Men buy $200 scrap boat to see if they can restore it back to full health
Published on Oct 26, 2025 at 2:11 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Oct 23, 2025 at 4:52 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Emma Matthews
Two British YouTubers bought a $200 scrap boat that was in truly poor condition to see if they could restore it and get it back on the water.
YouTubers All The Gear bought the boat for just £150, or $200, as it had been deemed too uneconomical to repair, but they decided to see if they could do so on a budget.
After testing the boat on a lake and finding out that it didn’t sink, they moved ahead with plans to restore it.
The biggest question was whether they would be able to do that or whether the boat would throw up some nasty surprises.
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How much did the YouTubers pay for the scrap boat?
According to the two men, they paid just £150 for the boat, which equates to $200.
That might sound like a good deal for a boat, but the state of it soon made the YouTubers realize just why it was so cheap.
Rotten wood and missing parts were the least of their trouble, with structural issues one of the biggest concerns.
Naturally, a full repaint was also in order, as cosmetically it was a mess.
There were other things they had to think about, too, such as where the windows used to be.
An anchor light was also needed on the boat to make it possible to tell when it’s anchored.
So there were a few challenges to overcome.
How the small boat was restored on a budget
One of the first tasks the two men performed was to sand back their vessel.
This allowed them to repaint it and perhaps see any hidden damage to the wood.
After several months sat outside, they also had to drain it of rainwater.
Panels that covered where the windows should have been were removed, while further sanding continued.
Eventually, after replacing some of the wood, the two were ready to paint it.
White was chosen for the top half, with yellow selected for the bottom.
Amazingly, despite its earlier condition, the newly restored vessel actually looked the part.
Now, the next phase of its restoration can continue apace.
Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
