1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

[lcrayne]

I recently traded my lawn tractor grass catcher for a 17' 1976 Galaxy with a 120 HP I/0 Mercruiser. Good mechanics, low hours. Problem: The boat was sunk one time, spent a lot of time docked in marinas and set out for a couple of years. Transom is solid. Floor was soft and seats were rotted. Tore out the seats, carpeting and cut out the floor. Stringers were solid. So, I need to replace the floor. Floor was 3/4 inch marine plywood glassed on both sides. The supposedly watertight compartment below the floor had obviously been holding water for years. Sucked it out and am currently drying everything. Plan to replace the floor with 3/4 inch CDX pressure treated plywood, put a sump pump on the floor of the hull with access through an 8 inch deck plate. Since I plan to trailer this boat and store it inside, don't think I need to glass the floor. The second sump pump should take care of any water that finds it way below the floor. I have restored old husqvarna motorcycles, but am new to boats. Would appreciate any comments on my plan.

 

[daveswaves]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

Hey bourbon, sounds like you have a good project. Pictures will help folks give you ideas. Does the engine currenly run? you mentioned it sank once, how it was treated after it sank will have a huge influence on how reliable the motor is downstream. How did you check the stringers? Thumping them won't tell you for sure, it would be worth (in my opinion) cutting a hole with a hole saw through the stringer and see how much water/rotton wood is there. If it truly is solid, no problem, fibreglass up the hole. My guess is you are going to find water and rotten wood.

 

[lcrayne]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

Thanks for the reply! Engine runs. Fluids were changed after it was sunk. After I got it, took it to a marina. They ran the engine, said the engine compression was good, lower unit was good, transom good, new battery, alternator, starter solenoid, had it serviced, winterized and they said it was ready to run. Stringers are solidly encased in fiberglass. No spiderwebing anywhere on the hull. Hate to drill stringers that are rock solid. What do you think about my idea for the floor.

 

[Solittle]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

If you keep the boat inside your plan might work. Most folks will use 3/4" marine plywood glassed on both sides. Use the Search function in the project boats section to find out what others have done. If you decide to use fiberglass do not use pressure treated ply as fiberglass resin does not adhere particularly well to pressure treated wood due to the chemical used.

 

[Parrott_head]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

Bourbon,<br /><br />I would really be tempted to glass that CDX. If it was me the first time the boat got soaked in a rainstorm and couldn't really dry out for a couple of days I would be regreting not fiberglassing it for peace of mind. But then folks say I worry too much.

 

[lcrayne]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

One additional question: What about flotation material below the floor? The area was filled with 4 foot long 4 inch by 4 inch foam strips just laid in there which was totally waterlogged. Threw it away. Any suggestions for replacement material? How about blocks of just plain old styrofoam insulation material?

 

[daveswaves]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

I would glass the floor (not pressure treated, exterior or marine 3/4 ply). I would still bet that the stringers are waterlogged.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

Definately glass the floor. You can soak the underside with resin, and you should use heavy roving around perimeter of floor where it joins sides and transom then sheath the entire floor with mat or cloth. Use resin soaked strips of mat between floor and stringers, and screw the floor to the stringers with 2 inch stainless screws every six inches and you should have a good strong bond. You can use 2 part foam under the floor for floatation.

 

[lcrayne]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

Sorry to be dumb about this, but I am new to boat building. What is "roving"

 

[JasonJ]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

Roving is material that is interwoven at 90 degree angles, and is quite heavy and the weave is lareg when compared to cloth, which has a much smaller weave to it. Roving is good when you are looking for good strength.

 

[lcrayne]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

Thanks to all you guys who have commented. Everyone has been very helpful.

 

[lcrayne]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

Finally got around to posting pics: http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lc...//f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lcrayne/my_photos Bought three sheets of AA marine ply. Plan to coat it on both sides with resin or epoxy. West Marine also has something they call Boaters Resin which they maintain would be adequate and doesn't require using cloth. Anyone have any familiarity with it?

 

[Solittle]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

FYI - One of the reasons to glass in the floor is that it is part of the structural strength of the hull.<br /><br />Looks like you got a plan. Keep us posted. Oh and the link to the pictures did not work for me.

 

[lcrayne]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lcrayne/my_photos

 

[Ryoken]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

you can use a 2 part expanding foam to replace the waterlogged stuff... available from West Marine etc...

 

[Peter1959628]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

nice pics Bourbon ,will be watching to see how things progress.<br />I will work out how to post pics as youve done.<br />My buddy has a tri hull Manatee very similar to yours and is easier to manoevre than my v hull Galaxy. Also has an advantage of storing in a barn.

 

[Parrott_head]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

When I replaced my deck in an old Glastron I dug out the old urethane open cell foam that was waterlogged and replaced it with styrofoam that I bought in four inch think panels. <br />The voids I filled were of the type that water could get too and I wanted something that would let the water get out.

 

[lcrayne]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

Easy to post pics. Go to Yahoo, click on Photos, follow prompts. Make pics available to the public. Won't see much progress until the weather gets warm. Can't work chemicals in unheated garage.

 

[lcrayne]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

Hey Guyezs. Remember this project. Well after 23 months working off and on I finally got serious about it this spring and got it in the water last week. Runs great. Thirty-seven MPH with a high torque prop for pulling two water skiers. New floor is rock solid, a minimum of pounding, turns like it is on rails and jumps on plane in about four boat lengths. Before and after pictures at: http://photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos. Earlier picture link does not work for some reason know only to Yahoo. Now for the details. Ground all the old floor out to the hull forward of the engine well, replaced it with marine plywood resined on the underside, 3 1/2 gallons of Duraglass to level the edges of the new floor to the hull, roving on the sides to tie the floor to the hull, drilled 2” holes ever sq/ft from the transom forward and poured three 8 lb kits of 2 lb pourable expanding urethane foam until it came out the holes, replaced the plugs and covered it with two layers of 6 oz fiberglass cloth. New carpeting, seats, built an engine box, replaced the hydraulic lines on the outdrive and diverse other mechanical parts. Cleaned and polished everything and plopped it in the water. Since this is my first boat project, I could not have done it without the invaluable information I have gleaned from following your posts for the past two years. I would like to thank everyone for the wealth of information you have provided. Would be happy to answer any questions anyone may have. Only scurrent problem is the Up button on the Trim Switch quit working last Sunday, so I guess it is off to one of the mechanical forums. Thanks again for all of the valuable information.

 

[lcrayne]

Re: 1976 Galaxy Tri-Hull Ski Boat Restoration Plan

Oops. Try this link. http://photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos