fix this according to them and we are meeting again next Tuesday to have some more eyes and opinions on the repair solution and what I might expect to pay and he stressed multiple times they would take care of me as well . But I would like to take a second to say and I will not mention his name but a gentleman from the front office wearing a collard Scout boats shirt and khakis was crawling around my old boat like he built it himself ,laying on his back on the hot as the devil asphalt parking lot at 2:00 in the afternoon looking for an entry point for the water . If for some reason which there is still a small chance they can’t or decide not to fix this once they go farther into the boat I couldnt be mad about it if they did , that says alot about their after the sale custmer service and why they are seen as an upper teir boat manufacturing company. But that’s it for now the boats at home they reccomend that I start getting water out of the boat so I had to drill another hole and as of last night had filled up two five gallon buckets of water from my boat . I am sorry if this sounds like I’m giving and update on a family member that just had surgery, sounds kind of funny like that.
Rob70, this is good information for Scout owners. I can only wish I was having the same luck with the boat manufacture on the issues I am having with my 4 year old boat that has a limited life time warranty. I cant even get a no we wont cover it answer.