Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

[jcsftwre]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

Oops your funny! I was thinking some of the same thing about the pics. (Your 1st post this thread) I was admiring the photos and thinking ?these are nice photos!? I didn?t even get to thinking about looking for the stringers. I was too busy thinking this guy has a nice camera!

 

[colobiker]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

I love the look of your boat.
thats got awsome lines....

where are you located?

 

[lucid484]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

Yeah this boat is a beauty! Too bad the manufacturer cut alot of corners building it....But hey thats what I'm here for. Going to make it better and stronger than it ever was!

And I'm located In western,MA on the upper connecticut river.


LOL JC the camera I used to take those shots were only my Canon Powershot A620.....gotten some amzing stuff out of this cheap camera though!

 

[colobiker]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

it seems all manufactureres cut corners when building these boats. I understand about building them cheap and increasing your profit margin. but I dont understand putting out a less than optimum product. but then.. i am an engineer. I tend to over build (over engineer) everything.

do you know if the manufacturer of your boat ever made and I/O..

I've got a little 81 baretta sucess. it needs work.. but I love the lines.. the first time I saw it.. i said thats the boat for me... i like just looking at it.
(which will be all I am doing till i get space in the garage opened up)

 

[lucid484]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

I don't think my MFg ever created a I/O they went out of business in the late 90's.

Although I have a site somewhere where a guy either a i/o or outboard and created an inboard!!! he filled in the transom,made new stringers,mounts,cut holes for rudder/prop shafts and just did it! thought about doing that with this but wayyy beyond my skill level.....plus where I live where the water can get shallow and the cold climate its easier to run and outboard and to winterize etc....

the only thing that get iffy is when I do get her done ...i would like to occasionally trailer it to Mystic,CT and pilot her to Block island. but its about 21 miles one way.....I do plan on getting abrand new E-tec when done so I think she should be reliable enough with 1 engine.

 

[colobiker]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

i wondered how hard it would be to convert a boat that was normally an outboard to an inboard.

I had a vision of a little runabout with the engine in front (much like a car)

I am sure sombody has done something like that.. most likely it wont get on plane... just another silly idea of someone with not much experience with boats

 

[lucid484]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

yeah I cant imagine that would be a good setup for a planing hull....alot of the chris craft I know had the engines mid ships but i'm pretty sure they are semi-displacement hulls.

 

[colobiker]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

yea i like those.. but I wanted the engine further forward so the engine wasnt between the 2 passenger compartments. .. I wouldnt mind an electric boat. (i saw a web site of one) it was pretty cool. great for just putting around but not much for watersports. i used to work for a company that made electric vehicles.. so that sparky stuff is in my blood

 

[jonesg]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

I like your plan to shorten the splashwell,
but be sure to measure the Etec at full tilt,
the newer engines are physically MASSIVE compared to the previous generation in the same HP range.
I stood in front of a Johnson 150 at the dealer and couldn't get over the size of it and its not like theres any airspace under the cowl.

Block Island waters can be unforgiving if you have an engine failure, I boat the same areas, thats why I just snagged a 1959 J10hp even tho my 150 never misses a beat , the Etec's are great but we can't control the fuel situation.

 

[lucid484]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

yeah I know what ya mean jones...Ive crossed from noank/mystic to block island 100's of times...can be anywhere from glass to 10' waves that were tossing my grandfathers 60' Chris Craft around like a toy!

would a small 10hp "kicker" motor be enough in an emergency situation?

 

[oops!]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

would a small 10hp "kicker" motor be enough in an emergency situation?

not in big water it wont.....on glass it might move ya

 

[jonesg]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

Going out "there" when the tide is running this way and the wind is blowing that way is best left to the ferry, I cherry pick my days and stay on the lee side. Otherwise I'm staying inside the Elizabeths.
I wouldn't try Block when its blowin with 2 good 150s.!

Yrs ago in Rhode Island, one guy I worked with picked the wrong day to visit Block and swore up and down he'd never EVER go boating again. Its like that.
I'm just chicken enough to look wise.

 

[sschefer]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

Do you guys think that using Carbon Fiber/Kevlar is overkill on Stringers and Transoms?

Kevlar offers very little structural strength, it's mostly used because of it's ability to resist punctures.
Directional Carbon Fiber mat is what you would use and the best way is to wet it thoroughly and then sandwich it between two outer layers of marine ply. You need to clamp the heck out of it to remove all trapped air. It's not easy but it is a garage job if you take your time.

I would look at it as a wasted opportunity not to go all out. How often do you get a chance to replace your transom and stringers. It may cost a little more but you'll probably never have to do it again, (like you are now).

 

[lucid484]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

Going out "there" when the tide is running this way and the wind is blowing that way is best left to the ferry, I cherry pick my days and stay on the lee side. Otherwise I'm staying inside the Elizabeths.
I wouldn't try Block when its blowin with 2 good 150s.!

Yrs ago in Rhode Island, one guy I worked with picked the wrong day to visit Block and swore up and down he'd never EVER go boating again. Its like that.
I'm just chicken enough to look wise.

hahha yeah that time we took the 10'ers and we got off the boat at noank i swear the docks were moving!!! It was the worst case of sea legs ever...someone could have easily thought i had drank an entire bottle of rum LOL....i love rough seas in a large boat....but in a smaller single engine fishing cuddy I'd be VERY cautious to cross that!!! It would have to be a perfect weekend with no storms in sight!

 

[lucid484]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS) and updates

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS) and updates

Well getting farther in the strip...its very very slow going as I don't have a whole lot of time to work on it..starting tearing away at the inner transon glass (need a grinder to get any farther).and have half the flooring and foam ripped out.Had 5 trash bags of foam just under the port side deck!

looks like I have 2 main stringer going down the middle and 2 smaller ones supporting the outter edges of the deck...they are all rotted to **** and alot of the fiberglass is just peeling right off.Also found that the foam was adding alot of structural support..the bottom of the hull where the foam was now flexes just as bad as my gunwales.That being said I will be adding some layers of glass to the bottom and sides of the hull to strenthen it.she will be like a tank compared to her factory self.

here are a few cell pics i snapped today.

first is the back by the transom..look at all the lines and shapes i have to deal with when i rebuild it!!!I might need an engineering degree!!

second is my son (left) and his cousin...the carpet was a ***** to get off btw!

third is under the port deck where all my lovely wet foam was.

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

Glad to see ya still hanging in there.

 

[hootyhooo]

Re: Rotted Transom

Re: Rotted Transom

might be a little late for this... but might want to consider some penetrating epoxy sealer... made in CA distributed nationwide... I found it at a place near Port Clinton OH. I used it on some EXTREMLEY rotted wood in my houseboat... the mount for the controls was very damaged due to extended leak in the shell. I was very impressed with the product. It wicks into water damaged wood, replacing moisture and forming a rock solid substrate. I still havn't mastered using it yet but will definately continue to pursue this option.

 

[lucid484]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

haha yeah its just a tad late =) I have my entire deck ripped up and half my transom chopped out already....Every little bit of wood on the boat was complete mush.....Hell I founf a nest of carpenter ands under my starboard deck the other day...sprayed some lestoil to kill them and will be tearing up the last of foam next week.

 

[lucid484]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

well got out to my boat today and put about 3 more hours of work...and it was work because it was 92 degrees and I was in the sun and dripping sweat everywhere

welli got the last of the decking up and thankfully pretty much the last of the foam...just have to wait for the last of the "mud" to dry up....the plywood was basically all dirt at this point.and I can shop vac the rest out.

you can also see the previous owners new stringer system

 

[lucid484]

Re: Rotted Transom AND Stringers (NEW PICS)

Ok haven't worked on my boat much at all this year due to work and stuff....I'm about to buy a boat shelter so I can get more in depth and keep it dry in the rain.

Next order of business is to cut out the splash well and grind down the transon and replace that before the stringers.But a few ?'s before I start next week.

1) Should I use epoxy for the transom and deck? It was a cheaply built thin hulled boat and I'm sure they used poly resin ( Made in 1977).

2)any way to stiffen the gunwales without adding a ton of weight so they don't flex when I push on them?

3) the motor is in parts in my basement and i'm 70% sure it has a cracked block which is why there was water in the engine and blew a piston.....sooo Am I completely off my rocker to want to finish restoring her and buying a brand new Evinrude 150hp HO motor that costs around 12k??????


so far the wifey isnt chewing me out...she just wants to know when i'll finish this "project" LOL