1980 Baja 180BR rebuild

[Burglary5%]

Hello all, I have been reading and reading on here for some time. I have learned tons and am ready to start my rebuild. I got a 1980 Baja 180 Bow rider last summer that I knew needed work. I could tell that the PO who said he had just installed a new floor just laid a sheet of ply over the old rotten floor, the interior was shot and the boat was generally a mess. As it happens none of that mattered as I love the looks of the old boat and when I look at it I see the finished product. I was able to take it out several times last year and would like to finish some time in spring if my schedule allows. I am very handy and have built houses and furniture all my life. I have already stripped the boat pulled the transom and stringers and ground everything down, I am ready to start putting things back together. I already have the poly, csm and 1708 from us composites along with the assorted rollers buckets cabosil and chopped fibers. I will take pictures when I can and add those. I just had a question that I can't seem to find the answer to, this boat is a balsa core hull and it is all in good shape. Everyone says that you need to bed the stringers in a 1/4 inch layer of PB or PL so you do not get hard spots in the hull. Does this hold true for a balsa core hull or does the balsa core act like the bedding? The stringers I removed were tight against the hull so I was just curious.I look forward to any and all comments and no I am not the sensitive type.

I will keep working on pics I am having some issues. Certainly not a computer guy.

 

[Burglary5%]

Re: 1980 Baja 180BR rebuild

The first one is what it looked like before taking it apart, the second is how i'm hoping I can make it look when finished, I like the simple paint scheme. I want different colors I'm thinking white on top and either silver or black on bottom. Unfortunately the metal flake gel is to far gone to bring it back.

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: 1980 Baja 180BR rebuild

5%...

I have no advice on the fiberglass/pl/pb/stringer front as I don't think I'm there...yet? I'll leave that for the experts on here.

Good luck with the rebuilt, I too love the old Baja's, especially of the metal flake variety. Since our boats are similar, I will be following along (cheering when appropriate, of course) in anticipation of a quality job and a splash.

As you know, the masses here require lots of pictures and videos (boat porn, I have heard it referred to?) open up a free account at photobucket.com, upload as many pictures and videos, then post the IMG Code ...[IMG].

Ciao,
Brett

 

[oops!]

Re: 1980 Baja 180BR rebuild

i totally agree with the above method of posting pics......that is the way i post them, and there is no clicking on thumb nails or other stuff...

however, here is another way

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=468676

 

[Burglary5%]

Re: 1980 Baja 180BR rebuild

Thanks for the picture info it was giving me fits. Feel free to chime in on any ideas right now the boat is a clean slate. As you can see the PO painted the window frame and the paint is coming off (looks horrible) I have that about cleaned up but will probably paint it again if I go black and white, he must have had some paint left over too as you can tell by the Johnson on the back. It's a 1973 135hp that after putting about $50 in to it runs great. I want the look of a merc like Baja's so I am on the hunt for one of those. I also love the look of your interior, my wife is a great seamstress and she has volunteered to make the new covers as I get the wood done.

Any ideas on the question of bedding the stringers? I dont even know that they have any structural value other than floor supports.

I am heading to florida for the week when I return the build will start and I will get pictures up.

Thanks guys.

This is what i'm going to try to get the back seat to look like I like the way it rounds out the corners.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1980 Baja 180BR rebuild

Johnson on the back. It's a 1973 135hp that after putting about $50 in to it runs great. I want the look of a merc like Baja's so I am on the hunt for one of those.

Blasphemy.

 

[evolution1985]

Re: 1980 Baja 180BR rebuild

Hey mate and best of luck with your rebuild, The main thing (other than the genuinely nice people) on here that I love is how simple it is to find great information. The mods here do a kick A** job on the stickys. basically if you need to do engine work, check the stickys at the top of the thread list, same as for your stringers. below is a great link that I have read far to many times.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=510077
That will answer any and all questions you have I should think.

Then if you want more information then OOPS is like the fibreglass guru, his build is seriously an adventure.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=234392

I would personally read both of those threads and then it should answer your questions on the stringers.
any question that I have asked so far has had great replies and helped allot, so you should be aok.

best of luck mate

 

[Burglary5%]

Re: 1980 Baja 180BR rebuild

I found this forum quite a while back and have read oops thread from start to finish as well as frisco, wood arch and several others. I hope my project comes out as nice as theirs.

Sorry EZ had a merc on the family boat growing up and I guess it has stuck with me.

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: 1980 Baja 180BR rebuild

5%,

I know this is kinda early in the process, but you can never plan too early for a repower...looking at the picture of your current motor, it looks as if it's mounted kinda low (at least from the picture, anyway?) I would recommend a jack plate (hydraulic if funds allow) that will get the motor out back more and adjustable up and down. I can't tell from the view, but your mid section might be smaller (mines a 20" mid and is mounted all the way down, I thought about raising it this summer and I have been looking for a used jack plate?).

Awesome that your wife's a seamstress (does that make a seamster?) if you make your rear bench in 4 pieces (2 sides, base and back) I would think having her make the vinyl would be pretty easy...when I get a chance, tonight I'll sketch up how I would recommend making the rear seat as to allow easy access to the bilge, tank and battery. BTW, I almost went that route and wanted to modernize it, but after seeing the cost of foam, I decided against. WOG's idea of using an old couch is a great one that I did not read until mine was done and installed!

Ironically, my 200 Blackmax is a model year 1980 (same as your boat) She was rebuilt about 5 years ago by a local guy...originally I had the 200 Mariner, but that gave up the ghost at about 65mph 7 years ago (Threw a rod through the side of the block).

~BU

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: 1980 Baja 180BR rebuild

Cool boat man. How bad is the rot?

 

[Burglary5%]

Re: 1980 Baja 180BR rebuild

Baja- I will give the jack plate some thought, the motor was mounted to low but it had some up adjustment left I will have to check it out closer when I get the transom in. Believe it or not that is a 20" leg

Frisco- It is completely rotted out. the transom and stringers were mulch couldn't even use them for a pattern. Luckily the balsa core looks great so I wont have to replace that.