jetur
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2014
- Messages
- 677
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Have had several boats over the years and one of my favorites was the 20.5 elite. A group of our friends go to Blythe every year and leave the boats and RVs for a couple of months. We started tagging along and quickly realized that sitting on the shore and bumming rides sucks. (Especially if you have previously owned boats)
It's very shallow so as much as I didn't want another jet boat it's a must in this area. Looked at all of the yamahas, sea sea doos ECT. They all had fairly open seating but there was no replacement for displacement. If I was getting back into boating there was going to be a v-8 big block involved.
I found a 93 Carrera 20.5 Elite on Craigslist and the guy wanted $5800. Mechanically it's in good shape but apholstry and top half of gelcoat are hammered. (Tarp rotted off and it was neglected) I'm third on a list to look at it so I offer him $6000 over the phone to jump the line. He agrees, I go over to buy it and the seller ends up being an old family friend. Boat checks out and I pull it home.
I took it over to a buddy's shop and we went through the electrical and fixed a few minor items. Then I took it over to another buddy's body shop for paint and apholstry. Normally, I wouldn't paint a boat but it's the only option to get the top half back, so the bottom will stay original gel and portions of the top half will be painted back to original and then sealed with an aviation poly coat.
I will post pics of the restoration progress.
It's very shallow so as much as I didn't want another jet boat it's a must in this area. Looked at all of the yamahas, sea sea doos ECT. They all had fairly open seating but there was no replacement for displacement. If I was getting back into boating there was going to be a v-8 big block involved.
I found a 93 Carrera 20.5 Elite on Craigslist and the guy wanted $5800. Mechanically it's in good shape but apholstry and top half of gelcoat are hammered. (Tarp rotted off and it was neglected) I'm third on a list to look at it so I offer him $6000 over the phone to jump the line. He agrees, I go over to buy it and the seller ends up being an old family friend. Boat checks out and I pull it home.
I took it over to a buddy's shop and we went through the electrical and fixed a few minor items. Then I took it over to another buddy's body shop for paint and apholstry. Normally, I wouldn't paint a boat but it's the only option to get the top half back, so the bottom will stay original gel and portions of the top half will be painted back to original and then sealed with an aviation poly coat.
I will post pics of the restoration progress.