Common Challenges in Boat Restoration

Washington resident and Trojan One Properties owner Philip Giboney likes to go boating, but also enjoys spending his time restoring older boats. Philip Giboney has restored multiple vessels, including a 1983 Boston Whaler Montauk and a 1973 Sea Ray 24 SRV.

Boat restoration can prove costly for those who go into it without sufficient knowledge of the potential pitfalls. These trouble spots cause some of the most common difficulties.

Prospective boat restorers should take a close look at a boat's engine before committing. The price of replacing an engine can be as much as three times the cost of repairing an engine that merely has damaged or non-functional parts, so thoroughly evaluating the condition of the engine should be a priority.

For those who do replace the engine, checking the integrity of the structure and the design parameters of the boat should be a priority. Not all boats can withstand more speed or a heavier engine, and this mistake can set back a restoration.

Boat shape plays a role when considering the cost, in both time and money, of repainting. A simple open boat will be much cheaper to paint, and take less time, than a more complex model, due to the extensive preparation which will be required.

A boat that is too large can defeat any prospective restoration planner. The complexity of a restoration scales much faster than a boat's length, with a 10 foot increase creating massive jumps in cost and difficulty. Prospective restorers should be careful not to bite off more than they can chew.

Diamond Knot - A Diving Wreck in the Strait of Juan de Fuca

Philip Giboney is a Lakewood, Washington, executive who engages with Trojan One Properties as owner and manages both residential and commercial properties. Experienced in scuba diving, Philip Giboney has explored several noteworthy Washington underwater destinations, including the Diamond Knot wreck. 

Located in the Strait of Juan de Fuca west of Port Angeles, the wreck is approximately 400 yards off the coast of Salt Creek State Park. The sinking occurred in 1946 when the boat was in tow following a collision with another vessel. Carrying Alaskan canned salmon, the cargo was recovered in a successful salvage operation before the ship slipped underwater.

The Diamond Knot wreck is under about 130 feet of water, in a spot where the ocean deepens dramatically. With the midsection having collapsed, only the stern and bow sections of the 360-foot boat are still intact and the metal surfaces are encrusted with marine life. With the marker buoy only intermittently in place, an ideal way to approach the wreck is by locating the anchor line and using a depth sounder to approach the Diamond Knot from a down current.