1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

[dst888]

Hi guys. I bought a 1974 Manatee with a 1981 90hp Evinrude on it this summer (Cheap). I did not know the first thing about boats except that If I got one I could catch more fish. It took me a while to get her running right. I did a lot of studing on this site and bought a service manuel witch helped alot also. So I did get to enjoy it this summer but knowing that the deck would have to come off this winter.The last time I had it out it was full of water so I had to pull the deck off a little earlier than I wanted to. The striper show up this time of year. Anyway I have got pretty far into the project so far by all the great info on this site. Ill post some pics to get you up to speed. And please let me know if you see anything wrong. Ill take all the advice I can get.Turns out most of my pics are to large of files to upload. So I will post what I can.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

Welcome to iBoats!
Looks like Great Progress so Far!!!! Have you core sampled the Stringers and Transom yet??

 

[dst888]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!



Here are a couple more pics and a couple questions. I had to cut out the splashwell so I could get to the deck and transome. I did not want to do this but had no other option. No room or help to pop the top off. Now I went ahead and pulled the stringers out and I have most of the grinding done. The stringers where made of 2x6. They where just layed in there and covered with roving. I plan on doing a much better job than that. What woood should I replace them with? I would like to use 2x6 and not have to glue ply together.Is poly resin ok to use on this boat?

Next Im going to sure the hull up with some fiberglass. After some more grinding and cleaning that is.The boat is on a roller trailer and I have cut out the splashwell. Is it ok to take out the transome? Should I put the new stringers in first? Or have I already made a mistake by taking the sringers out? I did put a couple of jack stands and wood under it for support but I am a little scared if I take the transome out the hull will warp??

 

[dst888]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

I try to upload pics but the files are too big?

 

[dst888]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

Thanks. Yes the stringers are out and the transome will be. Everything was rotten!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

You can resize your pics using MS Paint 640x480 is the preferred size on the forum. There's a link in my signature that tells you all about it.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

You should take some measurements of the hull as it is now and then ensure they stay as they are. With the cap still being on I doubt you'll have any issues. Go ahead and Remove the transom. Here's some drawings on how I recommend fabricating everything. You can use 2x material for your stringers but I highly recommend using laminated plywood. Aracuo Ply is some good stuff @ Lowes. 1/2" for the Deck, 3/4" for everything else. If you do use the 2x make sure and get the best knot free you can find and it should be Douglas Fir. Laminating Poly Resin is what I'd recommend for your boat restore. 1.5oz CSM mat and 1708 biaxial cloth.

Click the pics to enlarge.

Stringers




Deck


Transom

 

[dst888]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

Thanks! Those specs are great. I'll get the pics resized to post. So if I use 3/4 ply for the stringers would I have to double it up? Or will it be as strong as the 2x as is?

 

[dst888]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

Resized pic

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

I like the looks of her!!! I would double up the ply for the stringers. Most do. You can use TiteBond III wood glue (100% waterproof) to laminate em on sawhorses in the garage. Pretty easy to do. Go to U haul and buy a couple of 4x8 sheets of Cardboard to make templates out of then transfer to the plywood. 4-6 hours of work and you'll have em done.

 

[dst888]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

Thanks. Got the transome out today. Just made a few cuts and then started pealing it out little by little. Also got most of the grinding done. Man that is a job I probably have a good 20hrs of grinding there.

So I am going to make a order for fiberglass stuff tomorrow. Anyone have a ball park of what I will need. How much CSM, 1708, Resin? Its a 17ft runabout. I am doing stringers transome and deck. Im thinking of getting 5 gal of resin 20yds if csm and 10yds of 1708 to get started. I just don't want to pay too much by buying small quanitys at a time. Also some carbosil and chop strands.

Also if you look in the last pic you can see where the bilge pump was. Someone ran screws right through the hull!!! what is the best way to fix them? They are just like 1/8in maybe.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

I'd say 25yds of 1.5oz CSM, 15 Gallons of Resin, 10yds 1708, 5qts of cabosil, 2lb 1/4" chopped strand. Plug the holes with Peanut Butter.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

Nice boat dst888. Manatees were nice heavy duty built hulls that seem to be fairly common in our general area. With the wood properly replaced she'll be a tank. Can't go wrong with an Evinrude V4 either. I think you and I have the same one. If you haven't already, check out this restoration of a very similar hull http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=469925

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

Hey bud, take a look at my thread in my sig... mine was constructed a bit differently. It's a great hull. Looking forward to this one and will be following it closely. my 18' manatee tops out at 30 MPH, naked and with just myself and my 70 HP chrysler. I plan on putting a 115-140 on it later this winter. Best of Luck.

 

[dst888]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

Yea ezmobee I've been studying how you put that splashwell back in. I really did not want to cut mine out but I had no other choice. Nice job!

Zopperman my Manatee went 32mph and thats full of gear and about idk 300lbs of wet foam and stringer. I can't waite to see how fast she will go when I'm done. Not to mention use less gas

Well I spent four hours with the shop vac and air compressor cleaning out my garage this afternoon. I do not recomend to anyone to do your grinding inside.(even with plastic up it helps but not enuff) My boat and trailer will not fit inside so I took the toung off of my trailer when I started and could not get it out when it came time to start the grinding. Well I can now because I riged up a short trailer with 2x4 and 2x6 I will post some pics tomorrow night.

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

are yer stringers 1-1/2" and a layer of roving over all 4 stringers running port-starboard? basically another layer to the hull?

 

[dst888]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

They are 1 1/2" and a layer of roving over each stringer not all the way accross. I will use two layers of csm and then two of 1708 and it should be much stronger that way. But I must say for a 50 year old rotten boat it was still sturdy the way they constructed it. I probably could of just pumped out the water and ran it for a few more years that way. But I know better than that.

 

[dst888]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

Here are a couple pics of my snub nose trailer and engin stand. Now she fits in the garage on the trialer! I don't think this would work if the engin and deck where still in but the boat is light now and will do the job just fine.I found a set of drawings for the engin stand here on iboats. I beefed it up a little more than the drawings called for. If I where to do it again I would make it bigger and use bigger casters also. These are 175lb casters that where $6 each. The next size up would of been $12 so I got these. They work fine but could glide a little nicer. And I would make it bigger for the 90hp engin. I think the drawings where for a 50hp.

So I have decided to use 2x6 for my stringers. Because that is what was in it and my wood skills are ok at best. I don't want to go through all that cutting and glueing of plywood. Well untill I get to the transome that is. Well maybe I'll do the transome first. My question is what wood to use for stringers? I know woodonglass said to use Douglas Fir and that is what I will do if I can find it. Now will that be treated wood? If I can't find it can I use the PT wood they sell at Lowes? Woodonglass also said to use Aracuo Ply for deck so that is what will go down but should that be used on transome also? I see they have it a lowes but they do not rate it for outdoor use. They say for indoor and outdoor if properly sealed. So I gues I just want to konw what all my options are for 2x stringers and ply for transom. I am not a wood guy so please be specific. Thanks!

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

No treated wood. Just exterior grade. I'd use ACX arauco for the transom and deck.

 

[dst888]

Re: 1974 Manatee Rebuild!!

Is this ground down enuff to glass over? The bottom of the hull is pretty thin and I don't want to go through. I did not clean it yet. Should I grind more to get all the brown out or is this good?