79 Ranger Restoration project

[tonk62]

Hello everyone, i have been reading your forums as a guest for some time, and decided to get a little more envolved by joining, to share my new project, with those interested, and hopefully get a little help and advise from time to time.
Well today i picked up a 17 foot, dual console 1979 Ranger bass boat with a matching 115 Mercury outboard, for "FREE". Now is when the money spending starts! I believe most of the parts are present, previous owner had stripped all the chrome and windsheilds off to repaint and that is as far as he made it. Hopefully, I will get it completed, but most likely not in time for this season. This will be my second boat restore, the first was a 1991 22 foot Galaxy, which i gutted and replaced all the decking, stringers and rebuilt new seat frames and upoulstery, it actually turned out real nice, i paid 500.00 for it, used it for 2 seasons, and sold it for 3800.00, not a bad turn around, i thought. it cost me about 1800.00 for parts and material. I will post some before pics of the Ranger when i figure out how to do it.

 

[tonk62]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

 

[tonk62]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

I think I figured how to add pictures

 

[tonk62]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

Ok, i think have the picture thing worked out this time, lol

 

[emoney]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

Those are great bass boats and worth restoring. Of course you already know there's no such thing as a "free" boat, lol. You've got to love when there's weeds actually growing inside the boat.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

Welcome to the iBoats Dry Dock!

Your last pics did not post. First ones were fine. Bass Boats are a restoration challenge due to the many hull attachments but ALL are different so hopefully yours will be not so much. Keep the pics and questions coming and we will all help you along the way.

 

[tonk62]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

I don't think I am going to remove the top cap on this one, as it appears to totally glassed in, on all edges and in bilge area. The only deck problem, is at the feet of the passenger seat, it has about a 2 foot square of a poor patch attempt. the only exposed plywood decking is in the walk area about 2 foot wide by 5 foot long, and at the feet of driver and passenger. everything else is part of the top cap, and solid fiberglass. the bilge area, is solid and good, so I thinking, I will just overlay, the plywood area, with 3/4 inch plywood and glass it in.

 

[tonk62]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

Well I spent 4 1/2 hours today cleaning out the boat and ripping up the patch job in the deck. The stringers seem soild, but the spray in foam is waterlogged. I have looked over the top cap pretty well and it is 95 % of the boat and glassed in all the way around, so taking it off, would be a major overhaul.

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

Well I spent 4 1/2 hours today cleaning out the boat and ripping up the patch job in the deck. The stringers seem soild, but the spray in foam is waterlogged. I have looked over the top cap pretty well and it is 95 % of the boat and glassed in all the way around, so taking it off, would be a major overhaul.

Stringers "seem" solid....have you drilled into them to see?

Your deck doesn't need to be patch but repaired....when you cut out the bad section you'll be able to tell more about it.

1979 was well before Ranger went to using composite materials so you have all conventional wood in the deck and under it. Althought a Ranger is one of the better boats out there, it's subject to rot just like the rest of them. Post some picture of the underside when you get the back deck secion opened up.

Don't just lay a patch over rotten wood.....

 

[tonk62]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

I have no intention of patching over rotten wood, the problem is figuring how to seperate the top from the bottom, as the only part of visible wood, is where your feet go while sitting in the seats, everything else is covered by the one piece top section, whish is glassed in all around the storage boxes and everywhere else. It also needs separated to replace the waterlogged foam.

 

[nophun]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

I'm soon to dig into an '86 Ranger myself, so I'll be following along here since you'll likely be several steps ahead of me.

Here's a link to a Stratos restore, Seem to be constructed similar to the Rangers with the bonded on cap:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=404575&highlight=bass+boat

I'm sure I read a thread here with a Ranger transom rebuild, but I can't seem to locate it via search.

 

[tonk62]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

thanks nophun for the link, i will check it out, i have been looking at mine every evening, and it is glassed in everywhere.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

Bass Boats are a restoration challenge due to the many hull attachments but ALL are different so hopefully yours will be not so much.

i have been looking at mine every evening, and it is glassed in everywhere.

As I said....

With wet foam below deck it is mandatory that you decapitate the boat and remove the foam. Once that is done I'm almost cetain that you will find rot in the stringers and transom. Removing the rub rail and all the rivets/screws may start to reveal all the attached areas. A sawzall may become your best friend OR you may luck out and find that it all lifts out in one piece. But the first thing will be to get the rub rail loose.

 

[tonk62]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

I appreciate your input Woodonglass, I have been reading several articles on the subject of removing top. So far the best one I found was on Bass boaters magizine, i believe, it was a stratus bass boat similar to the ranger design, it had alot of pictures, that were very informative. Where he made the mistake was not supporting the hull during the rebuild, and it caused major problems with refitting the top. This has me more than a little concerned. I have not done much on it lately, been working 7 days a week, to make money. when i get more time, I will remove rub rail and see what it takes.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

Taking preliminary measurements, and then bracing the hull during the restoration, can/will ensure that the cap will go back on as it was when it came off.

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

Here is a picture of a cradle I built to stablize the hull. You are correct in the importance of that, but with proper support you won't have a problem.

 

[tonk62]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

Nice picture cadwelder, do you have anymore of your restore?

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

Nice picture cadwelder, do you have anymore of your restore?

Well that's just one of many restores, but yes I have others.

 

[tonk62]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

ok, so I worked Sunday morning for about three hours, separating the top cap from the hull. I am not even close yet, it is becoming more apparant that Ranger never intended for thier boats to be taken apart, the top cap and hull were riveted together, like most and silconed together, that was the easy part, now I am in the process of cutting out all the storage areas, which are part of the top cap and glassed to the hull and floor. I will try and post some pictures monday, showing all the glassed in, foamed in areas.

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: 79 Ranger Restoration project

ok, so I worked Sunday morning for about three hours, separating the top cap from the hull. I am not even close yet, it is becoming more apparant that Ranger never intended for thier boats to be taken apart, the top cap and hull were riveted together, like most and silconed together, that was the easy part, now I am in the process of cutting out all the storage areas, which are part of the top cap and glassed to the hull and floor. I will try and post some pictures monday, showing all the glassed in, foamed in areas.

Welcome to Bass Boats....be sure to remove all the carpet while you're looking for attachment points....It will be attached in the bilge area, in front storage compartments, both sides of the console(s) and under the top cap flange (against the deck). I've found that a Roto-Zip with a carbide tile bit works well for these areas.