1976 TriHull Rebuild

[Andrewfarley96]

I just went and looked at a 1976 trihull. The person is going to let me have it for free with the trailer and clear titles for both.

I know that the floor is completely rotten. And the transom will also need to be replaced. The privious owner had a 55hp outboard on it and it has set outside for 12 yrs and just the weight over time has destroyed the transom.

My plan is to seperste the hull and the deck. Replace stringers and floors and glass the crap out of everything. My main questions is it possible to take the current deck and just light it on fire. What i mean is build one myself from wood and basicly customize it the way i want? Would this comprimse the boat strength. Ive worked with glass before and am very comfortable with it so that wont be to hard but i just want to see if anyone has done it and if it is safe for the structure of the hull.

If i reuse the current deck i would need to flip it upside down and i would put atleast one more lauer of glass on it just to strengthn it some more. What do you think?

 

[52FordF2]

I would not the fiberglass resin is flammable
This is a boat that was on fire.



If the transom is rotting so is the decking, just cut it out and glass new ones in. Then you can throw the old deck on a fire pit

 

[thomas15]

The simple answer to your question "can I reuse the current deck" is no. What you are looking at is a complete gut and replacement of the deck, stringers and transom. There are many threads here that you should view where the entire process is documented. For you to get this boat back in service will require many hours of labor and some money. Of course it can be done but you have to decide if you are willing to do this.

Did the boat come with a motor? If so, what make year and condition?

 

[Andrewfarley96]

No motor the one that was on it was available for $500 but it was a 55hp and i dont want one that big. Some of the lakes where i live have a 10hp max. After i get the boat looking good inwill start searching for a 9.9hp.

The deck that i was refering to is fiberglass. Just dont like the setup of it. It is a 2 part boat. im going to seperate them to fix the transom and the floor. All the wiring will half to be done and i plan on putting in a live well somewhere on the boat.

 

[gm280]

For starter Andrewfarley96, :welcome: to iboats. Nice you could join us...

Don't burn anything on or in the boat. After you remove things and want to have a bonfire, then you can do whatever your community will allow. As for redesigning the boat, yes that can be done. But it takes a huge amount of effort, labor, money and such. There are tons of such projects on these forums that have gone before you and documents their efforts for you to read and learn. One thing I will point out though, if you do redesign the layout, and many have, remember the boat was initially designed for a larger engine then you seem to want to use. And for that reason the 9.9HP engine will never ever plane out the hull. So a slow sluggish plowing boat will be your final results.

However, if you still decide to move forward with your redesign ideas, we can offer ideas and proven suggestions along the way. You understand that it is very dirty, smelly, itchy, dusty, laborious efforts and can be one of those projects that at times you will wonder why you started it in the first place. But if you persevere, you will be rewarded with a nice finished boat.

Let us know what YOU decide. JMHO!