Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

[SnowHunter]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

Hey SnowHunter,
LOL on the intimidating , take a look at my other project that one looks very serious, it a real real deep V hull.

Yea, I was not a happy camper with the compressor. I have had my suspicions that it was on its last leg but I was to cheep to buy a new compressor pump for it, guess now I have to get one. Time to spend 300 guess thats better than 1200 for a new compressor. DA sanders at constant use take a lot of air a little $300 one wouldn't cut it so repair here I come. In the meantime I am borrowing one from my pal Charlie I am picking it up tomorrow on my way home from a job.

As far as the cracks go, I think I know what I am supposed to do, that's open them up and epoxy then prime. I am hoping someone says, thats not necessary and just to hit it with interlux 2000 or Pettit Protect which are 2 part epoxy primers.

There are spider cracks on the the cap near the bow. For them I am sanding down to open them up, relieve the cracks removing anything that has de-laminated, giving a coat of epoxy then fairing them in.

Seeing I used epoxy and not poly on the boat, I have to paint. If I had used poly for my repairs, I would simply open them, remove any de-lamination , and re gel coat

I have to work the rest of the week. Air conditioning season is upon us now, so it looks like no work on the boat till the weekend.

Sounds pretty much like what I'll be doin...

Lawd I wish I had a good air compressor

Good luck with it all!!! Pics pics pics!!!!!

 

[seamorewaterVIP]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

I saw a viedo on utube about fixing blisters with cracks. I would attach the link but I cant find it. Here is the basic process they recomended. Take a counter sink bit (the kind without a drill bit) (u can use a large drill bit just dont go too far) and center the bit on the blister and completly remove the blister. It look like to me they went almost to the core then they used some kind of black stuff (I know that is a technical term) to bead blast the bottom pain then on the next pass they knocked off the gelcote. float with epoxy, then fillett, then primer then bottom paint.

the point that i am trying to make is if you dont completly remove the blister it will reutrn. The cracks will most likley go away when the bottom paint and gelcote are removed.

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

Hey SnowHunter,
I'll tell you what, if I had to do this with electric, I'd give up lol
I have been sanding the bottom for days as it is

Hi seamorewaterVIP,
Well I am using the edge of my DA sander to open them up to where it is sound material. Some I can tell are blisters, most of it I think is just where my worker gouged the gel coat. When I get finished I am going to give it a full coat of epoxy then fair it in before hitting it with Interprotect

NOW, it seems like its 2 steps forward 3 steps back . I desided to rip up the only section of the deck that hasn't been replaced because I jumped down on it this morning and it felt soft. Well this is what I found

Rotted Core

The underneath side of that deck

And this is why!!!

Notice the triangle channel, that is so water runs down the keel from the bow to the bilge. When they built the boat they left the area open from the bow, NO BULKHEAD!!! The water as a result would fill this area and rotted the deck from underneath.

Now I have to deside Install a bulkhead at the bow and try to make it water tight or remove the channel and just re-shape it to a funnel at the bulkhead at the step.

I just can't win, part of me wants to say drop the engine in the Sea Gem and go fishing , work on this one when I can. The only thing stopping me is My Wife Will Kill ME !

 

[thrillhouse700]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

Um are you suprised bill? HAHA welcome to Iboats! JK its the heartache I know the feeling.

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

Um are you suprised bill? HAHA welcome to Iboats! JK its the heartache I know the feeling.

Lol, I just can't believe the stupidity with not having a bulkhead there. The foam under it was completely soaked. With the present design when you store it bow up the water doesn't run out from the bow, it just gets trapped under the steps. The worst part about it is that the area is almost impossible to get to without ripping out everything from inside the cabin back to the steps.

Now I know why there was a bilge pump added in the bow of the boat. I checked the Sea Gem same manufacturer only it has a bulkhead and no pump in the bow.

I think I am going to have to bite the bullet on this one and start cutting.

 

[SnowHunter]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

oh Bill!!! What a crappy revelation there

Even a newbie like me can't just get why there's no outlet for the water other then the bow *shrug*

Hope it doesn't turn into a chore for ya. Remember... it WILL be worth it when its all said n done

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

oh Bill!!! What a crappy revelation there

Even a newbie like me can't just get why there's no outlet for the water other then the bow *shrug*

Hope it doesn't turn into a chore for ya. Remember... it WILL be worth it when its all said n done

Hey Snowy, It gets worse

but that will be my next post
On my boat the keel serves as a trough from the bow to the bilge for water to exit. The problem is, I discovered today someone did some major repairs from the cabin under the lower deck and didn't put the bulkhead back to stop water from being trapped under it.

As far as it being worth it when its done...... Well this one is a labor of love, it was my wife's dads boat, It is really the lesser boat of the two.

 

[sprintst]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

It is turning into a full time job isn't it.

It will be better than factory when you're done so there is something to look forward to.

We're going to all meet up and go for drinks after this in the boats and think back to how bad we had it.

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

OK things went from bad to worse!!!!

I tore out the last part of the lower deck today. Not only did I find signs that a bulkhead used to be where a new one needs to be re-installed BUT ....... My worst fear!!
The Keel wasn't glassed all that well and water got into the core

NOW I AM UP A CREEK!!!! I actually found it out accidentally, I slipped with the grinder and got hit with WATER.

On close examination I can see that someone had done extensive repairs to this area previously. I know it was not my father-in-law so it had to be the P.O. As I started pulling her apart I found areas that the core is virtually non-existent, for it was completely hollow.

Here is the major problem:
Cruiser Yachts Inc. , the why they build their boats is in 3 pieces, then integrate it all together. It is almost impossible for me to get to and repair the core without totally cutting apart the cabin and the bridge which I really didn't want to do.

Right now I am really at a loss, there is so much money tied up into this on I can't abandon it, at the same time I don't want to destroy the cabin and bridge trying to repair it.

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

Hey Sprint,
Full time job for me this week, no service calls
I'm pretty much screwed, I have to cut everything apart to repair the problems. The best I can do is try to cut it clean and glass it back into place afterward .

Drinks sounds good, we need to get like the Starcraft club here and all do a meet-up Well tie all our boats together & have a redneck party at the cove

 

[SBTOM]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

Oh man that is rough! maybe you could cut out all of the material that you can access and inject Git Rot "upstream" of the damage that you can't get to, so you can kind of head it off at the pass

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

Oh man that is rough! maybe you could cut out all of the material that you can access and inject Git Rot "upstream" of the damage that you can't get to, so you can kind of head it off at the pass

Hey Tom,
Yea I was thinking of that, something I saw advertised says it restores damaged wood but right now with what I cut today was soaked I can't seem to get upstream. I hate to say it but I know where the core damage is, I have repaired lots of it on this restore. Basically its between the stringers just about up to 4' before the bow. The keel I believe is where the problem lies, someone did a real poor repair. They didn't glass the keel right and the water traveled right up the balsa core. The biggest problem I have is not the repair but what I have to cut to get to it.
If you look at the last pic I posted there are so many twists and turns in the bridge area its not funny. I am worried my glass work won't be up to snuff. To make matters worse, my wife insists I don't re-design anything, its to look exactly as when her dad had it.

One of the things I am wondering is if the core is merely a spacer in the hull or has some sort of structural value. The glass is all intact and solid except for at the keel, If I didn't slip with the grinder and grind through, I never would have known it was soaked.

Right now the saying "ignorance is bliss" comes to mind, my problem is I know better. I have a real sinking feeling that the last one to have her apart and make repairs, just didn't care .

The one thing that comes to mind is a lot of boats don't have a core, just the 1/4" of glass. But this is an off shore, Atlantic ocean boat, if something goes wrong 10-20-30 mi out in the shipping lanes on the Atlantic it could get ugly real fast and I'm to young to die.

EDIT- My other thought is to leave this boat at my wife's place in PA and just use it on the lake. Keep the Sea Gem for the ocean. Now thats a boat I would take deep sea fishing and not blink an eye

 

[SnowHunter]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

Wow, I'm at a loss here!!!!! Thats some bad news to figure out...

Ask yerself this...would you be able to take the boat on the water (lake if ya just leave it at the Mrs place) knowing all that core damage is there? *shrug*

I dunno what to tell ya...this is so far beyond my knowledge... I'm just a young grasshoppa

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

Wow, I'm at a loss here!!!!! Thats some bad news to figure out...

Ask yerself this...would you be able to take the boat on the water (lake if ya just leave it at the Mrs place) knowing all that core damage is there? *shrug*

I dunno what to tell ya...this is so far beyond my knowledge... I'm just a young grasshoppa

Yep, I'm at a loss too, its a seek and ye shall find routine, every time I open something else up I find more trouble.

If I was going to bring it to PA, I'd still fix what I have found but I would stop looking for trouble. Lots of boats don't even have cores, I had been taught that the strength is in the fiberglass the core is just to give it shape I wanna say "stitch and glue" but I drank a 12 pack today and my brain is a little foggy lol.

BTW , Hummm for a snow hunter you mustn't do that good living in Georgia lol. Kinda like a pal of mine during deer season he never comes off the porch lol...

 

[SnowHunter]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

Yep, I'm at a loss too, its a seek and ye shall find routine, every time I open something else up I find more trouble.

If I was going to bring it to PA, I'd still fix what I have found but I would stop looking for trouble. Lots of boats don't even have cores, I had been taught that the strength is in the fiberglass the core is just to give it shape I wanna say "stitch and glue" but I drank a 12 pack today and my brain is a little foggy lol.

BTW , Hummm for a snow hunter you mustn't do that good living in Georgia lol. Kinda like a pal of mine during deer season he never comes off the porch lol...

Naw...I don't We get a day or so once a year...thats it

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

Naw...I don't We get a day or so once a year...thats it

Yea I know, was just bustin on ya My stepson (2nd marriage ) was a riverboat captain in Savanna, I spent a lot of time down in GA

 

[SnowHunter]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

Yea I know, was just bustin on ya My stepson (2nd marriage ) was a riverboat captain in Savanna, I spent a lot of time down in GA

I hunt snow better then deer Got more snow then deer in the 6 yrs I've been in GA!

 

[sprintst]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

Hey Sprint,
Full time job for me this week, no service calls
I'm pretty much screwed, I have to cut everything apart to repair the problems. The best I can do is try to cut it clean and glass it back into place afterward .

Drinks sounds good, we need to get like the Starcraft club here and all do a meet-up Well tie all our boats together & have a redneck party at the cove

I'm good with the whole cove bash. Let me know when it is and I'm there.

If I wasn't spending so much on the boat I'd fly down and help you out for a week. Wouldn't mind checking out NY state.

 

[thrillhouse700]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

dang dude, thats ****ty to say the least.

 

[HVAC Cruiser]

Re: Transom replacement-Turned Complete Boat Rebuild

Hey Snowy, Up here, I get ton's of snow but only 1 deer per year.

Hey Sprint, Thanks for the offer, Are you going to the Starcraft get together?

Hey Thrill, S**ty is the story of my life lately. Today I am going to cut away the port side of the boat to get to the rot. I am going to do my darnedest to cut it nice and clean. I figure I might be able to epoxy strips to the back of the cut seams so I can use some PB to glue it all back in place after the repairs to try and keep glassing down to a minimum.


What I can't believe is that there are areas where the core is just non-existent. I am really surprised that the hull dosen't look like Coney Island (a Roller coaster).