Complete Restorations
Complete Boat Restoration
A restoration is not one repair. It is the hull, the structure, the engine, the wiring, the flooring, the upholstery, and the finish, all brought back together on one timeline. Because every one of those trades works in our building, your boat does not get split between four shops to get there.
What We Restore
What A Full Restoration Covers
Most boats worth restoring are not failing in one place. They are twenty or thirty years into a life on the water, and the hull, the systems, and the interior have all aged at the same time. A restoration addresses the whole boat in the right order, so you are not fixing one area while another quietly gets worse.
Hull And Structure
Transoms, stringers, bulkheads, and laminate brought back to full strength first, because nothing else is worth doing on a hull that still flexes.
Decks And Flooring
New sub floor where the old one has gone soft, then carpet, vinyl, or the surface of your choice laid over a deck you can trust underfoot.
Upholstery And Seating
Foam, vinyl, helm seats, loungers, and trim rebuilt or replaced, so the interior matches the condition of the work underneath it.
Engine And Drivetrain
Service, rebuild, or full repower on Mercury, MerCruiser, Volvo Penta, Evinrude, and Johnson, handled by the same technicians on the same schedule.
Wiring And Electronics
Tired harnesses, corroded grounds, and patched in accessories replaced with a clean fused system, plus any electronics you want added while it is open.
Gelcoat And Finish
The last stage rather than the first, with gelcoat, fairing, canvas, and hardware finishing a boat that is already sound underneath.
How We Restore It
How We Approach A Restoration
Restorations fail on sequence more than on skill. New upholstery fitted before the deck is sound, or fresh gelcoat sprayed before the wiring is pulled, means paying twice for the same work. We run every project in an order that protects what has already been finished.
Assessment And Project Plan
We go through the boat properly before quoting anything, sounding the laminate, moisture testing the structure, checking the engine and the wiring, and pulling panels where we need to see behind them. That becomes a written plan broken into stages, so you can see what the boat needs, what it will cost, and where you could reasonably stop if you wanted to.
Strip Down And Structure First
Interior, deck, and hardware come out so we can see the whole hull, and this is the stage where a restoration tells the truth about itself. Any transom, stringer, or laminate work happens now, while there is clear access and nothing finished to protect. Getting the structure right first is what makes everything after it worth doing.
Systems Before Cosmetics
With the hull sound we move to engine, drivetrain, wiring, plumbing, and fuel, all while the boat is still open and everything is reachable. Running new wire through a finished interior means cutting into work you just paid for, so systems always go in before a single panel or seat is fitted.
Finish Work And Reassembly
Only once the boat is structurally and mechanically sound does the visible work start. Fairing and gelcoat, flooring, upholstery, canvas, and hardware all go back in last, then the boat is tested as a whole rather than as a list of completed jobs before we hand it over.
Why We Stand Out
What Sets Our Restorations Apart
The hard part of a restoration is rarely any single trade. It is coordinating all of them, and that is exactly what falls apart when a boat has to travel between a glass shop, an engine shop, and an upholsterer.
Every Trade In House
One Shop One Timeline
Structural Capability
Engine Work In House
Upholstery And Canvas
Staged Estimates
80+ Years On The Lake
Built To Be Used
Brands We Work With
Hulls And Brands We Work With
We take restoration projects on virtually any make and model, including boats we never sold. These are simply the names that come through our shop most often.
Our Process
Our Restoration Process
Every project runs through the same five stages, and you approve the plan and the cost before the boat is opened up.
Assessment
We go through hull, structure, engine, and wiring to find what the boat really needs.
Project Plan
You get a written plan broken into stages, with costs and a timeline for each.
Teardown
Interior and hardware come out, and any structural work happens with clear access.
Rebuild
Engine, wiring, and systems go in first, then flooring, upholstery, and finish.
Handover
The finished boat is tested as a whole and walked through with you before pickup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers To Common Restoration Questions
What does a complete restoration actually include?
It depends on the boat, but a full project typically covers structural repair to the hull, transom, and stringers, a new sub floor and flooring, upholstery and seating, engine service or repower, new wiring and electronics, and gelcoat and finish work at the end. Some owners want all of it and some want a defined portion, which is why we build the plan in stages rather than as one number.
How much does a complete restoration cost?
There is no honest single answer, because the range between a cosmetic refresh and a full structural rebuild with a repower is enormous. What we can promise is that you will not get a vague number. After the assessment you get a written plan broken into stages with a cost against each one, so you can see exactly what you are buying and decide how far to go.
How long does a complete restoration take?
Full restorations are measured in months rather than weeks, and most run across an off season. Structural work needs cure time between laminate layers, upholstery and canvas have their own lead times, and parts for older boats can take a while to source. We give you a stage by stage timeline up front and tell you promptly if anything changes it.
What happens if you find more damage once you start?
On an older boat it is likely, and we plan for it rather than pretend otherwise. Damage hidden behind panels and under flooring often only reveals itself at teardown. When that happens we stop, show you what we found, and price it as a separate stage for you to approve. Nothing extra gets done and billed without your say so.
Is restoring worth it compared to buying a newer boat?
Sometimes yes and sometimes no, and we will tell you which. Restoration makes the most sense on a hull that is fundamentally sound, on a layout you cannot easily buy anymore, or on a boat with real sentimental value. If the numbers do not work we will say so plainly, and we can talk through trade options and current
Is restoring worth it compared to buying a newer boat?
Sometimes yes and sometimes no, and we will tell you which. Restoration makes the most sense on a hull that is fundamentally sound, on a layout you cannot easily buy anymore, or on a boat with real sentimental value. If the numbers do not work we will say so plainly, and we can talk through trade options and current inventory instead of selling you a project you would regret.
Can I do a partial restoration instead?
Yes, and many owners do. Because the plan is staged you can take on the structural and mechanical work now and leave upholstery or cosmetics for a later season. The one thing we will steer you away from is doing cosmetics first, because finished work usually has to come back out to reach the structure underneath.
Do you restore boats you did not sell?
Yes. We take restoration projects on virtually any make and model, not only the brands we sell new. Where the boat came from makes no difference to us.
Do you take on older and classic boats?
Yes, and they are often the projects worth doing. Older hulls were frequently built heavier than modern ones, which is exactly why they are still around to restore. The honest caveat is parts, since trim, hardware, and instruments for discontinued models can take time to track down, and we will flag that at planning rather than partway through.
Can you repower the boat during a restoration?
Yes, and a restoration is the ideal time for it, since the transom and engine bed are already open and being addressed. Our technicians service and repower Mercury, MerCruiser, Volvo Penta, Evinrude, and Johnson, so the engine side is handled on the same timeline as everything else.
Can you change the color of the boat?
Yes. A restoration is the one point where changing the finish is straightforward, since the boat is already stripped and being refinished. We can match the original color, update it, or change the scheme entirely, and we will walk you through what each option means for the work involved.
Do you handle upholstery and flooring too?
Yes. Seating, foam, vinyl, trim, carpet, and flooring are all part of the work we do, alongside canvas and covers. Having it in the same building matters more than it sounds, because interior work has to be timed around the structural and wiring stages rather than booked separately.
Where is my boat kept during the restoration?
Here with us. Your boat stays on site for the duration rather than moving between shops, which is also what allows us to run structural, mechanical, and interior work in the right sequence instead of around a schedule set by another shop.
Can I see progress along the way?
Yes, and we encourage it. Restorations run long enough that owners want to see the boat at the milestones, particularly after teardown when the true condition is visible. Call ahead and we will make sure someone is free to walk you through where the project stands.
How do I get a restoration started?
Call our service department at 814-658-3464 or use the button on this page. Tell us about the boat and what you are hoping to end up with, and we will book an assessment and come back to you with a staged written plan.
Ready When You Are
Bring Your Boat Back To Life
Tell us about the boat and what you want it to become, and we will come back with an honest plan, staged costs, and a realistic timeline.