Sorry this is long, but I did a lot of modifications. I also used this forum to find many tips and ideas. Thank you all that have gone before me! 
I bought a 1999 Seafarer 226 in late October 2014. It didn't have everything I wanted, but the price was so excellent I decided to buy it and tweak it the way I wanted. Some (most) would say it was not worth it, but to me it was so that's that. I knew it also meant a lot of elbow grease. It was heavily oxidized, the metal was really pitted, and overall it was very dirty. However the hull is really solid and the motor, a Yamaha OX66 225 checked out great. Previous owner was a mechanic in the Coast Guard and took great care of the motor.
The boat is stored indoors over the winter. That allows me to work on it regardless of the weather. We have a lot of 'extra' space next door the our machine shop. Since I bought it late in the season I only took her out a few times. Over the first winter I installed trim tabs. I replaced the gauge panel with a custom one. Got rid of the rusted clock (amazingly it still worked) and moved the gauges to the right so I could mount a new stereo control unit. I added an amplifier and replaced the speakers. Then is was compound, scrub, polish, and basically rub my hands raw to clean her up to a reasonable degree.
I used the boat a lot last year. There is no hour meter on her, but according to the odometer I put about 450 miles on the hull. My Humminbird unit (only powered on when boat was in use) logged over 750 hours. I got to know the boat well and loved it. This past fall / winter I decided to bite the bullet and add everything that I 'needed'. :roll:
Last November a friend (2004 Seafarer) and myself researched and were trying to find someone to build us a pair of hardtops. Thanks from a tip from Great Grady we found our man.
http://www.greatgrady.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23402
The hardtops came out great, but this brings more expense and work. We decided to install electronics boxes. I admit I was wishy-washy about it, but I was eventually persuaded. The selling point was I bought one with 6-1/2 speaker mounts so I can now hear my tunes while underway. Also installed a dome light and spreader lights. I do a lot of night fishing/boating. One thing I didn't like about the Seafarer was the accessory switch locations. Not a big deal, but finding the correct switch was not super convenient. Many times I turned on the wrong device. :roll:
That caused me to add a five switch panel in the electronics box. Now by simple one handed feeling I know what powers what. Mounted a fuse block in there too. The guy that made the hardtop customized a few things for us. One was he added an access plate between the upper and lower tube runs, and drilled through both. This made the wiring super clean as everything is internal. The enclosure was fabricated by a local company that I have used several times before. They do great work, and over the winter they will come to me since the boat is indoors. My friend liked it so much he decided to go with the same company. He had to bring his boat to them, but is picking it up tomorrow.
Last but not least my partner in Seafarer obsession decided that we should flush mount the electronics. The least expensive modification and I now feel one of the best. The other thing I did not like about the Seafarer was the flip up door for the electronics enclosure. I was not a fan of reaching into the box to operate the VHF or XM Radio either. I was going to replace the door but was persuaded to get rid of it instead. We came up with a good way to flush mount that is sturdy and looks good.
One last thing to do is fabricate a hook drying thing-a-ma-jig to mount on the fold down motor well door. (I have a plan in my head) I can remount the three rod holder that was there last year, but I already have 16 rod holders so I think I'm set there.
Put her in the water two weeks ago, but due to weather (wind) and time have not had her out yet this year. Right after work today I'm going fishing! I am happy
I bought a 1999 Seafarer 226 in late October 2014. It didn't have everything I wanted, but the price was so excellent I decided to buy it and tweak it the way I wanted. Some (most) would say it was not worth it, but to me it was so that's that. I knew it also meant a lot of elbow grease. It was heavily oxidized, the metal was really pitted, and overall it was very dirty. However the hull is really solid and the motor, a Yamaha OX66 225 checked out great. Previous owner was a mechanic in the Coast Guard and took great care of the motor.
The boat is stored indoors over the winter. That allows me to work on it regardless of the weather. We have a lot of 'extra' space next door the our machine shop. Since I bought it late in the season I only took her out a few times. Over the first winter I installed trim tabs. I replaced the gauge panel with a custom one. Got rid of the rusted clock (amazingly it still worked) and moved the gauges to the right so I could mount a new stereo control unit. I added an amplifier and replaced the speakers. Then is was compound, scrub, polish, and basically rub my hands raw to clean her up to a reasonable degree.
I used the boat a lot last year. There is no hour meter on her, but according to the odometer I put about 450 miles on the hull. My Humminbird unit (only powered on when boat was in use) logged over 750 hours. I got to know the boat well and loved it. This past fall / winter I decided to bite the bullet and add everything that I 'needed'. :roll:
Last November a friend (2004 Seafarer) and myself researched and were trying to find someone to build us a pair of hardtops. Thanks from a tip from Great Grady we found our man.
http://www.greatgrady.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=23402
The hardtops came out great, but this brings more expense and work. We decided to install electronics boxes. I admit I was wishy-washy about it, but I was eventually persuaded. The selling point was I bought one with 6-1/2 speaker mounts so I can now hear my tunes while underway. Also installed a dome light and spreader lights. I do a lot of night fishing/boating. One thing I didn't like about the Seafarer was the accessory switch locations. Not a big deal, but finding the correct switch was not super convenient. Many times I turned on the wrong device. :roll:
That caused me to add a five switch panel in the electronics box. Now by simple one handed feeling I know what powers what. Mounted a fuse block in there too. The guy that made the hardtop customized a few things for us. One was he added an access plate between the upper and lower tube runs, and drilled through both. This made the wiring super clean as everything is internal. The enclosure was fabricated by a local company that I have used several times before. They do great work, and over the winter they will come to me since the boat is indoors. My friend liked it so much he decided to go with the same company. He had to bring his boat to them, but is picking it up tomorrow.
Last but not least my partner in Seafarer obsession decided that we should flush mount the electronics. The least expensive modification and I now feel one of the best. The other thing I did not like about the Seafarer was the flip up door for the electronics enclosure. I was not a fan of reaching into the box to operate the VHF or XM Radio either. I was going to replace the door but was persuaded to get rid of it instead. We came up with a good way to flush mount that is sturdy and looks good.
One last thing to do is fabricate a hook drying thing-a-ma-jig to mount on the fold down motor well door. (I have a plan in my head) I can remount the three rod holder that was there last year, but I already have 16 rod holders so I think I'm set there.
Put her in the water two weeks ago, but due to weather (wind) and time have not had her out yet this year. Right after work today I'm going fishing! I am happy
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