We are deep into the restoration of “Big Dreams, Part 1,” our $1,000 Bayliner Bowrider 175. While we’ve made some good headway with the new bilge pump and engine teardown, peeling back the layers of this boat has revealed some serious structural “surprises.”
Here is the technical progress report on what we found once we started ripping out the rotted floor.
The “Why You Don’t Beach Your Boat” Lesson
The biggest discovery today was a literal hole in the hull. If you look closely at the fiberglass, you can see light shining through. This is what happens when a previous owner repeatedly “beaches” the boat on sand or rocks—it eventually rubs the hull raw.
We’ve also found several cracks in the internal fiberglass and sections where someone tried to “fix” things with a random gunk-like filler.
- The Plan: We are pulling out the entire center section of the floor to clean everything up. We’re going to have to do some proper fiberglass repair before we can even think about putting down new flooring.
Hydraulics and the Stern Drive
On the back end, we were having issues with the stern drive not moving up and down.
- The Investigation: I went through and cleaned up all the hydraulic connections.
- The Result: It seems to be functioning okay now. I still need to replace the rubber exhaust gasket, but getting movement back in the trim system is a big win.
Danielle’s Cosmetic Grind
While I’m dealing with rotted wood and fiberglass, Danielle is handling the tedious work on the exterior and interior.
- The Rivet Issue: She’s currently scraping old silicone out from underneath the boat. On these Bayliners, there are rivets all around the hull. When you’re in motion, water sprays up and can find its way through those rivets, slowly filling the boat. We’re cleaning those out to reseal them properly.
- Interior Pieces: Aside from one small hole she’s working around, the interior panels she’s cleaned up look almost brand new. It’s amazing what a little elbow grease can do for a “hoopie.”
The Engine Bay
The engine bay is finally starting to look like a workspace. I’ve cleaned out years of grease and grime so I can actually work in there without coming out covered in oil. The new Seaflo bilge pump is installed, looking sharp, and—most importantly—it works.
This project is a perfect example of why “cheap” boats rarely are. We’re uncovering years of neglect, but we’re committed to doing it right. If you have questions about the fiberglass work or the specific tools we’re using, leave a comment below.
Watch the full progress report here: Removed Rotted Floor & What Else We Found Wrong EP #7