New Project few opinions needed (Photos added 6/21)

[Bob_VT]

1963 Starcraft Aluminum boat - <br />Needs - new transom wood<br /> - A few minor leaks repaired (no missing rivits) but silicon on inside of keel by the bow??<br /> - seats (wood benches) pretty badly weathered<br /> - flotation under 3 seats ... should I take apart to check the condition?<br /> - The hull has dings and has been knocked around but was painted white (from the factory) and it needs attention.<br /><br />1970 something Galvanized Venture Trailer<br />Needs - new lights and wires (easy job)<br /> - the galvanized metal actually appears to be rusting and blotchy appearance ... how should I clean it up?<br /> - repacking of the wheel bearings right at the top of the list.... tires are very good.<br /><br />1967 Fastwin 18 Evinrude<br />Needs - well I have to get it started and do the routine maintenance points, plugs, impellar and a new recoil rope<br /><br />Update- new coils, condensors, points and lower unit service completed<br /> - Faded cowl (on my winter project list)<br /><br />Wants Simple - comfortable reliable fishing

 

[Pogo123]

Re: New Project few opinions needed (Photos added 6/21)

Lotsa work, Bob, but when you're finished it's worth all the effort.<br /><br />The silicon in the bow definitly needs attention which means digging out the old so you can see what you have to work with. My choice would then be to have it welded, but you may opt for one of the epoxy patches like JB Weld or MarineTex. Lots of people swear them. As in everything, though, once the old stuff is out, prep is the key to an effective, long lasting repair.<br /><br />I make transoms out of 3/4" marine plywood, epoxied to make one 1 1/2" thick piece that's tougher than any single wood piece. Stained and then epoxy sealed, they'll last forever and look great.<br /><br />I do seats from 1/2 Marine, but I also add center braces from the seat to the floor. You can also stiffen the seat with longitudinal aluminum angle allowing less wood and less weight.<br /><br />Dings can be restored by backing the spot with a "bucking bar" on the outside (I use a 6" piece of railroad track) and tapping out the ding with a mallet .. brass headed prefereably, but anything up to 2 lbs will work if you're careful. It doesn't take a hard hit .. (you could even do it with a tack hammer) ... just firm taps.<br /><br />Personally? ... I do away with the flotation altogether.<br /><br /> Your trailer can be prepped by sanding/wire wheel/ or Scotchbrite to take off any loose corrosion then Cold Galvanize sprayed. One can should about do what you describe. <br /><br />Good luck ...

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: New Project few opinions needed (Photos added 6/21)

Thanks for the response. I am going to get the boat today.<br /><br />I have a few ideas I am tossing around in my head such as should I repaint the hull? It was factory painted and now pretty worn. It would be just for appearances.<br /><br />Why dump the floatation?<br /><br />The trailer is now back in shape, new lights and scrubbed off the rusty spots.

 

[Terry Olson]

Re: New Project few opinions needed (Photos added 6/21)

Hey Bob - I repainted my Lund and it really cleaned up nice. It's not factory quality but it makes it look like brand new. Painting aluminum was a new experience and requires different primers and prep than most other surfaces. I sprayed it using a cheap HVLP gun I bought on ebay but some of the paints out there come out nearly as nice when rolled and tipped off with a brush. <br /><br />My boat needed floors, new carpet, and a lot of other work so I stripped it down to a bare hull which made the paint work much easier. I'm glad I took the time to paint it - doing it later after changing my mind would have been much more difficult. <br /><br />I'd update my shareproject site but I broke my leg some weeks ago and can't get the boat out of the garage to take the finished project photos just yet.

 

[DJ]

Re: New Project few opinions needed (Photos added 6/21)

Bob,<br /><br />I differ, somewhat, on some of the repairs.<br /><br />1. Dig out every bit of silicone you can get out. Tighten up any loose rivets with a block and hammer.<br /><br />2. Apply Gluv It (West Marine) from the INSIDE to any joints. THE BOAT WILL NOT LEAK.<br /><br />3. I use Gorilla Glue and stainless screws to laminate two sheets of plywood together for the transom. Once that is done, coat the whole thing with epoxy.<br /><br />4. Flotation. You can buy closed cell stryrofoam, in sheets, from home centers.<br /><br />When you're ready to paint, let us know and we'll go through that process.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: New Project few opinions needed (Photos added 6/21)

Thanks.<br /><br />I just took the rotten wood (wow!) off the transom. I have another question. I have a piece of 1 1/8" plywood (waterproof glue very high quality) and I was going to laminate it to a piece of 3/4 plywood. This would create a thicker tramsom. My motor will still fit but, there was a piece of 1/4" outside on the back of the transom.... is that outside piece needed? Is there anything else that I could use? Maybe a thin piece of plastic (similar to what a kitchen cutting board is made of)or an additional sheet of thin aluminum. <br /><br />I see that the outboard has ridges that are meant to grab and dig in when tight.<br /><br />The foam under the seats seams okay, I can see the ends of it and it is not waterlogged. It is in a protective enclosure (sheet aluminum).<br /><br />I also have an interesting photo of a bolt that I managed to get out.<br /><br />

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[Bob_VT]

Re: New Project few opinions needed (Photos added 6/21)

Answered part of my own problem. I laminated a piece of 1/2" to my piece of 1-1/8" wood. <br /><br />Now, can I use a piece of polyethylene on the outside for the motor to grip?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: New Project few opinions needed (Photos added 6/21)

bob_vt. look at my boat they are almost alike. search "1960 Lonestar" tashasdaddy. this will give the ideas. after owning many boats in my life this is my favorite ever.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: New Project few opinions needed (Photos added 6/21)

<br /><br />The plywood I used is 100% hardwood manufactured with waterproof glue. No voids and no fillers... each piece is hand selected. It is so hard that it slows my 1/2 drill and if you put a buffer wheel on it... it will polish...it can also be machined. It is the stuff that the LL Bean walking canes are made of. The factory that produces it is here in Rutland and I managed to get a 4' x 9" piece. Great stuff. The same company makes the gunstock laminated wood. I guess the price was in my budget! Free!<br /><br />

<br /><br />As far as a better idea.... I mounted a piece of 3/8" poly on the outside. The same stuff that cutting boards are made of. I think it is a far better choice than the plywood that was there... once again cost free! It was a scrap from where my son works.<br /><br />The corner pieces are mounted and I used a 2" x 2" piece of aluminum to cover the top of the transom. All the bolts are stainless and installed with grease. More pictures will follow.

 

[G DANE]

Re: New Project few opinions needed (Photos added 6/21)

Everything you did looks great !! Some new boats comes with a kind of plastic protection on outside of transom, similar to the one you attached. Only concern it would give mee was that that kind of poly is slippery and the 1969 18 HP is only clamped to boat in top. I had a 1973 and it once swong up to a side when I took a thigh turn, I almost lost it in water. Maybe you could secure it with a bolt and a bracket on each side of motor mount, or a piece of poly as a square washer on the bolts you already have thru, measured so it will just touch sides of motor bracket casting. That should help motor to stay put. What a great boat !! It will give you lots af great time om water, and a minimum of manitenance once you are done.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: New Project few opinions needed (Photos added 6/21)

The small groves in the plastic match the groves on the motor mount. I have been considering a set of stainless pins to keep it captured. A piece (or two) of square poly should be easy.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: New Project few opinions needed (Photos added 6/21)

Progress !!

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<br /><br />Not done yet.