stratos 91 with a sinking felling

[westexasrepublic]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

well good luck with yours, remember to mark exact height of previous deck and use ratchet straps to keep the hull from bowing out BEFORE you glass in the new deck. Otherwise stay tuned on my thread, ill be posting a clip of me doing about 70 mph this saturday!

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

im hoping if my plan works to install the deck (to the stringers with ss screws) then put the cap on and stitch as much of the floor in places i can reach using 6" wide strips of glass then remove the cap and complete any areas i can not get to with the cap on this should also help in fitting the rear floatation boxs which are the only parts that are with in the top 18" of the hull. this would also seem to be the best time to fix any errors as the floor will only be screwed down so adjustment would be a nightmare but not impossible.

 

[westexasrepublic]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

i can appreciate your caution, seems like a good idea. If I could do it over again I might try this method
I might have saved a ton of time, I know my mistake easily added 6 months of extra time.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

been one of them there days today. found that you can not glass over 3 ribs in one go unless your a master fiberglass guru. so out came the grinder to remove the mess. i got one stringer in and it looks good the middle one is a pain as it rides from the hull on to a rib. the original had pour foam between the stringer and the hull that was over 3/4" in places so it doesnt make the best pattern.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

well 2 stringers down and half a boat to strip now. the resin does not have wax in it so it remained tacky and now it has fiberglass dust stuck to it that i hope wont be a problem as its not like anyone will ever see that part of the boat anyway. working in the gap of the stringers is the worst job ive done in ages it realy sucks with csm as it sticks to the glooves when your trying to work it flat before the resin. 1708 i like its smooth and you can be way more agressive with a roller putting on the resin. like all newbys ive had to go back and fix some bubbles which i ground down then cleaned and applyed a patch bigger than the ground area. the way im doing it half at a time might work as i have the patterns made for the stringers now and the glass has been cut to shape so its should get easier especially as the new stringer will be equal and not 1/4 lower (space for extra glass on the underside of the floor and cross struts plus adding is easy if i make a mess when i test fit the top) will get a few pics later

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91



one side in other side ripped out. finnaly joined the boat building gang by putting a hole in the bottom. lucky it wasnt on a bunk so thats just a quick fix before i install the stringer. started the grind out so i figure a hr here and there after work and next week i might get the stringers finnished

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

ground out the inside and ground the hole i made deep then went underneath to grind a patch when i noticed i can see sun light in 2 other spots where its been hit against rocks. good thing i noticed this before i got to the foam part. now im thinking of changing plans and after putting the stringers in rolling the bottom upside down to fix anything on the outside skin before i make getting to the inside impossible. seen a post where they say to tie the boat between 2 trees with the front and rear tie downs then add tension so boat lifts and then rotate it .......does that sound like a plan as i have no idea how to roll it with out putting pressure on the sides that are to flimsy i think to surport the bottom while rollling it

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

im glad i followed peoples advice on tear down and not only measured everything but took lots of pictures as i swear the floor looks wrong then i checked and there realy is a slight bow in the floor area near the sides. i thought it was the wood had sagged while it was wet but the only way the edges work correctly is for a 1/2 bow between the outer stringer and the shell which is what i have ended up with. going to start prep ing the top for the test fit before i screw the floor down to make sure im not to far out as i can plain the stringers or add if im a touch off.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

well first test fit went real badly. after getting mad and sulking i call a friend who i work with for a fresh set of eyes. well the transom is to thick where the splash well goes against it. im sure it was 2" total but it was so swollen by the water it might have been thinner further down which i never checked and theres always been the question of why they broke the top of the transom with a chanfer in the original boat allowing a place to get water in. so after grinding and testing and grinding it finnaly came down to cutting part of the splash well out thats touching the transom. so after all the hassle of trying not to cut the well i cut the splash well and now everything fits like it should and the area looks like it can be glassed back into the transom neatly so thats a added bonus. i was going to route out that part of the transom but i think this was the better idea as i had to fix the cap in this area so the fix just got a little bigger. stringer heights are wrong so i left the cap on so i can mark them. looks like the layers of csm i put on top of the stringers was to much so thats a easy fix removing maybe 1/4 inch i plan to put shims in to be certain that the top isnt sagging first but the live wells pritty much set the high of the rest of the floor so we will see.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

running into problems now with the top and bottom lining up. i put the center section of floor in while the bottom was braced but the bracing gets in the way of the top going on so i removed the braces and the top was a pain in the arse but fitted. i removed the top and did some more grinding on what use to be glued to the floor to get another 1/8" as the screw holes were a touch off (nothing that i couldnt pull them together with my hand but i thought worth the adjustment. went to put the top back on and the bottom middle has flaired out slightly. does fiberglass sag when warm. if i put the brace back on a leave it for a while then the top fits easy when its removed. im about to put the foam in i dont know if this will assist and stiffen the bottom up or make it worse? when it sags it seems to bend the wood for the floor slightly like the sides are going down and the floor is being pulled down at the sides. the biggest worry i have is replacing the rim of wood on the bottom that the top screws into for the rub rail as its week and flimsy at the moment so if i install the new stuff wrong then there will be no give in it. im considering now not fiberglassing this to the bottom but installing it once the top is on but that means climbing is some tight spots to hold it while its drilled and screwed. at the moment the wood is weathered and cracked and tabbed in places with fiberglass to the bottom i might just replace it and if i get it wrong then grinding off the new tabs wouldnt be that hard just means rework which i hate..lol

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

well the last of the floor is just about in hope to get foam in tommorrow. i like the instructions mix equal parts of a and b, mix for 15 seconds use with in 30 seconds @90 degrees. no idea on how much to put in the first hole i guess i will learn on the fly

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

foam went in real easy so i pluged up to holes and dropped the top back on it. alot of work left to do but its starting to look like a boat again

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

top is back on. the rub rail didnt go well i figure i should have screwed the rear on both sides first then stretched the rail over the front as the rail lost about a inch in lenth so im going to cut a inch off the other side to make it look even then do something fancy with a piece of allumimum to make the ops look like it was planned. floor to top has been pb,ed to take the step out so the carpet lays nicely still not sure if im going to csm over the pb as the original wasnt but the original had also cracked so im thinking a little glass might stop that. next major problem is the splash well i could add the cut out piece back and glass it back together or just make a new part and glass it straight to the transom skin i think i will play with the cut out piece and see what that looks like then decied. if i go this route then it means laying in the boat and fiberglassing upside down to get the strenth back which isnt impossible just not something that looks like fun.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

boats all closed up with a few things to do before its spash ready. rubber patch to put on front for the nose wheel as i have fixed the glass and gel coat i dont want to damadge it again. i have a semi soft rubber im just wondering if contact cement (3m) will hold it on. next is the depth finder i can not decied if i want to drill a 1/2" hole in the new transom for the plug or if i should just go over the top of the transom, it seems a shame to have to drill such a large hole in the transom? then finnaly do i mount the 70 or the 120hp motor.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

last few weeks: 120 mounted...........im realy stupied some days and again i had to go back to the original pictures to see that i installed the jack plate upside down so after some head slapping i installed it the right way up as a 5" drop on a bass boat wasnt going to work (didnt notice until i thought of tilting it then it was a oh ...... moment) installed the lower unit and then rewired. most of the wiring etc was never removed from the cap just tie wrapped out of the way so assembly was simple. i added extras like the a tilt switch at the front as the motor acts as a anchor when trolling and it saves getting up to tilt the motor. kinda having fun now as i can see the end of the tunnel. hope to spash it next week and change it to a diffrent trailer. need to post some pics i know.....

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

if i had the same boat to do would i do it the same way............nope

1/ i would have added way more surport to the trailer so i could move the trailer around to dodge the sun (shade tree) and that would have helped with measurements.
2/ i would have coppied the internal frame of gt's as well as the surports so i wouldnt have to measure anything
3/ i would have use nida-core for the transom instead of wood so the wing area in the rear was filled with something other than foam and i dont think the weight would have mattered
4/ i would have installed a 1/4 stainless barb near the live wells so the speedo tube wasnt on the transom
5/ i would have struggled for a day to get the rear spash well off the transom i would have just cut it and fixed it later
6/ i would have built the transom middle up 1/2" to make up for the cut out section
7/ i would make sure i never got 5200 on my hands
8/ i would have waited until florida winter when its cooler and dryer

did find that gel coat is easy to use but real runny when used upside down, love using pb its the best filler you can get, foam is fun. 5200 sucks it realy does get everywhere but boy does it stick.

most important thing ive learnt is when buying a bassboat remove the floor drain and fell the underside of the floor if its glassed its not original if its rotten then walk away

will i do it again.........hell no.......i hope not.....well maybe.....how much and does that include the engine....lol

 

[rcxdm40]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

if i had the same boat to do would i do it the same way............nope

1/ i would have added way more surport to the trailer so i could move the trailer around to dodge the sun (shade tree) and that would have helped with measurements.
2/ i would have coppied the internal frame of gt's as well as the surports so i wouldnt have to measure anything
3/ i would have use nida-core for the transom instead of wood so the wing area in the rear was filled with something other than foam and i dont think the weight would have mattered
4/ i would have installed a 1/4 stainless barb near the live wells so the speedo tube wasnt on the transom
5/ i would have struggled for a day to get the rear spash well off the transom i would have just cut it and fixed it later
6/ i would have built the transom middle up 1/2" to make up for the cut out section
7/ i would make sure i never got 5200 on my hands
8/ i would have waited until florida winter when its cooler and dryer

did find that gel coat is easy to use but real runny when used upside down, love using pb its the best filler you can get, foam is fun. 5200 sucks it realy does get everywhere but boy does it stick.

most important thing ive learnt is when buying a bassboat remove the floor drain and fell the underside of the floor if its glassed its not original if its rotten then walk away

will i do it again.........hell no.......i hope not.....well maybe.....how much and does that include the engine....lol

Good info copied all of this down!

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

first major splash and use today. the boat handled better than i expected. realy please how this turned out

 

[jigngrub]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

if i had the same boat to do would i do it the same way............nope

1/ i would have added way more surport to the trailer so i could move the trailer around to dodge the sun (shade tree) and that would have helped with measurements.
2/ i would have coppied the internal frame of gt's as well as the surports so i wouldnt have to measure anything
3/ i would have use nida-core for the transom instead of wood so the wing area in the rear was filled with something other than foam and i dont think the weight would have mattered
4/ i would have installed a 1/4 stainless barb near the live wells so the speedo tube wasnt on the transom
5/ i would have struggled for a day to get the rear spash well off the transom i would have just cut it and fixed it later
6/ i would have built the transom middle up 1/2" to make up for the cut out section
7/ i would make sure i never got 5200 on my hands
8/ i would have waited until florida winter when its cooler and dryer

did find that gel coat is easy to use but real runny when used upside down, love using pb its the best filler you can get, foam is fun. 5200 sucks it realy does get everywhere but boy does it stick.

most important thing ive learnt is when buying a bassboat remove the floor drain and fell the underside of the floor if its glassed its not original if its rotten then walk away

will i do it again.........hell no.......i hope not.....well maybe.....how much and does that include the engine....lol

Life is soooo much easier with an aluminum boat!

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

Re: how do i get the top of a strator 16'2 bass boat 91

yep jigngrub i can see where you are coming from but lets face it even a 90's tinny bassboats have wood floors and foam so theres still a chance that i could buy one that needed work. sad thing is i can weld alluminum so a tinny might have been a better boat to start with. the true test will be when i get to go fishing off a new tracker to see if theres things i like or dislike. i fixed this boat because i was a sucker and i didnt know as much as i should have when i bought the boat and its taken 3 months $1600 to get to a point where i could nearly break even if i decied to sell. in hind sight there would be a 3 month old basspro tracker in the yard and a lot of fishing stories to go with it and im still tempted to go that way especially as the wife hates the stratos and wants a diffrent boat. dont get me wrong i like a project so im glad i did it but i would rather have bought a project boat than to have bought a nice boat then find that it was rotten and eaten by termites. im just glad that it handles better and with the smaller prop and higher engine mounting it now jumps on plane in the weeds with out tangling up like it use to ......i dont think that had anything to do with the extra water weight in the boat....lol