1968 19' BowRider, 120 Mercruiser

[pianewman]

This Seacraft addiction is...oh, never mind. You all are veteran addicts.
Any 19' BowRider owners/enthusiasts here? I'd love to hear from one/several. (The style appeals to my family, as 3 of the 4 of us are not serious fishermen)
Boat in question: 1968, original owner, on a trailer, covered, hasn't seen water since 1985. Original Merc. I/O 120, supposedly upper end rebuilt (when).
Boat appears solid, but very chalky, as you would expect. All the brightwork, the entire boat, is...well...43 years old.
Stored outdoors, under a tented cover, for 25 years...hmmm...if the stringers were never wet/compromised, what would happen in those 25 years? Would dry-rot turn them to dust? There was absolutely no odor of mildew/mold, if that matters.
Opinions?

[Bushwacker]

The Bowrider is a clever layout with a lot more room than a 20 cc IMHO. Send a PM to Carla, (65 Bowrider) . . . she has a couple of them, both OB & I/O versions. Hubby Skip did a nice restoration on their OB model. The stringers are glass, so no worries there. Most likely issues are soft front deck or floor in front cockpit area.

[cc]

I have my Dad's 1965 (serial #315). I bought it in 1976, and have put thousands of hours on it. 150hp (230 cid 6 cylinder) that still runs great with a 1C merc outdrive. Outdrive still works fine except it developed a hole in the case a couple of years ago, so I haven't used it for about 6 years( have several other brand boats to use) Recently acquired a V6 merc gen 2 complete in a low hour donor boat, and plan to install it in the bowrider and give it to my oldest daughter. It was the best ski boat I ever skied behind and rode great if not a little wet in rough water. I love them.

[pianewman]

SHHH! What are you trying to do! Drive up the resale value of these few boats?

Seriously, thanks for your input. I was hoping to hear something along these lines. While my 12-year-old son doesn't care for the "old" character of the boat, it really appeals to me, exactly because it is classic!

Unfortunately (?), the boat in question seems like too much of a risk, as I'm involved in getting my dad's 20' CC back on the water. I'm going to continue my quest for the right Bowrider, though, as I think it fits my family's needs.

My search has introduced me to the wonderful Carla and Skip Fink, and we had several spirited conversations re: Bowrider. I'm hoping to visit them in the not-too-distant future and check out their renovated red one ("CJ"), and when I do, they'd better not turn their heads or I'll take it out from under their noses! I have to say I was thrilled to speak with Carl Moesly's daughter, which I've been lording over my dad, who read everything "Seacraft" he could get his hands on back in the late 60s, early 70s.

Thanks, all, for a great forum. I'm completely addicted again, and hope my marriage can survive it!