Conquest 1950 CC: Refit project part 1 - The inventory

Boote Redaktion

· 11.02.2023

The refit project begins with a major inventory: lots of rotten wood and outdated technology

Mirror plate: The glue in the plywood has come loose. The entire transom plate is rotten and can no longer support the motor and drive

Engine bilge: A case for the "Schietgang". Oil leaks, water and dirt have left clear traces under the engine over the years

Cockpit floor: The pry bar in the laminate (top left) shows it clearly: polyester resins can draw moisture, which then diffuses through and gets stuck in the wood.

The moisture penetrates into the gluing and the individual veneer layers and cannot get out again. The result: rot and peat, ideal for horticulture

9 Images

Photo: Torsten Moench

The scrapping yard will have to wait. BOOTE shows what can be done with an "old steamer" in the large refit series. After a break due to the coronavirus, we are now continuing with the refit of our Conquest 1950 CC. Here we show what has happened so far.

All episodes of the refit project:

What do you do when your once proud speedster has become a case for the intensive care unit, but you're attached to it and don't want another, new boat? The solution to this problem could be called a "refit". This refers to the refurbishment of the boat. If you don't own an old collector's item, but would like to have one, you can find favourably priced sports boats in need of renovation on the used boat market.

Our "showpiece", a 6.15 metre long Conquest 1950 CC built in 1992, is in the penultimate row at Gründl Bootsimport in Bönningstedt. Just before the "ship graveyard". Admittedly, she's a bit run-down, but that's exactly what we're looking for.

Using the decrepit Conquest as an example, we want to show what can be done with supposed "soul sellers". This time, it's not about the cheapest possible do-it-yourself solutions, but about the possibilities offered by a professional who understands his craft and uses modern technology, construction methods and materials. That is why we are working on this project with well-known companies from the refit scene. The renovation programme includes hull and underwater hull refurbishment, repowering (replacing the engine and drive) and the complete refit of the cabin and cockpit. The motto "Swap old for new" also applies to windows, hatches, deck fittings, electrics and electronics. At the end of the list is a modern trailer.

Inventory before the refit: "Naked once and keep looking"

Our refit project starts with an inventory. "Naked once and keep looking," says Sven Walter from yacht building specialist M. u.H. von der Linden. Stripping bare means removing the engine, drive, fittings, tank and seats. The glued-in carpets are torn out and thrown away. As expected, the joy after the striptease is limited. The transom plate, engine foundations and floor construction are totally rotten and have to be completely replaced.

The same applies to the panelling (side panelling), the upholstery and the interior of the slip cab. The technicians are in "imminent danger". It stinks of petrol. That means the tank and pipes have to be checked. The windscreen ends up in the scrap without being tested. Its successor is supposed to be stylish, modern and made of plastic. The average consumer would probably throw in the towel at this point, but we carry on! We will soon be showing the next steps in the BOOTE refit here on boote-magazin.de!

Video of the refit project

The BOOTE Refit project is supported by

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Other parts of the Refit series from BOOTE:

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