18SF rehab
 

So I've begun in earnest on the rehab of my 1975 18SF.
The boat is in pretty good shape for being 38 years old (at least structurally), and only needs a few things. Some more labor intensive than others.
New fuel tank is top of the bill. Then some hatch recoring, fabbing a new lid for the tank coffin, and then new non-skid and maybe a rub rail.
Thats pretty much it for the winter.
The deck is solid and when I was filling some holes in the transom and the caps I only found dry wood. A minor miracle that.
I'm going to try and not look that one directly in the eye...

I got the 1985 Mariner running passably (but would really like to upgrade to something more reliable) and was able to do a nice sea trial one evening on Nantucket Sound, so this morning it was time to start the tear down.

I know a picture is worth a thousand words, and you guys are ravenous for photos, so I'll shut up and let the camera do the talking (more or less).


Here she is before work had commenced.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/--...2/IMG_2363.JPG


Hull is in pretty good shape for 38 years old.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-J...3/IMG_2356.JPG


Not too bad looking.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-y...3/IMG_2353.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-D...2/IMG_2331.JPG

Here's why the motor wouldn't run right.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-h...2/IMG_1155.JPG


The carbs were absolutely full of crap. I think she ran off the bad gas in the tank for too long, and was never properly cleaned out.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-T...7/IMG_1156.JPG


An hour or so in the ultrasonic parts cleaner and a full carb rebuild, plus some other odds and ends and she fired right up.
45 knots across Nantucket Sound at between 4500 and 5000 RPM's. Not too bad.
Still needs some work (fuel pump some misc electrical), but at least she runs.
That was a good evening.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-O...2/IMG_1170.JPG


Pulled the T-top, and leaning post off first thing this morning.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-o...7/IMG_1240.JPG


At some point somebody hacked off half the tank lid to see why there was water in the gas (a large rotten hole), and left it open. The rest of the tank lid is now junk.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Q...2/IMG_1241.JPG


Theres the hole.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-E...2/IMG_1244.JPG


I'm coming for you next console.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-H...2/IMG_1245.JPG


Console's off and the top of the nasty tank is exposed.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-h...2/IMG_1252.JPG


OK tank, now I'm coming for you...

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-G...2/IMG_1253.JPG


And out.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-a...2/IMG_1254.JPG


Now the cleanup begins.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-4...2/IMG_1256.JPG

Looks great!!! Good start on the POS gas tank.

There is a reason we like pictures on CSC.com, it goes back to the days of when we bought Playboy magazine to "read the articles", we quickly found out pictures were a lot better and a much simplier to understand! :)

Is that bigshrimpin's old rig? Good luck i will be watching closely . I am trying to find an 18 for my dad and I. They are hard to find.

Make that 37 years old,rehab looks great!For me rehabing is as much fun as fishing.

Doh! You're right!
Need to recheck my "maths".
:)

Rehab
 

Zach,


Just getting back to you on the Merc 115 off Justins 20.
I am in a bit of a quandry right now. I haven't even run the engine (and mike is coming over soon to put it to bed and shrink wrap for the winter) so I don't know exactly which way I am headed. I am attaching a photo of my 19 ft. Seaway that I plan to sell soon. My inclination is to use the Seaway/ Etec proceeds, plus value of the Merc to repower with a new E-tec 115...but there are a lot of variables there. One of the variables is the value of the Merc.
If you are interested why don't you shoot me a note with your best offer on it as I think you know the engine from your prior comments.

Any other thoughts..just let me know. I probably won't be able to make any type of commitment until after I get the Seaway on the market and close to sold (my guess would be about Feb. boat show time)

Hey Geoff,
FYI - I sent you a PM re: the merc on your 20CC.

Spent yesterday filling the holes in the deck left behind after all the hardware removals. Ream, bevel, fill, sand, fill, sand, fill sand...
All done now though. Wanted to protect my still solid deck. I'm reinstalling the same hardware back on, but I think I'm going to change it around a little.
The KiwiGrip will hide all the fairing compound. I hope...
Also sanded out the tank coffin to prepare for the new tank.

In a moment of maybe misguided inspiration, I cut out the baitwell under the aft hatch. Since I've been told its a source of unnecessary weight and potential sinkings, and I don't really think I'll use it for anything, I cut it out.
Good access below now. Might make it into a drop in unit.

Not sure what to do with all the exposed foam between the baitwell and the tank coffin though. Should I take it all out? It's dry and clean. Should I leave it?
Is it doing anything?

Here are some pictures.


Tank coffin all clean and ready for paint. Bilge-kote or Interlux 2000?

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-n...7/IMG_1281.JPG


Theres all the foam I'm not sure what to do with.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-j...2/IMG_1280.JPG


Was pretty clean in there.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-T...2/IMG_1279.JPG


All the holes filled and faired, and everything rinsed.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-B...2/IMG_1277.JPG

OK thats it for now.
More to come.

I am getting ready to paint my deck and was wondering how things are going. Was it a bigger project than you thought? Is there anything you would do differently in hind sight?

Thanks.

Rob

oof... I've been very remiss in keeping this updated.

Haven't gotten to the deck painting yet.
Deck painting has turned into painting the entire interior and the cap, beefing up the transom core, re-coring all the hatches, replacing the teak doors in the transom with starboard hatches, adding an anchor well hatch, upgrading the motor, etc. etc.
Talk about feature creep...

Spent most of the winter so far fairing and sanding.
Also after I cut out the rear baitwell, I glassed in some FRP angle to make a nice lip for the old lid to sit on, so it's still removable in a pinch but wont flood the bilge if (when) I get pooped.

Got the new tank coffin cover all done and faired. Coosa with glass around the edge and top and bottom. Gelcoated the top and then faired the crap out of it.

Poly fuel tank is installed and plumbed, new vent, fill supply etc.

Console is stripped, need to start filling all the old holes and start over with hardware installs.
Also trying to incorporate a footrest.

And to further complicate things and to divert cash flow, my wife and I just bought a house.
yay...
sigh.

I'll try and take some pics at work tomorrow and post an update.

Congrats on the house,now the juggling with time and resources really starts.

hope to see you on the water sometime

Alan

Thanks! And thanks again for the footrest.
I'll see you out on the water for sure. Just not sure when at this rate!
:rolleyes:

Just a quickie update. Haven't been very good about keeping up with taking pictures etc. The last of the bunch below are with my dusty, dirty iphone, so no, you're not going blind.

Here's my 18SF after a winter at the boatyard.
Partially new transom (long story), new paint on the cap and the inner liner and deck, new kiwigrip non-skid, re-cored the hatches.
New starboard and plastic hatches on the anchor locker etc.
New Moeller 40 Gallon plastic fuel tank, lines and fill. New fuel tank hatch lid. New (to me) 1998 Merc 115, lights, cleats, etc. etc.

So far so good!

Too bad the console and the t-top are left to languish in the dust.
At least they get to hang out under a million dollar Morris, and next to a million dollar Hinckley. Good company!
They're up next on the block anyway...

Here are some pics for you guys to chew on.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-I...7/IMG_1493.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-M...7/IMG_1480.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2...2/IMG_1488.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-z...7/IMG_1484.JPG

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-D...2/IMG_1563.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-a...2/IMG_1560.JPG

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-h...7/IMG_1564.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q...7/IMG_1565.JPG

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-K...7/IMG_1567.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1...7/IMG_1568.JPG

Lookin good. Keep at it!

looks good what did you do for the nonskid?

The non-skid is Kiwi-Grip in a custom color that my wife picked out.
Kind of a dusky gray beige. Looks yellow under the fluorescents in the iphone pic. Not as yellow in person.

Kiwi-Grip is on top of 3 coats of signature paint in Awlgrip "eggshell" color which is a 99.99% match for the 1975 Seacraft gelcoat color.

Next year if my right rotator cuff has healed up from all the sanding this winter, I might tackle the hull.
For now all she gets is compound and wax (left handed).

good looking
 

2 questions
What are you painting the coffin box? Isn't it gelcoat?
Tank doesn't care if.its painted. I'm in the same boat you are right now. With my fuel tank out......
Also. Just curious about live well.... I was thinking of doing that too.
If you seal the hatch of real well and put a drain hole at the bottom that flowed into the bilge why would it matter if i fish hatch t was ere or not? If.its sealed tight at the deck them water can't get in and if it.did it would drain to bildge and then out with the pump? Help me not make a.mistake

sorry
 

Sorry I meant why are you painted the coffin box?

Also sorry for the 1,000,000 typos I'm on cell

I painted it with 2 coats of white bilge-Kote.
And I know the tank doesn't care if its painted or not and that nobody will ever see in there, but can't seem to help it.
Lets chalk it up to a bit of OCD. :rolleyes:

I cut the live well out because I wanted the storage, and better access to the bilge-pump, transom drain-plug and lower engine mount bolts.
Cut it out pretty easy, then glassed in some pre-fab FRP angle around the opening to make a lip. Modified the existing hatch to sit on top of the lip. Should be pretty water tight in most conditions, without the need for any screws or gaskets or sealants. I hinged the lid too, so it can be opened pretty easily too.

Very very very nice! Strong work

Well, she floats and she runs.
Also, she apparently flies!

Still need to find a windshield, and I think I'm going to skip the t-top and go with a bimini.
T-top was a one-off, garage fab and I think it looked a little funny (see first post).
Didn't offer very much shade either (wife's a red-head, she tends to get a bit crispy).

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-4...IMG_0275-a.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-l...o/IMG_0275.jpg

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-8...o/IMG_0277.jpg

erebus, check your PM.

Looks Great!
-Fred

Looks awesome! Do you have any more details on the transom repair? I see you reworked it from the outside. Also, what hatches did you buy for the back, they look like a nice fit. And the anchor locker hatch?

Erebus,

I lost measurement of wire conduit hole when I replaced my deck. What is distance between edge of casting platform and the forward edge of hole and the length of it

Thank you

Ed

can you tell me how you mounted the tank. trying to figure out how to secure it when it has to expand so much. thanks!

I don't really remember how I fastened it.
I think I just used cleats made from starboard attached to the inside of the box, with strips of neoprene underneath.
Looked through my pics but didn't take one of the tank mounted apparently.
Poly fuel tanks only expand by about 3% so not a huge amount.
A tank 20 inches wide will only expand approx 1/2 inch to 3/4ths of an inch across its width.
Split up over the two sides of the tank that's only 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch on each side.
Not that big a deal.

thanks for the response!

Boat looks great!

Joey I saw your restoration on Hull Truth. Wow you’ve done a lot of work! Looks great.