Finally ready to start work on the 23'
 

Bought this 23' SeaCraft three years ago knowing the deck needed to be replaced. We used it the last three seasons but now it's ready for the new deck. This is the first time I take on a project like this so if anyone has any advice, it would be appreciated.

Here is what I've done so far.

I took the deck out and noticed some holes that where cut out of the stringers from the previous owner.the tank was replaced by him 7 years ago, but the guy that he had put the deck in did a real bad job.

I cut the top of the stringer and saw there was water in them so I started digging out the foam. I also pulled out the tank because the wood under the tank was rotting.

The stringers had holes drilled in them from the factory so they could pour the expanding foam in them. They didn't take the time to cover them once poured. There may have been more done by the previous owner but some were originally done on day one.

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Yeah I saw the holes you are talking about . But the holes where cut out in squares rather than drilled with a hole saw.

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Hey Danny about time you got here.

The ones I have seen that were from the factory were cut in odd shapes mainly squares. You think they would of used a hole saw and glassed back over them. First time I saw the cut outs in the stringer tops I thought it must have been done by someone latter on but after opening up several seacrafts that were all original that had never been cut on I noticed most of them had these sections cut out originally. Good to see that wet foam out, that will cut down on the weight of the boat. It is amazing how much all that crap weighs when it is soaked. Looks like you are on the right track and making good progress! What are your plans for putting the floor back? Are you using foam or wood?

I am thinking of going with 3/4 inch marine plywood. I was hoping that I wouldn't have had to change the tank but it looks like I have to unless you think this can be saved. The previous owner put it in about 7 years ago

Not with out a lot of welding in new patches.......

My father has welded up a few but he don't like doing it. Better to cut it out and re-skin the bottom or just build a new one

Dangerous welding , not many guys will do it, I ordered a new one ,112 gallons, not coated ,quote was $850 or so.And epoxy coating, I went for, from another tank man, was $1200.big diff for the epoxy, but I think the second guy will build me a better tank....looks like you have some work ahead of you,go for it ,great job ,you are doing, I also went with 3/4 marine ply,couldn't be a tougher deck.

Sunshine was close to that a few years ago for mine. 3/16", 118 gallon, 5052. I would use them again for sure. Shipping sucked, but they were great.

Any thoughts on a poly tank? Anyone used one on a larger 90-100 gallon size?

Thanks for the input on the tank. I have a few local tank builders here in miami I will get some prices from. I wanted to ask about the stringers what kind of foam do I buy to fill them. how much do I need? do I fill the stringers with foam then glass it in or do I glass the top of the stringers and cut out holes then fill it with the foam? Thanks in advance .

Cleaned it all up

It looks like the center keel stringer isn't or wasn't in the boat - did you pull it or was it already gone?

I didn't take it out. It's a 1984 did they come with one.

I'm pretty sure all the Potter hulls had it - it's just a 12' 2x4 on edge wrapped in glass from the transom fwd. Glass is about 1/4" thick. I don't know about the later years. Has the boat been partially redone before?

Yes the guy that had it before me had the deck done when he put in a new tank,but he didn't do a good job.

Just looked at old threads here and it does not look like they had it on the '84 model 23. The lack of it caught my attention because I almost took it out of my Sceptre and replaced it with a FG tube for draining the forward fish box out through the transom. Now I have no idea if I should take mine out or if you should put one in:confused:

I just ordered the materials to get me started.I hope this is enough foam for the stringers.

my '85 didn't have one either.pretty thick glass down the center though.I'm sure its a good idea to have something extra there, like half round pvc or fiberglass tube glassed in ,would add support.

I know I ordered a 4 gallon kit, 2 gallons of "A" and 2 of "B" and it was not enough to do the 2 stringers on my 20' hull. It took most of it just to do one, but I also poured 3-4" higher so that I could cut the stringer foam at 2" higher than factory before wrapping it back up.

Daniel sf,
I have my 23' down to the stringers. Foam is bone dry and I have no intentions of cutting them open. Can you tell if the fiberglass uprights were glassed on both sides, filled with foam and then glassed over? Or was stringer system made in a mold and then just glassed around the outsides to the hull?

The ones I have gutted have been tabbed on the outside only

Yeah I believe mine are glassed on the out side only as well

Found some time to get back to work on the boat.I glassed a few holes at the bottom of the stringers so the foam I pour in would not leak out.Than I poured the two part foam in the stringers. My concern is that the foam i took out seemed to be much denser than the new foam I put back in. Could that be a problem?

nice job on the stringer foam.I would think the density would be alright as long as it is closed cell stuff...I was wondering if there was originally foam poured outward of the stringers toward the chine?Mine is an 85, and had foam between the stringers and chine, to the hull sides.I put it back that way,I guess if water can get in there,it can get out...hopefully.It seems to be sealed off pretty darn good,dont see how water could get in there, except from the stern by the rigging tubes...any thoughts?

The density is also effected by temperature when you pour it. Optimum is 70 degrees for pouring. Pouring at higher temps will give you less density and fill up more volume. Probably better than pouring at lower temps where you would need a lot more liquid for the same capacity.

Mine did have foam on the sides. But I am not putting the foam back in. The temp was in the low 80s when I poured the foam.

Been working on the boat on and off but haven't been able to post. I finished the stringers with two layers of 1708. Then We glassed some marine plywood to put the gas tank on and glassed them down between the stringers. Here is the pic. What do you all think.

I think it looks very well done.

Looks nice. You also did a good job by saving the scupper gutters with enough to tab onto.

lookin good on the restoration,amazing how much it takes to redo some of this stuff.you are on your way , keep us up with the picts...

I cut out part of the new deck and I glassed the bottom of it and while it was drying I started to cut out the transom. Check out the pic I wanted to do only that part of the transom but do you guys think that's a bad idea

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