Upgrading Islander

[Davo1]

In fall of 2012 I finally got a true big lake boat. I have done some minor repairs. Replace cabin window with plexi glass gutted cabin (work in progress and have been trying to find a few leaks. I noticed near where the bow starts to rise on the underbelly are two missing rivets. can see through to daylight from either side but would like to fill the holes. Would you recommend drilling out and placing 1/4 steel mandrel and sealant rivet. I am also replacing winch want to add a fulton f2 3200 # . My islander is a 22 ft with 140 outboard and a 10hp older 4stroke honda. Floor was replace with marine grade but he did a lousy job of it did not seal it up. i gonna run it until I have to pull transom which has about 10% rot on outer edges. I coated all bad areas with wood cure and hope to pull transom next winter or year after that. Want functional boat more than anything and little nervous about biting off too much. All the bellows were professionally installed last year. I currently get about 1-2 gallons every 8-10 hours of trolling. boat sits inside now. In dont get enough water to trip the bilge float but I would like to have a dry boat someday. Anyway would like input on winch and two known bad rivets. And what size tongue jack should I get. loaded some pics but not sure if it worked

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Upgrading Islander

Hey man, welcome to iboats, I will let some of the tinsters help you along with the answers your looking for. Be patient they will be along shortly. Nice boat though.

 

[dozerII]

Re: Upgrading Islander

Welcome to iboats Davo, real nice Islander you have there. If the rivets are missing completley you should replace them with an aluminum rivet. If you have access to the inside replace them with a solid rivet, if you don't have access to the inside use a closed end blind rivet of the correct diameter coated with 3M 5200.
If your transom is rotted 10% on the outside edges, check very carefully under the engine were it attaches to the transom. This is the worst place for rot and will cause structual issues.

 

[Davo1]

Re: Upgrading Islander

I beat on transom with a hammer its still solid all around outboard area I drilled a few holes to check and resealed and poked with a screw driver. Marine dealer pulled the lower unit and resealed everything said it would hold up but because I know its there it bothers me. The rivet holes I would have to drill a hole all the way through as there is overlapping metal, not ribs but its up where boat starts to create bow angle on under belly. Just mumbling to myself if I was going to make it worse by making through hole to get a rivet there. As with all boats there are a 1000 projects I could throw money into. Guys here do some pretty amazing work. I am not sure I have the skill or patience to handle that. I also don't want to miss a fishing season so it will be a multi season endeavor. Engine runs great, trolls nice, kicker needs idle adj. but sips gas when I do have it set, I have it set up for LK Michigan fishing so looking forward to spring brown trout. Floor is solid and foam underneath is dry but some was removed so I will add some pink stuff.

1. plug leaks
2. pull hubs check brakes replace as needed and adjust (without youtube i would be lost)
3. finish cabin
4. clean up floor and add side panels (used cabelas non skid floor paint tan- its dark brown and floor gets hot to touch) so maybe vinyl or repaint light color
5. minor wiring that I can handle
6. several other small non mechanical improvements

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Upgrading Islander

Your rivets will replace easily like this:

1989 Sylvan Boat Rebuild Part 4 - YouTube

The closed end blind rivet with the steel mandrel will be the strongest. Dip your rivet in epoxy or 3M 5200 before installing for added insurance, fill the mandrel hole with the same sealer after the rivet is set to prevent rust on the little steel BB that stays behind in the rivet.

You'll find that owning a rivet setting tool and an assortment of rivets very handy when owning an aluminum boat.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Upgrading Islander

Hey Davo, welcome to iboats man!

Looks like the guys have you on the right track for your rivet stuff.

Where are you from buddy? I do believe I'll have my Islander ready for the big Lake this spring too, maybe I'll see ya out there:eagerness:

 

[Davo1]

Re: Upgrading Islander

I live on the other side of the pond in Manitowoc area south of Green Bay. Did not get out much last year got the boat too late to get it ready. I am purchasing a heavy duty rivet tool. No local stores carry them around here Amazon has them so put my order in for them and some 1/4 in steel mandrel closed rivets. When talking about sealing deck are guys talking fibre glass resin and hardener only or are they using the cloth sheets as well or is it personal choice. I contacted gluvit and was assured I could apply gluvit to underside of boat would like personal experience on this if anyone has some. I was hoping to put off pulling floor until next year. No issues with floor but would like to get gluvit at least center seam inside. I am not sure how to check for loose rivets in its present shape as I don't see any other missing rivets. Do i just wait until summer and flood the boat short of flooding engine. These questions sound really stupid. Thanks for feedback

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Upgrading Islander

You can go with poly resin but you will also need to use fiberglass, otherwise it'll crack on ya.

You'll find most of the metal boat guys around here seal up wood with epoxy, great stuff.

Gluvit is really best applied to the inside of the hull. Applied to the outside it's just a big mess.

You can flood your hull a little to check for leaking rivets, maybe. Has that boat got pour in foam or just the white styro?

 

[64osby]

Re: Upgrading Islander

Amazon has them so put my order in for them and some 1/4 in steel mandrel closed rivets.

Think you meant to say aluminum.

Made it over to Manitowoc last year on the Badger. Seems like a nice little town. The first building you see is the brewery.:lol:

 

[Davo1]

Re: Upgrading Islander

The boat has pour in foam nothing in the center at least up front its all under seats and cabin bunk area. dry and solid yet. Yes the famous bud towers are quite visible. they actually make the malt there not the beer. Nice to fish out of rarely need to go out more than a mile or two unless its really hot. Good fishing either direction for 100 miles.. When you say epoxy what do you mean. When I hear epoxy I think glue not sealer so I don't know what to use. At some point I am going to pull up some of floor and tighten some rivets up and try and eliminate 90% of water. Transom issues with the way I run my boat I could probably get away with several years to be honest it scares me to tackle it without help. May just have a shop do it just hate the thought of spending money on that when I would like to get all new guages and wiring and hide all this from my wife's tight budget

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Upgrading Islander

When you say epoxy what do you mean. When I hear epoxy I think glue not sealer so I don't know what to use.

Here's what I like:

Epoxy :*Epoxy Resins and Hardeners

3:1 Medium

 

[choover852]

Re: Upgrading Islander

I also am new to this site and working on an Islander; 1986 22' w/150 Evinrude outboard, 15 horse Johnson kicker. It was my grandfathers boat, and it hadn't been in the water for 6 years until we took it for a couple test runs this summer. I did some temporary patch repair to the floor to get us out on the water, but the next project is to do a permanent repair. I am relatively new to this, and you guys mentioned foam beneath the floor? I also have a concern with the transom board being rotted, is the process to repair it any different with an outboard? I will try to post a pic soon.

 

[choover852]

Re: Upgrading Islander

I tried to attach a picture of the boat I am working on...not sure if it is going to work.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Upgrading Islander

I also am new to this site and working on an Islander; 1986 22' w/150 Evinrude outboard, 15 horse Johnson kicker. It was my grandfathers boat, and it hadn't been in the water for 6 years until we took it for a couple test runs this summer. I did some temporary patch repair to the floor to get us out on the water, but the next project is to do a permanent repair. I am relatively new to this, and you guys mentioned foam beneath the floor? I also have a concern with the transom board being rotted, is the process to repair it any different with an outboard? I will try to post a pic soon.

I tried to attach a picture of the boat I am working on...not sure if it is going to work. View attachment 178606

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... You've gotta start a thread of yer Own,....

This thread belongs to Davo, 'n it's not polite to steal His thread...

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Upgrading Islander

It would probably be best for you to start your own thread choover, that way the info given to you will be all in one place and you won't crowd another persons thread.

You can look at this thread for the construction details of your boat:

http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...976-22-starcraft-islander-rebuild-369247.html

EDIT

 

[choover852]

Re: Upgrading Islander

Ahh...yes makes sense to start own thread, sorry Davo!

 

[Davo1]

Re: Upgrading Islander

no worries here its all good info and nice to meet another Islander. If I am understanding the resin application resin and hardner mix apply with scraper or brush type tool on all sides of wood. Anything else I need to do to it. I just am confused on resin vs fibreglass and when if ever do I need both. So many questions and hopefully a full season away from needing to pull the transom. Seems like everything I want to do I need to do something else first which usually results in dry dock. Not sure how to get boat off trailer, never pulled an engine, anything I learned I learned from reading a book or breaking it. Would like to know more or have someone show me what the heck I am doing. It is rewarding to know that I actually fixed something and it still floats. the one area of the boat I can get to is the cabin so that is my first redo to include more foam, trim. new wood door, seat covers, curtains and storage. thank you again for input

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Upgrading Islander

no worries here its all good info and nice to meet another Islander. If I am understanding the resin application resin and hardner mix apply with scraper or brush type tool on all sides of wood. Anything else I need to do to it. I just am confused on resin vs fibreglass and when if ever do I need both. So many questions and hopefully a full season away from needing to pull the transom. Seems like everything I want to do I need to do something else first which usually results in dry dock. Not sure how to get boat off trailer, never pulled an engine, anything I learned I learned from reading a book or breaking it. Would like to know more or have someone show me what the heck I am doing. It is rewarding to know that I actually fixed something and it still floats. the one area of the boat I can get to is the cabin so that is my first redo to include more foam, trim. new wood door, seat covers, curtains and storage. thank you again for input

There are 2 types of resin:

Epoxy resin: Epoxy resin is very strong and can be used by itself for sealing wood. It's a 2 part mix that comes in different mix ratios depending on your application. It can be brushed or rolled on just like paint.

Polyester resin: Polyester resin is used for laying up fiberglass mat and cloth, it's a weak resin that has to be used with the fiberglass cloth for strength. You don't need to use fiberglass on an aluminum boat, the epoxy resin is better for sealing and protecting the wood in an aluminum boat.


There are quite a few Islander restoration threads on this forum, do a site search for Islander and they should pop up. They have lots of good information on how to work on these large aluminum boats. Read and study these threads before working on your boat and you'll become very familiar with what needs to be done before you even start.

 

[Davo1]

Re: Upgrading Islander

Got my first upgrade tool. heavy duty riveter and 1/4 inche closed end blind rivets steel mandrel. I know there are links to order rivets on the forums but of course I am not finding them. I did order some through amazon, they are not cheap. where do you guys order from.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Upgrading Islander

I order from Jay Cee's online, they got any kind of rivet or riveting tool you'll ever need:

Rivets - Buy Rivets, Rivet tools & Other Fasteners from RivetsOnline

Their service is great and shipping is fast.


The only thing I don't like about them is that they have a $15 shipping charge whether you order 1 rivet or a million, so I always stock up on different sizes and types when placing an order with them.