Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

[evin300]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

Use a chainsaw to speed up the demolition bigtime!<br />Do a "search" on the subject so ya know how its done.

 

[BillP]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

It's a lot easier to cut the splashwell and re-paint the whole deck than pulling the deck. Many old rub rails with rubber inserts don't slide out like when new. That means you may have to destroy it to get the deck off. If you do only the splashwell the rub rail may only need attention back where it screws into the transom...that's how it has worked for me. New rails aren't cheap and finding one to fit old boats may take some time too. <br /><br />The floor needs to be cut away for access to the transom bottom so that's why I would demo it first and set/glass after the transom is installed. <br /><br />Polyester laminating resin is used to glass, fill coat and hot coat. Virtually 99.99% of all polyester boats are built with laminating resin. The surface stays tacky and eliminates sanding. You can paint over the tack back where the transom is seen. The tack goes away over weeks. <br /><br />What will take time is all the little details that snag you. Such as...If the transom has good wood in it you will be spending extra time peeling/grinding the last ply layer off the inside of the hull, etc.. <br /><br />This is a handfull to get done in a week if you haven't done it before. All I can say is have the right tools, have materials on hand and stay on the job. Keep working on "something" no matter what. If you took this to a pro shop it would be done by 2 guys in 5 normal working days or less.

 

[MercMark]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

I really do appreciate all of the opinions and ongoing analysis of the proposed schedule.<br /><br />I'm throwing out caveats here, not as excuses, but as added information in hopes that some of you guys that now, may say, "yeah, you should be able to do that much."<br /><br />Here's some more that may help. the boat is a small bare bones speed boat. A thundercraft wildcat looks a little like checkmate but smaller. It has no permanent interior to speak of. No fixed seats. You look in the boat and it's all floor. The current seating arrangement is a coupld of bass fishing seats that you would normally mount on a pedistal, but they're fixed to a carpeted sheet of plywood that's not screwed down to the floor. Yes it's a bit awkward, but I plan on changing that. With the motor already off, I really can start right away with separating the deck. The wiring is all crap and I plan on just cutting it as I need to separate the deck (with the exception of ignition harness of course). Ther mercontrols will be the most extensive removal and that's not much. I've already had them off before. I'll see if I can get some pictures of the boat up.<br /><br />Additionally, I don't have to have the boat fully finished after the 8 days. If I have the fibreglass work done and the deck back on then great. Carpet, wiring, and the motor can all be done later. I could even live with not riveting the deck. just set it back on, tarp everything back up and to the rivets, rubrail, wiring, carpet and motor in the following weekend.<br /><br />More input please. Don't coddle me. If it's not possible, it's not and I need to hear that, because I'll feed on the positive if it's there.<br /><br />I've done fibreglass work before as I stated. I replaced plwood on a 10' hydro and coated it all over in East System (a West system rip off). I grew up sanding and varnishing my dad's 14' Lakefeild cedar strip.<br /><br />Where I see that not rushing is critical is in demolition as to not cut the hull. In fitting the replacement stringers and transom. The glass work is often as rushed as the cure time in the batch. I figure batch it slow enough to do one part at a time. One stringer. or step at a time. Soak/coat the wood parts one batch one stringer at a time. glass them in, one layer, one stringer at a time. So does that equal out to, coat one, wait an hour, set it in and one layer cloth 1hr, wait an hour. about three hours per stringer. The boat can't have more than four stringers it might be six and a half feet in beam.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

I have to second BillP's suggestion to just cut the splashwell and not remove the deck. The only reasons to remove the deck is if it is a bowrider and the front sole covers the floor, not allowing access, or because you just don't want to mar the finish. Cutting the splashwell will save you a bunch of work. If you are still wanting to remove the deck, go for it, but be careful as has already been said about rubrail issues. One thing that helps if if the rubber strip is warm, it comes out a lot easier due to being more flexible. <br /><br />If you are just wanting to get the structure glassed in, you and your buddies could pull it off in a week of serious butt busting. You are on the right track of getting stuff done beforehand. If you can have the deck off and the demo done before the vacation, you can definately be done in a week. Good luck....

 

[MercMark]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

So after about a week of pestering you guys and the sales people at the marine stores around here, I've decided that I'm still going to get as much done as I can, but I'm going to have to buy materials mid project. I just don't know enough about what is in there now, to be able to order everything. <br /><br />The greatest conflict I've run into is the amount, type and weight of fabric, chopped, or mat to use. The opinion here is mat/woven/mat/woven, which my marine suppliers say is overkill for my little 15' boat with a merc 850 on it.<br /><br />I've decided I'll tear it up, then match what's in there and face delays for order times if I have to. Boater's World sounds like they'll be able to get even woven roving in a day or so. The roving is hard to find.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

When I glassed my stringers in I used two layers of mat, the first layer went from the top of the stringer down and out about 8 inches or so. The next layer went up 6 inches and out about six inches. It was heavy mat. On the transom I sheathed it in with a single heavy layer of mat, then used heavy roving around the perimeter. For the floor I sheathed it in with heavy mat and up the sides/transom about 8 inches. I then used a layer of heavy roving around the perimeter of the floor. I used poly throughout. To date, there has been no sign of stress anywhere, I used more material then was originally used. The way I did this was how I was told to do it from a boat rebuilding/repair/customizing shop near where I live. Their projects were quite a bit more involved than anything I was doing. If it works for them, it works for me.

 

[MercMark]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

Ok, the week is over and I can now say all of you were right. There is no way you could do transom and stringers in a week. <br /><br />I'm just back from 8 days of some of the hardest work I've ever done. I was nearly exhausted by the second Saturday.<br /><br />Here's how it went:<br />Day 1.<br />-diagnosis... rotten transom, carpenter ant colony under floor. All wood must be removed.<br />-remove 3/4 of floor with deck on. Small portion remains under front deck.<br />-Good News. No Stingers. This boat is small enough the bilge is only about 3" at it's deepest. 1/3 of the floor on each side of the boat is actually the inside of the hull.<br />-at end of day 1 the old floor is removed (except front 1/4)<br /><br />Day 2<br />-Sanding, prep, buy materials now that we know what was in there; plywood with noting on top but tapped in with chopped strand around the edges. New floor will be better. Epoxy soaked plywood with two layers cloth.<br /><br />Day 3<br />-floor is layed in with first layer of cloth<br /><br />Day 4<br />-deck comes off, transom comes out, front 1/4 of floor comes out hull is prepped.<br /><br />Day 5 <br />-buy more materials and lay in front 1/4 of floor. Deck is placed back on while floor cures, just to be safe<br /><br />Day 6&7 (this is where I can't remember what I did on which day and the photo record doesn't help much)<br />-the transom is patterned and dry fit<br />-the deck goes on and off several times fitting with the transom<br /><br />Day 8<br />-rear 1/4 of the floor is cut and fit<br />-transom is glassed in<br />-run out of epoxy otherwise the floor would have gone in too with it's second layer of cloth<br /><br />This would have left joining the deck to the hull, mounting the motor and the wiring<br /><br />As it is I still have to glass the last 1/4 of floor (which now involves more sanding) put the second layer of cloth on the floor (full coverage) plus all the stuff I would have been left with had I not run out of epoxy.<br /><br />If this boat had stringers, there's no way I would have got nearly as far. I was so releaved when I saw under there. All in all, there had been some "kiss me ***" repairs done to the floor about where the driver sits, and the deck has been off this thing before. None of the wood I took out had been epoxy soaked like it all is now. The last time the deck was off, they pretty much butchered it (I assume because the had trouble getting it back together). We worked with what we had. It won't be perfect, but it should be very safe and much much better than it was before.<br /><br />Have photos for your benefit. Making a web site to display. Will come later. I also have a lot more knowledge now about working with West System in 30 d C weather at 93% humidity.

 

[BillP]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

For a first timer you did real good! Clap, Clap, Clap.

 

[AMD Rules]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

Sounds like you made a lot of progress. Look forward to viewing your photos. Thumbs-up!

 

[MercMark]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectTut,p,96,00.html <br /><br />try this link

 

[AMD Rules]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

I like this one:<br />

<br />Hook an 85hp on that and you'd be in for a wild ride !! lol

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

MercMark, you need to post the link for the 'tutorial'. Look at the header when you are in 'manage'. Click on turorial, copy the url then copy it here. That'll take us right to your album.

 

[tengals123]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

mercmark, well done on your first project, so far. You have a long way to go, keep it up.<br /><br />cheers

 

[MercMark]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

Originally posted by AMD Rules:<br /> I like this one:<br />

<br />Hook an 85hp on that and you'd be in for a wild ride !! lol

I never really thought that it looks like I rafted the deck on the barrels. That's funny. I assure you it was just to hold it up.

 

[CalicoKid]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectTut,p,96,00.html try that

 

[Realgun]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

Al I have to say is WOW! Keep going in a year you could rebuild the Titanic! J/K.<br /><br />Do you plan on doing the interior that fast or are you gonna take your time? Does the fiance know what youve done? She would be so happy if you got to take here for a ride in it soon.

 

[MercMark]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

I don't really plan on doing any refinishing. If it's safe and goes fast I'll be happy. The metalflake isn't bad. It's a bit dull and there's some crazing on the starboard gunwhale that I think is a result of previous owner putting the deck back on wrong. I'll probably clean it up, buff it and be done with it.<br /><br />I hope I can have it back together as a boat on the next long weekend. One day to lay up the last section of floor and second layer of cloth. The next day to reattach the deck (maybe get the motor on). At least then it will be a boat again.<br /><br />I'll carpet it and rewire the bilge pump and lights and be done. There is no interior to speak of. The previous seats are two fishing seats mounted to a board which isn't fastened down. Might find a way to fasten them.

 

[MercMark]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

June 14, 2005. last post. that was a long time ago

Heh. Well, all of that quick progress went to waste. Shortly after that I did get the deck riveted and glued back on with 3m 5200. I brought it back home to Ottawa 3 1/2 hour drive, and managed to fit it into my garage. While it was sitting there with the motor on a mount made of lumber, deck screwed to the wall, I had a stainless plate made to cover the transom under the motor. I flared the brass bilge fitting. Added a splashwell fitting and drilled the bolt holes for the motor. All those holes were drilled, and sealed with epoxy, then the parts were put in with 3m 5200.

In between then and now, I've finished my basement, got married, and had a son.

Today, I water tested it!!!!! Windy day on the Ottawa river. 20km/h. Perfect for sailing. Too bad it's a 15' powerboat. I got past the breakwater gave it enough juice to get up on plane then tried to handle the 2 footers rolling in. The boat being as small as it is and as light as its, and as highly powered as it is (relative to it's size), leaps out of the water rather easily. So once I nearly took to the air, I decided to turn around. That went smoothly and the downwind journey seemed rather easy while I was going the same speed as the waves, so I decided to try a little throttle. Having no seats in and kneeling on the bare expoxied floor, I found myself a little jostled as I powered off the crest of the wave I was on and slamed into the upface of the next wave I was overtaking. That got worse as I turned across them back toward the lagoon and was now shooting diagonally down into the valleys. After one particularly scary sideways dip with the boats horizon line much less horizontal than I'd like, I tucked into the lee of the breakwater. I let up on the throttle and idled back through the lagoon to the trailer.

I had been hoping for a somewhat more diagnostic structural test, but I think that will do. Not a drop in the bilge that didn't come out of the air first, but some of that.

Now I want to get it out on some flat water and WOT it so I can see if the hull is still the same shape.

Well, I don't suppose that anyone ever was, or still is following this thread, but it's a theraputic kind of closure to post my result.

Now, carpet, new wiring, and buffing. Lots of buffing. Oh and trim/tilt fixing. Probably not until after it comes out of storage next spring though.

I was rather pleased with the powerhead that I got. After a couple of years of storage, it fired up happily as soon as I asked it to come out of it's indoor slumber. AND! the lower unit gear oil didn't come out milky when I got back from the water test. A little blacker than I'd like, but at least it wasn't milky.

That can of fogging oil is staring me down. That time of year I guess. Some kind of timing life throws at you.

 

[Marcq]

Re: Transom and Stringers in a week, full time? *edit-not possible photos added*

That was a nice project, like the test drive So why didn't you worked on her (the boat )for the next two years ?

oops, just noticed, you got married

Marc..