Wanting to completely refit my 1983 17' McKee Craft in south Louisiana - need recs

LoL. So it’s a ‘83? Like 1983 model year? Because when you wrote 83’ I read that as an 83 FOOT long boat. Which was going nowhere fast with a 150 hp engine.

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83' McKee Craft

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thas a grande pirouge

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you better have a bag of money and love that boat.

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This boat was a custom build my grandpa had made. I spent alot of my childhood fishing with him on that boat. Right after I finished college, he asked me to come visit and he gave me the boat. He passed away shortly after, so that visit was the last memory I have of him.

I've been blessed in my professional career so I'm not attempting to do this on a minimal budget. I want to do it right, because I plan on keeping this boat until I can pass it on my kids one day.

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So it’s a ‘83? Like 1983 model year? Because when you wrote 83’ I read that as an 83 FOOT long boat.

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Yes, hull is a 1983. Very similar to a Boston Whaler, but with a little heavier thickness and foam filled. They were marketed as 'unsinkable' boats. It's 17 foot and my grandpa had it set up as a side console with front & back fishing platforms. He mostly fished freshwater in the Pearl River and lakes in Missouri.

I want to use it in saltwater (where I fish mostly) and covert it to a center console. The gas tank and batteries are in the back along with the motor - which is overpowered and heavy for a boat that size - which makes for a less than optimal ride and drafts more than it should.

Tri-Parish Fiberglass in Folsom.

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This boat was a custom build my grandpa had made. I spent alot of my childhood fishing with him on that boat. Right after I finished college, he asked me to come visit and he gave me the boat. He passed away shortly after, so that visit was the last memory I have of him.

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I wouldn't part with that boat come Hell or high water.



I would like to track down my Dad's old 15' Ouachita and have it restored. He gave it to me shortly after my mother died, then I sold it to my brother, who sold it to some river rat who lived on the Amite River.

I had an ‘88 17’ McKee. Loved that damn boat.

Olmsted Shipyard & Prop Shop
Lake Charles, La
(337)477-3912

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Is there anywhere in south Louisiana that would take on a project like this?

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I bet there's plenty. I'm not sure where you're at but google search shows some places around N.O., Houma/Thibodaux, Baton Rouge, and Lafayette. These Fiberglass repair facilities can be hit or miss. It would go a long way if you can get a reference from someone who has had repair work from a place recently. I'd search Facebook too. Most places have a business Facebook page instead of paying for website.

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It would go a long way if you can get a reference from someone who has had repair work from a place recently.

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Exactly why I started this thread - There alot of fiberglass repair places around my area (Thib/Houma), but was hoping to get some actual recommendations from this TD OB network.

There are multiple Whaler restoration specialists here in the Houston area. McKee's are basically the same thing as a whaler. I would look around this area and trailer it over here to have the work done. I know Choates is one of them. Can't remember the others off the top of my head.