25' John Almond

[GRIM REEFER]

I just acquired one (free) with aluminum trailer, And a title. :thumps:
Well, It was used for a commercial Stone crab boat for a couple of seasons and It's pretty much trashed.
I remember when my friend bought the boat about six years ago, It was very nice. Someone put a lot of time into it, But built the pilot house out of plywood. No glass, Just paint. It wasn't even pressure treated.
The thing has SO much stainless on it. That alone is worth quite a bit. The trailer has fairly new springs, Hubs, Bearings, And all stainless U bolts, Rims, And tires.
Being that work has pretty much taken a sh!t for me. (for now)
I cant buy the big fast boat I was hoping for. So, I think I just may try to restore this one.
The hull is still in great shape. The deck has some soft spots though.
Once I get it home. I'll tear out the pilot house, Pull up the deck and make my final decision at that time.
This hull was very dry as I recall, And handled the sea's very well. The old Evinrude 235 made that thing haul ass too, But I'd probably go with twin 150's.
So, Anyone have any experience with these hulls? Is it worth the time and money?
I'll post some pics soon.

[Gamble]

I would love to see some pics. I am almost finished with my second boat rebuild. It always costs three times what you expect and takes 5 times as long but it's the way YOU want it when it done!

[stevemc1]

I would keep the 235 if it runs good. One big motor will run as good as 2 smaller ones, and it will weigh less. But if the motor takes a dump, then do what you need to. I have an in on some fiberglass cloth, any kind and size, and I am planning to pick some up this weekend. I have done lots of boat work, and if you need a hand, say so, and I'll give you a hand. Soft decks are usually from the plywood they used as a core, getting wet and rotting, usually because someone didnt caulk a drilled hole or something like that. They need to be taken out and the bottom fiberglass taken off, and scrape out the old rotted wood, and I would lay in glass, against the deck, and pour some resin in and roll it down, then put the bottom back on and weight it down for a couple hours on a flat surface. If decks that cant be taken out, that is a little tougher, but can be done. I have worked on some John Allmands, I think they were 30'+ though, and inboards. I could save you some time and money, so give me a PM, Steve in Sarasota. PS let me know what you may need, as I am going to Prizma over in Melborne, they make fiberglass covered foam stringer systems and beams.

[KEYSKILLER]

sweet grim. keep us updated with pics of the restore and what you might find.

[bgbill]

I would keep the 235 if it runs good. One big motor will run as good as 2 smaller ones, and it will weigh less.

Twins will always outperform a big single, you get more thrust.

[GRIM REEFER]

Well, I went over to check out what needs to be done to get this thing out of Derrick's boat graveyard.
Turns out it's a 23' and not a 25'. :(
I'd hate to put a lot of work into a boat that I think may be a little smaller than what I was looking for. The trailer is nice though. I could use it for my Carolina skiff.
Here's a little history
It used to be an IO. A bigger fuel tank was put in front of the transom and a motor bracket was put on the back. That thing must have been so ass heavy.
The motor then fell off (a new 225 Suzuki) :eek: The bracket was made out of plywood and paint. Nothing else
Derrick then bought it cheap and used it for his Stone crab traps.
Now his wife want's it gone

I'll post a few pics of this beauty :D

[dagodiver]

Derrick then bought it cheap and used it for his Stone crab traps.
Now his wife want's it gone

I'll post a few pics of this beauty :D


You mean he used IT for a stone crab trap.! :D
WOW you got some work to do.


Dago.

[Killer&Griller]

To save you a little of elbow work, get a pump up sprayer, in your case a backpack sprayer, and fill it full of deck cleaner. Don't bother deluting it, you don't need to. Olympic deck cleaner or PPG deck cleaner will do the trick. It works great on wood and fiberglass. It will not hurt the hull or paint. I use it on a regular basis and have for years. We use it before painting all of our customers exterior house surfaces. Read the lable. When it comes to cleaning, this stuff might as well be gold. Give it ten minutes and wash it off. Works a little better if you have a pressure washer for the boat condition that you have. I take a small pump up sprayer on my boat every trip. At the end, spray down the deck, rails, etc and watch all of the blood disappear with minimal scrubing. Just a quick hit with a deck brush.

[gumshoe]

Gas her up and go.

Plenty of boats that look just like that still out and about. :D

Seriously, by your description, that's quite a history and it might take a lot more work than it's worth.

[eward4]

Nothing a little duct tape can't fix!

[Old Bateman]

Yikes!

[stevemc1]

Theres a lot of better boats in several of the yards around Sarasota, that I am sure could be bought cheap, that are way nicer than that. I was at the boat repair yard-just looking a couple weeks ago-at 12th and Goodrich, and they had a bunch of good candidates. My partner on the ambulance likes to buy em, fix em up and make money from em. But maybe you could strip it, take the hydraulic steering, helm, motor and harness, any other stuff, pumps etc off to possibly use. Does the trailer look to be OK?

[Surface Tension]

To save you a little of elbow work, get a pump up sprayer, in your case a backpack sprayer, and fill it full of deck cleaner.

I was thinking gasoline and a match might be more effective. :p Just messin with you man. I restored a boat and it was a lot of work, but very rewarding.

You do have to weigh how much you want to go fishing vs. work on your boat.

Dave

[Killer&Griller]

Agreed about the time verses work deal, but I will say, and Gumshoe can attest, the deck cleaner will whipe out all of the algae and mold on the boat along with dirt, grime, etc in no time without scrubbing. Works good on the black mold on the cushions too.

[stevemc1]

Bleach will too. Just rinse it well.

[junior]

Wow. Better you than me:D

[normanhghntr]

i would fill your sprayer with gasoline, and you know the rest. :D seriosly wow that is some project, i love a good project too but i always ask for all the time and money i put in cant i just buy one for that???? good luck buddy!!!!!

[Grunt]

(Captain Ron Voice) "Hey boss, looks like you got a little dry rot here." Also, "If anythings going to happen, it's going to happen out there." :thumps:

[KEYSKILLER]

was the boat underwater? i ask because of how the wheel house "wood/plywood" all seems to be warping like it had a nice long soak?

i have torn down and rebuilt boats and that will take alot of work. just ask yourself "will you feel safe in it 25nm offshore if the wind comes up to 30 during a squall?" if yes than go for it.

[GRIM REEFER]

Well, The trailer is good. :thumps:
Lots of stainless parts to salvage for another project. The rest can go to the scrap-all, Unless some one want the hull.
If the hull was bigger, I would do it no prob. The stringers are solid.
The boat was used for stone crabbing for a few seasons like I said.
So, It does look like shit. The thing has a lot of untreated plywood so it looks real shitty. I would have used klegecell and bi-ax for that kind of thing.
My buddy has a 44' cigarette that is being converted into a serious fishing machine. He is about halfway done. It looks so bad ass.
Twin big ass Yanmars to make a middle grounds trip in less than two hours.
So, I do have the resources and the knowledge to do this kind of project.
Just not with this particular boat. Good for parts though :D

[GRIM REEFER]

was the boat underwater? i ask because of how the wheel house "wood/plywood" all seems to be warping like it had a nice long soak?

i have torn down and rebuilt boats and that will take alot of work. just ask yourself "will you feel safe in it 25nm offshore if the wind comes up to 30 during a squall?" if yes than go for it.

If I rebuilt this boat? Yes, I would feel safe.
If I just threw some hull cleaner on and got the motor running? NO
I have been farther in worse boats though.

[bug_power]

honestly man ripping out the top layer and sole and putting a new one it as long as the bottom is still good with no soft spots and the stringers are good. You can basically put some new decking down, build you a console and tower and be done.