1988 SeaRay Seville Project

[Badweed]

Hello All,

I posted a week ago or so asking a few questions about my boat project. I finally got some time away from work (the paid kind) to take some pictures and figure out how to post them here in the forum.

I tend to OCD about projects before I start them and I'm happy to have found this forum and some other people to OCD with.

So, my boat is a 1988 SeaRay Seville with a 135 HP OB. I've had her for about 4 years, but last year she was banged up against a dock during a freak storm while my son and I were fishing at a smaller lake. The aluminum rubrail needed to be replaced, which I have done (although I might redo) and this years project was a carpet refit.

However, after I ripped out the carpet, of course the upholstery looked pretty bad, so I'll be replacing that as well.

I bought her from the second owner, who kept it stored in a barn during the winter and with a cover when docked. The floor for the most part looks really good. There are no soft spots that I can see. The only part that looked a little bad was the piece of ply over the gas tank. The carpet has been cut and glued into the gap between the rest of the deck and the piece of ply covering the gas tank. Water probably accumulated here, causing the sides of that piece of ply to get a little rot.

Also, the paint on the deck adjacent to this area was showing a bit of wood through. Otherwise, I could see no damage to the deck.

Woodworking is my main hobby, so I took some measurements and fashioned a new piece of ply to cover the gas tank. First coat of resin and CSM applied. Kinda fun stuff as long as you dont breathe it or get it in your eyes.

Now a few questions:

1. Is it my imagination, or is the deck of this boat painted and not fiberglassed?

In some spots I think I see glass covered by paint, but in the section by the gas tank, I dont see any fiberglassing at all. If so, how has the deck stood up so well? What kind of paint was used and should I repaint the deck as well?

2. When fiberglassing with CSM, is it normal to not be able to get the resin smooth? I tend to have a few sharp bumps. Not a big deal to sand off the sharp ones, since I'll be laying carpet, but more of a curiosity.

3. Where can I get good quality pinstripping for the boat?

Thanks. more pics and questions to follow.

 

[Badweed]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

Also, forgot to ask, can I simply sand well, acetone, and apply polyester resin over the areas that are showing wood, or do I need to apply glass here as well?

 

[Spinnaker]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

It is possible that the areas you don't see glass it is just resin coated.
When laying glass are you using an air roller? That should give you a fairly smooth finish to lay carpet on. Any bumps just grind off. Also it can never hurt to give all the wood a good coat of resin, just give it a good scuff first.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

Also, forgot to ask, can I simply sand well, acetone, and apply polyester resin over the areas that are showing wood, or do I need to apply glass here as well?

Resin alone is of little value, you need to use glass for it to last.


You need to read other threads on projects similar to yours before you start so you'll be prepared to do yours well.

 

[Badweed]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

I have indeed read a lot of the other posts. Lots of good information. My project is a little different since I dont think I have to replace the deck and stringers.

 

[Badweed]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

My buddy has a gallon of long haired bondo resin.....could i use this to cover the deck to make it waterproof?

 

[Badweed]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

Actually, its short haired bondo.

Did some grinding today. Full times. I took a lot of the grey paint off and found the manufacturer had not glassed in anything about a foot around the perimeter of the ski locker or at the base of the back seats by the gas tank.

Also found a rotten piece of ply by the gas tank they has used to fill the gap and not properly sealed. Water had obviously gotten between this small piece of play and one of the frames. So out came the gas tank...not as bad as I had thought and I grinded down the frame to good wood. Got lucky I think. I do not want to have to pull up the deck.

 

[Badweed]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

Ok, I got a problem. On one side of the gas tank I mentioned previously was a wet stringer where the manufacturer had placed a small piece of ply to fill the gap and prevent the tank from moving around.

A couple days ago I removed the fuel tank and this small piece of ply, which was pretty much rotten. The stringer underneath was wet and I sanded down to what I thought was dry wood. When I went out tonight some of the wood on the stringer was still obviously wet, so I thought I would try to cut it out and replace it in that area. When I removed the stringer....also made of ply it was wet all the way through. There was foam behind it of course, so I made a small hole to assess the dryness of the compartment behind it. The bottom tayer of the foam is very slightly wet for a few millimeters probably above the hull. THe rest of the foam is dry as a button and solid.

So I guess I have to do a bit more wood removal to see how bad the problem is. Obviously I dont want to have to remove the deck and replace all the stringers and frames.

How likely do you think it is that I can replace just this area by the gas tank?

Is it a big deal that the bottom couple mils of the foam is wet?

Again, I looked really close at the deck and piered into the ski locker. Even from underneath the deck looks fine.

 

[Badweed]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

I was laying in bed last night thinking about how big of a project his all is, when I remembered my wife telling me about how the boat got beat up in the first place.

Two years ago now, the boat was moored at the end of a dock, while we were camping. long story short, while my son and I were out fishing at a small trout pond, a freak storm came up and my wife got a call from the camp hosts telling her our boats was in trouble. She went down to the dock and 4-5 waves (on a lake) were blowing right into the boat, knocking it against the dock with one wave) and then crashing over the bow with the other. She said there was a couple inches of water in the boat before a good Samaritan hopped in, started the bilge, and drove it away from the ****, after the aluminum rub rail was smashed in, and backed it on the other side of the dock closer to the shore.

Anyway, I'm sure this is the incident leading up to all the water problems im encountering.

Steve

 

[Badweed]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

So, after staring at the boat and drinking much beer, I decided to demo the whole thing.

Here is a picture of the transom bolt that convinced me the transom was rotten.

And here's a few more of the demo

My outboard on the stand

My floating cap

On with the demo.....

 

[pete44]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

I am jealous for three reasons,,,Your boat is BLUE mine is RED ...Your boat is outboard mine is inboard/outboard..and lastlly you're in a BIG garage..I'm in a 18 1/2 by 20 1/2 with a 17' boat squeezed in...Just thought I try to make you laugh Good Luck! My pics are on 87 SeaRay Innerds if you are curious.

Pete

 

[lrcustom]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

I, like Pete44 am a bit jealous as well. I shopped for a Blue Sea Ray for months and did not find one. I like my red one but blue is just killer looking on the water. Anyway, it looks like you are making great progress on the restore. Wish I had a garage big or small. I am in the drive way covering up the boat every night.
Question, did you find stringers at the back of your boat that had no glass, resin or even paint protecting them? I found raw exposed wood. I will not be going back with the same as Sea Ray did. doing things a bit different. Just the enginner in me wanting to overdo it a bit.

LR Custom
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=376954
will have new pics up satuday

 

[pete44]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

Shoot LR ! after looking again at his pics thats not a garage thats a warehouse!..and I have been through the no garage thing too...Had to work on my truck (cold and nice windchill) out in my driveway cause my tore down boat is in my garage..I think we all need warehouses .preferably with heat and cooling and exhaust fans and lifts..and don't forget good ole hoists..remote controlled please.....

Pete

 

[lrcustom]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

I like how you think Pete. I shoulda got a barn before the boat. Just had no way to convince the wife I needed one. The best idea I had was for the yard tractor storage and she didn't buy that one. said I only needed a shed. Maybe you and I should pack up our boats and go to Bad's warehouse. Looks like he has plenty of room, lifts, rigging and obviouslly TOOLS. LOL

LR Custom

 

[tinkeringwackyone]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

Good looking ray badweed, you took the gloves off and now its game on, we've all been there. Your gonna be pleased its done right. Good luck tink

 

[pete44]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

You are right LR!..My wifes comment on a new garage was "Why keep old stuff in a new garage?"...Man, women! The support beams in that warehouse are worth more than my boat!

Pete

 

[Badweed]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

Hey, thanks for all the kind words and encouragement.

Yes, I am lucky to have the shop i do.....not sure how i convinced the wife, but i've been paying for it with her for some time...

for example, "I can't have a new dress.....how much did that red behemoth in the backyard cost again?"

The support beams are rated for a loft....they cost me $2000.

lrcustom.....although at first I thought the SeaRay was constructed a little shoddy...when I started to tear into, I changed my mind. They built it pretty good. The only really exposed wood I found was a piece next to the gas tank that was not laminated in properly. Everything else seems to be well glassed and covered with a thick grey paint. My transom was pretty rotten...I assume from the transom bolt holes.....the lower part of the foam cases in the back and the stringers so far have been wet and rotten. Only the very lower part of the foam has been wet. I'm not really sure how water has gotten in....although I have my suspicions in the bilge. There seems to be plenty of areas where I can see glass fibers and I'm thinking they may have gone a little short on the resin, but we'll see. Also, the glass covering the wood tends to come off in sheets. In my mind this means they shorted on the resin as well, since I would think it should have more of a chemical bond with the wood.

Anyway, I haven't got much more done so far. I did lower the cap onto some sawhorses, so it's not hanging. I started ripping out the deck on one side, but it's going pretty slow. A saber saw worked great for cutting out the benches. Like I've said, if it was more rotten, the job would actually be easier.

Steve

 

[lrcustom]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

Badweed,
The stringers at the gas tank is where I found no glass. Both the shim stringer next to the tank and the main next to it about 2 1/2 feet no glass on tank side. I do agree as I get further along I think the basic structure is good. I just want to do a better job putting it back together. The engineer in me wants to build the QEII, but the guy in me who works for a living only wants to spend a few bucks. I think somewhere in the middle is where I will end up. I want to do it right though. No cuttin corners on the how to.
Going slow for me too, but I see new wood ready for the bow with pencil lines and every thing. Going to happen Saturday.

That's it for now I understand the wife thing well. I just didn't think this through very well and now I am in the driveway pretending I'm on the lake.

LR Custom

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=376954
will have new pics up satuday

 

[Badweed]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

The shim stringer next to the gas tank was also shoddy as far as resin and glass in my boat as well.

The stringers on that side were fairly well laminated to the hull, but covered very poorly or not as all as they got toward the deck if that makes sense.

Also, the deck around th ski locker and around the gas tank area was also very poorly or not at all glassed. They seemed to rely a lot on that grey paint, which I admit is very durable (as I grind it off) to waterproof. As I think about it, maybe this is how water got under the deck?

Like you, I'll be glassing the whole think much better. It's obvious with my boat that it was laid up with a chopper gun....i should be able to do a much better job hand laying it.

I emailed a local place tonight that builds fiberglass parts for Cesnas and they told me they do sell resin to the public which is good news. It would be great to get it for a good deal.

lrcustom.....have you done a detailed estimation of how much resin you might need? I'm thinking around 10 gallons, but that's an estimate off the cuff taking into account ho much resin it took me to cover that gas tank cover.

Steve

 

[pete44]

Re: 1988 SeaRay Seville Project

Bad,

Check that motor mount housing in front of bilge..I "dissected" mine yesterday and it was "mulch"..most of it..trying to figure out a way to replace those pieces..Maybe I am wrong all that mount is used for is for "torque" purposes to keep everything aligned..I have a I/O...I had transom redone 4 years ago with no wood..some type of composite..I removed the engine and drive ..pain in the butt with an auto engine lift I borrowed from a buddy..Had to get help from my father in law to get a 2X4 to get engine over gunwale..I was about to let the air out of the trailer tires for a minute there....... Had a place do it for me..They quoted a $1000 to re-do floor...no thanks...BUT I could have kicked myself not to have re-done bilge area when they got it back to me..Back to the motor mount...It looks like SeaRay used a 2X6 stacked to make it..Wood is dark and IMHO looks not be treated with resin at all..BUT you're looking at 23yo wood...

Pete