1989 Hydrostream Voyager

[bfjr1]

I have an 89' Voyager CDN with a 14" long split in the side of the pad under the passenger seat. Question I have: Is it worth trying to fix this or is it a write off? I assume because it is fibreglass it is repairable. I love the boat, but am having a tough time making this decision.

It is either have someone fix it or if there is someone out there that is interested in buying it from me (cheap) and then fix and sell it themselves.... Decisions.

Bryan

[rjdubiel]

sounds like your core is delaminated from what i have learned here. core isnt good = flexing = cracks.

can you cut a hole in the floor (is there a ski locker in the floor? take that out) to see if you core is wet? if it is call john speath and have him fix it. cheaper than a new boat!

[JWTjr.]

that you can live in Ontario, own a HydroStream that's broken, and not know where to take it for repair?

Call John Spaeth. If you love that boat, he will make it better than you could ever imagine. It just takes money and time (lots of time).

JT

[bfjr1]

Thanks guys. I have heard of John before. I'll contact him to discuss, but I have a feeling I will not be prepared to invest the time or the money. There is plenty of boating season left and I have the itch to be on the water.

[rjdubiel]

i wouldnt run it, you may end up delaminating the whole bottom and swimming back to the truck.

RJ

[bfjr1]

I can't run it - that is how I found the crack. When I got back to the dock the boat has ~10 inches of water in it. I drained it with a sump pump and managed to get it out of the water before sse went down. It is a repair, scrap or sell situation...

[bfjr1]

Here is the split....

[JWTjr.]

don't run it. Get it fixed. Spend money while you still have it and enjoy your boat.

JT

[bfjr1]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

[bb.bloomquist]

Dont sell it you cant get them anymore. I would love to have a voyager!

Brad
Willmar, MN

[hsbob]

its fixable. the cause is the design of the ski locker. to incorporate the locker the, they broke the center ribs. you'll need to remove the floor and ski locker. taper the crack out at least one foot on either side. then start layering in new glass. fix the center two ribs[ elimating the ski locker] and add another rib to the outside. i would also add some some bracing across the crack to both side of the pad.

[bfjr1]

Thanks HS. This boat does not have a ski locker, but I did cut a hole in the floor and one of the ribs was broken at the location of the crack. You are right about that. I just wonder how many more problems lie beneath the rest of the floor. Time for the skill saw.

I have owned the boat for the last 5 years and it has always been stored in the dry, but I guess who ever owned it for the first 14 years weren't so careful. Too bad.

[calhoon]

I have been talking with John Spaeth regarding my transom and floor. That was ball-parked at $10000. CAN. At that point I changed the conversation to a new Voyager from him. It sounds like they start around the $17,000 CAN mark. Thats rigged with gauges. You may want to call and leave your info on his voice mail (705) 484-0407 He takes several days to bet back to you and you may want to call more than once, but John is full of great info and willing to help. It sounds like there is a bit of a demand for voyagers. I have been looking for used and just bought a '89 that is in mint condition and new interior this year.

Here is a link to an ad in Sault Ste Marie, ON. I considered this one but by the time I added in shipping it wasn't worth it.
http://saultstemarie.kijiji.ca/c-car...QAdIdZ68237386

Here is another add in Ottawa (but a bit too much $$)
http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehic...QAdIdZ67756971

One in NY area...
http://rochester.craigslist.org/boa/837431477.html

I now own 2 Voyages so I have one coming up for sale in the spring.

Good Luck! They are out there you just have to look long and hard for a good one!

[bfjr1]

Funny - I have already been down to test drive the one listed in Kijiji - Ottawa. The boat is actually on Rice Lake, just south of Peterborough. It rides nice, but I can feel the floor moving during the ride and am a little hesitant given my current situation.

I would rather buy a new one, one that John has rebuilt or invest in repairing mine before getting into the same situation I am in now.

I did speak to John (you are right - a great guy) and he ballparked me at $5-7k because the transom is still OK (I know - but for how long). Same $10k to rebuild both, etc..

It may be a little too much for me to take on seeing how I was planning to install a new interior next year. I think if the interior was already done, then I would have it in for repair already. But now I am looking at $10k for the hull, $2-3k for interior and I still have a 19 year old boat... Maybe I'll hold out till spring and then see how bad I am itching.

Thanks again for all of your input guys.

[David]

Get a new boat built now or get the repair done over the winter. By spring, you will have to wait.

I was at John's on Monday, and there are fewer boats around than usual. The wait may not be so bad. Of course it is the fall.