12' sears game fisher restoration.

[mattmjm90]

I just received a 12' fiberglass game fisher for free. It has quite a few splits in the fiberglass with the foam exposed. How do I fix it. I got a 1954 15hp evinrude fastwin for and also want to know how to strengthen the transom.

 

[Stoutcat]

Re: 12' sears game fisher restoration.

Hi Matt,

Can you send along some pics of the splits?

Alan

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 12' sears game fisher restoration.

I just received a 12' fiberglass game fisher for free. It has quite a few splits in the fiberglass with the foam exposed. How do I fix it. I got a 1954 15hp evinrude fastwin for and also want to know how to strengthen the transom.

Welcome mattmjm90 , sounds like you got your work cut out for you !! can you get some pic on here so we can take a better look , just a start you would have to strip her clean , grind , grind , grind , lol then re-glass , two layers at least3 to 4, would be better !! then regelcoat the hull, or marie-tex all the holes , grind , grind , grind , then paint !!

I have a 1953 evenrude 15 hp , I love it going to use it as a kicker motor on my boat !! John

 

[mattmjm90]

Re: 12' sears game fisher restoration.

Here are some pictures. Or at least I think the pictures worked, not sure. Sorry if they don't show up. Should I sand it down then fill with some kind of filler then glass over it and paint with an epoxy paint? This is my first time doing anything like this. I don't really care if it isn't worth fixing this or not, I just want to learn on it. I'm not too concerned with cosmetic looks just functionality.

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 12' sears game fisher restoration.

Hay matt , ok looks like you have the ewo shells there , you have to get the top off the hull !! there is no way you going to fix her as she sits now !!

Os there a rub rail on there ?? start with that is there is .

you got a lot of grinding to do !!

you have to sand the outer hull and marine-tex can fill the smaller cracks , that split you got to get behind and glass it, and where that chunck is missing , i couldnt really tell is that fiberglass behind it ??

Pk frist see if you can get the two apart , and we will go from there !! John

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 12' sears game fisher restoration.

on your second pic , is that wood in the holes ??

and pn your 3 pic , is that the inside hull ???

If you cant get her apart you might just hafe to glass her fom the out side ?? then regelcoat or marine tex !! John

 

[reelfishin]

Re: 12' sears game fisher restoration.

I had the same boat here a few years ago, it was broken all over like yours, maybe worse. I gave it away. The inner and outer hulls are held together with the foam core. There's also a lot of wood in those. They use a wood floor, wood transom panel and some used wood in the gunwales.
The only choice is to fix it as it sits, I would think that trying to separate the inner and outer hulls would destroy both pieces. I believe they were made by MFG, I've had a few similarly built trihull boats as well.
All have had or needed some sort of glass repair. Most were so rough to the touch they gave you spinters, and nearly all had cracks down the keel and below the gunwales.
Is the boat still solid without any serious flexing? The one I had was so broken up it was actually hard to move. It was like the glass had begun to delaminate and break down. The foam can also absorb water as can all the wood adding to the weight making it tough to move around without doing more damage to the hull.

 

[mattmjm90]

Re: 12' sears game fisher restoration.

I don't think there is any wood. Or at least I can't see any. I think it is kinda waterlogged. The inside looks 100% foam. The guy I got it from said to sand it, fill the large holes with the foam in a can stuff, then sand that, then re glass it. Would it be better to fill the large holes with something like epoxy or the tiger hair stuff used in auto body work. I've never done this before so I have no Idea where to start. I was just going to fill the holes glass it a few times then paint it with marine epoxy. I also wanted to maybe strengthen the transom some how.

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 12' sears game fisher restoration.

I don't think there is any wood. Or at least I can't see any. I think it is kinda waterlogged. The inside looks 100% foam. The guy I got it from said to sand it, fill the large holes with the foam in a can stuff, then sand that, then re glass it. Would it be better to fill the large holes with something like epoxy or the tiger hair stuff used in auto body work. I've never done this before so I have no Idea where to start. I was just going to fill the holes glass it a few times then paint it with marine epoxy. I also wanted to maybe strengthen the transom some how.

OHHH Man Dont use the can foam !! what i have heard it soaks up water !! and don't use auto body stuff !! same , water !! go for the epoxy and glass from the out side !! as for foam can you get to where you can pour in the foam , us the 2 part foam !! and for the strength of the transom you could use some diamond plate!! John

 

[Stoutcat]

Re: 12' sears game fisher restoration.

Hi Matt,

What I'm going to suggest may sound insane, but bear with me.

1.) You mentioned "waterlogged"... Step number 1 is to get the water out. If that were my boat, I'd bore a few holes in the bottom of the outer stern and prop the bow up as high as I could. Then I'd just let it sit and drain. Water is always the enemy, and if you can't get that out (IMHO), game over. Another choice may be to cut away parts of the inner deck and try to work from there. In any event, the water needs to go "by gosh or by golly."

2.) If there is wood, that needs to be ripped out. Wood holds water like a sponge.

3.) Once internal water is out of the way, you can consider glassing inside and out. Cracks can be patched and reinforced. The boat will probably never be pretty, but it should be usable.

Lastly, any boat can be restored to "showroom" or just functioning condition. Whether you want to spend "thousand$" in time and money on a boat that will ultimately be worth "hundred$" at best is a personal call.

Good luck,

Alan

 

[mattmjm90]

Re: 12' sears game fisher restoration.

It has enough holes in the bottom to where there is no need for me to drill drainage holes. I'm really not worried about looks. Just functionality and a learning experience. This is what will give me basic skills. My next project is a 1978 Sea Ox 1900 CC. The floor is rotten. I want to learn on this cheap boat first.

 

[mattmjm90]

Re: 12' sears game fisher restoration.

Ultimately, what is the best material to fill in and patch the large cracks and holes?

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 12' sears game fisher restoration.

Ultimately, what is the best material to fill in and patch the large cracks and holes?

Well fiberglass is the best from the inside , then gelcoat or marine-tex the hull !! John

 

[mattmjm90]

Re: 12' sears game fisher restoration.

So you mean I can pour a type of fiberglass into the holes?

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 12' sears game fisher restoration.

So you mean I can pour a type of fiberglass into the holes?

OOOH NO , there is nothing like that, that i know of !! there is a pour foam , its 2 parts mix then pour , but you dont have much room there and that stuff expands 25 to 30 times !! It has mess up boats before if your not carefull !! lifted 3 guys standing on the deck !!!

your going to have to try to get the hulls apart or your going to have to fiberglass from the out side !! John

 

[Stoutcat]

Re: 12' sears game fisher restoration.

Hi Matt,

Ok... I got it... This boat is just a test bed and a learning experience. Good for you! (Look out Sea Ox!) But first things first...

There are a ton of posts on this forum that talk about repairing fiberglass hole. Just search...

Also take a look at: http://www.boatus.com/boattech/casey/17.htm

Also understand that there are umpteen ways to deal with holes etc. And nothing can replace the practice that you're going through right now.

Back to the Sea Ox... Worry about deck, stringers, and transom. But first learn on your Game Fisher.

My $.02...

Alan

 

[mattmjm90]

Re: 12' sears game fisher restoration.

Thanks for all the replies. I've got an idea of what needs to be done now. I'll post pictures of it while i'm doing it. It'll be awhile though, I've gotta get a job to pay for it!