1977 16' Baja

[74Baja]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

AMD, I dont really understand what he was saying about the bilge or how he used jacks to get the top off. Any help is appreciated. It should also be known that my boat is painted and I dont want to mess the paint up if at all possible. Thanks

 

[74Baja]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

duh nevermind i just realized that the rivets were still in. I guess ill just take them out and pop the top off. I also realized that the bow of my boat is full of that spray foam insulator stuff. Is my stringer under that stuff or does it end sooner? thanks

 

[ddavisr]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

The stringers stop before the foam. I removed the foam, glass in a piece of plywood and plan to add a 12 gallon built in tank. Add new foam under the plywood. I had two sets of rivrts, one holding the rub rail and another holding the upper and lower hul together. Once you get the top off it will make your life alot better. I also notice several bee hives hanging from the upper hull. Glad to get all of that stuff cleaned up. Post some pictures, would like to see your boat.

 

[74Baja]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

i will try to post pics but i am terrible with computers. I cant figure out how i will get the rivets in the front back in. there is a fiberglass wall under my dashboard that seals off the front so i couldnt put the backings on the rivets. do you know of any kind of fasteners that you only need to have access to one side to apply? thanks

 

[AMD Rules]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

You should be able to find blind rivets that don't require access to the back side.<br />

 

[74Baja]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

here are some pics ( i hope) thanks AMD, where did you find those blind rivets? http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectThumbs,p,149,00.html

 

[74Baja]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

Im trying to get the rivets out but i cant get the ring off of the back. should i try to drill the out?

 

[74Baja]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

Im trying to get the rivets out but i cant get the ring off of the back. should i try to drill the out?

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

You can drill them out using a bit that is one size larger than the shaft of the rivet. Drill the center of the rivet. Rivets tend to spin when drilled straight on so you may have to drill at a bit of an angle. Be aware of anything behind the rivet that you might drill into!

 

[74Baja]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

here are some more pics. I was trying to seperate the top and bottem and I encountered some cementy stuff that i assume was put in by the previous owner. it is keeping the two halves together. also, where exactly is the seam where the two halves meet in the back along the transom? thanks<br /> http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectThumbs,p,149,00.html

 

[74Baja]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

sorry, my pics arent too good. what I am saying is, how should i seperate the top and bottem along the back of the boat.

 

[ddavisr]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

I started at the front and lifted up until the sides where lose. Once the side where freed I lifted the front again and slowly moved it side to side, at that point the back broke free. I had the nose lifted about a foot from the lower before I started the side to side motion. It didn't take much to pop the top off. I would go around the boat and double check to make sure all rivets are out. I took a long punch and check every hole, so rivets where still stuck in the hole after the heads where drilled off.<br /><br />Good Luck!

 

[74Baja]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

Did you have any cement like stuff on the top of your transom under the top outside lip?

 

[ddavisr]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

Yes, I used a grinder to remove. Plan on using a product made by bondo that is a fiberglass filler when I put it back together.

 

[74Baja]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

how did you get to it? did you go behind the tub?

 

[74Baja]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

how did you fit a grinder back there? what kind of grinder?

 

[74Baja]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

any ideas

 

[ddavisr]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

I used a angle grinder after the two sections where apart. Are you talking about the back side of the splash well that butts up to the transom? If you are its no problem once there separated.

 

[ddavisr]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

If your asking about how I removed it before taking the two hulls apart. It broke up when lifting the top side to side. Maybe your having more of problem them I did, mine came apart easy. Once everything was removed I grap the front top hull lifted it and slowly roved it side to side and the transom area broke free. The two pieces popped apart with no damage.

 

[74Baja]

Re: 1977 16' Baja

ok, i was just worried about my transom area fiberglass being damaged because it has some pretty big cracks in it. they are how i noticed the bad transom. ill try your method slowly and carefully ( ill probably end up redoing the cracked areas anyway) but now im just waiting for thanksgiving when i have a lot of people to help. thanks