1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

[lovemylake]

[/URL][/IMG]Hi guys, found a 14 ft fiberglass speedboat I'd like to restore. I'm told it might be home built. First question, can anyone give "detailed" instructions how I can post some photos here? Thanks. Looking forward to all the help you guys provide.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

my first question did you get the title to the boat? you need that before anything.

you can up load to a free service like photobucket.com then you choose the pictures you want( clik the little box at the bottom left of the picture) scrool to the bottom of the page, clik generate html, it will take you to the next page, scroll down to thumb nails clik on that and copy, then insert it into your post.

also if you are planing on posting pictures, you can use the Blue post reply or the go advanced, manage attachments, there you can upload , directly from your computer. besure you pictures have been resized to fit the format.

 

[lovemylake]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

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[/URL][/IMG][/IMG]Thanks for the photo info. My wife has it figured out for me. Here are more photos & some questions.
Yes I did get a title, looks like a replacement title cause it says 2000 model year. Does not list a manufacterer.
First I was told transom needs replacing. Obvious once I got into it. I decided the best plan was take cap off. Having trouble with the rear part. I cut straight across where the blue cap is. Have not yet cut anything inside on transom wall. Between the well & transom inside seems to be glued/glassed/foamed together. Do I need to get that seperated to get cap off?
The boat seems to have 1 stringer. From what can be seen so far it looks ok but I plan to replace anyway.
After I get this cap off I guess I'll be asking how to build a new transom! Thanks Bryan.

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[Mark42]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

That does not look like a home built boat. Although boats are often registered as home built when the title or registration is lost.

 

[INJUN]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

You've come to the right place for answers.

I'll be starting on mine one day.

 

[oops!]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

to post pics full size.......up load to photobucket....(free).....then resize to 640x480.....then copy the img tag....and just paste it in your post.

 

[jonesg]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

The underneath of the splashwell is probably glassed to the back wall of the transom in the upper bilge area, you'd have to lie down in the hull with your head near the transom and look up with a flashlight.
prybar, sawzall, pliers whatever you can get up there to break it loose.
mine was so bad I reached up and ripped the glass tabbing out by hand.

It looks like a late 60's speedy boat, nice hull design.

 

[Stoutcat]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

Hi,

You know what, from the photo you took of the open stringer, the deck and the stringer doesn't look so bad. Can you take a side photo of the stringer? Also, does it feel spongy at all? The moss growing on the deck is a bad sign, but things might not be as bad as they seem. I'd take a bunch of samples of the deck, stringer, and transom before I ripped the whole thing apart.

Alan

 

[lovemylake]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

Actually I was told it may be a kit boat, not home built. It's registration # starts with PAZ if that helps anyone identify it.
Alan mentioned moss on the floor. I think what your seeing is the residual indoor/outdoor carpet that we rippped out.
Should I avoid tearing up the deck to replace the stringer if it seems sound? Is it going to increase the cost or time to repair that much?
The wood inside the transom is mush. At least on the top. I am surprised how thin the fiberglass is on the back of the transom.
What will be the best way to get the right measurments to rebuild a new transom? Thanks, Bryan

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

Hey welcome to the forum.

I don't know who made that but it's your basic speed boat design.

An important thing to find out is if the hull is cored. Look under the carpet are and see if there are squares under the fiberglass. This is balsa core. You'll want to make sure you don't have any core rot, which appears black.

As for the floor and stringer- Rip it out. If your transom is shot there is a very big chance that the stringer is too and your not looking at much work.
The floor and the stringer only take up a half sheet a 1/2" ply wood to make them. Coat them with poly resin and ad some glass to reinforce the resin.

Is the stringer attached only to the floor? This is common sometimes the only touch the bottom of the hull, sometimes their bedded down to it.

Use two pieces of 3/4" for the transom, laminate them together. Remember not to cut outer skin, cut open the inside.

What size motor do you plan on putting on it?

I would consider adding some knees Boards that connect the transom to the hull bottom.

 

[oops!]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

hey first timer...!

just a thought......one of the bes thing any one can do for themselves concerning a boat.......is to read these forums......

any question ever asked about a boat, has been discussed at great legnth on these forums......from foaming a boat to making a fiberglass hard top.....

the compleated projects forum is where the project tutorials are kept.....read jason j's skanky beast.....it is currently the site tutorial.....

if you want indepth fiberglass detailes.....read the hull extension in progress thread....it currently takes 7 hours.....but when you are done....you are a walking encylopeida of fiberglass

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

Welcome I agree with NSBCraig If your tranom is shot your stringers are shot also !!!!! And my good buddie oops is so right read read and read somemore !!!!! we all will help all we can !!! john

 

[lovemylake]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

Thanks for the replies. IThe boat came with a Johnson 60. I hope to keep it if it runs. The registration plate I think said it would hold even more HP.
Someone mentioned knee boards. Im not familiar.
So I want to make sure I have this straight. I should plan to cut the inside skin on transom as close to edges as possible to get to rotted wood in transom? I saw Seacast advertised that just pours between inside/outside skins. My guess is replacing wood would be best route for lasting repair.
Should I just use the back of boat to make approx. measurments for new tronsom? thanks.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

Yeah don't bother with SEacast it's way too expensive and they even make it here in town so I wouldn't have to pay shipping.

I included a pic of someone else's transom just glassed in to give you a better idea. Also here's a pic of knees on a hydrostream being redone.

I'm kind at the same point as you just a little farther along. Unfortunately I don't have a digital camera except my phone and I need a card reader so can put them on my imac.

I've got the transom laminated together and I just need to get another gallon of resin to finish putting my baja back together.

I took the cap off then cut open the inside. The wood doesn't go all the way tight to the sides so it's kind of easier than you might think. Once your at that point you'll see what you need to do inorder to make the new one either by copying what was there or making a pattern.

My boat is basicly the same as your it came with knees that where part of boxes in the back that held the floatation foam in them.

 

[NoKlu]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

NSBCraig, in a pinch you can email the pics from the phone to your pc.

 

[lovemylake]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

I finally got back to my project. Was able to get cap off. I cut a little further along the stringer, looks good, no rot at all. I feel like I'm destroying this boat! Three questions for now.
1. Do I need to cut this transom as close to edge as possible & just rip the old plywood out?
2. The foam here in front does not appear wet at all. Should I leave it or tear out/replace or even really need it?
3. The stringer seems fine. no rot. Leave alone or continue cutting & replace?
Thanks Bryan

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

Hi , are your stringers glassed in ?? it doesnt look like it !! if the foam is dry leave it !! as far as the transom , cut the outer shell of the glass and then try to pry it out !! try to get it out in one peice and us it for a pattern for the new one !! John

 

[Stoutcat]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

Hi Bryan,

You asked...

Three questions for now.
1. Do I need to cut this transom as close to edge as possible & just rip the old plywood out?
2. The foam here in front does not appear wet at all. Should I leave it or tear out/replace or even really need it?
3. The stringer seems fine. no rot. Leave alone or continue cutting & replace?​

Let's see... My $.02...

1.) Hmmm... The bottom line here is to cut away what needs to be cut away in order to rip out the rotten transom and replace with structurally sound stuff.

2.) If the foam in the front is really dry, and the wood looks good, let her be.

3.) As long as the stringers are good, leave them and sister as you need to. If it looks like they need reinforcing because of poor initial manufacturing, do it.

One of first things you might want to do is clamp 2 x 4 across the middle of the boat from gunwale to gunwale (or at least where the gunwales would be) to keep the shape of the boat such that the cap will fit back on. You can use the cap as a sort of template.

Small boats like yours only really consist of 6 elements:
i.)hull
ii.)transom
iii.)stringers
iv.)flotation
v.)deck
vi.)cap

Get those six elements sound and working in unison and you've got a functionally fine boat. Spend a little more time and $$$ and you've got a pretty boat.

Like I said... Just $.02

Alan

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

Cut around an inch or two from the edge of the transom and you should be good. There should be putty/ peanut butter on the edges so you really shouldn't need to get to close to the hull.

I really hope the poster above didn't mean to cut the outer transom skin, cause you don't want to do that.

Stringer looks good, most rot will be towards the transom.

Did you pop the foam out to make sure it's dry. Mine looked dry but once it was out i discovered the puddle it was hiding. If it's dry and doesn't weigh a lot more than you think it should just set it back it. make sure the wood bulkhead is good and that it drains (mine didn't).

That front bulkhead is all you really have to worry about as far as the hull changing shape and making putting the cap back on a pain, so if your not replacing it don't sweat it. That's not really a problem with a boat like yours, although on others it can be unreal.

 

[Stoutcat]

Re: 1st timer LOTS OF QUESTIONS !

Craig et al...

Good God no! I didn't mean cutting the outer skin!!! I was looking at the pics and saw that cutting on the inside had already begun...

Alan