1968 8-teen project

[Ricks Project]

Hey guys,
I bought this boat last year and have now really started to get to work on it. I've learned alot from Scott, Ziggy, Cedarjunki and others and wanted to pay it forward.
After being told by an "expert" that the hull of the boat had more damage than it was worth, I was crushed. But then I talked to someone else that talked me into saving the boat so that's what I'm doing.
Just bought a new motor for the boat so I hope I can fix the hull and replace the foam (how did that go for you Cedarjunki) so I can get it on the water. The next trip after that is to take it back to the "expert" to let him see what a "non-expert" can do.
I'll post more here as the project goes forward.

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

Hey guys,
I bought this boat last year and have now really started to get to work on it. I've learned alot from Scott, Ziggy, Cedarjunki and others and wanted to pay it forward.
After being told by an "expert" that the hull of the boat had more damage than it was worth, I was crushed. But then I talked to someone else that talked me into saving the boat so that's what I'm doing.
Just bought a new motor for the boat so I hope I can fix the hull and replace the foam (how did that go for you Cedarjunki) so I can get it on the water. The next trip after that is to take it back to the "expert" to let him see what a "non-expert" can do.
I'll post more here as the project goes forward.

hey glad to see the pics....dont look too bad though. i havnt replaced the foam yet, just removed..but i will say removing it was a hell of alot easier than removing all the rotten wood outta my glass starcraft that doesnt have foam... ive never poured it before, its been ordered just waiting for ups. hopefully this coming weekend.... but ill let ya know how bad i do :/
did i miss something? wheres all the hull damage*? from the pics it looks fairly good..and of course the experts will say its not worth it! unless your handing them cash then anything is worth it.. consdering what ive seen my dads 1970nineteen which is actually built from the eighteens floor plan(thanks to aristocraft chiming in) go through and still perform waterlogged these things are worth rebuilding from the mold up! just my opinion though....im looking foreward to watching this thread, keep the pics coming! even if you just vacuum take a few
good luck and have fun

 

[ziggy]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

i agree with cj. where's the damage? looks like a sweet eighteen to me. looks like ya just skinnyed in for a mc-1 drive too. i'll guess that ya either got a 120hp or 160hp. looks like mercruisers second year of mfg. for the mc-1 drive too. near brand new technology in '68. '67 was the first year of use best i can tell. good luck you your restore. it'll be interesting to find out if ya got the one stringer like cj has. keep us updated.. more pics?

 

[Ricks Project]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

I'm posting more pics I just took tonight. Some pics are from under the hull that does show the damage and it seems to be extensive. I'll know more after we flip it.
Someone painted the boat a burgandy color and I think I want to go back to the aqua\teal color it originally was. What do you guys think? Since I know I'm going to paint it, I'm pulling off the trim pieces, labeling and storing till I need them to put back on. I need to figure out how those back seats were done.
Also, a look at the floor pattern will mean that when I cut the floor to replace the foam, I'll have to put down carpet to hide the cut marks. I guess I could try to cut out the lines and then glass the line back in...hmmmm.
CJ, where did you get the foam and how much did you have to get?
Ziggy, the problem I'm having now is getting parts for the MC-1. There are Alpha's all over Craigslist but it's hard to find a working MC-1.
Pic #8 shows a puddle of water that's coming out of the boat. More pics in next post.

 

[Ricks Project]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

More pics...

 

[ziggy]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

the problem I'm having now is getting parts for the MC-1. There are Alpha's all over Craigslist but it's hard to find a working MC-1.

http://www.mercruiserparts.com/SelectModelType3.asp?class_id=1

try them. or here's a hip link someone, can't remember who posted up. got a feeling it's from the oem. could be wrong, but here's the link anyways. http://www.marinepartsexpress.com/merc_sch_fs.html

also, have a look here. from the adults only sticky on the i/o fourm. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=329915 look at the 1st one. the history. you'll find that the mc-1 has much to do with a alpha1. the mc-1 was revised 3 or 4 times until it became an alpha1. the alpha1 genII is a totally different animal and not related. many parts from an alpha1 are interchangeable with a 1 drive. not always. but many times yes. use your s/n to id what you have so you can find out what you need..

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

I'm posting more pics I just took tonight. Some pics are from under the hull that does show the damage and it seems to be extensive. I'll know more after we flip it.
Someone painted the boat a burgandy color and I think I want to go back to the aqua\teal color it originally was. What do you guys think? Since I know I'm going to paint it, I'm pulling off the trim pieces, labeling and storing till I need them to put back on. I need to figure out how those back seats were done.
Also, a look at the floor pattern will mean that when I cut the floor to replace the foam, I'll have to put down carpet to hide the cut marks. I guess I could try to cut out the lines and then glass the line back in...hmmmm.
CJ, where did you get the foam and how much did you have to get?
Ziggy, the problem I'm having now is getting parts for the MC-1. There are Alpha's all over Craigslist but it's hard to find a working MC-1.
Pic #8 shows a puddle of water that's coming out of the boat. More pics in next post.

my father doesnt want the carpet anymore since he sees how easy mine is to simply hose out the fish blood and slime....im going to try and reglass in the section of the deck that i cut out......probably not the correct way, and im sure people here are gonna yell at me when they read this :/..but i think i can do it good enough to keep the original structural integrity and possibly even better it...just keep in mind this isnt my boat...so its not as simple as just cut everything out and wait till i get enough money to finish it.....it took alot of convincing for him to let me go this far!
as for the foam....lots and lots of reading here lead me too uscomposits....i went to a local marina and priced it..almost had a heartattack!!! the marinas here can only get 2# density foam in which they say its all i need.. i hope! they wanted about 120.00 for a 4# kit which is only 2 quarts i ordered a 16# kits =2 gallons for a grand total of $81.94 total to be exact. if i remember correctly the brochure says there is 20 square feet of foam in the hull of the 8-teen, 30 in the 9-teen... im only replacing what you see cut out here...

and what i could dig out below the bilge area.

with proper temperature it says the 16# kit does roughly 8 square feet.. hope i have enough....just gotta figure out how im gonna get it warm enough :/

that hull damage dont look to bad to fix, especially since your goin all the way...repair everything from the inside and make it look good outside....

for the outdrive... really that hard to find down there?? i could go pick up a couple today are you needing the whole unit? the cost of shipping would probly suck but hmmmm....you could pay for my gas!!! where abouts in va? id have to check again but i think i have a couple extra cases and parts to build one or two...got ya thinking huh??

 

[mlschmitz]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

To see these pictures and realize you still want to go through with it is very inspiring. I too bought a boat that nobody else wanted and got her for a great price!

In my opinion working on the boat is very theraputic. You get to see every nut and bolt and how it fits in to make the whole thing a boat. Imagine the day when she is out on the water, looking good and you tell all your buddies that you did it yourself!!

Mike

 

[Ricks Project]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

Thanks guys for the feedback. Sorry its taken a while to get back on but I'm in Florida with the Fam. I'll be back next weekend to start back on the boat project.

CJ, did you get the foam yet? I'm dieing to hear how it turned out if you did.

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

In my opinion working on the boat is very theraputic.
Mike

i might agree with you on this normally , except for one thing! im finding it very stressing because i should be out fishing instead of working on em

CJ, did you get the foam yet? I'm dieing to hear how it turned out if you did.

hey rick, you having fun???
UPS showed up friday afternoon as i was glassing the bilge back in and getting the deck ready. but i held off pouring till saturday.
now the first thing im gonna say is, even if you think you have the square footage calculations right.........ORDER MORE! i "guesstimated" correctly, but didnt take into consideration the amount of waste what i couldnt get out of the dixie cups is what i needed to finish.. ill get a few pics today to show what i mean...
other than that, it is actually extremely easy to work with! very messy! but really easy. i was very suprised considering i was getting more nervous the more i read through all the threads on here, because of over expansion, buldging areas and so on..leaving the deck off, pouring, and trimming after would be so much easier! but theres always that BUT...i thought about and thought some more but these hulls require the foam for a structural purpose. so haveing the deck on and letting the foam expand/adhere to the hull and the deck with slight expansion pressure was in my theory the better option. ill snap a few pics later and add a few details this evening.

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

well i just got home from working on it, have i stated just how much i hate fiberglass yet??? im itching like crazy!!! having to grind back all the gelcoat really bites!
used the heat gun to get the temps up inside the cavity....couldnt leave it going more than a minute or so at a time...i garuntee it was more than hot enough for the foam to fully expand!

heres an example of the waste i had. these are 16oz cups and what was left after pouring and scraping the cups out expanded atleast 3/4 to full...figure around 10 of these cups of foam left me a little short leaving a few small voids.

ground the edges back just enough to glass it in place. i used 2" holes so i could somewhat watch what was going on. this area was all ground down again today to remove all the gelcoat and got completely glassed back in.

before you say anything...... i didnt buy it! dad went and picked it up and went through 20 sheets to find this one...but the sad thing is, its still better than what was there! original peice had a couple good 6 inch knots and many more smaller ones. the spacing on the holes worked out really good, as i could see the foam working and filling everywhere except for the very top on 3 holes... i even drilled a few more 1/2" holes here and there to make sure and it made its way everywhere.

im glad i got 99% of the grinding done today. tomorrow it should be all glassed and sealed. i hope. well i need a shower!!!!!

almost forgot......unless you want to be peeling skin for a few days....wear gloves!

 

[Ricks Project]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

okay guys, back home from vacation and it was a blast. On the way to and from Florida I was looking at all the lakes from the window seat on the plane and hoping one day I'll be on the lake with my 8-teen. With all the help I'm getting here I believe it's possible.

Good pics and advice CJ. I was wondering about the floor and if everything needed to be down and finished except for the pour holes. I'm also thinking the only holes would be the pour holes.

I broke bad today and cut a hole in the floor to start pulling out the foam. The plywood flooring was wet but still solid with the exception of one place where there was damage in the fiber glass on top that allowed water in. I pulled enough wet foam out that the boat probably lost 100 lbs. And yes Aristocraft was right, the bags of wet foam is HEAVY. I've only gotten the width of the boat from in front of the back seat to just behind the front seats. Just wondering if I need to cut a hole up in front of the front seats to clean that out. It's really hard pulling from the back.

CJ, hope you got everything finished and back together. Hope to see pics of the final product.

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

Good pics and advice CJ. I was wondering about the floor and if everything needed to be down and finished except for the pour holes. I'm also thinking the only holes would be the pour holes.

I pulled enough wet foam out that the boat probably lost 100 lbs. And yes Aristocraft was right, the bags of wet foam is HEAVY. I've only gotten the width of the boat from in front of the back seat to just behind the front seats. Just wondering if I need to cut a hole up in front of the front seats to clean that out. It's really hard pulling from the back.

CJ, hope you got everything finished and back together. Hope to see pics of the final product.

seeing how the foam is structural in every aspect on these i didnt want too pour it and try to shave it level...i figured a little expansion pressure would be good...i dont even see a ply stringer in yours...hmmm, interesting. without that you may want to consider hanging the stern from the eyes just enough to keep the weight off the keel..so it keeps the shape.

i took a few core samples before i decided to dive in and found everything foreward of the rear facing front seats to be dry. i would take a few and see how far you need to go first.

i guestimated all the wet foam i removed weighed almost 400 pounds total

i got everything glassed back in (have i mentioned just how much i hate fiberglass yet :/) and the bilge area painted but the weather is not cooperating with me back down in the 30's overnight and 40's to possibly 50 during the day with rain
i want to get the new/old motor in before i paint the rest but i have to order a new water shudder first seeing how its totally gone.... some say i dont need it and others say its very important...idk. its only 30 bucks but a weeks waiting for it

now that your back from relaxing (so lucky) could you get a pic of the rear seating on yours, and how is your fuel tank strapped in???

or just reply in this thread, http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=383822 ziggy's 75 is set up alot different than this one so maybe yours is closer, thanks

 

[Ricks Project]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

Hey CJ,
No, this one doesn't have the stringer up the middle. I was wondering since I saw yours did. So far the only wood I've seen is the floor and in the engine compartment. And I think I'll do the lift thing so the keel forms correctly.

I haven't taken core samples yet but it looks as if the bottom foam is saturated. I'll try the core samples.

I've never done any fiberglassing before but looking forward to the experience. Even if the experience is bad, in the end I'll be able to see a great boat put back in the water.

I've taken a couple pics of the seat\engine compartment area. The 8-teen rear seats were molded in with the engine compartment. I don't think the fuel tank was orginal as it wasn't fastened down. It was an 18 gallon tank that sat on a couple 1/2" thick rubber mats which made it fit tight betweeen the floor and port rear molded seat. The filler hose was split and I figured it would need replacing. When I removed it there were dead wasps in it and of course the bottom was rusted really bad. New tank in this boats future. I'm going to add tie downs for the new tank.

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

thanks rick...i talked to my dad and he said when they first got the boat it had some type of bungie holding the tank in place, very possible it was original! since it is a fairly tight fit....im trying something a bit different, i took a piece of 1/2" plastic water pipe and glassed it down. i ran 2 layers of matt as close to the tank as i could and down into the bilge area about 6"...glassed in a section of flatstock with a eyebolt welded to it on the other side.... then i took a strap i had laying around, took the hook off the buckle, cut 2 slits in the pipe and inserted a long bolt through. probably overkill considering how its been but the tank could wiggle enough to touch the alternator. not anymore! heres a pic of it and the painted bilge area...i wasnt about to sit there and sand down a section that doesnt get seen :/
the unfished deck


i kinda wish you were closer i would love to see that 18 up close!

 

[Ricks Project]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

Actually there was a rubber bungie just laying in behind the tank and there was a bracket laying in there that looked like it had been mounted half way back of the tank location. Maybe the original was done something like that. Oh well, I'm with you. I'm making a way to hold the tank in place that works with the tank I buy.

BTW, for someone who hates fiberglass you sure do good work. I hope I can do half as good. I've got some local guys that are going to help me with the hull and hopefully I'll get good enough to put the floor back down.

Love for you to see the 18 but I'd hate for you to see it in the condition it's in now. I have a long way to go to get it where I want it. Which leads me to ask...

This boat's original color was turquoise top and white bottom. It also came with turquoise\white seats. Does anyone know where I can get the paint and seats or seat material?

I also need to know what throttle\shift control came with this boat. There are 2 controls in there now but I think 1 of them was added to compensate for a failure with the other. There is a MerControl and another 2 knob control. Currently the MerControl is throttle and the other controller has 1 handle connected to the shift lever on the transom plate and the other handle disconnected. I'd like to be able to use the MerControl but not sure if I can.

Also, looks like I may have to pull out all the foam. Oh well.

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

Actually there was a rubber bungie just laying in behind the tank and there was a bracket laying in there that looked like it had been mounted half way back of the tank location. Maybe the original was done something like that. Oh well, I'm with you. I'm making a way to hold the tank in place that works with the tank I buy.


BTW, for someone who hates fiberglass you sure do good work. I hope I can do half as good. I've got some local guys that are going to help me with the hull and hopefully I'll get good enough to put the floor back down.

Love for you to see the 18 but I'd hate for you to see it in the condition it's in now. I have a long way to go to get it where I want it. Which leads me to ask...

This boat's original color was turquoise top and white bottom. It also came with turquoise\white seats. Does anyone know where I can get the paint and seats or seat material?

I also need to know what throttle\shift control came with this boat. There are 2 controls in there now but I think 1 of them was added to compensate for a failure with the other. There is a MerControl and another 2 knob control. Currently the MerControl is throttle and the other controller has 1 handle connected to the shift lever on the transom plate and the other handle disconnected. I'd like to be able to use the MerControl but not sure if I can.

Also, looks like I may have to pull out all the foam. Oh well.

hope u dont mind i stole a pic, it looks like u have the same 2 holes where that little bracket was riveted for the bungie...

glassing is actually very easy, just messy,and very itchy when you sand/grind! then grind and sand more, and more...
i actually dont think my work is all that great..or atleast not what it could be with much more time spent on it...

i actually have family in VA. maybe ill have to visit soon

as for the paint code and seats, id contact aristocraft....i think they still make the seat covers? i could be wrong....probly a bit pricey though.

ill snap a pic later of the controls.......is it a pull knob or push button?? sounds like the ear in yours broke inside that contacts the second cable mechanism and they added the other set and cobbled something to work.......but i have an extra unit here that the handle broke off in my dads hand about 5 miles off shore...wish i was there on that trip just to see his face might be able to use the gutts and fix yours?? maybe...

i think i answered my question...is it this one? http://www.aristocraftboats.com/fiberglassbrochures/Funliner8-Teenpagefour.pdf if it is its diff than the 9teen
atleast you will be 100% sure its gonna be dry when your done! ithink the 8teen had 20 square feet of foam throughout and the 9teen had 30 square feet.

 

[Ricks Project]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

Hey CJ,
That does look like the control. The weird part is that I've printed out that and all of the 8-teen .pdf's on the Aristocraft site and I didn't catch that, good eye. I look at them from time to time to imagine my 8-teen looking like that. If I get it to that point, I'm making a trip to GA.
I took the control apart on Saturday and did get it to pull the throttle on both forward and reverse directions. Now I need to go back in and see if there is something broken that the shift cable would connect to. I may need some parts from the control that broke on your dad. Don't tell him but I had to laugh at that story.

I live near Roanoke Va if that's close to where your family is. Love to have you in the Star City and give me some advice on my boat.

 

[cedarjunki]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

hey rick, sorry i forgot the pics of the control but yours are different than the ones i have anyways. these mount behind the panel with just the lever exposed.

the past week or so has been a nightmare with the nineteen, today being the worst


hope your having fun

 

[ziggy]

Re: 1968 8-teen project

the past week or so has been a nightmare with the nineteen, today being the worst

sorry to hear about your woes.
so what happened? maybe others (me) can learn from the blues your getting.. hope your nightmare becomes a pleasant dream..