Older inboards not the same

I have a 91 Supra Impulse that after 2 years am just getting back in the water.  Previous boats were a 79 Ski Nautique and 83 Mastercraft 190 (yes I am older myself). 

I bought the Supra thinking a 351 and PCM transmission was all that was important as long as it ran well.  BIG mistake.  When Supra built their hulls they only spot glassed the stringers, spot glassed the floors, ran the exhaust under a glassed in floor (not accessible), used steel staples to hold things together, and filled the system with closed cell foam.  The exhaust went through the glassed in floor section and closed cell foam it steamed the floor every time you ran it.  The closed cell foam acted like a wet sponge on the bare springer sections. The floor and stringers rotted just after the warranty ran out. 

After taking the top off the hull, removing the floor, grinding down to the bare shell, rebuilding a better stringer design with quality components, glassing it all together, glassing in the floor, remounting and balancing the motor and drive train, rewiring, replacing the exhaust, reapholstering the interior and polishing the outside, it is a boat that will last for 50 years +.  It has been a royal pain in the back side.  Had I known that there had been some shoddy boat building out there, I would have been more careful in choosing the hull.  NOT ALL HULLS ARE MADE EQUALLY!  Thankfully, late model boats are mostly glass and foam with really cool glues and bonding agents with nothing to rot.
Lesson learned: If you are considering an older boat, talk to a couple of fiberglass shops to get their input on make and year models.  It could save you lots of money in the long run. 

If you have your own nightmare, drop me a line and I will try to help you streamline your repair process.

I have an '87 Supra Saltare with the same hull problems.  In addition, the gel coat dried up and chalked up after a few years even though I have my boat on a lift and inside storage in the winter.    Still a very cool boat, sounds like yours is too !

I own an 88 and 94 pirata

1990 MasterCraft ProStar 190 with 980 "hard" hours.  Not a single issue in the 7 years I've owned her (I think I am the third owner).    Still the best wake I have skied behind - ever.  Guess what my next boat will be? 

All comp boat owners/buyers...Do your research.  I have only owned 2 boats up to this point and like any industry, technology advances with time.  My first boat was a 1984 Mastercraft Stars and Stripes 19 ft Skier.  1984 was the FIRST year Mastercraft went with all fiberglass floors and stringers.  Seat bottoms were still wood, but easily replaceable.  1986 was Mastercrafts first year wood free.  Every other manufacturer was still using wood floors and stringers at that time.  Expanded the family and sold my Mastercraft and bought a 1999 Supra Legacy.  Again, all fiberglass boat.  Great boat, very reliable.  I believe Supra went all fiberglass in the early 1990's.  I seriously considered buying an early model Supra Comp at the time I bought my Mastercraft, fiberglass vs wood was the game changer.  I didn't want to have the hassel or time off of the water after buying a boat.  I believe there is only one manufacturer out there now using wood stringers and the guarentee the hull and stingers for life, Tige'.  In my opinion, it is still wood and time off the water, but each to their own.