The Basics Of Boat Restoration

Are you getting ready for your first boat restoration project? Whether you want to restore a boat so you can take it out on the water yourself or you want to sell it so you can make some money, you’re going to need some basic information before you tackle your big project. We at Nisswa Marine like to help our patrons make the most of their DIY projects, which is why we’ve compiled this short guide to boat restoration for you to peruse before you get started.

Since boat restoration is a pretty lengthy process, you want to be prepared with the right materials and lots of patience. Do plenty of research and talk to experts in the area before you begin. 

For reliable restoration tips or to have professional boat maintenance, get in touch with our service department in Nisswa, MN. If you’re looking for boats for sale in Minneapolis or St. Cloud, visit our dealership for a tour of our inventory!

Should You Even?

Since boat restoration is a demanding project, be sure that this particular boat is worth your time, effort, and money. A boat should only be restored if its structure is sound; when it’s structurally damaged or worn out, it’s not worth the effort. You want to restore a boat that will have a good resale value and can earn you some profit if you want to sell it. Otherwise, you’re pouring money down the drain. By the same turn, you don’t want the cost of restoring your boat to outweigh its actual value.

Inspection & Preparation

If you’re getting the boat from a previous owner, try to get as much information from them as possible. Discuss the boat’s history, like how often it was used, what types of repair and maintenance work it has received, and if there’s any damage. Boat restoration isn’t a walk in the park so you should know exactly what you’re getting into before you start investing time and money into it. Some common issues that you should steer away from include rot and mold, major electrical issues, problems with the engine, and so on. Allow your skill level to guide you in the right direction. Do not take on anything you’re not equipped to handle.

If you’re inspecting the boat and you start to feel unsure about the quality, you can get a professional to give a second opinion. Your first priority is the condition of the boat. This might cost you, but it’s worth it in the long run to have confidence in your investment. Once the boat has been thoroughly inspected, you can prepare a list of everything that you need to fix and prioritize it accordingly. One common mistake is to work on the boat’s appearance first before tackling the important parts and systems. Since you count on these to run the boat and they’re quite costly to fix, you should get to them before anything else. You can’t enjoy a boat that doesn’t run and you certainly won’t be able to sell it for a profit.

Fix a Workspace

A very important part of boat restoration is having a clean and functional area to work in. This is more true for those regions that experience frequent weather changes. For example, if your boat restoration is a part-time project that will last several months, you may end up working in the rain and snow, so your workspace should be safe from the elements. The ideal workspace will have some sort of coverage overhead so that you can work no matter the weather.

It’ll also be a good idea to have your workspace close to where you live so you don’t waste a lot of time traveling back and forth. You’ll definitely need access to a power source at either end of the boat, too. Other necessities include access to lighting and a water supply.

Get the Right Tools

Once you’ve taken care of the other steps, you have to get the proper tools for the job at hand. There are a number of tools required to undertake a big project like boat restoration. If you’ve never done this before, remember that getting all these tools may be a big part of your budget so you want to work that into your total cost planning. The tools you need will depend on the kind of boat restoration you’re undertaking. Some of the tools you’ll need will be:

• Goggles and gloves
• Nuts, bolts and screws
• Hose clamps and wire clamps
• Electrical components
• Pipe fittings
• Sandpaper
• Fasteners

Tasks like DIY restoration go faster when you have everything conveniently at hand and don’t waste time looking for things. Make sure that items like power tools, flexible hoses and ladders are kept in places where you can easily access them when needed, without them getting in your way while you’re working and don’t need them.

We hope you’ll find this boat restoration starter guide useful. If you need additional information or you want expert help with boat maintenance, visit Nisswa Marine and have a chat with our service department staff. We also have a wide inventory of boats for sale for our patrons who still haven’t found that perfect boat for their family. We’re here for all the boat needs of our friends from Minneapolis and St. Cloud.