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I bought a 1976 Whaler Sport 17ft model with a fiberglass center console (no seat). The boat is in fair condition and needs some help. I picked it up with the trailer for $700 and since I had 2 motors sitting around I thought it would be a good project. I am not a fan of the sport model. My question is how important is it to stick with the original model configuration? I am thinking of bringing the boat back with a Montauk configuration.

1976 seems like a transition year, did they have a blue deck on this model? Mine has tons of blue paint.

Also, the boat needs hull repairs and and new paint. I plan to work on it over the winter.

Thanks,
Mitch