First boat and rebuild project

[darkesabre]

Hi everyone. I just bought this boat($75) and trailer($300) this week for family fun. It is a 16' tri-hull made by VIP. Year unknown but I have HIN and info plate. I am a noob to boating and boat repair, but I am pretty handy with tools. Once I claen her out, I am not sure where or how to start rebuild.Your expertise and info will be greatly appreciated.

It is A 1977 btw

 

[yt]

Re: First boat and rebuild project

Hi, looks like you and I are in the same boat so to speak. I just inhereited a pretty similar Chrysler boat. So far I've discovered that the floor (deck or sole) is rotted and needs to be replaced and the transom (back of the boat where the motor mounts) may be in bad shape too. This is pretty usual stuff to fix on an older fiberglass boats from what I've seen. There are a lot of good threads around showing what others have done in the same situation. Mine just started here..

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=331922

 

[darkesabre]

Re: First boat and rebuild project

Thanks yt we started tonight and man do we have a job ahead of us. Good thing the family is on board, so to speak. We stripped a lot of the crud tonight. Tomorrow we go even deeper. Deck needs replaced dry rotted badly.Need to pull the cap. The War Department wants Blood Maple on the dash console and side boards. I think it will look good. I am more worried about stringers and such before I get to that.

 

[meals on reelsjello2]

Re: First boat and rebuild project

first thing i would do is check the floor if its soft rip it out then check the stringers if rotted rip those out next check the foam if its waterlogged (dig deep) rip that out next check the transom if rotted...you guessed it rip it out and to do that you will have to seperate the deck from the hull(by removing the bumperstrip frome the boat) it will seperate like a shoe box....im at the point of replacing the transom....when you start putting it back together start with the transom then stringers ,floor,then foam


meals on reels

 

[rosser1]

Re: First boat and rebuild project

looks like a fun restore, dont give up and expect to get in debt to the boat. time and money and all will be just fine. read alot of post and do it right the first time, if not sure ask questions.

 

[darkesabre]

Re: First boat and rebuild project

I expect the time and money part after reading on here. The family bonding on this boat will be a priceless ROI. Planning on lifting the cap today with the help of my kids. Will post pics.

 

[yt]

Re: First boat and rebuild project

Good luck DS and hope you and the fam have fun with it. I'm on the fence with my boat right now.Trying to do this work in a little driveway in the 'burbs might be too tall an order for me. If I pop the cap I have no clue where I'd even put it.

Too bad you're all the way in AZ. I might have a nice 80hp merc for ya otherwise.

 

[bigredinohio]

Re: First boat and rebuild project

Nice looking project you have. Good luck and don't get too frustrated. Also, be sure you have the boat well supported while working on it so it doesn't warp on you.

 

[88BLiner]

Re: First boat and rebuild project

Good luck, here comes the fun!! Nice looking project, and you can't beat the price.

 

[Walkenvol]

Re: First boat and rebuild project

What type of motor is involved? On most of the boat trailers I've owned through the years, the axle was bolted to the frame and could be adjusted to balance the weight. It appears that you currently would have a tremendous amount of weight on the tow vehicle with the axle so far toward the back of the trailer. If you can move the axle forward some it won't be nearly so hard to crank that trailer jack. Good luck and keep those pictures coming.

 

[darkesabre]

Re: First boat and rebuild project

I got tired of the family hiding in the AC so i woke them up early to beat the heat. so here are pics of the cap prepped to be removed, after we removed the cap and the deck stringers and foam that needs remoned and replaced.

 

[meals on reelsjello2]

Re: First boat and rebuild project

man thats ugly....lol....but it looks beter than what mine did ....lookes like you are haven fun anyway..thats what its all about...im having the time of my life workin on mine good luck man and dont give up...its all worth it

meals on reels


by the way did you cut out the slash well...it kinda looks that wat in the first pic


http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=331731

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: First boat and rebuild project

When you get to the grinding, please invest in a decent respirator. Take whatever steps are necessary to keep the glass dust away from everyone else.

 

[chrishayes]

Re: First boat and rebuild project

When you get to the grinding, please invest in a decent respirator. Take whatever steps are necessary to keep the glass dust away from everyone else.

absolutely, and the shorts and t shirt are no good here either. No matter how hot, wear long sleeves and pants and try to get a tyvek suit, you can get them at home cheapo or lowes. A quality respirator can be had there as well for about 30 bucks. You want particulate filters for grinding and chemical filters for glass work(if using poly resin). Oh, and googles!, you want to get the ones with vents and an adjustable strap that way you can get them tight to your face. Trust us on this one man! ALso, I recommend you leave the family in the AC for this task. Not to mention any pets or neighbors should be inside as well. After grinding, take your garden hose to any glass that settles around the boat and house to keep the wind from blowing it around in the air. The grinding step is no joke, be careful and it is best to not do any "bonding" with the fam here. Be the man, do it yourself and save the wife and kids the misery of the itches and or lung diseases. Its that dangerous bud!:redface:

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: First boat and rebuild project

Your hull will spread without the cap, so either work fast or put some bracing across the top to prevent spread. F-glass dust is nasty in a dry climate, like where you and I live (W. Texas), so wear adequate protection and a respirator when doing the grinding. Search the Boat Restoration forum for Skanky Beast by Jason J...an old thread that shows you the process really well.

 

[darkesabre]

Re: First boat and rebuild project

getting tyvek suits and repirators this week end. giong to brace hull with masonry board and 2x4. Thanks for all the advice. There are a lot of laughs going around as we work on this good " family bondage" time.

 

[Phantom383]

Re: First boat and rebuild project

Looks like fun.

I have a prject going my self and will have to do the floor also.
Just joined but the info here is great.

Good luck

 

[meals on reelsjello2]

Re: First boat and rebuild project

yeeeeeeeeehhhaaaaaa let the cussin begin LOL