My 2nd restoration project 1981 15' Answer

2/25/2012

I originally bought 15' Answer boat back in 1988 for $2800 boat, motor and trailer. After a few seasons I replaced the original Johnson 50 HP with a new 60HP Evinrude. Ran that engine hard for over a decade and then did my first major restoration project on her 2005-2006. Not much is known about the company except they built boats for the late 70's to mid 80's. The boat handles like a dream and has no fear of the Great South Bay chop, a very dry boat for her size.

1999

First Restoration 2006

1981 15' Answer Center Console Photo June 2006

Disaster Strikes ! August 2011

Once the boat was re-floated the good guys at Kehl's Family Boating Center were nice enough to lift her out of the water for me and place her on my trailer. Within a few hours I had the engine running again. I then brought the boat down to Burnett Marine Service to get the motor professionally serviced and replace and components that were damaged by the salt water.

Thanks to George Yurcak and Captain Al Lorenzetti of Babylon Boats this boat will be restored, and more beautiful than ever. Over the next weeks we will document the restoration process. In the insurance company's eyes the boat was a total loss, in my eyes this was an opportunity.

7 Comments

Andy Bailes, Ph.D. link

5/23/2013 09:30:59 pm

Just saw your 88 answer maching on the web. I am restoring the same boat. Just curious as to how big of a motor will the Coast Guard let me put on her. She is exactly what you have. We are currently putting a new transom in. The guys I bought it from I gave 400 for it with the trailer. They had a 125 Johnson on a jack plate on it an ruined the transom. Any help would be deeply appreciated. Andy Bailes - Glen St. Mary, Florida 32040

jeff

7/16/2013 04:40:47 am

I have a 1988 15' answer. it has a 40hp mariner on it and it carries it great. these little boats are so narrow that even the little 40 still gives it some twist. the coast guard max hp rating is 60hp but i feel quite confident that with a 60 you would probably need trim tabs. im not sure if you have the same boat but a 120hp would sink my little boat.

Rex

7/28/2016 08:36:46 am

I have come across a 1979 Answer 15 that I am thinking about buying. I want to find out some build information. Does anyone have a brochure or something that can tell me about its construction and features? It looks like it has a bilge because it has a lower plug on the transom but I see no bilge access? Are the transoms and decks known to rot?

Jorge Perez

12/3/2016 01:15:52 pm

I GOT THE SAME BOAT WITH A EVINRUDE 50HP ENGINE AND IT FEELS GREAT RIGHT NOW WERE ARE FIXING THE FLOOR AND TRANSOM BUT THEY ARE SMALL BUT FUN LITTLE BOAT
WISH TO HAVE MORE INFO ON THE SO I COULD LEAR THEY HISTORY

bob cornelius

5/13/2017 06:13:53 am

i have the same boat..almost sunk this week .i pulled it out just in time..trying to get a hull shematic so i put a biulge pump in the lower biulge.do you know anything about the best place to put a pump in? it always sits low in the stern,even when dry ...

Michael Reeves

6/5/2017 06:32:08 pm

I have the same boat. I just restored mine and added a bilge pump at the very back but I added a lower dip box that I fiberglassed in. I will have to take pictures an post.

Zach

5/15/2017 07:25:48 pm

I have a 91' answer 15 with a Johnson 60. There is little to no information on these little boats. How can we all interact and post pictures? I thought I would have found something on microskiff.com nothing. Zach