Mark Twain Restore!!

[boatflipper]

Hi All,
I picked this up two weekends ago, just before school started! Guess that was my last 'hoorah' before school started Anyway, I figured I would start this post from beginning and try to finish it to the end. Hopefully, you all can help me through the trials and tribulations and see the finished product that you helped me with!!

I picked this Mark Twain tri-hull up at the boat dock i work at. It had been sitting for about 12 years, so its a given (unfortunately) that all the wood was mush, including transom. I have never done this big of a project before so I will probably ask some silly, redundant questions so please forgive me! As I list the pics I will say what I was wanting to do, and will also be where I will be asking for help. So here it goes......


This is right before we hauled it home, after we spent 2.5 hours trying to get it on a trailer!

This is what 12 years worth of Kentucky dirt and decay looks like

Here it is after ripping everything out (and falling through the floor after getting atacked by wasps....lol)

And here it is after ripping the floor out this past weekend....
This is where my first question come in, as you can see there is no foam. Are there some boats that just simply dont need/use it?

And last but certainly not least, the worlds strongest transom!!! Just Kidding!

So after seeing what most of you may think is a waste of time, I have some other questions...
When I begin replacing the transom, is there any other way, besides removing the cap, to properly replace it? Could I maybe cut the cap in inconspicuos places, or is that just a mess waiting to happen?


Thanks for any help, advice, and suggestions you all provide me with. I will also try and keep this puppy updated! Cant do much through the week because of school, so updates will be made each weekend. Again, thanks for the help!!!

 

[Lightnig]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

a waste of time?

Are you kidding? You're halfway there with no interior, deck, or foam to remove.

How are the stringers? If they are in good shape then you are a couple of weekends of work away from a new floor and transom.

 

[boatflipper]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

a waste of time?

Are you kidding? You're halfway there with no interior, deck, or foam to remove.

How are the stringers? If they are in good shape then you are a couple of weekends of work away from a new floor and transom.

Thankfully, stringers are ROCK SOLID! They are glassed in really well so the wood in there probably doesn't even know water exists!

 

[boatflipper]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

I also meant to ask how to remove the cap on this thing....I know normally there are screws along the side, but unless my contacts were really messed up, I couldn't for the life of me find them....Help?

 

[drewpster]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

If you can get to it, you can remove the inside transom skin and replace the transom from inside under the splashwell. Means allot of work in a tight space, but it can be done.
Man you are way ahead of the game if dont have to replace those stringers!
Cool boat BTW. I like the older tri-hulls, see below.

 

[tlovelandka]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

The Twain is surely not a waste of time! You're moving right along...

Maybe post some close ups of the rubrail (or where it's supposed to be) and we can get an idea of how to go about getting that cap off...

Looking forward to following your build!

-TLove

 

[boatflipper]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

drewpster-
Thanks for the advice. I had thought about that, and started peeling (actually finished peeling) the fiberglass covering over the transom from the inside of the boat. I am assuming that is what you mean by 'skin'?

tlove-
I will try and get those pictures up sunday, becasue as I said, due to school I unfortunately cant do much through the week

 

[bitterboater]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

The screws\rivets that hold the cap to teh hull are under the rub rail that surrounds the boat. There should be a couple screws on the bow as well as a couple on either side of the stren at the corner brackets.

 

[drewpster]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

drewpster-
Thanks for the advice. I had thought about that, and started peeling (actually finished peeling) the fiberglass covering over the transom from the inside of the boat. I am assuming that is what you mean by 'skin'?

Yes that's what I mean. If the wood is totaled and can be removed easily then your home free. If you run into allot of solid parts getting it out with the cap off may be the better option. Getting the cap off is really not as big a deal as you may think. Having it out of the way can make the transom much easier to mess with.
Since the stringers are ok, you wont have to worry about the boat getting warped as much. Its really your choice.
You may also have a challenge getting the new transom back in if there is not enough room under the splashwell.

 

[boatflipper]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

drewpster-
I wish you could come up to Winchester, KY and fix my transom! What a fine job you did! Just finished reading your post on the tri-hull and really gained a lot from it. I figure now that the rivets holding the cap on are under the rubrail (thanks to your post and bitter boater). I am about decided on removing the cap now, becasue it would be much easier to replace the transom that way. I dont think I could put the finished transom in easily and properly with the cap still in place. So, this weekend I plan on removing the rubrail and start taking out the rivets!
So, here are a few more questions...
1. How should I properly remove the rubrail with out damaging the fibergalss?
2. Is the most effective way of removing the rivets holding the cap on by drilling them out?

Thanks for the help!!

 

[bitterboater]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

The rubrail should have caps at the bow and port and starboard corners at the stern. These caps are hels in place by a couple screws.
Remove the caps and the rubber strip that covers the cap retainers rivits should be clearly visible.
If rivits are used drilling is the only way to remove them. If screws were used grab a screw gun and have fun.

 

[boatflipper]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

The rubrail should have caps at the bow and port and starboard corners at the stern. These caps are hels in place by a couple screws.
Remove the caps and the rubber strip that covers the cap retainers rivits should be clearly visible.
If rivits are used drilling is the only way to remove them. If screws were used grab a screw gun and have fun.

Thanks! Now I am anxious to get started and see how it goes!

 

[drewpster]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

Peel the black part of the rubrail out first to reveal the fasteners. It will be stiff and most likely get damaged when you pull it out. If so don?t worry, rubrail insert is not too expensive. Be careful with the aluminum part. Keep from bending it up while taking it off. If it is not too beat up you can buff it out clean and put it back on with new insert. Both pieces are common and available.
If the rubrail has screws holding it on, simple just remove the screws and it will come off. If the plastic end caps get broken (they will be brittle) again don?t worry they are cheap.
The trick to removing rivets properly is the size of the drill bit you use. Pick a bit that is just slightly smaller than the shank of the rivet. While drilling the head of the rivet it should come off. When it does just apply a little more pressure and the shank should push through the hole in the fiberglass. If you do it right, carefully, you should be left with a clean hole.
If you use too large of a bit your going to over size the holes. They are so close to the edge of the fiberglass you may take too much meat making the edge weaker. There will be tons of them. We have a fix for that too when you go back together.

 

[boatflipper]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

This is getting a little bit ahead of the game but......
1. What do you all think about having a sundeck in the back, with a bench seat attached. Like what you see in those 'sporty' boats? Below is a pic of my brothers liberator w/ what i'm talking about, not the best example but better than me rambling on trying to explain it....I know it will be expensive, but I am sorta thinking it will be different....

2. I was also considering putting a ski locker in the middle. This will allow me to have storage, and I can periodically check for leaks which hopefully wont be present as I already checked that out. Whatcha think bout that??

Thanks for all the help so far!

 

[boatflipper]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

Peel the black part of the rubrail out first to reveal the fasteners. It will be stiff and most likely get damaged when you pull it out. If so don?t worry, rubrail insert is not too expensive. Be careful with the aluminum part. Keep from bending it up while taking it off. If it is not too beat up you can buff it out clean and put it back on with new insert. Both pieces are common and available.
If the rubrail has screws holding it on, simple just remove the screws and it will come off. If the plastic end caps get broken (they will be brittle) again don?t worry they are cheap.
The trick to removing rivets properly is the size of the drill bit you use. Pick a bit that is just slightly smaller than the shank of the rivet. While drilling the head of the rivet it should come off. When it does just apply a little more pressure and the shank should push through the hole in the fiberglass. If you do it right, carefully, you should be left with a clean hole.
If you use too large of a bit your going to over size the holes. They are so close to the edge of the fiberglass you may take too much meat making the edge weaker. There will be tons of them. We have a fix for that too when you go back together.

Thanks again for the help. This weekend I hope to get started on this and I will be sure to take pics!

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but I find it hard to believe that the stringers are in good shape. Having said that, your some friggin' lucky that they are. Great looking boat. Good luck with the build. Nice.

 

[boatflipper]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but I find it hard to believe that the stringers are in good shape. Having said that, your some friggin' lucky that they are. Great looking boat. Good luck with the build. Nice.

No rain made (?) becasue they actually are good. I couldn't believe it either, but I tested in several places and all shavings are dry as a bone

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

No rain made (?) becasue they actually are good. I couldn't believe it either, but I tested in several places and all shavings are dry as a bone

That's awesome. You got a ton of work saved already.

 

[boatflipper]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

Yeah, that glass job around them is unreal!

 

[Lion hunter]

Re: Mark Twain Restore!!

Well on your way to new boat! Ski locker is a great idea if you have the room. You can never have enough storage on a boat. Sun deck might be a little harder. You'd have to leave room for the outboard to tilt forward. You may be able to make it a U shape and come forward of the splashwell a ways.

Either way good luck , sound like you got great ideas for her.