Classic SeaCraft Community - 79 MA restoration... here we go

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79 MA restoration... here we go

Got the motor off this weekend, got the console off today. I am trading consoles with et23. He has a 23' with a small console which I want... and he wants my biga$$ console.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/PICT0097.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/PICT0102.jpg

After removing the metal transom cap and inserting a screwdriver, my fears were confirmed when mushy wood came out in large quantities. :( The funny thing is, the transom "sounded" solid when tapped on. It also read "dry" to the low end of "moist" when we put et28's moisture meter on it.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/PICT0094.jpg

Note the pile of wood bits on the ground under the transom.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/PICT0112.jpg

The cavasil also came out in large, brittle chunks.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/PICT0109.jpg

Also took the fuel tank hatches off, as I am going to replace the tank.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/PICT0117.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/PICT0116.jpg

So now I am at a dilemma as to whether or not I should cut out the transom and replace it with a new plywood/fiberglass transom..... or pour in SeaCast, which I have read good things about.

I am also trying to decide if I want to pop off the top cap and lift out the inner liner before replacing the floor, or if I just want to cut out the liner/floor and glass a new one in.

I'll keep you updated. Any advice is appreciated!

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

I have a '77 MA that I am going to tear in to next winter. I am going to replace the transom and close it in at put on a bracket. Cut my floor out and replace it but put my new floor on top of the old floor to raise it alittle bit. My transom and floor are solid but want to put a bracket on the boat anyway.
With that said, I would replace the transom.
And I have heard the same results with those moisture meters. Not very reliable in my opinion. :rolleyes:
Interested in what you do and want to see pics of the process. :) Thanks

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

I just don't want to know LOL

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

Quote:

or pour in SeaCast, which I have read good things about.

Another option for a poured transom is the Arjay ceramic which is the same as the pourable NidaCore.....from what I've been told. Damn stuff is as hard as my head!!

http://www.arjaytech.com/overview/overview.htm

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

So the floor and tank came out today, along with the rest of the wiring. Here is my patented tank removal system:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...PICT0002-1.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...PICT0003-1.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...n/PICT0005.jpg

It consists of some 3/8" cable rope run through the brackets at the four corners of the tank, attached to a hydraulic motor lift. Once I used the sawzall to cut through the foam (had to do this about three times, making a wide channel through the foam), I jacked up the tank. Problem was.... the whole dang floor lifted up too! It took me (270 lbs) and my worker (120 lbs) bouncing on the floor with another guy working the lift to get it to break free. Once we broke the "seal", it came right out.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...n/PICT0007.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...n/PICT0006.jpg

Next step was to sawzall around the "coffin", which I want to save and reuse.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...n/PICT0008.jpg

The floor came out easily.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...n/PICT0011.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...n/PICT0015.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...n/PICT0017.jpg

There were several inches of standing water under the floor. It is hard to see in this photo... but it is where you see little foam bits and trash.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...n/PICT0019.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...n/PICT0020.jpg

After having seen photos of everyone else's stringers on this site, I was surprised to find that mine are wide and wedge-shaped.... not the four straight lines.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...n/PICT0023.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...n/PICT0022.jpg

Tomorrow's job: remove the transom!

Here's what we'll be catching after the boat is done:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...9009Medium.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...N/PICT0029.jpg

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

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After having seen photos of everyone else's stringers on this site, I was surprised to find that mine are wide and wedge-shaped.... not the four straight lines.

No, yours are normal for the '79 MA. Older 20' SF and Seafari's had either two or four straight stringers. Some also had three, including one plywood-cored "semi-stringer" running down the kelson.

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

my 73 sf has those stringers in it too.

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

The '72's have 4 stringers, so '73 was evidently the year that Potter changed from the original Moesly configuration.

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

Hey Capt. Curt let me know if you redo that recessed bowrail. I will buy those stantions off you. I have the same ones in my 1979. I have a couple where the set screw stripped out and I am looking for replacements.

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

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Planning on reusing them, but if plans change I'll let you know.

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

may want o Re-tap the old stripped out hole and get the next larger set screw for a good temp fix

TNGRIZZ

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

Thanks guys I probably will tap and re thread them but if I can get a couple replacements then that wouldn't hurt.

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

The hull is completely gutted now. All wiring and traces of the liner have been removed, except the livewell and cooler areas in the back.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/PICT0045.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/PICT0048.jpg

The front storage compartment/casting deck came out in one piece.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/PICT0049.jpg

Scrubbed the coffin down and have it drying out.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/PICT0051.jpg

I thought this was pretty cool.... underneath the Master Angler badge are the words "Master Angler" in pencil, written by whoever was assembling the console.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/PICT0043.jpg

Here is the console, rigged as a Louisiana fishing skiff.... just add floats.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/PICT0032.jpg

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

Same stringers as my '80 MA. How difficult was it to separate the liner from the hull? Dave

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

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Same stringers as my '80 MA. How difficult was it to separate the liner from the hull?

Not hard at all. When I jacked up the gas tank using my Patented Lift System :cool:, all the caulk joints popped. A good portion of them were already separated, so that helped too.

The hardest part of what I've done so far was cutting the coffin away from the rest of the floor liner. It is up against the stringers, so you can't go too deep or too far to the side. I put a few gouges in the stringers.

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

Looking good. I was wondering what these boats looked like gutted and now I know. They are definatly deep at the bow. I think the front hatch in the step up could have the bottom cut out of it and lowered to the bottom of the actual hull to give you more room in it. I may do that when I start tearing into mine.

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

Dropped it off at Gulf Coast Composite today, they are going to do the floor and transom for me. I am not as handy with fiberglass as most of you guys, so I get to pay someone else to work on the old gal.

In the meantime, I am going to work on the console that et28 swapped with me. Gotta locate some electronics and gauges.

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

Well, I was going to have Gulf Coast Composite do it.... but I found a guy working in his backyard that could save me close to $1000. Being the cheap bastard that I am, I went with it! Anyway, here is the new transom in place. I wish I had gotten some photos when he was putting the new wood in.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...PICT0033-1.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/PICT0035.jpg

He got the boat off the trailer and onto his stands, so I am taking the opportunity to do an Extreme Trailer Makeover as well. This thing is a *piece*. Needs a new tongue, some patches on the frame, a new winch, repack the bearings, new tires, new wiring/lights, carpet on the bunks, and a few spray cans of Cold Galv.

Here is the boat on stands:

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/PICT0037.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/PICT0038.jpg

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...t/PICT0039.jpg

In the last picture, if you look toward the bottom of the hull, there is a drain which presumably was for the fish box. Does anyone see a problem with filling this in and just draining the fish box to the bilge?

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

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Does anyone see a problem with filling this in and just draining the fish box to the bilge?

What may I ask are you saving by filling it in :D

Oh I get it: fish guts, blood, scales, salt water wash off, dirt etc running thru the bilge and then clogging up my pumps and creating a new Gucci scent within the confines :eek:

BTW: Great work & keep the pics coming........

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

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Well, I'm not going to use it as a fishbox, just a dry storage compartment. I prefer an ice chest that I can lift out of the boat. It will most likely contain life vests, rope, and tackle boxes.

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

Me personally, I would fill it in and let what water gets in there drain into the bilge. Next year, on my '77 MA, I am going to do away with the front hatch and make my floor flush from front to back. I may make some sort of coffin to go in front of the console or just use a big cooler I can take in and out when I go fishing, and just extend my anchor locker to the floor so it will have more room. Like I said in another post if I were to keep the hatch I would at least cut the bottom of it out and extend it to the bottom of the boat, then the drain would be obsolete anyway.
Just some thoughts

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

Just put a plug in it.

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

I know I have skipped about two months worth of progress photos, but the boat is almost done. I will post some photos later this week.

I have decided not to paint or re-gelcoat. I bought some polish and wax and plan on giving her a good scrubbing. The rub rail and leaning post installations are about the last things I need to do. The motor (2000 zuke 140) fired up on the first crank (whew!).

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

I'm about ready to tear my deck out. Thanks for your pics. They give my somthing to work from. Can't wait to see the pics.

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

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I have decided not to paint or re-gelcoat. I bought some polish and wax and plan on giving her a good scrubbing.

I would go with Poly Glow instead of wax. If you look at their web page it looks like something from Ronco (NOT SOLD IN STORES!). At an MSRP of $64 per kit, I would never have bought it, but last year I saw Bushwacker's Seafari in Key Largo and the gelcoat looked like new. He recommended it, I used it, and I'm sold.

If you have heavy oxydation, and from your pics it looks like you do, wet sand with 600, then 800, then 1000, apply 5 or six coats of Poly Glow, and you're done. Just make sure you get all the oxydation off, or the Poly Glow will seal it in.

Poly Glow isn't a wax, it's an acrylic (I think) coating, and applies with a sponge like applicator supplied in the kit. There's no rubbing or buffing, so all the elbow grease is in the sanding.

I used it on my 20 SF and my 18 Action craft and have half a bottle left. I have a friend with a dark blue Wellcraft Coastal 290. His gelcoat was so oxydized he thought he was going to have to paint it. He sanded with 800 and applied Poly Glow and it looks like new. He's got enough left to do it again next year.

Dave

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

New floor
New transom
New fuel tank (48 gal, reduced from original 70 gal), moved forward
New fuel fill line, vent line, and fuel cap
New in-floor storage locker under leaning post behind fuel tank (used space where fuel tank used to be)
Installed smaller console that came out of a 23' SeaCraft. Same width, just not as high and not as long... I felt it was a better fit for a 20' boat. In fact, I wish it was even smaller! There isn't much freeboard space.
New leaning post (http://www.fishmaster.com/products/Leaning%20Post.htm)
Installed 2000 Suzuki DT140 motor. I purchased it from Diamond Suzuki Marine in Florida. They said they took it on trade for a new motor, and that it had been gone over and serviced. It is VERY clean, and starts on the first crank!
New Teleflex SeaStar hydraulic steering
Rewired boat. Fuse panel under console. New switch panel on top left of console. Includes 12v accessory plug.
2 Rule 1500gph bilge pumps with float switches
Reinstalled old am/fm cassette stereo, in a waterproof box mounted on the shelf under the console (I use the cassette adapter for my iPod since CD's tend to skip on small boats)
New Sony speakers mounted in the bottom front of the console
New VHF radio and antenna
2 new batteries and Perko switch
2 new fire extinguishers
New StarBoard anchor locker door and stern locker door
New LED interior lights (mounted on each side of console)
New LED running lights
New masthead light, mounted on engine cowling (will replace with LED... it was backordered)
Total overhaul on galvanized trailer. New bunks, carpet, and rollers, new wheel hubs, bearing, bolts, bearing buddies, new LED tail lights and side marker lights, new strap winch, new fender wells, new tires & rims, new jack. Entire trailer recoated with coldgalv.

Still left to do (next week):

Install rub rail (I have a black vinyl rail with stainless steel insert) from RubRails.com
Wash, sand, polish, and wax hull
Install striping (will be a 4" yellow stripe with a 1/4" black stripe above it)
Install interior 'rub rail' (not sure of the proper term for this part). It is just a 1" wide black vinyl strip that runs around the bottom side of the top cap.
Install registration numbers and SeaCraft logo decals (I bought from lobo1, and they look great!)
Install seat cushions on front of console
Install rod holders (4) in top cap

Things I haven't yet done to the boat that I would like to do:

Re-gelcoat or paint hull
Install gunwale-mounted rod holders that would double as strengthening brackets for the top cap.
Install trim tabs
Install GPS/Sonar combo unit

The bad thing is... I am gonna have to sell this thing as soon as I finish it. I am a real estate broker, and the Houston market has finally caught up with the rest of the country :(. So watch the "For Sale" section for her soon!

Re: 79 MA restoration... here we go

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Thanks.... but I already bought some 3M restorer and wax. If I hadn't already spent the money on it I'd give your suggestion a try. . . .

That's ok - when the wax goes away after 6 months, you can put the Polyglo on it then! :D