Caulk panel ?

S

steplift20

God
78 wellcraft, the big panel in the middle that's screwed down I removed the caulk but my question is this
Do I or should I caulk it or the screws are good enough
 
Ok thanks, do you ever remove it? To look under so I should caulk it, that's what I always did but was thinking do I have to?
Thanks
 
Yes, Looked in there every year, inspect tank and hoses and foam, cleaned then sealed.

On most of the V20 models and years, that is a dry space. There is a pvc pipe running under the aluminum fuel tank to pass water from fwd bilge to aft blge.
That space does not drain to the bilge so you have to seal it. otherwise the water sits on top of the foam around the tank, some leaks down and corrodes the tank.

Use Window & Gutter silicone or 4000UV to seal. DO NOT USE 5200 or 4200 they are nearly impossible to remove

I'm not sure of the 1978 models. They did not have overboard deck drains and maybe didn't have foam around tank? They might have had saddle tanks???
 
steplift20 said:
Thanks skunk I have a 55 gallon belly tank ( plastic) my original tank leaked years ago and was replaced.
Click to expand...

I have a 78 cuddy, and still have the original 46 gallon aluminum tank, and it is foamed in. It will probably be the catalyst for a repower and transom rebuild down the road. A short Michigan season probably extends boat life, but a gas leak can't be too far out (?).
 
Duke are you going to do the transom yourself? Or are you going to have a repair shop do it? I dread the day when I have to do it.
78 Steplift my brother, great boat isn't it.
 
Hey Step, my plan is to do the transom rebuild myself. It was redone once before by the previous owner, but a crack developed between the transom and splash well that he did not address. I suspect everything below the crack is now saturated. But, it is still solid. I am hoping not to do anything quite elaborate as what Skunkboat did. The old tank is going to be a challenge too. I love the boat. Since it is an old fishing boat I was able to drill all the necessary holes for rod holders, downriggers and planer board masts. Hopefully, I will start using it more since a retired last year.
 
Duke, it's a great vessel. I would never sell her but if I did it wouldn't be to buy another boat . But I retired 4 years ago and want to use my boat a lot more but for some reason I'm not,but this year will be my year . I installed my batterys today checked my bilge,lights and horn and they all work so next step is yo start her up. I will let you know how that goes. Hearing her start the first time is like music to my ears
Duke I fish in raritan bay How about you?
 
Yes, spring start up is always exciting. I typically have fished in western Lake Erie for walleye, but this summer we will be based in northern Lake Huron near Cheboygan. Salmon fishing is pretty good in the area. I troll with a 9.8 Tohatsu 4 stroke, which is my back up motor to get me home if needed. I carry two extra 3 gallon gas cans as ballast in the cuddy. The old merc makes me nervous, but has never stalled or let me down yet.
 
I hear you duke,my engine has some years on her but I know a lot about it, three things go bad, stator,switch boxes and trigger . Very dependable but I'm getting not 100 percent confident anymore But she like yours ne er let me down and I love the two stroke
We have great looking and dependable boats to me they are like old muscle cars,they get prettier with age
I havet O remove the caulking cause it didn't cure we have rain here " it needs 72 hours to cure and the rain is killing me. I'm going to start her this weekend Keep my fingers crossed I will let you know Duke Safe and happy boating captain
 
Retired? What's that?? :head:

Just kidding. I hope you guys get many good years of enjoyment on your boats in retirement. I'm probably working another 7-10 years. When people ask me what I would do in retirement I tell them: fish and spend more time on the water.
 
Pipe dream ,before you know it you will be able to retire too. The years are flying by to fast.
Don't rush it, I thought that when I retired I would be fishing a couple of times a week but I moved further away from the ocean and with gas prices going up plus I have to wait till the weekend cause that's when my son could go . I told my wife, your going fishing with me this year and I don't want any lip from you.
Than when I got up from the floor after she hit me with a frying pan I did decide to wait till the weekend For my son . But I will fish a lot this year I hope
You will get there.
 
Not to big, she has it down pat,knows exactly where to wack me, but getting on to a lighter note
I started my boat today,first it wouldn't start so I ORDERED my wife to turn the key while it checked for spark , got spark So while she turned the key I pumped the primer bulb and she started , I was very happy then I ORDERED my wife to go inside and start cooking. It's 740 pm now and I'm still waiting to eat, funny thing happened, seems like all the door locks malfunctioned cause my key doesn't work in them Very strange .
 
Step, that's right show her who is boss!! :sun::sun::bat::bat:

You have to use the house key, not the boat key.:hi:


Enjoy!!:beer:


Glad the boat started and that was one of my biggest fears, I had an I/O and every year I was hesitant to turn that key to start it, afraid she wouldn't start. :embarsed:

Thank the boat GODS she did. :love:
G
 
Funny thing Giorgio , I one my baby for about 25 years and every year when I first start her I have a big smile on my beautiful face , you would think that it should be just a turn key event but for some reason when I her her start I'm a very happy guy . Happy to hear I'm not the only one who feels like that. Happy boating and fishing brother.
 
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