Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

[MercMark]

I have a 15' thundercraft wildcat. The transom is roten and so I expect that the stringers are rotten as well. I saw ants on it when I untarped it this spring as well, so that worries me.<br /><br />I have a week of vacation to do the work. I have one bay of a two car garage to work in if it rains. I've done fibreglass work and worked with East System before on a 10' hydroplane; I replaced plywood on the sponsons.<br /><br />I plan on separating the deck, which looks to be riveted to the hull. I don't know about how to rivet it back together when I'm done.<br /><br />Do you think I can get it done in a week. I have my father who is retired to help out, and a buddy who will help for three of the days. I can work on it probably from Saturday through to the following Saturday, so eight full days. I'm guessing that curing times are going to be the bugger.<br /><br />Any info on riveting back toghether, where to get them, what kind, how to do it. A regular pop rivet gun will work with special rivets mayber?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

No, but you should be able to get it appart in a week. If you have all the right tools and materials for the job before you start, and the 2 of you are willing to work long hours, you should be able to get most of the work done. <br />The deck can be glued and screwed back on.<br /><br />I know people like to use epoxy for repairs, but most of the time it's a waste of money. From what you said the fiberglass (polyester resin) did not fail, it was the wood that rotted. So just replace the wood and use polyester, this will be faster and cost less.

 

[MercMark]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

I'm not sure who worked on the transom last. I can see the pattern of the cloth through the resin, so I suspect it was a poor job.<br /><br />I'm also looking for advice on:<br /><br />For replacing stringers<br />-how many layers of cloth<br />-how many layers of mat<br />-I have read that you do cloth/mat/cloth/mat in layers two of each.<br />-what weight of clot or mat<br />-what is "woven roven"<br />-do you attach the epoxy soaked wood stingers to the hull with thickened epoxy? then apply the cloth and mat over<br />-how long to you wait between layers. I've read layers will bond if you apply the next after it sets up, but not many many hours after

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

Many of these questions are dependent on the type and size of the boat, size of motor, type and brand of resin used and how much of it is being replaced. There is no 1 answer to most of these questions.<br /><br />Roving looks like cloth, only the fiber bundles are much larger.<br /><br />Unfortunatly thats why these projects take longer than planned, you will run into many unexpected problems or questions that cannot be answered easily at 10:00 PM on Thursday night, except maybe here on iboats. Get some of the books recommended on other posts, do some reading, then see whats availible in your area (fibergass supplies). Then put on the dust mask, get the grinder and jump in.

 

[tremer17]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

I have read that you do not want to take the stringers and transome out at the same time because the boat will loose it's sape and the top deck will not fit right. Based on what I'm capable of I don't think it can be done in 8 days. I could be wrong!!! Keep us posted.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

tremer17 is correct, you will need to support the hull to ensure its flat (or original shape) before you do any glassing or shaping of the stringers. The transom needs to be held straight and at the correct angle also, it may not move when the plywood is removed though.

 

[MercMark]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

My trailer is bigger than by boat needs. The pads that the boat sits on are about three to four feet long. I was thinking of doing like the one guy here did and do one stringer at a time. I guess if time is an issue I'll have to clear them all out and replace them at once. I guess I can some 2x4 bracing to my trailer to hold the sides of the hull in place before I remove the deck.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

It holds it's shape just fine. The best thing you can do is take consistant measurements of everything such as floor width, etc. Make sure the bottom is well supported. But in answer to your question, I can't imagine getting it done in a week. You have to get everything apart, cleaned, prepped, measured, cut, test fitted, mixed, applied, allowed to cure, it goes on and on. Most of us feel pretty happy if it takes a half of a year. Realistically, you can get a bunch done on the vacation, and finish the rest on weekends and weeknights, like the rest of us have. It is doable, you just have to dive in. Good luck, and check my link if you want a taste of what to expect...

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

Three years ago I redid stringers, floor and interior in my first Starcraft American 15 and it took a month of evenings and weekends. My second one is taking longer, but I haven't been working on it as consistently 'til recently. In the last two weeks I've finished the transom, finished gutting the rest of the hull, and have one of the new stringers in. I could probably be getting more done if the *&$%@ weather would warm up!!<br /><br />A week might be pushing it because there's a lot of hurry up and wait type of work. For instance, you can't be standing in one side of the boat doing something if there is epoxy or resin curing in another part of the boat as your weight could be distorting the hull's shape. You'll need to put something in and then go do something else...<br /><br />- Scott

 

[MercMark]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

hmm. the problem I'm having is that the boat is stored at my parrent's house (on the lake) because I don't have room for it at my house in the city. It's a 3.5 hour drive to my parrent's. <br /><br />I wonder if I should find a way to fit the boat in my garage. My fiance is doesn't want boat parts all over the garage for year after a year of outboard parts all over the garage. I think she dreams of one day, actually putting her car in there.<br /><br />I'm almost positive that the boat and trailer won't fit in the garage. I may be able to get the boat in on blocks, but it wouldn't leave much working room.<br /><br />If I do take the week and start the demolition, I won't be able to transport he partially finished boat 3.5 hours by road.<br /><br />sigh, what to do, what to do. <br /><br />I'm secretly hoping that I won't have to do the floor and stringers, and can get away with just doing the transom. That may be a week's work.<br /><br />Would it be reasonable to only partially separate the deck. do the transoma and back 12" or so of floor?<br /><br />I know, I know.... "wouldn't you feel better, and safer knowing you have a sturdy boat after it's all done." and it depends on what I find when I pull up the carpet. I did use the boat for a couple of summers and don't ever remember stepping on a soft spot in the floor. Here's hoping.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

My fiance is doesn't want boat parts all over the garage for year after a year of outboard parts all over the garage.

then she is obviously not the one for you

 

[MercMark]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

Has anyone heard of self storage type places that will let you do something like fibreglass work in one of the storage spaces?<br /><br />If I can't find a way to get this work done I'll end up selling the whole rig for the cost of the motor, which would be a real shame after the good luck I had with the motor. It's got a merc 850 on the back. I managed to find a working powerhead that had the lower unit stolen off of it while in a marina yard. The owner got the value of the engine for the insurance claim because the age of the engine and availability of lower units rendered his working powerhead useless. I happened to have a working lower unit and now I have my full old power head's worth of spare parts (except pistons which failed).<br /><br />any ideas?<br /><br />P.S. - She is the one for me. She's let me have garage space for about two years now. It wouldn't be an issue if we had a two car garage. She puts up with the engines, and put up with gardening crap in the same garage as my engine parts.

 

[thehermit]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

This is not a job that should be rushed. If you spend full time on it you can certainly make some headway on the project....then see how your doing and make arangements to go the distance. TH

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

If you don't want to start this project, just start looking for used hulls that are a good fit for your current motor, you can get these older hulls for very little money or free. Just keep looking until you find one that is in good condition and needs very little work, most are junk, but there are good ones. You may even find a design that meets your needs better than the one you have now. This is normally less costly than rebuilding a hull like you want to do, just don't pick another hull that will turn into a project.

 

[MercMark]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

I know a lot more about buying a boat now than I did when I bought this one. If I could go back in time....<br /><br />buying a motor is still a gamble. All you can do is check compression, test run, and visial; and after all that it can still blow a piston on you. Thought I was safe with one of the "bulletproof" merc 4 cylinders.<br /><br />anyhow... any leads on renting work space. I know I'm in a different area than most of you, but I'd like leads on the types of places to look.

 

[BillP]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

It would go faster if you use polyester resin instead of epoxy. You can mix it to the exact working time and not have to wait. If you use laminating resin there is no sanding needed on new glasswork. If using epoxy you wait longer and sand more.<br /><br />Here's my estimate to do it in a week (kick butt mode) with 3 people working long days. This is with all materials/tools ready and the hull open and ready to work on. If it's a shoebox type deck you may be able to just cut the splashwell out...that takes an hour to cut out and another hour to glass back after the transom is in. I would divide different tasks...one making patterns while others demo, etc.<br /><br />Day 1 - take motor off, demo floor and stringers<br /> 2 - prep hull, cut and fit stringers<br /> 3 - glass stringers and cut/fit flooring<br /> 4 - demo transom, cut/fit new transom and <br /> glass<br /> 5 - install floor and glass <br /> 6 - gelcoat or paint <br /> 7 - install seating, accessories and motor

 

[MercMark]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

Ok. This looks helpful. I can only count on two guys full time. And may have to solo some.<br /><br />-motor is off.<br /><br />-I hope to separate the deck and not cut it. It's blue metal flake which isn't in bad condition. I expect to be able to sand it and buff it, or sand it and gel coat it later.<br /><br />So?<br />???<br />motor is off<br />day 1 - strip controls, wiring, only stuff that won't come off with the deck, remove deck (off with rubrail and drill rivets), demo floor, take patterns from stingers<br />day 2 - remove stringers and prep hull<br />day 3 - cut and glass stingers<br />day 4 - demo transom, cut and test fit transom<br />day 5 - install transom, cut floor<br />day 6 - glass floor<br />day 7 - reassemble deck to hull - rivets<br />day 8- contingency day (sched will absolutely push into day 8)<br /><br />Can wait to reinstall hardware, wiring, motor<br /><br />...probably more like:<br /><br />day 1 - strip controls, wiring, only stuff that won't come off with the deck, remove deck (off with rubrail and drill rivets), <br />day 2 - demo floor, take patterns from stingers<br />day 3 - remove stringers and prep hull<br />day 4 - cut and glass stingers<br />day 5 - demo transom, cut and test fit transom<br />day 6 - install transom, cut floor<br />day 7 - glass floor<br />day 8 - reassemble deck to hull - rivets<br /><br /><br />My questions:<br />why stringers before transom?<br />laminating resing is used to bond to the next coat?

 

[MercMark]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

After re-examining my schedule, I have the 8 days on vacation, the following weekend which will allow me 1.5 days and if needed a long weekend after that which will allow 2.5 days.

 

[AMD Rules]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

8 days + 2 guys full time + 57821 iboat members for moral support. Sounds like a reality tv show..... Watch out Overhaulin' here comes MercMark's Restoration Race

 

[tengals123]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

my father always says, a rushed job generally means a poor job. Take care, The most common problem with time limited projects is people develop the 'she'll be right, mate' attitude. She'll never be right, unless it's done right, with time and care. IMO<br /><br /><br />cheers and keep us posted.