Well, I wanted to wait for winter before I started this rebuild, But what hell it's not gonna fix itself. I picked up this boat on trade so don't have a lot into it (YET). I am planning to do a full restoration with this boat and have the hopes of making a nice bay boat that can go skinny if needed. I am going to be pulling the top cap to fix any stringers and redo the under floor foam. I also want to install a big live well in the floor (that’s the main reason the cap is coming off). I have never done a project like this before so I am hoping to get some help from the pros on this forum and will have some good local help also.
Project 2nd Chance… 1977 v-20 CC
- Thread starter Mikeyz
- Start date
Pulled the motor today
I pulled the motor off today to find a mess. I knew when I got it she needed a transom but I didn’t expect to find mashed potatoes for what once was a transom. I also found some stringer damage back by the transom. I guess now I know I was right to follow my gut on this one and pull the cap. I would hate to do a lot of work only to find a mess under the floor at a later date. I did get a good start on this until the rain delay. Well I guess the console can wait until tomorrow.
I pulled the motor off today to find a mess. I knew when I got it she needed a transom but I didn’t expect to find mashed potatoes for what once was a transom. I also found some stringer damage back by the transom. I guess now I know I was right to follow my gut on this one and pull the cap. I would hate to do a lot of work only to find a mess under the floor at a later date. I did get a good start on this until the rain delay. Well I guess the console can wait until tomorrow.
Attachments
I didn’t get to much done Sunday. However I did get the console out and the floor cover for the fuel tank. I started to pull the foam out around the tank only to find the smell of gas. I guess I will be adding a fuel tank to the list of things I will need. I guess do it right once or fix it 20 miles offshore and hope you get home right.
I have a question? How do you fix two BIG holes in the floor from the old captain’s chairs.
Oh Oh I know screw down a cooler seat over them and make the next guy fix it.
(Thanks buddy)
On a good note today I stopped by a boat salvage yard after a nice fishing trip on the kayak. I talked with the guy for awhile he has poly tanks that will fit I didn’t get a price yet but wanted to know if this is a good or bad idea. The boat currently has an aluminum tank. What would be the better tank get a new aluminum tank or go with a poly tank? His yard also has some live wells and fish boxes cut out of the floors of other boats. I think I might try a get one and cut it down to fit so I am not starting from scratch.
I have a question? How do you fix two BIG holes in the floor from the old captain’s chairs.
Oh Oh I know screw down a cooler seat over them and make the next guy fix it.
(Thanks buddy)
On a good note today I stopped by a boat salvage yard after a nice fishing trip on the kayak. I talked with the guy for awhile he has poly tanks that will fit I didn’t get a price yet but wanted to know if this is a good or bad idea. The boat currently has an aluminum tank. What would be the better tank get a new aluminum tank or go with a poly tank? His yard also has some live wells and fish boxes cut out of the floors of other boats. I think I might try a get one and cut it down to fit so I am not starting from scratch.
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RWilson2526
God
Keep up the good work. Great documentation... Like Destroyer said we love lookin at that stuff. Especially when its somebody else doing the hard work!.
IMHO I think a poly tank would be superior to a aluminum tank as far as longevity is concerned. Although if you dont foam in the new aluminum tank I'm sure it will outlast the boat. (probably would even if you did foam it in) If you could find a used poly tank that didn't sacrifice fuel capacity (if capacity is even important to you) for cheaper than an aluminum one that would be my plan of action.
IMHO I think a poly tank would be superior to a aluminum tank as far as longevity is concerned. Although if you dont foam in the new aluminum tank I'm sure it will outlast the boat. (probably would even if you did foam it in) If you could find a used poly tank that didn't sacrifice fuel capacity (if capacity is even important to you) for cheaper than an aluminum one that would be my plan of action.
Fun Times
Well boat is on hold for a week or two. Last Sunday we had a bad storm and a 65ft tall oak tree was hit by lighting 20ft from my house. ( BOAT IS OK) The lighting jumped out of the tree and also hit the house ( will have pic's soon very scary what lighting can do ) So I have got to get the tree down and fix a few things that are burned up. I lost both laptops, printer tv,surround sound and few other things. I did get the boat ready to pull the cap off on Sat, but pics are on the computer that was smoking on Sunday night. If a storm is by you be carefull this strike was so hard it broke CONCRETE PAVERS and moved one almost five feet..
Mike
Well boat is on hold for a week or two. Last Sunday we had a bad storm and a 65ft tall oak tree was hit by lighting 20ft from my house. ( BOAT IS OK) The lighting jumped out of the tree and also hit the house ( will have pic's soon very scary what lighting can do ) So I have got to get the tree down and fix a few things that are burned up. I lost both laptops, printer tv,surround sound and few other things. I did get the boat ready to pull the cap off on Sat, but pics are on the computer that was smoking on Sunday night. If a storm is by you be carefull this strike was so hard it broke CONCRETE PAVERS and moved one almost five feet..
Mike
spanishmak
Member
removing cap
ive been wondering how difficult it would be to get that cap off!I have the same boat and need to redo transom im in pasco county fl ill be following youre work good luck
ive been wondering how difficult it would be to get that cap off!I have the same boat and need to redo transom im in pasco county fl ill be following youre work good luck
Destroyer
God
Damn Mikeyz, tough luck on that lightning strike. We had a huge Maple in our back yard take a strike about 3 years ago.. split the tree down the center and caused one side of it to fall.. destroyed the above ground pool, the split rail fence and the corner of our house...So I know what you're talking about ... It's amazing what 50 million volts of electricity can do... Glad to see that you're back online at least so we can comiserate with you. Keep your chin up... (that way your jaw is an easier target) 
Transom
spanishmak
I don't think you will need to pull the top cap if you are only going to fix the Transom. I am pulling mine so I can replace some stringers install new foam (old is full of water) and add a bad *** live well in the floor (going to use the two useless hatches behind the console in the floor) I am thinking about doing a pourable transom from what I have heard it’s stronger then wood and you never have to worry about rot again. I live in Dade City, I don’t know why it says Tampa Bay but good luck and talk to you later.
Mike
spanishmak
I don't think you will need to pull the top cap if you are only going to fix the Transom. I am pulling mine so I can replace some stringers install new foam (old is full of water) and add a bad *** live well in the floor (going to use the two useless hatches behind the console in the floor) I am thinking about doing a pourable transom from what I have heard it’s stronger then wood and you never have to worry about rot again. I live in Dade City, I don’t know why it says Tampa Bay but good luck and talk to you later.
Mike
shade Tree 101.
Find a big tree and hope for the best...
Today I pulled the top cap off the boat. It was not very hard to do and it took longer to setup everything then to get it off the boat. I did get so good help from Mopar and dear old Mom driving. I am glad I went ahead and did it the foam is waterlogged and will need to be replaced. I also found some stringer damage under the floor that I would have never seen if I haven’t pulled the cap. Now the next step will be to remove all the foam and replace the damaged wood. I am wondering if while I am at I might do all of them (any thoughts) is it worth it to just replace all the stringers at one time since the cap off and will be easy to do now. I am also looking at a way to rebuild the Transom. I was thinking about doing it in layers using ¼ marine ply and fiberglass mat maybe do a sheet of ply then fiberglass mesh and repeat until it’s built back up to the thickness it needs to be. Would this be stronger than just two sheets of ¾ glassed together? I also will be looking into installing tubes for the wiring and fuel lines to make it easy to wire at a later date. I can’t wait to get to the building stage of the project so far it’s been a three week teardown but I see the light and it’s getting brighter.
Mike
Find a big tree and hope for the best...
Today I pulled the top cap off the boat. It was not very hard to do and it took longer to setup everything then to get it off the boat. I did get so good help from Mopar and dear old Mom driving. I am glad I went ahead and did it the foam is waterlogged and will need to be replaced. I also found some stringer damage under the floor that I would have never seen if I haven’t pulled the cap. Now the next step will be to remove all the foam and replace the damaged wood. I am wondering if while I am at I might do all of them (any thoughts) is it worth it to just replace all the stringers at one time since the cap off and will be easy to do now. I am also looking at a way to rebuild the Transom. I was thinking about doing it in layers using ¼ marine ply and fiberglass mat maybe do a sheet of ply then fiberglass mesh and repeat until it’s built back up to the thickness it needs to be. Would this be stronger than just two sheets of ¾ glassed together? I also will be looking into installing tubes for the wiring and fuel lines to make it easy to wire at a later date. I can’t wait to get to the building stage of the project so far it’s been a three week teardown but I see the light and it’s getting brighter.
Mike
Attachments
Destroyer
God
Great pics and it's great that you made "mom" famous by posting her pic here.!! Well done.. As to the laminate question on the plywood, my personal reccomendation would be to put the wood sheets together...the fiberglass in between them, although helping to insulate it from water, would (IMHO) actually weaken the final structure since it expands, flexes and contracts at a different rate then the plywood. Maybe that's why boat makers don't do it? 
Foam is out
Well I got the foam out today, found a shovel to work the best just don't get to crazy with it. Looks like I will be replacing ALL the stringers as I found rot in all of them. I can't believe that Wellcraft would build a boat and not fiberglass all the stringers, I found cuts they made in them and never glassed over it I also found two of the stringer to not be glassed in all the way and fell out once the foam was removed. It was like the foam was holding the stringers in place. I didn’t take any pic’s but I will post some once I get everything cleaned.
Mike
Well I got the foam out today, found a shovel to work the best just don't get to crazy with it. Looks like I will be replacing ALL the stringers as I found rot in all of them. I can't believe that Wellcraft would build a boat and not fiberglass all the stringers, I found cuts they made in them and never glassed over it I also found two of the stringer to not be glassed in all the way and fell out once the foam was removed. It was like the foam was holding the stringers in place. I didn’t take any pic’s but I will post some once I get everything cleaned.
Mike
RWilson2526
God
Great work....its going to be nice to know when you are all done that you have a SOLID boat underneath you. It will all be worth it in the end.
Good luck with your project, your approach has potential for excellent success (removing the cap) Replacing the stringers is a huge job which I have zero experience.
In regards to the Transom you have two options pour or plywood its up to you since you have the cap off the sky is the limit.
Shop around for resin and materials I personally recommend Fiberglass Services, excellent price and delivery options ..
http://www.fiberglassservices.com/index.htm
They have a new location closer to you see below ??
3851 62nd Avenue North
Pinellas Park, FL 33781-6007
(727) 525-0830
Your marine grade ply from http://www.dixieply.com/tampa.shtml#about
BTW here is nice video on youtube ..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gY1ZJwIJAI
In regards to the Transom you have two options pour or plywood its up to you since you have the cap off the sky is the limit.
Shop around for resin and materials I personally recommend Fiberglass Services, excellent price and delivery options ..
http://www.fiberglassservices.com/index.htm
They have a new location closer to you see below ??
3851 62nd Avenue North
Pinellas Park, FL 33781-6007
(727) 525-0830
Your marine grade ply from http://www.dixieply.com/tampa.shtml#about
BTW here is nice video on youtube ..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gY1ZJwIJAI
Last edited:
nymack66
Thanks for in info, I have both companys on my list to contact for supplies. I am going to try and do the stringers one at a time so I will have the other to use for Measurements. I am also going to do a scale grid on paper with every measurement I can take before I cut anything. I have never done a project like this before so taking my time not to make things worse. I also have a good friend who will be helping me on the harder parts, We call him doc AKA Buckey he helped build the molds for ROS boats out of Westport, MA so it's not his first rodeo so to speek of. I am doing the hard labor and getting advice and how to from him. I might bring the boat over to his shop when it comes time to do the transon and stringers. I will see how it goes if I get over my head I have a backup plan in place if needed. Now only if the rain will stop so I can get back to work I was going to try and fit the boat in the shop but then the my 72, 340 duster goes outside and I dont see me doing that I have way to much time and money into it to make her spend the night outside...
Mike
Thanks for in info, I have both companys on my list to contact for supplies. I am going to try and do the stringers one at a time so I will have the other to use for Measurements. I am also going to do a scale grid on paper with every measurement I can take before I cut anything. I have never done a project like this before so taking my time not to make things worse. I also have a good friend who will be helping me on the harder parts, We call him doc AKA Buckey he helped build the molds for ROS boats out of Westport, MA so it's not his first rodeo so to speek of. I am doing the hard labor and getting advice and how to from him. I might bring the boat over to his shop when it comes time to do the transon and stringers. I will see how it goes if I get over my head I have a backup plan in place if needed. Now only if the rain will stop so I can get back to work I was going to try and fit the boat in the shop but then the my 72, 340 duster goes outside and I dont see me doing that I have way to much time and money into it to make her spend the night outside...
Mike
Skools Out
God
or build a grid form and pour your stringers too.
Awesome idea Skool as always
I was wondering this myself can one use a grid form and pour it using Arjay or is it a special product? Have you done this in the past? Why replace it with wood which will rot is always my argument.
l like the idea of less wood going back into the boat. My only question would be will this make the boat heavy? I have been looking on this site and have seen a few post talking about the added weight of going to a pourable transom and stringers. I also want to know if I would have to do all the stringers at once to make it one solid pour or can they be done one at a time. After the stringers are done then just glass over them right? I also need to look into the added cost to do this any ideas on how much this would take to do..
Mike
Mike