Bayliner Capri Restoration...

[tonyg11780]

Hello to all, I am new to this site but am very impressed with the amount of knowledge I have found already. I am currently beginning my restoration of a 1989 Bayliner Capri 1700. We purchased the boat a few years ago and ran it for several summers up and down the river. Since, the floor has gotten very weak and I have noticed some flex in the transom. I intend to put a stand alone hydraulic tilt and trim unit on the back between the motor and transom, so I week transom just isnt going to cut it. I am going to install a new floor, interior, transom and some other modifications while Im in there. I know this is going to be alot of work, not to mention expensive, but we love our bayliner and the way she handles reminds me of a small, lightweight sports car. So we just can bare to part with her. The transom is a stepped transom, so it shouldnt be as bad as a full flat transom. I am pretty sure I can get to it without pulling the cap, while I have the interior stripped. If I am mistaken, someone please correct me...lol. I would like to know about how many gallons of epoxy resin I am going to need. Also, is half inch ply going to be sufficient after encapsilating and glassing everything in? If anyone has done this on this type of boat before, your knowledge and advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance...

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

you need to laminate 2 pieces of 3/4 ply for the transom. 1/2 is fine for the deck. look at this

http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectTut,p,346,00.html

 

[Robj]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

There is lots of information of the topic, just do a search, you will be reading for days. Why do you want to use epoxy?? Poly would work just fine for this application and your wallet will thank you for it.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[oops!]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

hey tony....welcome to i boats......

lots of good stuff on this site.....

i don't want to get into the poly vs epoxy thing...but imho robs right.....your not building a 30 foot scarab...just a seventeen foot capri that is allready made outta poly....epoxy is really tough stuff...and twice as expencive as poly......for what your doing...it may take as much as 10-15 gallons.....with epoxy being around 250 for 5 galls..=

cheers
oops

 

[tonyg11780]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

Woohoo! Gentlemen I cannot thank you enough. All the research I have done kept saying how much stronger epoxy is than poly, so naturally I want my boat to be built right. If I dont have to pay 100.00 a gallon, I wont...thats why I ask the experts...

I could still use some advice on the transom. Is it mandatory to separate the cap or can I indeed accomplish the transom replacement with the interior completely gutted by going beneath the splashwell? Dont want to remove the cap if I dont have to...

Thanks again,
Tony

 

[Coors]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

epoxy.
sorry, Oops

 

[Robj]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

epoxy.
sorry, Oops

For this project, poly is fine IMO. The whole boat is made from poly. You should put the effort into doing it right and the repair will last longer than you will care to keep the boat. I used poly for my restoration and was glad I did, because I went through quite a few buckets of the stuff.

Have a great day.

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

epoxy.
sorry, Oops

sorry ooop im with coors , epoxy !! 230.00 for 5 gals at us composits !! there the cheaps on the east side on the nation !!!!

OHH yea ... Welcome !!!!! we all will help All we can !!! John

 

[oops!]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

epoxy.
sorry, Oops

tee heee heee....

shoulda known that would start a heck uf a thread...

try this way....you can build a house outta concrete and steel

or you can build a house outta wood......standard 2x4 construction.

the concrete and steel is great....super for tornados.

but if you dont live in kansas a wood building will do...

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

YEA YEA YEA abd if your out wave hopping and hit a 5 or 6 foot wake doing 30 + I would rather have the steel !!!

It really up to you tonyg11780, I have work with epoxy before and i trust it !! I know it will have a machinal bond...resin doesnt .. It does cost more !!! but it bond to just about anything!! but resin will work also just look at the tank OOOPS is building !!!! in spots his is going to be a half inch thick !!!! hahaha sorry ooops

One thing with the epoxy is you can cut out the matt !! so you have less lay up !!! and epoxy is strong like oops was saying its steel allright !!! but it still has some flex to it !!!
I could have strated my rebuild if i wanted to go with resin ,, I just know I want it to be strong as i can get her to be !! so i am waiting It doesnt help that bills get in the way , the car brake down and spend a 1000 on new dogs !!!!!!!! hahahahaha
I dont know if you checked out my tread but i put a list of my parts list on there !!! mine is a 15.6 tri-hull so a little shorter then your , think my bill for the glass and epoxy and the foam was just over 600, and thats not the plywood , and the stringers were 140 should have been 70 but i screwed up !!! and yea ooops I did say foam !!!! lol dont get us started on that again !!!!!!! lol
so i guess that my 2 cents worth , its up to you , what do you trust , have a good night all John

 

[frozenokie]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

As you probably have already figured out - this is where you'll get what you need in pointers and help with rebuilding. They've really hellped me out

Don't know a whole lot about the Bayliners, but I'm currently restoring my 18ft. bass boat with stringers and floor - and whatever else needs doin. I'm glad I pulled the cap on this one and I'm not even doing the transom. Thank God since it's stout as steel. IMO - remove the cap for ease of doing the repairs and ease on your back, elbows, and knees! Especially if you have a farm tractor or know someone who will lend you one to hoist off the cap. That's what I did and it was the easiest part of the job so far. Also, the transom on my boat was redone in the past by what looks like SeaCast or some type of mega strength epoxy. MAN WAS IT A BATTLE to seperate it from the cap!!! and as rotted as the rest of the boat was, the transom was unscathed. Simply amazing So, use what you will on the floor, stringers, etc. but use the strongest stuff you can on the transom and you'll be glad you did as I am glad that I don't have to rebuild this one since I can jump up and down on it!!!

Good luck and keep us posted if you like - I'm definitely interested in seeing how it turns out

 

[oops!]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

tony ...the epoxy vs poly question is one that will be around forever...and its a big discussion on this site.......there is no doubt....epoxy is stronger...and a poly boat will hold up in 5 foot waves at 30 mph...even at 60......your boat is made of poly......

any how....dont get us started...

this is your boat and you can build it with whatever materials you want....

as far as the transom.... one of my boats is a capri 19... ill look at the transom..... but its a real pita to get under there with out taking the cap off

btw...its an 89 as well.
i hate to tell you this... but the early blners were very easily rotted if the owners did not do all they could do to prevent it......

there is a good chance the stringers and foam aer gone as well... so it might be better for you to pull the cap and get it done all at once....

hope all this stuff helps

 

[TriadSteeler]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

Woohoo! Gentlemen I cannot thank you enough. All the research I have done kept saying how much stronger epoxy is than poly, so naturally I want my boat to be built right. If I dont have to pay 100.00 a gallon, I wont...thats why I ask the experts...

I could still use some advice on the transom. Is it mandatory to separate the cap or can I indeed accomplish the transom replacement with the interior completely gutted by going beneath the splashwell? Dont want to remove the cap if I dont have to...

Thanks again,
Tony

Separate the cap. I didn't want to do it either. I spent a 2 weekends in a cramped space with a wonder bar and a hammer and a grinder to get about half of the transom out. Took the cap off and finished it in about 2 hrs. If I had only known then what...........

With the cap off, you will also be able to properly clamp the new transom to the outer skin and have a much easier time getting a good solid watertight seal on the top edges of the new wood and laying up the edges of the transom to the hull sides, bottom and floor sections.

Some folks have done this in a variety of ways. Some (me) took the cap completely off. Some have jacked up and supported just the rear of the cap and some have cut the cap in two near the transom and just took that part off.

This may be of some assistance.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=184482

 

[tonyg11780]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

Man, I have to say you gentlemen have done some amazing work, from following some of your links. As far as the Epoxy vs Poly controversy, when I get the tear out completed, we will just have to see where my finances stand. I have plenty of time to build this thing. My goal is to have it ready for upholstery by christmas. I know I have a tremendous amount of work ahead of me and I want her to be as solid as possible. So Im not rushing it. This is my first resto. I am not a seasoned professional, so the more time I spend on it and the more picky I am, the happier I will be with the end result. I am going to start posting pics probably after this weekend. Thanks to all !!!!!!

Tony

 

[tonyg11780]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

One more thing! TriadSteeler, what kind of gel coat was it that you used on that trihull you rebuilt? And how did you apply it, spray or roller? (Im new to the gelcoat scene too)

Tony

 

[TriadSteeler]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

I suppose you mean when painting the bottom. It wasn't gel coat. It was Petit Easypoxy Paint. Off-White. A one part epoxy paint. I applied it with a roller and "tipped" it with a dry brush. It levels beautifully and the finish is like glass. I also wet sanded with 1000 grit in between coats.

I went over the bottom with a fine toothed comb to find even the slightest imperfection. I filled every little gouge with marine-tex, sanded smooth with 220 grit, then sanded again with 600 grit and after the 1st coat of paint went looking for more imperfections. Filled them and put on another coat. There are about 4 coats of paint on the bottom. You will want to purchase a brushing thinner and mix it 80-20 (paint-thinner).

 

[BOOSTER-X]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

Any Pics?

I have a Capri 17 that I can't give away (general wood rot, dry and wet). I love how it went throught the water, too...need inspiration. ;-)

 

[tonyg11780]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

I hear ya on the inspiration...lol..I will try to get some pics on here tomorrow, but be warned...shes in rough condition. She needs a bath, and I havent started tearing her apart yet. I am eager to start this project, but we just bought my wife a new car, so we are strapped for a few weeks. And yea, I absolutely love the way she looks and runs in the water...GOOD LUCK!

T&C

 

[tonyg11780]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

Triadsteeler, thanks for the info...Those pics looked great. Im assuming that easy poxy is alot easier to use than gelcoat. Gelcoat has always looked best to me, but Im not a fan of the process. Going to keep that in mind ...

 

[tonyg11780]

Re: Bayliner Capri Restoration...

OH, and thanks for the input everyone. I am feeling a little less ignorant now, lol. I read in here somewhere that someone was buying epoxy off of ebay, so I looked. For the price, I am going to definitely use it. I know I know, some of you guys said that I dont really need it. However, I want this boat to last me for a long long time. I am not building this to sell, I am planning on keeping it a while.

Whoever has bought epoxy off of ebay, which brand did you use? I have found some from a manufacturer called Aerospace _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _. Cant remember the last word.

Tony