1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

[Captain Tully]

Hi all. I've spent untold hours cruising iboats doing research for my remodel of a 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing Machine. I am completely awed by the knowledge and creativity of the members, so much so that I'm leery of posting. But, I've taken the leap to rebuild my boat, so why not share my pleasure/pain with those that have been there and understand. So many options that I really need a sounding board.
So here goes. I started this project with intentions of converting from a tiller to a console. My 1981 Bass Tracker isn't big enough for my family, so I picked up this hull which has significantly more room. Originally, I wanted to do an SC, but now I'm not so sure if an SS wouldn't be a better selection. Any suggestions?
Boat sat out uncovered too long and PO re-did decks and transom with PT. Sure enough, when I started, everything had to go. No pics of the rip and tear (dig and pry with the saturated poured foam). A full size pick up bed full of soaked foam went to the dump. Still working away at getting the inside of the hull preped for glu-vit. I'm having a problem finding the right method to get the rivets and seams clean. Everything I've tried is either too aggressive or not aggressive enough.
Added Al longitudinals, added 1 extra stringer for more under deck support. Planning to remove live well and move it forward to sit between next set of stringers. I'll have to raise the front deck a couple inches to make that work. Working it all out in my head. Ply in pictures is juct to give my feet a level platform, it's not gonna stay. I have 1/2 inch Aruco on hand for the later. Here are pics to show up to date progress. If I can figure out how to make the pictures post, that is.
Transom came out yesterday and replacement is under construction. Console design is fluctuating, and I'm trying to figure out what to do with my already purchased pour foam now that I'm in the market for pool noodles . or maybe not

 

[Captain Tully]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

some more pics

boat 5.jpg (145.5 KB)

Wooden bench is mock up. Plan to install flip over seats/bench to make wider casting platform

boat 7.jpg (146.6 KB)

Old transom, not as bad as some, but I figured it needed to go since my HP rating jumped from 50 to 90 by giving the boat a console.

boat 10.jpg (153.5 KB)

Transom skin has some pitting. Should I skin this with JB or just leave it alone?

boat 13.jpg (150.9 KB)

Before cutting to size.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

Hey Tully, welcome to iboats and the iboats drydock!

First I have to say that Sea Nymph owners are easily the smartest (not to mention ultra good looking) boat builders on the world wide interweb!

I kinda think this boat would want to be a side console making a great fishing platform, comfortable plus some room to move about.

Yah, a quick JB Weld and sanding wouldn't be a bad idea.

Cheers!

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

Hey Tully, welcome to iboats and the iboats drydock!

First I have to say that Sea Nymph owners are easily the smartest (not to mention ultra good looking) boat builders on the world wide interweb!

Cheers!

I heard the sea nymph battle cry, and so I had to stop by and say hello. Nice boat and good progress so far!

 

[Captain Tully]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

Thanks Jas and Pmccraney for stopping by.

I definately love this hull and have many options. The SC v SS is one I'm battling with. This is a fishing boat 1st and foremost, so I like the room making it an SC provides. I'll on occassion need to fit three adults, a couple kids and a large dog as well as goodies for a day trip. I also like the idea of a wind break for the passenger, thus the SS. An SS also seems to have more balance. Either way the driver and passenger seat will be side by side adjustable pedistals. Idea is that the pedistals will do double duty as fore and aft fishing seats.

If the weather holds out today, I'll be moving the livewell forward and over drilling the transom holes. I haven't figured out my attack to raise the bow deck a couple inches. Hmmmm...

 

[Captain Tully]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

Hi again. Rained today so I didn't get done the boat projects I'd planned. Did spend some time working out the console choice/design. I am leaning toward the SS set up. Fits my OCD tendencies.

1st option is like shown on Starboard side.

2nd option is shown on port side. They are mocked up this way to get a side by side comparison, not out of some British notion of driving from the left

3rd option is a console like Fshngho did on his SS, but having the dash wrap around and tie into the gunwall. I will work on a mock up to show you what I mean.

Somewhere, in someone's resto thread I saw a console face that was made out of plexi with the backside painted. I think that looks fantastic and am toying with the idea of copying that. Can someone steer me to that thread. I can't find it and I'd like to find out how it's holding up over time, problems encountered, etc.

Thanks for the inspiration.

 

[64osby]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

Capt., On the Plexi console, I would think the plexi would get scratched over time and might not look so good.

The SS would seem to be a better fit for 6 on board, SC will limit the seating on a smaller boat, IMO.

Have to ask, is your last name Tully? if yes, Dorset, VT and Albany based family history?

Nice project, and welcome to iboats.

 

[Captain Tully]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

Capt., On the Plexi console, I would think the plexi would get scratched over time and might not look so good.

The SS would seem to be a better fit for 6 on board, SC will limit the seating on a smaller boat, IMO.

Have to ask, is your last name Tully? if yes, Dorset, VT and Albany based family history?

Nice project, and welcome to iboats.

64,
Thanks for taking a look. Tully is just where I live. I was wondering about the scratch issue too. The depth that the technique gives looks neat, but if function doesn't follow its not an option. Thanks for the input.

 

[64osby]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

I drove past there once, took a pic standing by the highway sign, for last names sake.

Wood is classic and can reworked very easy, alum is forever.

 

[rirory]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

Last year , i posted my completed 1966 20' chrysler polara 254 aluminum deep vee. I built it from the hull up. just check out the posts and Feel free to copy any of my ideas or email me w/ any questions. My boat was an enormous project and took over 2 years. Currently, i am doing a sea nymph 17' ss and turning it into an sc---more room.

good luck
ri rory

 

[Captain Tully]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

64, how in the world did you find Tully? It's the epitomy of a "blink and you'll miss it" place.

Rirory, I looked for your thread, but I couldn't find it. I gotta admit, computer savy I'm not.

Took a bit of a break and headed to Quebec to close up the fishinig camp, therefore no real progress since last week.

Before I left, I managed to get my transom shaped. I made it a bit differently. The original is 1 1/2" thick, but I made the replacement 1 5/8". Here's why...the bottom of the knee brace sits on the transom shelf, leaving a 1/8" gap between the transom and the knee brace flanges. Instead of pulling the flanges tight around the knee brace (and possibly creating torque) I routed out the bottom of the transom to fit the transom shelf. Now the flanges are true to the transom. Tested fit and it all slid in very nicely. This may have been extra work for naught, but what the heck....over kill won't hurt in this area. I'll post pics of this later today.

When I removed the transom shelf, I drilled out the rivets. When replacing, which is better, Al rivets or SS bolts.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

When replacing, which is better, Al rivets or SS bolts.

Either of those would work fine for ya. Best would be closed end blind rivets prolly.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

Closed end blind rivets are self-sealing, SS nuts and bolts are not.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

Grub is right, the SS nuts/bolts would be used to hold the transom shelf on. But it's the 5200 that would be used to seal everything up.

 

[Captain Tully]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

Boat 19.jpg (151.2 KB)
Boat 20.jpg (146.2 KB)

The 2nd pic shows routed edge of transom which fits in transom shelf.

If I'm understanding Jas and Grub, I'm good to use the rivets to remount the shelf to the transom skin. SS bolts will be used through the transom. Both will be sealed with 5200.

As you can see from the 1st pic, holes are overdrilled and epoxy filled. This reminds me of pillar bedding a rifle and I like the anti-crush effect it lends to the transom.

 

[onemaingun]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

Nice work the with transom rebuild! Resin with cloth between the sheets of ply? Curious to what you used for the application.

 

[Captain Tully]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

Nice work the with transom rebuild! Resin with cloth between the sheets of ply? Curious to what you used for the application.

Hey Gun, That's all just Aruco ply with PL between the layers. Once the holes filler sets up, and everything is sanded back to spec, it'll be covered in epoxy. Thanks for checking in and I appreciate the encouragement!

Ahh, just realized why the resin/cloth question. The paper showing under the transom is freezer paper that I put between the new transom and the old. I used the old as a backer to keep the epoxy in the holes.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

I'm good to use the rivets to remount the shelf to the transom skin. SS bolts will be used through the transom. Both will be sealed with 5200.

Yup, sounds like you have it figured

 

[64osby]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

64, how in the world did you find Tully? It's the epitomy of a "blink and you'll miss it" place.

It was a long time ago, if I remember we were going from The Oranges in NJ up to Thousand Isl or Syracuse, some hwy running N / NW skirting the Catskills. We didn't even get off the hwy, just stopped at the road sign. Having driven over 1.5 million miles I've passed at of places, but Tully I remembered.

Nice work on the tinny.

 

[Captain Tully]

Re: 1985 Sea Nymph Fishing machine remodel

Not a lot of work on the boat. JB'd the transom skin, two coats epoxy on 1 side of transom. Had to devote the weekend to deer blind trimming, tardage markings, etc. I have a bit more free time this week so hopefully lots of progress before the weekend. Life seems to get in the way...


I need to stuff this hull into my garage. It won't fit inside on the trailer. I'm looking for suggestions on how to "dock" it on the floor so I can still work on it.

Thanks in advance for the advice. CT