Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

[deerslayer303]

Well just wanted to start a new thread for the unintentional Grady White Rebuild. I spent most of today removing the engine and drive, and labeling and disconnecting the wires.

I did find out that I have hydraulic trim tabs which is cool with me.

I only have one pic it was with my phone so I will document better with the digi camera later.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

hahaha, took me a minute before I saw the cable.
Grady's are nice, I want one.

 

[escapade]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

he is just really strong

good luck on the rebuild

 

[deerslayer303]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

Hello Folks,

I got some work done over the past few days. Right now I'm in the tear down stage. I originally started this project with the intention of replacing the transom but as you know nothing is ever simple, it just keeps getting bigger. Most of the stringers look good with the exception of the ones around the fuel tank. Someone had pulled the fuel tank access panel up in the past and never sealed it back down nor installed not one screw, so all the water got to the foam around the tank.

Hello folks my name is "SHADY GRADY" and some other choice names my owner calls me when he is working on me.

I cut the rear section of the boat and lifted it off in one piece I didn't want alot of seams to repair, You'd be amazed what you can do with two BIG Pine Trees a BIG Log Chain and a Come Along.

Man, this is ALOT of Work lol, but VERY Addictive

Here is what taking up the fuel tank panel and not installing it properly will do for you, all the foam on top, around, and under the tank was wet REAL wet.

here is what I set out to do

Rotton Transom

 

[deerslayer303]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

The floor aft of the cuddy was soft in some spots, so out it comes

This is just the foam removed from around, under and on top of the fuel tank. MAN, this boat has alot of that stuff, should be UNSINKABLE, lol

Dry foam sample on the port side, HALLELUJAH, I know how leave got UNDER the floor is beyond me, but they were there when I pulled the cap off.

Dry foam sample on the Starboard side.

Here is the tank tunnel cleaned out some what, The hump, or Drain saddle as I like to call it, has a hole in it on the forward side of this tank tunnel, and what ever water was coming from the anchor storage etc, was leaking out under the tank rather than going to the bilge like its suppose to. SO, YAY another repair LOL. And yes that is a DOLLAR STORE kids shovel you see, they are awesome for digging out foam, well I stole that one from my daughter, I'll have to go to the DG and get her another one LOL.

Here is the stringers around the tank that need replaced.

Well here is where I stop, More to come.
Thanks for looking all commments, critisism, tips, appreciated and welcome.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

just did the same thing myself, stringers are 8 feet long, 20 inches tall,
pre-glassed both sides.

that fwd bulkhead in your tank box, you say the keel drain pipe goes to the bow area? My keel drainpipe stops 3 inches short of the bulkhead, now I'm wondering how the water drains from the bow, there is no drain thru the bulkhead, and it looks like original glasswork on the bulkhead. Think I'm gonna open it up a bit and create a drain.
Gee, now I wonder how much water I have in there.

sawzall time.!

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

Nice work so far... I'd like to own a GW boat some day, they're quite nice.

I also wish I had more trees around my place. Gonna buy some saplings this weekend, but it'll be a while before I can use them to pull engines out

Are you going to replace that 470 with something more modern?

 

[deerslayer303]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

just did the same thing myself, stringers are 8 feet long, 20 inches tall,
pre-glassed both sides.

that fwd bulkhead in your tank box, you say the keel drain pipe goes to the bow area? My keel drainpipe stops 3 inches short of the bulkhead, now I'm wondering how the water drains from the bow, there is no drain thru the bulkhead, and it looks like original glasswork on the bulkhead. Think I'm gonna open it up a bit and create a drain.
Gee, now I wonder how much water I have in there.

sawzall time.!

Jonesg,
What Model boat do you have?
The way I figure it. all the water from the anchor storage etc. up in the bow area is piped in to this keel drain, I think, I will investigate this theory further, either way I have to fix the tear in it cause water will get to the new foam after I install the tank, Lets keep each other posted on how this stuff drains so we can fix them properly. Thanks for the heads up though.

 

[deerslayer303]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

Nice work so far... I'd like to own a GW boat some day, they're quite nice.

I also wish I had more trees around my place. Gonna buy some saplings this weekend, but it'll be a while before I can use them to pull engines out

Are you going to replace that 470 with something more modern?

Erik,

Lob Lolly Pines grow quite fast here in the south, that and we have them everywhere, so plant some you'll be pulling engines in no time, LOL.

No That engine runs like a champ I'm going to keep it, the alternator issue is already taken care of, I have the 4" heat exchanger and I will address the cam seal while its out even though it isn't leaking. Plus I have a spare late 80's 470 and Alpha drive lined up. I like the reported fuel economy of the 470, so it will stay.

 

[Nico2112]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

What a nice boat

You're doing great, keep it up!

 

[jonesg]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

Its a chrysler 20' center console, design is very similar.

if its alum fuel tank you're better off without foam.

I have a new 50 gal alum tank, glued down with PL urethane construction adhesive. Read this on tanks,
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/fueltank.htm

 

[deerslayer303]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

Well I just ordered 6 gallons of non blushing Epoxy from Aero Marine and it should be here on the 5th. Man you can't beat his prices, I shopped around, to get it locally the best I could do was 94 bucks a gallon, I paid 240 for 6. I will pick up the Marine Grade Ply tomorrow (78.25 a sheet) and the fiberglass shop that looked at my boat is gonna sell me some CSM and 1708. The old guy is very helpful though, he is encouraging me to do it myself, and he said "you know if you get to a point where you just can't do it, bring it down and I'll take care of it, the labor rate won't go up just because you worked on it first" LOL thats funny I thought, but I'm really not one to give up on anything.

 

[deerslayer303]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

Oh yeah and I made all you safety GURU's proud, I went out and dropped the cash on ALL the REQUIRED safety equipment lol. Harbor Frieight really has some good deals on suits, gloves, respirators, etc.

 

[deerslayer303]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

Got some more work done to the old girl. I went ahead and took the rest of the cap off to better access the rotton stringers. I got the transom mostly cleaned up and a template made for the plywood. I'll still have to do some trimming on the template to get it fitting like I want. But all in all its going well and we are having fun working on it. here are a few pics.

Here's Dad doing some rot scraping.

Here's the transom mostly cleaned up, I've got some more grinding to do. But I'll tell ya that 24 grit flap disk makes light work of the situation.

Here the front part of the cap removed from the boat, came off rather easily considering. And this bugger is REAL heavy. So a better hoisting system will be devised for installation.

Here is a view from the rear of the whole boat without the cap.

More to follow, the new plywood is going in the transom on wednesday, and we will start cutting the new stringers.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

I only see one potential problem area, you straight across the tank hatch opening, thats going to weaken it and make getting it lined up for a good seal tricky , it can be done ...cos you're gonna have to do it.

I made sure my fwd cut got all the tank hatch , you might want to make sure theres hardwood backing around the lip for the hatch screws, I replaced mine all around the openeing.

An other thing that will make it a bit easier is pre-fit the stringers then remove and pre-glass them outside the hull, then reinstall.
Its just easier on the back doing them on a sawhorse than on your knees.
You can bed the stringers in PL construction adhesive then tab to the hull with your epoxy and glass.

great price on the epoxy, I spent that much on poly resin.

 

[dearl]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

Man I remember those Days, I have a 1972 Grady White Chesapeake 212 that I am in the process of doing the same thing. Started on her 2 years ago, kinda slowed down alot. I have the stringers back in, ready to put the floor in now, but its fishing season and I haver another boat, so when it cools down some I'll get started on her again. If I get a chance I'll post some pics for you to see. Your doing great so far, but a word of caution, if you do replace stringers, do them one at a time, and use plenty of braces, If you dont you will have issues getting the cap to go back on. Don't ask how I know this.

 

[TurboK9]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

Wow.

New forum member... joined just to say, "Wow." A couple weeks ago I picked up a 1979 205 GulfStream w/ Merc 470. Just finished rebuilding the outdrive and rewiring the entire boat, new lights, radio, gauges... and I thought I had to do a lot of work. Only thing left for me is the fuel lines and fuel pump, and she should be ready for the bay.

I think what you are doing is awesome, I love these old boats. Good luck, and great work!

 

[deerslayer303]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

dearl, Thank you for the tip, I was thinking of ripping them all out and do em all at one time, so I will tak your advice and do one at a time. I haven't been getting much done on the old girl, its just too dang hot, and ever since I got the Pro Craft Fish N Ski The ole lady has my butt at the lake every time we get a chance, LOL, but when it cools off I'll be wide open on it again.

 

[robbankston]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

dearl, Thank you for the tip, I was thinking of ripping them all out and do em all at one time, so I will tak your advice and do one at a time. I haven't been getting much done on the old girl, its just too dang hot, and ever since I got the Pro Craft Fish N Ski The ole lady has my butt at the lake every time we get a chance, LOL, but when it cools off I'll be wide open on it again.

That sounds like a good problem to have!! Doing a great job man.

 

[scottie3]

Re: Here we go! Grady White Rebuild

Thanks for sharing the restoration project. Have fun and make sure to share the final look. Great Job!