Beginjning of a resto on a 71 Crestliner by Sgt. Schultz ( I know nothing!!)

[vahran]

Hello and greetings,
My name is Jeff, and i'm looking for all the advice i can get from all the wonderful people on this forum. I've been reading alot about all the fun( and not so fun) projects here and i'm hoping to draw knowledge from all those who have done this before me.

Let me start first with the beginning of the story. I went out and bought ( luckily for a very cheap price... though i guess i got what i paid for lol ) A 1971 Crestliner MG15 with 2 motors and a trailer. The boat was filled with leaves and other natural materials ( this should of been my first clue of things to come ), so i started out by going through and cleaning the boat. While cleaning, i discovered that the wood flooring near the back of the boat was rotted. So, i figured i better find out just how much rot there really is.

So, i removed the seats, the carpeting, trim, etc etc, and found that there were sections of the flooring that were bad, and decided that it would be best to remove all the sections of the floor and replace it with new marine grade plywood. so, tonight, I went out and pulled up the flooring that was there, and to my surprise, there was another wood flooring under the one i just pulled out.

Now, here is where i get a little lost, as i have no experience with boats. The flooring( i assume this is the origanal wood flooring) is completly soaked. so i know it has to come out. The flooring is attached to lumber underneth ( are these the stringers?) and to fiberglass at the edges of the hull. The wood under the floor is attached to the bottom of the boat by foam and fiberglass, and the wood itself is just soaked ( like cutting through butter with a hot knife). What is the best way to remove the flooring without damaging the sides of the hull? is there a particular tool which would cut through this easily? ( i tried a saws all, but it was slow and i don't want to damage the boat at all).

I know i'm gonna have a ton of questions as i go along with doing this, i'll get some pics uploaded in the morning as too the current look of what i'm seeing and where i'm at. I look forward to working with you all to get this boat going by next spring and not feeling like the current noob that i am.

Thanks in advance,

Jeff

 

[mark1961]

Re: Beginjning of a resto on a 71 Crestliner by Sgt. Schultz ( I know nothing!!)

Best tool for the job is probably a circular saw with the cutting depth set shallow enough so you will just cut through the deck and wont slice through the outer skin.....you can leave a 2 to 3 inch lip all the way round as a reference for deck height when you get close to the rebuild phase.....it makes slicing through the hull less likely as well......take particular care cutting around the forward area of the deck.

You are definitely going to have to investigate the integrity of your transom also.....chances are its shot.....a transom rebuild could mean a partial or full cap removal.....consider how much work and expense will be required and weigh up if its worth it to you.

If you decide to proceed, first thing you might want to do is remove the bung/s and get the bow raised up and dry her out as much as possible.....circular saws and water do not like each other.

 

[vahran]

Re: Beginjning of a resto on a 71 Crestliner by Sgt. Schultz ( I know nothing!!)



sounds like good advice, i'll have to do that in a few days though as it's supposed to rain starting tomorrow and I definitly want no more water in this boat!! lol Any ways, i said i'd post some pics as to what i'm seeing, so here they are. I guess the next thing i need to do before i go any further is to find out whether or not the transom is bad. Can you suggest a method into the bset way of finding out?

Many thanks,

jeff

 

[vahran]

Re: Beginjning of a resto on a 71 Crestliner by Sgt. Schultz ( I know nothing!!)

:facepalm:Well, not too good

After doing more research here, i went out a drilled a few small holes through the stern near where the drain plug is and mounts for the motor. what came out was moist and spongy. Looks like the transom is probably wet and rotted as well. Guess its time to decide wether or not i should either continue on or scrap it and look for another.

If anyone wants to throw in there 2 cents, it would be welcome.

Jeff

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Beginjning of a resto on a 71 Crestliner by Sgt. Schultz ( I know nothing!!)

Hey Jeff, welcome to iboats!

Yup, looks like you are up to your neck in rotted glasser there, yikes! Sorry man.

So may I ask...

What is your main intended use for a boat? Fishing? Skiing? Cruising?

Knowing this may help us some.

 

[vahran]

Re: Beginjning of a resto on a 71 Crestliner by Sgt. Schultz ( I know nothing!!)

Hi Jas,
Well, I bought the boat for a combination of fishing and cruising. Me and my better half moved to a location that has a river running though at the end of our backyard and between that and all the lakes up here in NW Minnesota, we figured it would be nice to be able to go out for a cruise on the boat or do what we both like.. Fishing I figured that a 16' boat would be small enough that the two of us could enjoy it, but big enough to fit a couple more people in it if we wanted to.

Jeff

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Beginjning of a resto on a 71 Crestliner by Sgt. Schultz ( I know nothing!!)

Well, the boat you have there (if/when rebuilt) would be pretty nice for cruising around, not a very comfortable fishing boat though. It'll be a monster job and a financial commitment to rehab and will never be worth what you invest.

So, beggs the question...

Have you considered an aluminum boat?

Might be worth thinking about before you dive in to that project.

I know my glass boat buddies are rolling their eyes at me right now

 

[vahran]

Re: Beginjning of a resto on a 71 Crestliner by Sgt. Schultz ( I know nothing!!)

Right now, i feel like i'm a cross between Sgt. Shultz ( i know nothing!! ) and homer simpson ( DOH!!!!) :facepalm:
i hate paying for things and then tossing em out.. and unless someone has a REALLY good reason why I should continue with this project, i think the boat will be headed to the dump. I hate giving up on things, but due to time restraints, it might be time to wash my hands of it and start looking for a simpler project

Since the subject has come up, i guess i have 3 questions. The first one is, should i go fiberglass again or aluminum? and could someone recommend a possible older brand and/or model in the 16" range that would be good for fishing and cruising? And last, where should i go to learn what to look for when buying a boat so that i don't run into this again?

Any input is much apprieciated, and you have my thanks in advance

Jeff

 

[mark1961]

Re: Beginjning of a resto on a 71 Crestliner by Sgt. Schultz ( I know nothing!!)

Im assuming the motor is sweet so unbolt it and anything else you can use on another project before you head to the dump.....i hear Starcraft gods calling out to you.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: Beginjning of a resto on a 71 Crestliner by Sgt. Schultz ( I know nothing!!)

Looking at your pics on my mobile is hard to tell but looks like though the gel coat is oxidized it's in decent shape and could clean up well with some buffing.

Spend 1000-1500 and 6 months to a year gutting and refitting. Come out the other side with a classic looking boat that's good as new.

VS.

Part it out, and find a water ready tinny for about the same money you'll have invested in this one. Both will take time. Or you could possibly find a project tinny for a cheap start but then you're still looking at possibly spending 3-6 months redoing a floor and transome.

Tough choice. If the motor runs good I'd say join the crowd and start ripping on this one. While it's not a fishing boat it it's very fishable and will cruise better.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Beginjning of a resto on a 71 Crestliner by Sgt. Schultz ( I know nothing!!)

You might read thru this glasser build: SPhelps MFG resto

Not to bash the tin suggestion, as it appears I have taken to drinking the kool aide Jas serves 2 handed & tend towards chucking & asking for 2 more glasses :facepalm:

And tin can be just as stunning:

Or a hardcore fishing rig, ski boat or whatever it is you see as your ideal boat.

Digging into the current Crestliner, won't cost a whole lot unless you don't have the proper protective gear & an angle grinder, a safe place to work, and a shop vac.... Read the final few entries in PMC's thread, he found that the boat he'd worked on for most of a year, really wasn't the boat he wanted or needed. It may take some time to reach that decision, but it does happen more often on a fiberglass rebuild then on a tin build...........

Scan some of the Starcraft resto threads in Jas' signature link, and some in the resto forum (usually glass)... It may help you to decide what direction you should try 1st. Just like a college major, it will probably change. Maybe more then once.........

Welcome to Iboats, and you have passed the 1st big hurdle: You've pulled a boat deck, and seen into the horrifying below decks abyss of wet wood mulch Hopefully it wasn't looking back....................

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Beginjning of a resto on a 71 Crestliner by Sgt. Schultz ( I know nothing!!)

i hate paying for things and then tossing em out

I hear ya there. Maybe you can part it out, sell the engine and trailer to cover your investment (dunno what you paid).

The alternative (keeping it) might be a long, dark, scary road

unless someone has a REALLY good reason why I should continue with this project

Hmmmm, nope

boat will be headed to the dump

So sad, sniff, sniff

(Just kidden, trying to show some sympathy for my glitter boat comrades)

should i go fiberglass again or aluminum

With your short description here, alum all day long.

could someone recommend a possible older brand and/or model in the 16" range that would be good for fishing and cruising?

Pretty much any of the old alum open bow boats at the 16' range would serve you well. A classic is the Starcraft Super Sport. This is probably the most common project here on iboats, lots to look at and tons of info right here.

where should i go to learn what to look for when buying a boat so that i don't run into this again?

You found it my friend! Right here is it biggest collection of metal boat lovers on intergalactic web. Click on the "Starcraft Rebuilds" link in my signature and you'll see and learn tons about these ol metal boats.

Cheers

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: Beginjning of a resto on a 71 Crestliner by Sgt. Schultz ( I know nothing!!)

Aluminum Starcraft. Tons of them in Minnesota. Get an SS or Holiday (closed bow). Yep, I drank the Kool-Aid and it was gooood!

A moment of silence for the glasser.

 

[vahran]

Re: Beginjning of a resto on a 71 Crestliner by Sgt. Schultz ( I know nothing!!)

Hey everyone,
I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for all the imput and advice on this. i've decided to rip out everything i can salvage on this ( windshield, steering coluum, etc ) and then send the boat off to its final demise . I will focus on the motors i got and the trailer untill i can find another boat to call my own. and yes, i can hear the Starmada calling me, so thats what i'll be looking for. Any advice for the sarge as to what to look for before going on leave is allways appriciated. Now, where's this kool aid and what flavor is it??

Again, many thanks everyone,

Jeff

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Beginjning of a resto on a 71 Crestliner by Sgt. Schultz ( I know nothing!!)

EEEEEeeeeeeeeexxxxxxcccccceeeeeellllllent