’74 Mustang Restore: Original vs. Useful

I'm struggling with a couple of decisions regarding the restoration of my '74 Mustang. I love the classic look of the boat, but I'm struggling with some aspects of the boat that reduce its usefulness (it's used almost exclusively for wakeboarding). I'd like to solicit opinions from all of you who care to weigh in.

#1 The bench seat. The '74 Mustang has a 3/4 bench seat in the front. This is cool, but it's not really all that useful for wakeboarding and skiing. I'd like to put in two captain type chairs, like on Keith's '79 Mustang so that the passenger can sit backwards or forwards. OR I'm considering putting in one captains seat for the driver and a permanent, backward facing seat for the passenger, like the newer boats. OR I could just suck it up, use the bench seat, and be glad I have such a cool, classic looking boat.

#2 The hull. Part of me thinks the white hull on my Mustang is kind of lame. Several of the other Mustangs from that era are orange, or green, etc, and I have to admit I like the color. I'm tempted to paint the boat fire-engine red.

#3 The dash. Leave it alone or rearrange it? The key is on the right on the '74, which is kind of a pain. Is there any downside into rearranging it more ergonomically? Also, any suggestions on what to replace the fake wood (vinyl covered wood) with? Teak?

#4 The swim platform (or lack of one). There's no platform on this boat, but there is a ladder. If I install a platform, I'm going to have to remove the original ladder hardware, which is integrated into the rail. This will also mean I'll have to replace the rail with something else. Or, I guess I could just cut the ladder so it ended at the swim platform, but that seems kind of useless. Part of me is tempted to just get rid of the ladder and the rail, since they would tend to get in the way when you're putting on a board.

Okay, that's a lot of questions. I'm eager to know what eveyone thinks.

Thanks.

I agree with BKH. Unless you just really want to keep the Mustang, flip it for a profit & buy something that fits you wants and needs better. My .02

dchris17....I am with the others...restore it to original.You got it for next to nothing...just keep it as a driving boat(little hotrod) and find another for boarding! Own two!!! Or more...how much garage space do you have...the limiting factor!
You can find 70's Nautique for good prices...they are already configued the way you are wanting...better wake for boarding too!

Color...well..If you gel is in good shape , I would keep that color!If it needs a lot of work...go for the funky retro 70's colors.I love those bright 72 colors!!!I have one Orange and one green...you can see (and hear) me comming a mile away

All 4 of your ideas are very do-able projects....but those mustangs are so tiny, if you're into wakeboarding I'd try to flip it right now and get a 2001 or barefoot hull.     

For your dash...look at the 72 mustang or Martinique dash...they were done in vinyl to match the seats...has that 70's muscle car look.Could you make a pannel, matching the holes for gauges , cover it with in vinyl and screw to the fiberglass??? Just a though!
Good call on the ladder...
AS for the white...compound it with a high speed buffer and polish...tou might be surprized!!!
Now... check out the 79 Nautique that just went up for sale...$1500.00!!!Buy that one and keep them both!!!!

I like the vinyl dash idea. I was thinking of making a teak dash, but teak is kind of spendy. I could do something similar on the gunnels, which were also covered with that contact paper. I already have vinyl that might work for it.

I winterized the boat yesterday, and realized all the hoses have to be replaced. The exhaust hoses are splitting, and the water hoses are ready to go too.

Like they say, it's cheaper to buy a boat than to keep a boat.

As for the '79 Ski Nautique, I could never pull that off. My wife would kill me. The only reason she let me trade one money pit boat for another was because the Mustang was practically free. I've got to hang on to the Mustang for at least two years before I dare suggest getting something else. Besides, I'm really looking forward to the project and to tooling around the lake on such a sweet ride.

I agree 100% with jbear. You might find selling it easier and more profitable keeping it close to original. If you decide to keep it (which I think you will be glad you did later on) and find yourself tooling around 95% of the time instead of boarding, it will serve you well. Listen to stang72, he knows what hes talking about. 2 boats are better than one. Especially when that one dies on a Forth of July Weekend and NO BOAT! Thats just my .02 ! (I guess .02 isnt worth much these days)

dchris...trust me...you can buy her off!!! Find out what it takes...that 79 looks like a steal!!! Shopping spree...trip...you cook dinner for a year...what ever it takes!!! You can do it
2 cents won't do...but $1500.00 will...(plus what ever she needs )

In two years you can turn it into lots of different things.

1) the seats- take the ones in it and throw them in the garage for storage and get what you want. Make sure they will work good in the boat you will get in a couple of years.

2) Hull paint- Not me, maybe a stripe or something. Total grief if it starts coming off.

3) Dash - Do what you want if it looks good it will still add to the value.

4) Swim Platform- Throw one together, I will send you a picture of mine to work from if you would like. You could really design a cool looking one if you spent the time. And it is so small it shouldnt cost too much.

Have a blast!

Dchris If the wife said yes to two boats, would you go that route?? I still like stang72 idea, change the tune to her , then if that doesnt do it..
LOL

It's a ball
We better back off though or be prepared to to give up two garage spaces (for those two boats ) when he gets booted out! No more for him....I can't live with that.
dchris...you know your boundries!!!

Thanks pSwan - the pictures are helpful. I don't think I need any more. I'm pretty sure I can design a platform. Any suggestions on where to get the brackets?

To an earlier question, even if my wife let me have two boats at once, I don't think I could pull it off. I have too many projects as it is.

dchris17..........i will have TWO bucket seats that APPEAR to be mustang seats for sale in the very near future. They are currently in my 79 Barefoot Nautique and coming out! I am puting the original seats back in. These buckets do swivel and are adjustable. Thare upholstered in light blue with white stripe and are PERFECT as far as condition! No upholstery work needed here. If you might be interested, I will email you photos. It may be closer to Christmas when I get them out!!! Let me know!

Paul

The more I think about it dchris, the more I think on how lucky you are to pick up a boat at a steal. It is awesome, will do the job, and probably if you didnt have/get it, you would be wishing you had it! There is no question that boats in general are a lot of work. Dont kill yourself trying to do EVERYTHING at once. If time is limited, do the mechanical stuff to make her reliable, use it, enjoy it, then add toys!! "The human way is to always want something better than to be happy with what you do have."

So, look at the swim platform/ladder arrangement on Bruce Biven's Mustang. My ladder is just like that, except with no swim platform it just extends all the way down. This is one of the things I've considered - taking about 10 inches off the ladder and having it end at the swim platform. Curious what others think.