[Ptikkala]

Update: we decided to sell the boat. We cleaned her up, replaced the hull liner and the key safety equipment (battery charger, vhfs, tower controls, etc). We just listed her and are sure she'll find a good home and another happy Tiara/Pursuit owner.

Thanks for your feedback - all good input for our next boat.

Original post:

We have a 1994 3100 Open. This is technically a Pursuit but it's the year Tiara gave their 3100 Open hull for a Pursuit so I think/hope a lot of my questions could be answered by 1993 Open owners.

We bought boat in 2011 from a less than diligent owner, but we wanted it mainly for a weekend home while our house was being built so we've not done much to her other than getting the engines rebuilt. Now, we'd like to get her fixed up for weekend runs. We know that we'll never get our money out of this effort but every time we look at a potential replacement boat we keep coming back to really loving the design and size of our boat. 

Here are some random questions:

1. What's the most reliable way to recheck for water damage? Boat was surveyed with no issues in 2011. We've had leaks but they were during storms where we missed getting all latches closed tightly and were generally dried quickly. Should we get it resurveyed or just buy and good watermeter tool and do it ourselves? 

2. Would like to get rid of the wood patition betwen the birth and dinette. Any structural reason we can't just cut it out?

3. Any source for windshield and deck hatch components? Our aren't leaking but several are badly discolored. Would love to get a set up for the hatches that have integrated screens or pop in screens.


4. Any recommendations for fridge and microwave replacements?

5. How hard/expensive is it to add a port side access door so I don't have to keep climbing over the transom?

6. I don't think the exterior of the boat has ever been maintained other than a few waxings. What's the best approach to getting her back to a good finish?

7.We're in the eastern NC area - any recommendations of people who can help with some of the work, including some fiberglass work and refinishing a powdered aluminum tower?

And if anyone's already restored a similar boat we'd love to hear your success and/less than succesful stories. 

Thanks for any and all responses.