18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild

[CaptainD101]

Hey guys just picked up a 1966 crestliner 18ft aluminum. Paid a 100 bucks, no damage to the hull just a few dings and was really really dirty. Jumped right into it and in two hours had the whole thing stripped, well almost. I kind of looking for advice how to remove the spray foam in bench seats and back columns. I hope there is an easier way than hand and knife but that may be my only choice. when i get that done ill move to the next step.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild

Hundred bux??? No way!! Awesome!!!:thumb:

(We'll need photo confirmation of the actual boat though:becky

I hope there is an easier way than hand and knife.

Nope, not really. That's about as good as it gets man, sorry.

 

[CaptainD101]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild





There she is, a beauty in my eyes. Bought it from a guy on craigslist. It was left by one of the guys tenants and he just wanted it gone.

 

[CaptainD101]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild

When I re do the transom im going to make flush with the top rail and put plating over it. Its a really short transom, I have a motor but for a standard 20" transom., this is 15". Or get a smaller motor...
I got this Johnson 40 I bought a few months ago at the local marine shop. He just had got the motor on trade in and was asking 4 but settled at 300, 120 comp. Strong motor. ( With T&T!) .. but when i first got it i tore the whole midsection apart to have the machine shop press out the trim pin. put back together with complete tune, and cleaned up nicely.
View attachment 205534

 

[83mulligan]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild

CaptainD101, welcome to the crestliner club. We don't have a cool name like the starcraft guys (starmada), lol, but there are a couple of us here working on them including myself and Fisherdan.

 

[CaptainD101]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild

just removed last of the wood in the boat. the transom, that wood was completely deteriorated. CLeaned it up nicely and ready to replace. Except the other wood was so crappy I couldnt get a solid peice to measure the width. I prefer to use a non wood material like I saw in another post. (some white material??) but wood will always do the job. is it at least 1in? maybe1.5 in??

 

[Grub54891]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild

I'd stick with wood. It more than likely had some original wood left in it,so it'll last a long time. Just keep it painted-varnished/sealed and it'll be fine. For the flooring use marine grade plywood,same with the seating. 1" might be overkill, perhaps3/4 ?
Maby someone else knows how thick it should be.
Grub

 

[kjdunne]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild

Nice find, great price. Re: transom thickness, is there a channel the bottom of the transom wood fits into? That will tell you the thickness of the original. I think most tinnies that size have 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" thick transoms. Laminate 2 pieces of 5/8" or 3/4" exterior grade plywood to make it. Lots of threads on here about transom replacement. Floor, 1/2, 5/8, or 3/4 depending on spacing between stringers and supports. Was there any original floor to measure? Good luck and post plenty of pics!

 

[CaptainD101]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild

well its been a while since my last post but lots of progress. As usual life has been getting in the way, but still a little time here and there and getting her done. Stripped the hull clean scrubbed, sanded, repaired some areas, primed and painted outside. Also cut the transom, Well it ended up being 1 inch thick transom. PRimed it with rattle can rustoleum pro -aluminum primer, then painted with topside two coats grey and three coats green. Rolled it on and thinned with mineral spirits, 24hours between coats. looks great!

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild

Looking good!

 

[bonz_d]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild

$100.00 oly smokes. Don't tell me that trailer came with it. Great going and looking very good. The attachment you have for the engine went nowhere. Repost a picture if you can.

Nice wide boat should be able to handle some tough water.

 

[CaptainD101]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild

paid 100 just for the hull, about 200 in now. Trailer is to my 16'6 alumacraft lunker but works great for both.

Ill take a break for a week or two and let that outside paint really cure well.
rustoleum dries slow but hard as nails when it does.

40 fully serviced ready for paint.

 

[CaptainD101]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild




she is nearly done. a console , a couple more cuts ,and mount the motor
I can see the light at the end of the tunnel
she is built strong. and looks good.
as you know, the project ever ends..

 

[CaptainD101]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild

building the center console this morning. I will be assembling and carpeting it tonight. Then I will measure for my steering assembly and stereo.


Last I will be painting the motor, I might be doing it myself or bartering with a friend.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild

Looking very good. Did you increase the transom height?

 

[CaptainD101]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild

Looking very good. Did you increase the transom height?

I did. I put it to a 20" transom. so my 40hp will be sitting just right. I havnt capped off the transom yet. I will be picking up some aluminum sheet metal and cutting the cap for it before mounting the motor.

 

[CaptainD101]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild

Heres the cut transom, needs to be capped off


Heres the center console


LOOKING FOR ADVICE/ My center console is narrow 17" inside. Im hoping theres enough room to mount the helm and arrange the cable to fit inside the console

Im confused when it comes to running the steering cable from the back to the front, where is it going to enter the console.
Controls must be mounted on the starboard side of the console so im imagining the steering from the port side and enter the console just below the front deck.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild

Have you purchased the steering system yet? If not I'd highly recommend a Rotary since you have such a narrow console.

 

[glnbnz]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild

Signing on to watch!!

 

[glnbnz]

Re: 18ft aluminum, foam,drainage, deck, paint. Rebuild

If you don't mind me asking...you didn't have any problems with titling this boat did you?