1977 Grady White Assessment

[rkmnoles]

I recently purchased a 77 Grady White 201 center console for the sum of $1300.00. It seems in its day this was a fine boat. I just don't see many lap sided( if that is the term ) boats any longer The boat came with a 200 hp Johnson and tandem axle aluminum trailer. After some expense the motor is running fine. I need to assess the boat to see if it is worth the time, effort and expense to repair. Transom is solid and most of the DECK is solid. A section of the deck forward of the console has issues with some heavy cracking. I can look in the compartment at the bow and see loose foam and a small area of exposed wood that is soft. That being said I think I will remove the console, pull the fuel tank compartment lid and look and feel for rot. It appears the the deck and lid are 1 peice and may be a large pain to separate. I think after all is said and done it would be a nice boat. Any suggestions on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Overnighter20]

Re: 1977 Grady White Assessment

Hey, good luck with the Grady, I had a 1971 Cuddy some years back that I restored. Man what a good boat she was, but anyway I sold her about 6 years ago, and just recently ran across an 83 that I couldn't pass up on, so now I doing it all over again. Hope this one is at least as good as the old 71 was, but I really think it'll be better. It's in alot better shape goin in than the other one was.
One thing I'll say, the lap siders are a ***** to compound out for waxing, (just finished mine) but it's well worth the effort to do it.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 1977 Grady White Assessment

Before you get discouraged in doing the work on a CC take a look at this current project http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=295164&highlight=donzi That will provide you with some inspiration that separating the cap from the hull is achievable!

 

[jonesg]

Re: 1977 Grady White Assessment

I recently purchased a 77 Grady White 201 center console for the sum of $1300.00. It seems in its day this was a fine boat. I just don't see many lap sided( if that is the term ) boats any longer The boat came with a 200 hp Johnson and tandem axle aluminum trailer. After some expense the motor is running fine. I need to assess the boat to see if it is worth the time, effort and expense to repair. Transom is solid and most of the DECK is solid. A section of the deck forward of the console has issues with some heavy cracking. I can look in the compartment at the bow and see loose foam and a small area of exposed wood that is soft. That being said I think I will remove the console, pull the fuel tank compartment lid and look and feel for rot. It appears the the deck and lid are 1 peice and may be a large pain to separate. I think after all is said and done it would be a nice boat. Any suggestions on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Its probably got water in the plywood deck under the glass liner, you can cut that section off and re-do it, slide the console back out of the way.

Find out how the water got in , maybe the better way would be a composite that won't rot, nidacore honeycomb material is good and strong.

You would be well served to re-plumb the tank, its a beech of a job I won't lie to ya, but it needs doing every 20 yrs. Had to replace the tank in mine, you can git cheap tanks on craigslist though.

The problem started on mine when the mounting screws for the center console worked loose, water got under the liner and that was that.
I re-cored the deck with composite (home made) , when I reinstalled the console I glassed it to the deck from inside the console, its a better way to go , there are no thru-holes in the deck now. I have a 20' chrysler.

 

[rkmnoles]

Re: 1977 Grady White Assessment

Jonesg, When you did yours did you separate the boat?

 

[rkmnoles]

Re: 1977 Grady White Assessment

I pulled the tank lid today and found a tank with holes and alot of water soaked foam. I dug out the foam with a grubbing hoe and the stringers in that area are solid as a rock. I'm having trouble gettin the tank out, any suggestions. Did'nt open the tank may have alot of old fuel as the hole is in the top. Having a tank that appears to be 75-100 gal. would be quite heavy.

 

[jonesg]

Re: 1977 Grady White Assessment

Yup, the chryslers and the older grady's were built very similar from what I see and they suffered the same problems.
Tank is probably galvi steel, mine leaked too.
Pump it out before trying to yank it.
Get a lever under one end and =slowly= pry it up, a wonder bar on a plywood pad will protect the hull keel.
My stringers were shot.

 

[jonesg]

Re: 1977 Grady White Assessment

Jonesg, When you did yours did you separate the boat?

No I just cut around the deck from the splashwell fwd to the front of the tank hatch, I left a 3 inch lip on the deck all around, after the work was done I reglassed the deck in place and painted it.
If you have the room and inclination then popping the cap is a good approach but its not always possible.
I chainsawed the tranasom out from the top, poured a seacast composite transom in.

 

[rkmnoles]

Re: 1977 Grady White Assessment

Jonesg , thanks for the response, as I stated it seems the stringers are solid just holes in the tank and water in the foam. I will explore further. Aluminum tank with holes in the top of it. I will probably take your route as I have limited covered area to work in.

 

[rkmnoles]

Re: 1977 Grady White Assessment

Got the fuel out of the tank today, only 40 gal. I'm still unable to move the tank and I think it is due to the foam on the edges. I used a sawzall and cut arund the tank and it is still very firm in place. It is very hard to find a good place to pry so I have decided to place a bar in the sending unit hole and lift with an engine hoist. If my job didn't interfere with my free time I could do it faster.

 

[frankscr]

Re: 1977 Grady White Assessment

i havea 72 cubby cabin and it great love it great boat good luck with your hope it works out for y

 

[jonesg]

Re: 1977 Grady White Assessment

Got the fuel out of the tank today, only 40 gal. I'm still unable to move the tank and I think it is due to the foam on the edges. I used a sawzall and cut arund the tank and it is still very firm in place. It is very hard to find a good place to pry so I have decided to place a bar in the sending unit hole and lift with an engine hoist. If my job didn't interfere with my free time I could do it faster.

A long wood handsaw might help cutting the foam away, its gonna take leverage to remove it, they probably glued the bottom too.

When installing the next tank read this for technical advice.
http://www.yachtsurvey.com/fueltank.htm

 

[LX Kid]

Re: 1977 Grady White Assessment

Here yet is another Grady White restoration. Been sitting for a while waiting for my loveing attention. It's an '82, 24 footer with cuddy cabin. (241 Weekender) Best of luck with your project.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=275835