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Boat in need of Identity
OrangeCrush
Member Posts: 1 ✭
I am in desperate need of some information. 2 years ago I bought this boat off of craigslist. I did not know a thing about a boat and was told stories about when my dad was young that he had a blast for 3 summers with a boat that cost him $75.00! Well I found this old (what I believe to be) fiberglass 1975 17’ Rinkerbuilt Deep V, inboard/outboard, closed bow. It has the original 1974 3.0L GM Mercruiser 140 engine. The odd thing was that the title did not have a Model outline on it. After some lower unit repairs the boat ran great (mind you I never touched a boat/driven a boat until the day we backed her into the lake).
To make a long story short, the transom and front motor mount were the consistency of pudding in some areas. I received a quote of $2,500.00 to complete the repairs, and that was if I pulled and reinstalled the engine myself. So being a relatively poor college student I embarked on a journey to repair and slowly restore the boat to its structural integrity of factory. After some legal disputes and a hefty refund from the first mechanic that told me my transom was solid, I took that money and bought fiberglass matt (1708) and bulk resin and I was off.
I completely replaced the transom with marine grade plywood, as well as the motor mount, as well as the floor of the boat (because why not, even though it was solid). The stringers were in perfect condition. I did replace the bow eye wood and reinforced it from within. I put new carpet and the (what I believe to be) the original interior. I replaced the 140’s head gasket (it was blown between cylinders 2 & 3) and gave her a paint job. Fixed the crack in the exhaust manifold and bought and installed a rebuilt carburetor, replaced all of the U-joints and replaced the gaskets in the lower unit.
Now if you are still reading, then maybe you will be able to help me.. I have reached out to Rinker, formally Rinkerbuilt, but has been Rinker since about 1980 and they only have information back to 1980.. I want to know if this is a rare boat, or if I should just consider it rare by my standards of putting in all of this time and money? All I can find from searching is Tri-hull, Outboard boats, and occasionally some Tri-hull I/o’s. I have once found a V-hull, but it was open bow and an outboard.
Again, I have a fiberglass, closed bow, V hull, 17’, Mercruiser 140 I/O (3.0L, original 1974 engine) Rinkerbuilt from 1975. It has an orange hull with the orange strip on white for the top. If anyone has any information on this I would so greatly appreciate it!
Thank you, and by the way my name is Zach and I am 22.
To make a long story short, the transom and front motor mount were the consistency of pudding in some areas. I received a quote of $2,500.00 to complete the repairs, and that was if I pulled and reinstalled the engine myself. So being a relatively poor college student I embarked on a journey to repair and slowly restore the boat to its structural integrity of factory. After some legal disputes and a hefty refund from the first mechanic that told me my transom was solid, I took that money and bought fiberglass matt (1708) and bulk resin and I was off.
I completely replaced the transom with marine grade plywood, as well as the motor mount, as well as the floor of the boat (because why not, even though it was solid). The stringers were in perfect condition. I did replace the bow eye wood and reinforced it from within. I put new carpet and the (what I believe to be) the original interior. I replaced the 140’s head gasket (it was blown between cylinders 2 & 3) and gave her a paint job. Fixed the crack in the exhaust manifold and bought and installed a rebuilt carburetor, replaced all of the U-joints and replaced the gaskets in the lower unit.
Now if you are still reading, then maybe you will be able to help me.. I have reached out to Rinker, formally Rinkerbuilt, but has been Rinker since about 1980 and they only have information back to 1980.. I want to know if this is a rare boat, or if I should just consider it rare by my standards of putting in all of this time and money? All I can find from searching is Tri-hull, Outboard boats, and occasionally some Tri-hull I/o’s. I have once found a V-hull, but it was open bow and an outboard.
Again, I have a fiberglass, closed bow, V hull, 17’, Mercruiser 140 I/O (3.0L, original 1974 engine) Rinkerbuilt from 1975. It has an orange hull with the orange strip on white for the top. If anyone has any information on this I would so greatly appreciate it!
Thank you, and by the way my name is Zach and I am 22.
Comments
First of all, welcome to the forum! There's a wealth of knowledge here thanks to its great members.
Amazing job! It looks like you have the "disease" the rest of us have! It's ok though, we're all here to help.
Mark
2019 MTX20 Extreme