Can the SportCam be saved?
I believe so. That's why I took on the project. Hope floats, but realistically a number of issues could sink it. So many questions need answering.
- Exterior. The outside was plastered with lichen. Had roots penetrated the fiberglass finish? Were bad stains hiding under the grunge? Was enough gelcoat in good enough condition to polish and shine up? Or would the shell have to be repainted?
- Leaks. There are so many potentially compromising screws and bolts through the shell. An awning with screen room addition. Roof rack and access ladder. Numerous leaks were obvious from dozens of combined doors, windows, rooftop vents, appliance ports, and various access panels & hatches around the sides. Not to mention thirty some feet of lateral seam that joined the right and left halves of the molded shell. Could every single leak point really be fixed to make the shell weather tight? How practical was that?
- Structural. The rooftop air conditioner not only leaked but the otherwise sturdy walk-on roof was deformed and sunken around it. Can the roof be fixed? Can the arched profile be restored? What would that take?
- Interior. The inside looked like a disaster. There were obvious and serious infestations of mice and mold. Gutting the interior, completely cleaned out, all the way down to its nonporous bare shell, is the only way. Can all that be done safely and cost effectively?
- Plumbing. The camper was completely self contained. Fresh, gray and black tanks. Extra gate valves to seperately manage sink and shower drains when primitive camping. Outside shower. Water heater. 12V pump. Ports for shore water connection and gravity fill for fresh tank. On-board propane system. So many hoses and pipes to check, sanitize and test. What's all that gonna cost?
- Appliances. The camper was built with surprising ammenities. Of course it had the basics like fridge, sink and stove, but many extras too. The water heater was electric not just gas. The gas range had an oven under the burners. A fan/light hood over the range included level monitors for each tank. A microwave was conveniently installed over the hood. There was an on-board generator. There were alarms to detect smoke, propane and carbon monoxide leaks. Besides air conditioning it had a gas furnace and wall thermostat. The stereo included radio, cassette, CD and AUX input. The camper was even wired for cable TV. Mice love to chew electrical insulation. So much to check. Lots of expensive goodies. What could be saved? What's worth replacing?
I shot some video with my phone to capture the overall condition of the camper.
Hey. Everyone needs a hobby. Or ten. Saving this old camper certainly qualifies. LOL
