1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

[ncbovid]

So, like a lot of folks on this site, I've been doing a lot of reading on replacing rotten transoms, decks and stringers. I have a 1989 Sea Ray BR 180 that I've already started on and have gotten to the point in the pictures below. Notably, it originally had the 3.0L in it with an Alpha 1 rear end that was swapped out to a 4.3L with a Edelbrock intake and 4 barrel carb. It was running nicely last summer (finally at the end after several setbacks) and then of course the cold weather hits in Michigan and it's time to put it away.

Anyway, unfortunitely for me the existing stringers were completely rotten and I wouldn't have been able to get any good measurements off of them - so I'm almost starting from scratch. The foam was all soaked so it had to go. I was planning to save the front storage compartments and have saved some of the wood up front. I have some additional pictures of the rot, but I figure it's a moot point now and would just be wasting electronic storage space somewhere so I didn't upload them...



I've read several posts about where to start and I see Woodonglass has shared come quality diagrams of construction and recently stated for starters to get:

435 Resin 15gallons
5 qts of Cabosil
1lb of 1/4" chopped strand
1 qt microballons (to make your own fairing filler)
25 yards (1 Roll) of 1.5 oz CSM Chopped Strand Mat)
10 yds of 1708 Biaxial cloth
Fiberglass Roller

I have some sanding/grinding to do on the transom and will start there. I figure I can get a replacement in there with the cap on.

First question - original stringers as best I could tell were cut from 1/2 or 5/8 plywood and ran up under the console areas. Do you think it's best to go back with plywood - or alternatively find a board that would suffice?

Much appreciated.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

Your demo looks good! I'd fab the stringers out of plywood just like my diagram describes. The materials list should be pretty close to what you'll need. The Arauco Plywood from the big box stores is pretty good stuff to use. Floor Underlayment is another good choice. You could use Douglas Fir but hard to find it without a lot of knots. Quality lumber yards might have it and would save some fabrication time, but all in all I think the Plywood is the best way to go. A 4 1/2" grinder with a rubber backup pad and 36 grit resin sanding discs work real well. Make sure you have all your PPE before you start grinding and try to make some plan to deal with the dust.

 

[oops!]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

Hi.....Nice boat and Welcome to iboats ! !

Plywood on edge is stronger than dimensional lumber. That is the reason it is the material of choice for builds, both by the manufacturer and home builder alike.

The boat in the hull extension thread started out as a srv 190....lots of pics of the stringer and motor cage layout in the thread

 

[xanthras]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

Is that pic of the transom the before or after beucase my inexperienced eyes say it looks pretty good. Just wondering.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

Good choice in boats Check out my 220 Restoration in the link in my signature if you ever have any questions. I used ALOT more resin and cabosill that you have, but then again I used Peanut Butter to fillet my stringers. That ate up alot of supplies. You have a great luxury though... a garage!

I am looking forwad to this resto.

 

[ncbovid]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

Is that pic of the transom the before or after beucase my inexperienced eyes say it looks pretty good. Just wondering.

The pic is the after. It was rotted out completely on either side of the outdrive keyhole and on a good chunk of the bottom main section.

 

[orangeman]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

We have the outboard version of the same boat in red. Looks like you have a lot of the dirty work complete. The stringers are 1/2" plywood and really poor quality ply at that. I had a rotten stingers around the gas tank, did a partial repair of the worst section last spring and will do the rest this spring. I used ACX plywood that my local Lowes had in stock. Used poly boat resin and the typical layup schedule used by forum members. Love the Searay but not impressed with the glass work or materials under the deck. Good luck I'll be watching your progress.

 

[ncbovid]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

Well the schedule hasn't been too conducive to working on the boat, but I did find some time today seeing as how it's 45 outside.

I've definitely got all the wood off the transom and am going to start working my way forward removing old paint/glass.

How "clean" does the surface have to be to ensure good adhesion of the new glass - really in terms of old glass on the surface?
From the pictures below do I need to keep sanding on the transom?
What about "smoothness"?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

I'd say, from the looks of it, you're good to go for a good Acetone wash down and start glassin.

 

[ncbovid]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

Well, got back on it again. Spent most of last Friday on the inside of the boat in coveralls, goggles and a respirator. Had the hose from my shop vac (with bag and filter) stuck under the plastic to get some air exchange in there so it wasn't that bad. It really kept the dust down in the garage.



Was going to try and salvage the false floors under the gas tank and ski locker - but of course they were in terrible shape so out they went.

Should only have some cosmetic sanding left before the new stuff starts getting put together. Not sure what to do about the kick panels under the consoles... was going to try and match up to existing cuts and glass them together, but in the end maybe I should just remove the rest of them.

 

[jones01m]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

Nicely done with the plastic cover. I wish I had the foresight to do the same. Those pictures show a scene that is all to familiar! Nice work.

 

[Struc]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

Looks fantastic! Love the boat, as I have the same one (20' model, and in green).

For some fun... have a look at my destruction thread listed in my signature. It'll give you some good ideas on the makeup of your boat. If you end up needing anything, let me know. Most of that boat's parts are still in my storage area.

 

[ncbovid]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

Went ahead and decided to bite the bullet and ordered the list of stuff above from US composites. Was cheaper to buy it from them and have it shipped to my office rather than to buy from a fiberglass supply shop near Detroit... funny how that works out.

So a couple of things I've noticed... from other threads (frisco, 20' seville destruction thread)

This model only has two stringers like the 20' seville - not four like the 220 in frisco's thread. Means a lot less glassing work (materials, $)

There was foam under the ski locker floor and the false floor under the gas tank. I don't think frisco put foam back in those locations? As the volume here is small - I figure it would be more for structural/reinforcement reasons?

Also if you notice, the deck on these boats doesn't go all the way to the side - stops 8" or so short.

Finally - was wondering about the height and location of the motor mounts. The old ones that I had were essentially the same height as the deck, pretty much what is shown in the destruc. If I match the existing deck height that's simple enough. Guess I have to test fit the engine to get the back-to-front dimension to locate them.

 

[Struc]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

Yeah, the fiberglass structure of the bottom of the boat makes up that outer 8" of floor, so to speak. Thought that was pretty interesting myself.

I could take some measurements for you on my Sea Ray for the motor mounts, if that would help. Just let me know what you want measured. If you just want distance from the transom or whatever, that will be easy enough, since my motor is out right now.

And yes, we just have the 2 stringers the length of the boat. Makes things a lot easier. One bulkhead at the back of the ski locker, and another at the back of the gas tank - just between the stringers - not out to the edge of the deck.

 

[Bumperlt12]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

Ill be watching this thread for any progress. I have the same boat in outboard flavor.

Sure is nice to have other people with the same boat to compare to.

 

[ncbovid]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

I took a look at your thread and I agree - it is nice to take a look at other people's same model (ish).

For buying the fiberglass and materials, I went with US Composites. They were able to send me everything listed up above, shipped to MI for $684.70. But this was to a commercial address where they unloaded it off of a semi truck - which saved the hazardous fee from UPS. I ordered more cabosil and 1/4" chopped fibers along with the two part foam separately

 

[rickryder]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

Looks like your doing a great job on the demo and prep work..... I remember the days and nights under the tarp

 

[ncbovid]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

I've been doing some work on it, but haven't been posting updates. I ended up putting my trailer back together and pulling the boat out of the garage now that the threat of snow is gone - and the fact that the resin smells pretty terrible.

I got the transom fabbed, coated and glassed in. Over the past week or so I made some stringer templates suspending them over the hull and tracing the hull on suspended wood. I ended up going with 3/4" (really it's 23/32) for the stringers instead of the 1/2" that was originally there. I set them up and ran a chalk line from the bow where I left part of the original deck to the back deck height I marked on the transom. Snapped the line and then made the cuts.

I had this saw which I got for christmas: http://www.amazon.com/Rockwell-RK3440K-VersaCut-Circular-Saw/dp/B0052EK78O that worked pretty well.

I didn't do a pre-coat of resin on the stringers before I bedded them in the boat with PL. Probably used more of it then I meant to so I'll have to go back and smooth out some rougher spots and bulges, but no big deal.

I did do a pre-coat of resin on them last night so there will be some on there before I fillet the edges and then tab the stringers in.

 

[britisher]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

Looking good there. I have the 89 180, looks same as yours. I'm just about to start the sanding/grinding this weekend. It's been really hot in Florida this week. Mid 90's, though one day got in the truck it said 103 on the gauge. Not the best temps to be wearing a tyvek sweat suit and respirator. I notice the 'join' you have on the stringers. I measured mine and they run to 12 foot give or take an inch. As ply is max 8 foot long, I will have to 'sister' them (as the guy at HD said). I was going to beef my stringers and bulkheads and floor to 5/8" from 1/2". Isn't 3/4" going to be too heavy?

 

[ncbovid]

Re: 1989 Sea Ray Bowrider 180 Transom, Stringers & Deck

Looking good there. I have the 89 180, looks same as yours. I'm just about to start the sanding/grinding this weekend. It's been really hot in Florida this week. Mid 90's, though one day got in the truck it said 103 on the gauge. Not the best temps to be wearing a tyvek sweat suit and respirator. I notice the 'join' you have on the stringers. I measured mine and they run to 12 foot give or take an inch. As ply is max 8 foot long, I will have to 'sister' them (as the guy at HD said). I was going to beef my stringers and bulkheads and floor to 5/8" from 1/2". Isn't 3/4" going to be too heavy?

Yeah that sounds pretty terrible... Tyvek suit and respirator were hot enough in 60 degree weather. But I'd take something a little warmer than the high 40's/low 50's it's up here. Glad I have all the grinding done!

Yeah, wasn't quite sure what to do there and thought about sistering them together but just decided to do it this way instead. Not sure it will matter that much. I plan on putting the ski locker back in and adding some cross-bracing at the front and back of the locker just below the deck.

I used 3/4" for the stringers and will go back with 1/2" or 5/8" for the deck - haven't gotten that yet. Heavier, yes - but not as heavy as the old water logged, rotten wood!