Project 19' Galaxy

[Outrage 19]

A friend has a 19’ Galaxy V hull bow rider and trailer he is willing to give to me. It is rated for a 130 hp motor. The floor is rotten there are no controls, steering, or motor. I want to cut out the floor and the front bench seats and build a cabin / pilot house like you find on a bay built work boat.<br /><br />First question, how do I test the transom to see if it is in good shape?<br /><br />Second question, I was figuring to build the cabin out of plywood, will a 130 get this boat on plain with the added weight?<br /><br />And last is it worth it?<br /><br />Any and all comments, criticism, and advice are welcome.<br /><br />Thank You

 

[Outrage 19]

Re: Project 19' Galaxy

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[jfc092]

Re: Project 19' Galaxy

I'm also working on a 19 foot Galaxy project. Its a 1978 bowrider model with a 470 Mercruiser I/O.<br /><br />I just finished working on the engine replacing the cam shaft seals. I now have most of the floor out and will be replacing the back to back seats with pedestal versions. I'm also planning on making the front section into a casting deck with a pedestal seat and 74 lb. thrust motorguide trolling motor on the bow. A 9.9 hp 4 stroke Yamaha outboard hangs on the back on a Garlick adjustable bracket. The Yamaha was added after I broke down in the bay with my young kids on board. I didn't like the feeling of being stranded at all.<br /><br />For whatever reason, Galaxy never installed a drain system under the floor that would drain water into the bildge. Any water that got under the floor stayed there and then just rotted out the flooring. I'll be drilling a 1 inch hole to solve that problem and a couple of inspection hatches to keep an eye on it.<br /><br />I can tell you that with 170 horses the boat moves really well. I'm sure 130 will work OK. From experience with the boat, I can also tell you that the hull design on plane is good in calm water but she's a pounder in rough seas.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Project 19' Galaxy

It should do decent with the 130 (a 130 outboard would do as well if not better than a 170 hp inboard), but it depends on how light you build everything. On the pilot house, you will want to keep it as light as you can, to keep the center of gravity low. You can go with thin ply if you have a good structure. I was going to do a small pilot house when I did my center console conversion, but decided against it.

 

[airman]

Re: Project 19' Galaxy

To test the transom, tap it all over with a light hammer. You will hear rot as a dull thud. As to the weight, I have no idea if you will be happy with the speed, it mostly depends on how fast you like to go. It's almost never "worth it" if you count the dollars you saved vs. the hours you spent. It's very often worth it in personal satisfaction.

 

[Outrage 19]

Re: Project 19' Galaxy

Thanks for the replies guys. <br /><br />jfc092, thanks for the insight on the ride. I want to use this boat in the middle Chesapeake Bay and lower Potomac River and it can get pretty ruff with just a change in the wind. I think I want to keep the boat open in the back with just a captain’s chare behind the wheel, and maybe some plastic lawn chairs that can be moved out of the way when the fish start hitting, and I want to close the bow in for storage, and a warm place to go for late fall, early spring fishing.<br /><br />JasonJ, I was figuring to use 3/4" ply for the floor and glass it, and 1/2" ply for the pilothouse with doubled 3/4" ply ribs for reinforcement and paint that part. I am also thinking of adding foam under the floor and a 40 gal. gas tank. Does that sound like a good design?<br /><br />Thanks for the info on testing the transom airman. The floor is so soft you have to walk on the stringers to keep from going through so I figure the transom might have problems too. I’m not that concerned with how fast it will go as much as will it be able to make head way going into a strong wind with 4ft chop if I got caught in a bad situation. As for the time vs. money, I’m 43 with a two-year-old son; he and I have lots of time to build a boat and I hope to run into a blown motor so we can rebuild that too. If the whole project comes in at under $2000.00 I’ll figure it to be worth it.