V17C rebuild and refit

[Jeremy]

Wanted to go bigger than my V146C, so I bought a V17C back in August. Turns out the seller lied through his teeth (I guess I shouldn't be surprised) and there was a lot more work required than I had realised or budgeted for. Anyway, I got it for a good price. It sits on a Dunbier trailer which is in very good condition, although it is quite wide which makes towing it and reversing up my driveway a bit more interesting. I has a Johnson DF140 four stroke on it which should push it very nicely.

Towing home -

[Jeremy]

I was aware there was quite bit of work to be done and I had some ideas I wanted to use. First the boat smelled a bit so I set to cleaning it thoroughly and fixing a broken bilge pump and battery tie downs. I realised there was an issue with the floor after I had walked around in it for a bit. The bimini, clears and camper covers it came with were rooted, so I drove out to Ipswich and bought a holden ute lid and converted it into a hard top. Took about 10 hours with the hammer and chisel and grinder, and then bog and paint. Cost me about $250 all up as I reused the bows from the old bimini.

[Jeremy]

Next I took it to my marine mechanic to get some issues sorted - seized steering and service the outboard. He confirmed the floor was gone, so I arranged with a local fibreglass repairer to do the work for me. I stripped out the seats and side pockets and false floor.

[Jeremy]

Here is a couple of photos of the old floor coming out and the new floor going in. The entire floor was replace bow to transom, but most of the stringers were solid. I couldn't afford to get the transom replaced at the same time, so I hope to get 3+ more years out of it. He also fitted a new bowsprit for me and glassed up a cover for the anchor well.

[Jeremy]

Next was to reinstall the false floor. I got a quote for the side pockets and then thought "stuff it, can't be that hard, I'll do it myself" The side pockets cost me about $200 in materials.

[Jeremy]

I drove up to Gympie to get a second hand fibreglass esky of the right dimensions to use as the passenger seat. Seats re-fitted. The esky is permanently mounted with some aluminium angle and sikaflex. It won't move.

[Jeremy]

Other work I have done
- Remove old plastic rod holders (I can't believe they were screwed in not bolted) and fit heavy duty stainless rod holders
- Fit and wire new bilge pump, anchor light, deck lights, cabin light
- Rewire the boat with new busbars
- Rocket launcher attached to hard top bows
- New battery tie downs
- Register boat and trailer in Qld

[Jeremy]

Still to do (as budget and time permits)
- New main battery
- Reinstall dual battery isolator
- Underfloor fuel tank
- Live bait tank
- Sounder and chartplotter
- Front and side clears

[scottar]

You are going great guns Jeremy. What does that top weigh mate? Might need a bit more in the way of support for rough weather.

[Jeremy]

The top is pretty light - less than 10 kg. Yes, I have considered whether the current supports are strong enough and it will need to be modified anyway before the front and side clears can be added also.

[scottar]

The top is pretty light - less than 10 kg. Yes, I have considered whether the current supports are strong enough and it will need to be modified anyway before the front and side clears can be added also.

Yeah - don't want it smacking you in the back of the head one day in a bit of chop or worse still coming off at 100K hurtling down the highway.

[Dignity]

Yeah - don't want it smacking you in the back of the head one day in a bit of chop or worse still coming off at 100K hurtling down the highway.

Great use of an item I hadn't thought of, a few cross braces would most certainly help. Probably a wrap around SS rail to help support it all and also tie the windscreen in as well.

[Duckfish]

Good reno there Jeremy, you'll be a lot happier with the 17C then the smaller Haines. Means more trips out past Cape Moreton

[chocolatemoose]

thats a groovy project you have there!

[catshark]

holden ute lid turned into fishing hardtop roof, CRIKEY somebody give this man a box of XXXX ........... seriously which holden model.?