kamikaze mission

[jakebrake]

Okay folks, here's the nightmare...Just purchased a 1971 caravelle Wahoo 21ft cuddy.(Hey, it was cheap...reaaallly cheap) before i rip everything to shreds, does ANYONE know what the stringers should look like? as in , diagrams, etc? does anyone konw when they went to all fiberglass? I figured, i am mechanically inclined, so engine work and such is no biggie. Hull work, yeah, not so much. any pointers, places to look, books, sites, fellow masochist who've done such a wretched thing? i appreciate any help. It's a family project...so to speak.
thanks in advance
I posted this under caravelle...on answers. I don't think anyone restores old caravelles.

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: kamikaze mission

HAy jakebrake Welcome !!!

Well its really not hard , the stringers are usally 2 or 3 of them under the deck !! probally the hardest thing for you is pulling the cap !! it would really help if you got some pics posted !!

And you didnt say if its a I/O or a outboard !! if it a I/o then theres a little more with the motor mounts there !!

But really dont be afraid of this it is really easy !! we will walk you threw this , and the best thing for you to do is read the completted projects forum !!1

Ok again welcome !!! John

 

[jakebrake]

Re: kamikaze mission

John,
ok. She's a 21 ft cuddy cabin, i/o merc alpha 1 250 c.i.d. chevy engine. Neglected as the day is long. If this rain in my end of the country ever ends, i'll grab some photos. when i ripped up what was left of the floor, i see 4 plaanks running the lenght of the open compartment (nothing in the cabin.). they appear to be covered in fiberglass resin, and, to some degree solid. everything running side to side is iffy, degrading in one spot to downright ugly. they carburetor was "lost" by the shop that replaced the cylinder head, the exhaust manifold 90 to the seal is non-existent, so i assume the manifold is about gone.

i do love a challenge!

 

[oops!]

Re: kamikaze mission

john....the guy that replyed just did his boat.......its not a cuddy....but the layout will be the same.....(except for the motor cage)

to redo your boat....your looking at 2k and 250 hrs......but its actually a fun job......yeah....you swear some times....but mostly....its just plain ol labor of love......when your done......the boat will be the best on the water......

john KNOWS.....right now....his boat is built better than a new one..his is gonna last 30 years.......and his looks just as good as a new boat!

your imagination is the only thing limiting you to what you want to do to the boat.

cheers
oops

 

[jakebrake]

Re: kamikaze mission

okay folks:
i thought better of the situation after surveying how bad it really was. I believe the technical term is "flotsam".

not to be discouraged, i'm looking at a 1973 sea ray srv 220. it has a 188 hp mercruiser (i think an 888?...it's a 302 ford with a holly 2 bbl) engine was rebuilt 3 years ago, boat has been sitting on a trailer for 2 years.

so far so good? had one opinion that 888's are a headache. figured more than one opinion may not hurt.
next question is for a sea ray owner...what should the hatch to the cuddy cabin look like? (the one on the deck bout 18" by 18"...i'm sure it has a name, but, i'm a bonehead...what do you expect?)

there is one small soft spot (bout 6"x6" wherwe the driver's seat would go. all carpets, seats, and interior trim have been removed. the owner was going to re-apphoulster, but his situation has changed a bit.)

the asking is VERY reasonable.
what do you think? pull the trigger?
trailer and all paperwork is included