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1997 Ercoa 19' rebuild

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 8:21 pm
by decaboro
Here are some pics of what I started with for my rebuild. I searched all over for information on Ercoa and came up with very little info. I used Google and IBoats, etc. The boat does have the Hex type pontoons which I was told are more stable than circular ones. I do like the look of them.

Re: 1997 Ercoa 19' rebuild

Posted: Mon Jun 19, 2017 8:31 pm
by decaboro
Here is where it is currently. We have sanded and polished the rails and are putting new aluminum siding on them. The furniture arrives tomorrow. I am changing the layout from what they had before. After that time to go spend the big bucks on a whole new motor and controls, etc. My options are either Mercury or Honda. Both will be a 60HP. Boat is rated for up to 70HP. Any preferences?

Re: 1997 Ercoa 19' rebuild

Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2017 6:17 am
by curtiscapk
Wow that's great! I like Merc's.....

Re: 1997 Ercoa 19' rebuild

Posted: Wed Jun 21, 2017 1:47 am
by ROLAND
man, your tear down went great and with the new flooring, she looks great... you've got a clean slate now... please keep posting pics as your rebuild continues... looking very good so far.

Re: 1997 Ercoa 19' rebuild

Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2017 8:15 am
by JLester273
Looks Awesome.

I like how the deck sits flush to the pontoons actually. Can't wait to see what you do to it.

Re: 1997 Ercoa 19' rebuild

Posted: Tue Jul 18, 2017 9:18 am
by decaboro
still working on it. I have all the couches and console and chairs in from PS. The problem is we have been trying to reconfigure the fences and are running into issues matching them up for gates and what we want. SO I have made a few trips to a welder and am waiting for them to come back before I put the furniture all on. Couple questions for whoever looks at this......

1) As I am so late into summer already do you think it maybe worth waiting a couple more months to purchase motor and controls? Will they have sales after the boating season is over? We are in Las Vegas so my guess is not so much here where you can comfortably boat till December.

2) As the boat is a "clean slate" (no holes drilled for wiring, steering cables, etc) maybe its best to leave console unattached so they have easier access when hooking that all up?

Re: 1997 Ercoa 19' rebuild

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 1:26 pm
by decaboro
Just ordered my motor today through All-Seasons Marine here in Vegas; Its a 60hp Evinrude E-tec. My boat is rated for 70 hp. I have to admit besides all the good stuff I researched on Evinrude I like the white color.

In meantime got boat in lake so I could replace all the bunks. All the 2x6" on it were all cracked and dried out, one whole board was missing as well. I also replaced the guide bunks with carpet and all new boards as well. I used a hard plastic material used for garden borders. It covered the boards exactly. The good news is the boat slides on so easy; the bad news is it slides so easy! I am hoping once motor and all rails, furniture etc. get on the weight will help hold it down. I used extra straps to make sure it was not sliding while driving around. At worst I figure I could go back later and add carpet over the back half or so.

You can see boat in background on shore.

Re: 1997 Ercoa 19' rebuild

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 2:18 pm
by JLester273
I was considering doing plastic on the front part of mine actually. I'll look into the garden border stuff too.

I was just going to do the front half so it slides up to the stop easier.

Re: 1997 Ercoa 19' rebuild

Posted: Thu Jul 20, 2017 2:21 pm
by JLester273
As for your rail....you probably had the 8.5 foot deck and now its only 8 foot wide correct?

Cutting and re-welding seems the only fix there. That is a pain.

Re: 1997 Ercoa 19' rebuild

Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2017 8:24 am
by decaboro
Actually it was and still is 8' deck. We just wanted a different set up for the boat. It had an enclosed back half but from our prior experience we usually beach the boat and then swim off the back of the boat so wanted easy access that way. If I had it to do all over again I would have just had a new custom made fence ordered. My wife was freaking out a bit on how much we were spending so we tried reusing the old fence. At least I justified getting all new repower.

Re: 1997 Ercoa 19' rebuild

Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2017 1:15 pm
by JLester273
Oh OK that makes sense. Gonna look sweet when your done.

Re: 1997 Ercoa 19' rebuild

Posted: Sat Aug 12, 2017 6:17 pm
by decaboro
Just got back a couple of days ago. Finished up doing some seats and reinforcing the fences. Still need some lights, Bimini top and other cosmetic type stuff. Will try and get in lake tomorrow morning.

Not fancy at all but I have never been too much of a handy man so this is pretty good for me.

Re: 1997 Ercoa 19' rebuild

Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2017 6:55 am
by JLester273
Looks nice. I like it

Re: 1997 Ercoa 19' rebuild

Posted: Thu Aug 17, 2017 10:29 am
by tkrein
I like it also, you might want a ladder on the back by the door. Not sure how you will attach it since the toon sits so far back. Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Bennington try out the hex tubes in the 90's also. I thought another member did a rebuild with them.

Re: 1997 Ercoa 19' rebuild

Posted: Fri Aug 18, 2017 11:54 am
by decaboro
I don't know too much about pontoons so not sure if any other boats have used them. The ladder off the back is definitely on the top of my to-do list. It maybe a bit tricky the way it is not flush in the back. I have a few ideas. Thanks for the comments. I have a bimini I am adding this weekend and a depth/fish finder as well.
Have a good one.