restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

I just aquired a 1977 20 ft center console with a 225 johnson i have just taken the console off and i am about to check the stringers and gas tank was just wondering what i should be looking for as far as replacing stringers and transom. also alternatives to a plywood transom. the boat was ran three years ago. any help would definitly be appreciated.

[ July 20, 2003, 02:30 PM: Message edited by: meads910 ]

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

also any help on gas tank removal would be nice.

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

There are a lot of threads on doing gas tanks, transoms and stringers on this site. If you go back in the older conversations by changing the amount of days on topics section both in general and also repair you will see lots of stuff you can also look at pictures under home page and click on your boat size. The stringers on you boat are foam filled they usually are ok but I would bet the transom needs to be done. I did my 23 with plywood 1 ½ years ago if I would have to do it all over again I would use the new divinycell type materials with west epoxy.
Fellow-Ship [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

I have another question, while i removed the console i looked in a hole in the deck where the trim tab resevoir tubes came up and saw a hole in some fiberglass coated wood, i put my finger in it and it was soft. Is this a stringer? or just a deck support and is it something i should be worried about? the fiberglass coated wood is located about 6inches from the gas tank. thanks

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

Mead,

You absolutely must remove all of the floor panels to get a good look at what's in there. All of the serious issues are out of sight. The most probable suspects are the wood in the panels themselves, the fuel tank and hoses, particularly if they were foamed in, the plywood beneath the fuel tank, etc.

The stringers are foam filled and most likely wet with water incursion. Most guys that are serious about truely renovating their SeaCrafts will cut the entire floor out to expose all the stringers, do what they have to do and replace it with a non-wood material. Bottom line? The sooner you get all of that stuff opened up and the fuel tank removed, the sooner you'll know the extent of your project. You're really in demolition mode now.

If you are serious about a "renovation", you need to think from the keel up and do everything required to make it better than new. It's time consuming and expensive. If that worries you, you are probably in over your head.

My 1 piece of advice... don't use a chain saw to remove the fuel tank.

[ July 23, 2003, 10:57 AM: Message edited by: Otto Cuyler ]

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

Otto,
Thanks, I figured that this was going to be an extensive project. but one well worth the efforts, do you know of the best way to get the deck off of the hull?

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

Determine the depth of your floor, set your circular saw for that and cut it.
http://foodmachinery.com/SeaCraft%20Images/DSC03684.JPG

[ July 23, 2003, 11:04 AM: Message edited by: Otto Cuyler ]

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

Otto,
Any other suggestions that you might have would also be appreciated.

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

Otto,
thanks for the picture.

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

anyone else who can give me some help is welcomed to reply.

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

Meads,

There is nothing wrong with the stringers. They're fiberglass, and won't rot out. Don't fool with the floor either unless it's soft or mushy. Fix the problems you find, but don't go looking for trouble. If you need to replace the transom, that would be a lot of work by itself.

Any pictures?

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

I dont have any pictures but i can get some, the deck is pretty solid, no soft spots. is that how you tell if the stingers need work?

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

im still a little confused if that hole in some fiberglass coated wood is a stringer or just a deck support?

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

Meads
Maybe this will Help. On the top of the stringer is a hole where liquid foam was poured in,it expands to fill the stringer.If You put Your Finger in it will be soft & Mushy - filling ! ?
Could this be what Your talking about ?
Try & take a piece out & You'll see that its foam & not wood ? Maybe ? This is how My 20' MA is.
Finally I found someone that will go grappling with Me when I go back Home(La.) That's how We catch catfish , Sticking Our hands & fingers in Holes where We can't SEE !!
Oh By the way Boy'z Water Moccasons Do & WILL Bite under water !! That is not a THEORY !!!!
Scream'n & a Runn'n !! [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

Capt. Brad,
I don't know about you Cajun types [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] , but I'm not one to stick ANY of my appendages in holes where I can't see! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

Water moccasins? I hate snakes.

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

It doesnt feel like foam,but i will have to look at it again it sits right below the deck about 6in to a 12in from the gas tank does this sound similar to yours and did you have to replace it?

im definitly up for some catfishin'

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

Its about 12"s or so from the transom on top.
when I had the top deck off (Replacing the transom) You could clearly see into it.about 2" hole.Yours could be the wood that was glassed over then cut & poured . Go straight down about an 1" or 2 (If you feel Teeth get OUT Quick).
I have a '83 the photo's are in the camera.


Water moccasins? I hate snakes.

I knew I "spelt" it wrong !!
Da only ting in the da Bayou ta worry bout is de Alligat'r Snapp'n Turtle !!
Scream'n Foots'
Sauce pe cau' ! Bon Temps !!

[img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

Capt. Brad.
I checked out the hole with a screwdriver and found out that it was foam in there i appreciate the info. do you have any suggestions for removing the gas tank.

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

meads,

1st of all make sure its completely empty. These old alum tanks have a tendancy to corrode on the sides and fuel will spill out fuel as soon as they are dislodged from their origional position. Trust me it is a mess and dangerous.
Leave a section of your vent hose and fuel line on the tank and fold them in half and secure with a couple of nylon tie wraps(so excess fuel won't spill as the tank is tilted). Then plug the fuel fill hole with somthing.
Try and cut thru the foam down each side of the tank with a hand saw(long)to split the foam from the stringer. Then pull and pry out the tank. It should come out pretty easy.
Dave

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

That70'boat has it the same way,I took my hose's off instead ?Drained off(Siphoned)(Got a lot of X-periance as a kid) as much fuel as possible.lifted the front up after unbolting & defoaming.Drained more fuel out,then looked in there with a lighter,(flashlite doesn't get Bright enough)!
I might have put a lilo bilge cleaner in there at some point knowing that I was gonna clean it & weld on it.Mine came out pretty easy once Ya cut the foam away . [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

that70sboat,capt.brad.
Ill let you guys know how it goes this weekend, maybe get some pictures thanks for the info.

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

Oh Yea Just to clear That was a JOKE !!
**Drained more fuel out,then looked in there with a lighter,(flashlite doesn't get Bright enough)!**
Just in Case there are any lil' Tykes out there!
225 on a 20' Whew ! I had a 200 Mariner on Mine when I got Her.It had been tweeked a lil' bit , But man o man.That'll peel Your lips and keep Your gullet full o Bugs !
Scream'n Reels' [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

yeah email me those pics and i could get a better idea. but i think that we are talking about the same thing.

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

Ya gonna make Me use a Scanner !!!!! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img]

Re: restoring a classic, need some advice.
 

pulled the tank out today and it went easyier than expected though i did find a nice size hole in the tank, and some of the foam was corroded, but the stringers look fine. next is to remove the engine and check the transom. ill try and get some pictures soon. thanks for all of the help.