Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

[Backslider]

Last fall I bought a 17' Alumacraft Backtroller to use for fishing and hunting. I had it in the water late last year and everything seemed OK--it didn't leak. It has some cosmetic issues, wood flooring needs to be replaces, as does the wiring. I'm having a tough time getting the floor out because it goes under the live well and rod holder. I'm thinking that I'm going to have to remove a couple rivets to get them out. One of the rivets goes through the hull above the waterline. If I remove this rivet, and replace it later, will it create problems? I've never done any riveting, but I've seen it done on YouTube
Also, all of the screws holding down the decking and the metal boxes to the plywood decking, have vibrated over-sized holes in the wood and were no longer gripping. I plan on redoing the deck with marine plywood (3/4" ?) and recarpeting. What kind of fasteners should I use?
Thanks for your help!

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

Hi backslider. Cool boat. There are really only a few rules when it comes to aluminum boats, the rest is only limited by imagination, and budget of course. Rule 1) NEVER use PRESSURE TREATED lumber on and aluminum boat as it will cause electrolytic pitting and fatigue to the hull. Instead, use high quality, non-PT, exterior grade plywood such as Auruaco brand available at Lowes/HD. 1/2" is probably fine, but you can go 3/4" if you want, but it will of course add some weight. Rule 2) You'll then need to seal/waterproof the wood in some way. There are several methods you can use. You can use wax-free polyester resin and fiberglass mat to encapsulate it, or use 2 part epoxy to seal it. Most folks tend to go the epoxy route as it is only one step and easier to use, it is a bit more expensive, but you can use any leftover epoxy for all kinds of cool stuff. If the budget won't allow either of these options, you can apply several coats of spar urethane/varnish to the wood and/or paint it with durable outdoor porch paint or Rustoleum oil based enamel. Bear in mind that these methods will not "water proof" the wood like f'glass and epoxy, but you should still be able to get meant seasons of use out of them. Rule 3) use aluminum rivets where applicable and stainless steel hardware dipped in 3M 5200 marine caulk for all other applications. That's really about it. You can get everything you might need, except the epoxy/f'glass supplies, from Lowes/HD. However, they do sell the paint and urethane I mentioned, if you decide to go that route. Good luck. Keep us posted. We love pics.

 

[Piece715]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

If that rivet is above the waterline it shouldn't be too much of a deal. I had three above the waterline in mine from where the controls mounted to the hull. I just drilled out the rivet and replace it with same diameter bolts with rubber washers to create a seal to prevent H20 from getting through

 

[64osby]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

IMO, I would stay away from the rubber washer. Like kfa said either aluminum rivet or stainless hardware with 3M 5200/4200 or something like JB Weld. That will get you a long term solution.

On fastening the new deck, There are many Starcraft projects on this site, some re-rivet and others use stainless screws to re-install the decking.

 

[Backslider]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

Hey All,
Thanks for the help. I wasn't going to do this restoration until I found this website. It will be a huge help.

kfa, is Auruaco plywood the same as marine plywood or is there a difference?

Piece 715--Nice paint job! I'll probably go with with a duck boat/marsh grass paint job, but yours is definitely classier.

64osby, thanks for the directing me to the Starcraft projects. Lots of good information to look through. The deck was replaced sometime in the past using sheet metal screws. It looks like they drilled new holes in different locations from the factory. I hate to drill even more, but it will be hard to hit the same holes again.

Also, the flotation material in the boat is sheets of thin foam (attached photo). Not sure if this is stock, or even if it will float the boat if its swamped. What would be a good flotation material to put under the deck?

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

Hello again Backslider. Aruaco is just a brand name, but any quality, non-PT, exterior grade plywood will work. I like 3/4" becuase it's extra strong, but 1/2" will probably work too.

The white floatation foam is probably stock, but now would be a good time to replace it with some closed cell foam that will never get water logged. You can use the pink or blue insulation foam boards sold at Lowes/HD and cut pieces to fit under the decks as needed. In fact, you can get virtually everything you'll need for the job at one of the big box stores, except the f'glass and/or epoxy, but they do sell the Spar Urethane and porch paint, if you decide to go that route.

 

[Teamster]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

That foam didn't come from the factory, Alumacraft uses a two part pour in foam,..............

I would replace it with a two part "Closed Cell" pour in foam,.........If you use the search function you will find many spirited debates about floatation foam on this site!!

I would NOT use "marine" plywood, As has been said here, A good exterior grade plywood will work very well,...

When I did mine I replaced it with the same thickness that was in to make reassembly easier,......My Alumacraft had 1/2 and that is what I used, It has held up very well,......

You could always rivet the floor down so as to utilize the existing holes, Maybe,..

Check the transom, If your doing the floor it is probably time for the transom to be replaced as well,.....

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

Hey backslider, welcome to the iboats drydock!

Just thought I'd swing through and say howdy! Great project ya have there

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

I would NOT use "marine" plywood, As has been said here, A good exterior grade plywood will work very well,...

This is a little harsh. Marine plywood IS a superior product. Is it worth the money? Not to me, and obviously not to you but I certainly wouldn't recommend against it!

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

I agree. Marine plywood is great, if you can get it and afford it, but I think you'll find that well sealed exterior grade will work also. If the boat came with factor pour-in foam, then it most likely played a structural role as well as offering flotation. If so, you may want to do a bit a research and see what if anything you need to do to reinforce the hull. While you certainly can get pour in foam, a lot of folks here find it to be more trouble than it's work when you consider that you can buy the pink/blue stuff at any hardware store. If you do go the pink/blue route you can add braces/supports to the hull using aluminum angle and/or stock, which can also be had at Lowes/HD. Good luck. Keeps us posted.

 

[Teamster]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

This is a little harsh. Marine plywood IS a superior product. Is it worth the money? Not to me, and obviously not to you but I certainly wouldn't recommend against it!

Sorry, I wasn't trying to be harsh,............

 

[Backslider]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

The weather just turned nice enough to work on the boat again. Today I finished pulling the deck out. The old plywood is 1/2", so I will replace it with the same. While everything is out, I'll rewire the lights, bilge pump, and live-well pump. There is a lot of sand and crud in the bilge that needs to get cleaned out. I was looking at the transom, and wondering if that should be replaced, too. Is there much of a trick to that? I included a couple pictures of the transom.
It's almost boating season.. Only had one snow squall go through while I was working on the boat today. Thanks for your help and tips!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

Yah, since you are already in demo/rebuild mode you might as well run the transom as well.

 

[Teamster]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

I agree was Jas, As long as you've come this far you might as well replace the transom and be done with it,...

Not only would I rewire, I would go ahead and replace the bilge pump and live well pumps,.....Now is the time while you have easy access, And it's a good time to up size them as well,.......No such thing as to big of a bilge pump!!

Might as well make it all new!!

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

+1. You've actually done the worst already, which is the demo. The rest is just cutting and sealing some plywood. Measure twice, cut once She's gonna be sweet when you're all done with her and she'll last a lifetime. Keep us posted!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

Yeah, that transom looks pretty "crispy" to me and it'll suck up any water it comes into contact with... go ahead and replace it.

Since you've got a lot of wood to seal I recommend the 2 part epoxy resin, it's only a few more dollars than the exterior grade Spar urethane but is much tougher and longer lasting. You can get it here:

http://www.uscomposites.com/epoxy.html

Most of us use the 635 with the 3:1 medium hardener. I have a half gallon kit on the way right now to do the main entry door to my house before painting it, and the leftovers will go to my next boat project.

 

[Backslider]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

Well I took your advice and went after the transom today. Is there a trick to it? I removed all the rivets and bolts--at least everything I can see, but the unit wont budge. I spent a few minutes tapping with a hammer and poking around with a flat tipped screw driver hoping something would move, but it didn't. May its all been together for so long its "fused". Might need a bigger hammer.

Also built an engine stand using a part of a pallet for the base and some wood I had in the garage.

Any ideas anyone has on removing transoms would be welcome. The weather was great today. Looking forward to getting out on the water.

 

[Teamster]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

I'm pretty sure that you will have to also remove the corner caps and splashwell to get the transom out and replaced,...

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

I'm pretty sure that you will have to also remove the corner caps and splashwell to get the transom out and replaced,...

... and the 2 handles, the 2 tie down U bolts, the splashwell drain ferrules have got to go, and I see some miscellaneous screws that need to be removed to... and that's just on the outside! If you have knee braces on the inside, the fasteners to the transom need to be removed from them too.

Don't hit anything with a hammer yet... not until we tell you to.

 

[Backslider]

Re: Alumacraft Backtroller 17 Restore

I'm holdin' off on the hammer