1986 Procraft 1650 bass boat Rebuild

[BassAssassin2009]

I tore up the main floor where the dash because it's rotted and notice how bad Procraft boats were built. The floor is made of 1/4 inch plywood and a layer of fiber glass on top. Underneath that is a few pieces of foam that are 1 inch thick layered on top of another in between the 2 stringers. The front and the back fishing deck are still tough so I'm leaving that the way it is.

I'm looking through US composites and need help with fiber glass products. What and how much do I need as far as Polyester Resins and clothes? The cloth comes in E and S class which one should i get? Also which resins will work with which cloth. I'm new to fiberglassing and this will be my first time.

 

[chargerboy]

Re: 1986 Procraft 1650 bass boat Rebuild

Check out the Fiberglass Thread you should find all the info you need to know by browsing through this.

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: 1986 Procraft 1650 bass boat Rebuild

BassAssassin, I'm also in the process of re-doing a badly built Bass boat. Check out my thread and if I can be of any help let me know. And yes, the fiberglass thread is a good one.http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=408801

 

[BassAssassin2009]

Re: 1986 Procraft 1650 bass boat Rebuild

Sweet...I just got done ripping out the main floor. It was not as bad as I thought. The left 2 stringers are still in solid shape while the right stringers under the driver side were rotted. Procraft boats are so badly built that the drainage hole in the middle of the boat were not even laminated. It was cut right through the foam so when it rain the foam gets wet. Today I plan to take out the foam, but where can I buy new ones? The new stringers will be next.

I plan to customize the floor a bit by extending the bow deck all way back to the dash and make the main floor water tight by covering up the drainage hole. I'll try to post up some picture as I go.

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: 1986 Procraft 1650 bass boat Rebuild

If your taking out the poured foam(mine was soaked) you can replace it with the closed cell blue foam that you buy at your local HD. You need to have some type of drainage so perhaps you can mold a new channel into your hull bottom. Just make sure you seal everything with resin.

 

[BassAssassin2009]

Re: 1986 Procraft 1650 bass boat Rebuild

Finally done ripping out the foam, main deck and rot. I just picked up some pink close cell foam from menards...it has the pink panther on it I'm pretty sure its the same as the blue foam sold at lowes. I took measurements and are ready to order epoxy and fiberglass cloth from uscomposites. Tell me what you think about this:

4 yards 1708 Baxial 2 layer for the floor deck (5x6 feet)
6 yards of 12inch 1708 tapes
4 yards 1208 Knytex Biaxial for the stringers (still deciding on how many layers)

They say 1208 are less stiff and more workable then 1708...my new stringers are 1 inch thick. Can I use 1708 for stringers?

I email them about the amount of epoxy and they say i would need about 2.5 gallons of 3:1 ratio resin and hardner kit. Anybody know if this comes with measuring cups or pumps?

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: 1986 Procraft 1650 bass boat Rebuild

They want you to buy the measuring goodies seperate. I just used 16oz plastic drink cups and a syringe you can get at the pharmacy for free. Just tell them its for baby medicine. You can use the 1708 for the stringers, but I found that less resin worked better when you put it down. Coat the wood and put the 1708 on with your hands not soaking it just yet. By pushing it into place it stays instead of trying to soak it with resin and it curls back. Once the 1708 sticks you'll notice the resin underneath soaking through. thats your cue to brush or roll the top layer of resin on before it jells. By doing it that way I found it stays in place and then you saturate. Just my experience and I'm sure you'll have to play with it a bit to figure out what works for you. I actually got the cap back on mine over the weekend and hoefully I'll have the motor and electric hooked up by the coming weekend. Then its me against the fishies!

 

[BassAssassin2009]

Re: 1986 Procraft 1650 bass boat Rebuild

Oh yea if I can use 1708 on stringers, I'm just getting all 1708. I'm doing 2 layers for deck you think I should do the same for stringers? I'm placing my order today and hope to get it by this weekend. Can't wait to get back on the water hopefully by next weekend.

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: 1986 Procraft 1650 bass boat Rebuild

My supplier told me one layer of 1708 was sufficient and as I tore it out I noticed there was a lightweight csm covered with woven roving. The 1708 appears to be just as thick and much stronger.

 

[BassAssassin2009]

Re: 1986 Procraft 1650 bass boat Rebuild

Hey guys so im cutting by 1708 baxial fiberglass right now but which side should be facing up? Should I leave the shiny side facing up?

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: 1986 Procraft 1650 bass boat Rebuild

Yep.... Shiny side goes up