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sneddonrider
Joined: 05 Jul 2011
Posts: 31
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 Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 12:02 am Post subject: Beef up Hull or Buy Tougher Boat? |
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I am having a hard time deciding if I should spend money on adding a thicker bottom and a stomp grate to my 19' 98 Eagle Alberta Special. It has a center fuel tank with a box stringer on either side 1/4 bottom at the rear and 3/16 at the bow, there is no support (stringers) in the bow. The Motor is a 4.3l (230hrs) v6 and berkley jet.
Ive had some experienced river boaters give me advice to sell it and buy a tougher bottomed boat rather than sinking money into a lighter boat cause youll never get it back. My research on used boats tells me that there is about $10000.00 difference between my boat and a sj tuchodi special of similar age/condition.
Ive also considered putting about $3000.00 into the bottom to beef it up(3/8 keel plate down the center) and get a stomp grate put on and take it easy for a few years till I can afford the extra cash, just worried about denting it real bad and costing lots to fix it later.
Just getting into river boating and not real crazy (yet) about running over rocks. Live near the peace river but want to go up rivers like the Murray/Athabasca.
Any Input is appreciated.
Last edited by sneddonrider on Sun Jul 10, 2011 8:01 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Boomhower
Joined: 03 Nov 2007
Posts: 995
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| Posted: Wed Jul 06, 2011 6:40 am Post subject: |
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I would upgrade to a heavier built hull. Adding a inner plate held down by plug welds never works, especially when placing it over an already weakened bottom. By adding stringers your going to have to loose the belly tank. The cost to do a new E/Z clean intake, a new 24" wide by 8 foot long 3/8" keel and some more stringers would run you around$ 8k. Minimum
Then your still stuck with the 4.3. |
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jethead
Joined: 19 Apr 2008
Posts: 22
Location: Fort McMurray
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| Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 5:49 pm Post subject: |
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| I considered the same ideas 2 years ago. Upgraded to a Lynx with no regrets. Slid over many "obstacles" and zero damage - would be certainly different if I tried that in my previous boat. |
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ALEX
Joined: 02 Aug 2005
Posts: 176
Location: red deer
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| Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2011 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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I think you have one of the boats built with the Berkeley E pump;this is an insert style pump that will not accept an ez clean.
You will be farther ahead to sell your boat to an end user that will be running the deeper rivers and pick up a boat that is suited to your requirements |
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