70's Springbok runabout aluminum boat....what could possibly make this thing so HEAVY

[zapblam]

Been pulling this thing to the lake 4 or 5 times since we bought it last year. Felt feather light compared to our tent camper (2700lbs camp loaded) behind our minivan. Pulled 2 times with our Cavalier car (1000lb rating) without any issues at all.

Decided to actually weigh the boat at a truck stop. Holy CRAP....the boat, trailer, 25hp motor, 2 full metal gas cans, 1400lbs. OMG best guess before from many others was 800lbs max.

What makes this tinny with a windshield so heavy.

Did lots of research here and other boat forums. All odds pointed to what was UNDER the floor....

PO installed new floor....and so he said new styrofoam. BS. 10" thick of very heavy rotten soggy slimey waterlogged moldy original foam right from bow to stern. Plywood was new 1" screwed to original 3/4"...super heavy/

Going to weigh this thing after I pull all the old flotation out. Then again when I install some new flotation.

Give her a good cleanout and also new proper flooring...looks great otherwise sofar.

will post pics later

 

[5150abf]

Re: 70's Springbok runabout aluminum boat....what could possibly make this thing so H

Ya, I pulled about 340lbs of foam out of my boat so it can hold ALOT of water, people do some odd things to boats, like overlaying a deck, yikes.

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: 70's Springbok runabout aluminum boat....what could possibly make this thing so H

sadly it worked untill you poped the deck off some times people think the best way to fix a soft spot is to cap it like it was never there.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 70's Springbok runabout aluminum boat....what could possibly make this thing so H

That's pathetic. It's so easy to properly fix up a tinnie there's just no reason in the world to do crap like overlay an old deck. Oh well. She'll perform a zillion times better for you now! I recommend coating all your rivets and seams on the inside with Gluvit while you have the deck torn out. Good insurance against future leaks.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: 70's Springbok runabout aluminum boat....what could possibly make this thing so H

Did the same thing with a smoker craft I redid, old owner added a floor right over the old carpet and rotten floor, soaked flotation foam too. Once all this crap was removed the boat was scary fast with a 40 merc on the back. Before the tear out it would do about 10 MPH. The ex owner must have had a line on free stainless steel screws because I pulled about 10 lbs of them out, I think I?m covered for life with SS fasteners.

 

[pootnic]

Re: 70's Springbok runabout aluminum boat....what could possibly make this thing so H

Boat going to handle alot different as well...plane quicker and probably be faster.
When you do go to install floatation,make sure you get the right stuff.
Nice boat.

 

[zapblam]

Re: 70's Springbok runabout aluminum boat....what could possibly make this thing so H

Before highway truck scale showed 700kg (1500lbs)

- removed 4 swivel seats
- removed 1 3/4" thick floor plywood
- huge amount of soggy saturated "floatation foam

After highway truck scale showed 350kg (770 lbs)

Will install for now rigid foundation foam board and some outdoor grade plywood for the season, 3 months left is short to have boat sit.

Winter project is to seal and buck rivets, do better job with foam board and build a proper boat deck.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 70's Springbok runabout aluminum boat....what could possibly make this thing so H

Sounds good. Check any of the Starcraft resto threads for ideas http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=489077

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: 70's Springbok runabout aluminum boat....what could possibly make this thing so H

Only one word of caution - if by outdoor grade plywood, you are refering to pressure treated - don't! PT and aluminum don't mix. If truely just for the season, use plain plywood, when you do it right this winter, look into a decent marine grade such as fir or okume, and glass it properly. Lots of info in the resto threads on this.

 

[zapblam]

Re: 70's Springbok runabout aluminum boat....what could possibly make this thing so H

Just using regular painted plywood for the season. Over winter will snag some MDO sign board from work, seal it and possibly carpet. Thought about PVC sign plywood but its has a little to much flex and doubling it up would weight more than good plywood. Could add some aluminum angle joists I guess....hmm

Whole boat I hope will get full sand down and paint inside and out next spring.

I do plan on opening the bow (fishing deck and kid fun) in the future, but will need to research on that one lots till then.