15.5ft beachcraft transom and stringer replacement

[thegoblin]

I am about to replace the transom, stringers and the saturated foam in my 15.5ft beachcomber (early 80's ish). Today took off the motor, all hardware and ridgecap cover (not the cap). Can I cut the cap ahead of the transom shroud instead of taking the whole cap off and fiberglass the cap back together after? I'm worried my hull will twist when I take the cap off and think this way might be easier. It is on a roller bunk Calkins trailer.Would it be better to do the transom first and then the stringers to keep some support, the hold stringers are still fairly sound but need to be done. The boat spent the night on some rocks before I got it from my inlaws. I fixed the hole in the bottom when I first got it now I am going to do the rest. Have a new 90 hp yamaha for the back so figured I should make the boat sound to pack it around.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

If your boat is on a roller bunk trailer you should make a cradle for it and remove the boat from the trailer before cutting those stringers loose. Your hull will distort from the roller bunks when you cut the stringers loose.

 

[StevenT]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

We need pix of your cap. Does your trailer have keel rollers only?

 

[thegoblin]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Yes, it has keel rollers and side rollers. I'll get some pictures tomorrow and put them on the thread. Can I put some 2x6 from roller to roller for support?

 

[StevenT]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Yes, it has keel rollers and side rollers. I'll get some pictures tomorrow and put them on the thread. Can I put some 2x6 from roller to roller for support?

I totally agree with Jig you need to make a cradle for your boat before you do any demolition. You risk trashing your hull otherwise.

 

[thegoblin]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Is there any good picture plans or videos on cradle ideas on this site?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Is your 15.5' Beachcomber rated for a 90hp (modern 4cyl, or 2cyl, prop rated?) OB?

 

[thegoblin]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

It has a 1979 evinrude 100 hp 2 stroke. The boat is rated for up to a 125. Its a four stroke i'm putting on. It weights 390lbs the old motor would be pretty darn close to the same weight.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Great..... Just checking....

Sorry, forgot, welcome to the iboats dry dock

 

[thegoblin]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

No, I appreciate it. I've had a few people question the motor size, I've kind of second guessing my decision wasn't sure if the new fourstrokes would be much heavier and had trouble finding the weight of the old evinrude. We spend alot of time on big lakes and the ocean so didn't want to give up to much power.

 

[StevenT]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

These links should help you with the boat cradle
Project Carlson CVX-18 - Building a Cradle Part 1 - YouTube
Project Carlson CVX-18 - Building a Cradle Part 2 - YouTube

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

... and this is a good thread on boat cradles with some different designs:

http://forums.iboats.com/boat-restoration-building-hull-repair/boat-hull-cradle-help-584635.html

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Your old Evinrude about 100 pounds lighter than the new motor so keep that in mind in your build.

 

[thegoblin]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

What should I be Doing in the build to compensate for the additional weight?

 

[thegoblin]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Hi StevenT. I have decided that with putting my boat in a cradle I will remove the whole cap. I'm guessing this will be the right way to go in the long run.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

What should I be Doing in the build to compensate for the additional weight?

You're doing it! New transom, stringers, and deck will fix you up nice with no worries.

... and new foam, don't forget the foam!

 

[Bill3434]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

If you rebuild it with the same materials that the original manufacture did and take more pride than they did it will be stronger. If you use better quality material it will be like a tank when you get done.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

What should I be Doing in the build to compensate for the additional weight?

Yeah structurally you're good with what you're planning. I just wanted you to be aware so for example you were thinking of adding a fuel tank or batteries or something that wasn't there before that you weren't adding even more weight back there.

 

[thegoblin]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Kind of embarassed I woke up in the middle of the night last night thinking my boat is not a beachcomber its a beachcraft. So for anyone following its a beachcraft not a beachcomber. I would change the title of my thread but don't know how or if it matters. Going to start my cradle tomorrow and post some pictures ( I know from reading these are of the utmost importance.) If I build my cradle with log bases on the ground( no concrete, just good old dirt.) The logs are about 2 ft wider than the boat and will run across the bottom and the I will build my cradle on top. Should I level my base First or just make sure my boat is sitting nice and tight in the whole cradle when it is done and not worry about it being perfectly level. I'm going to have 2 2x6 on each side running from the transom about 10 ft up. Do you guys think thats sufficiant. I'm not sure if I over thinking the whole cradle thing but if I ruin the hull I don't think my wife will be letting me buy a new one anytime soon.

 

[thegoblin]

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement

Re: 15.5ft beachcomber transom and stringer replacement


Got my boat moved today, hopefully these pictures are good enough to see what I've done.Should I have some better bow support? Tomorrow I should be able to get the cap off and start removing all the rotten stuff.