Getting started

[abl1111]

Welcome to the board. I am re-doing a SC23 Tsunami w/ a buddy who is a pro fiberglass guy. It seems that all the pros like to use plywood to rebuild with. Don't know why, but they all do. They figure - if it is built right and sealed right and maintained - then it will last forever. I tend to agree! I will however, be epoxying all thru-transom holes so the bitch will never rot again ! Can I get an Amen !

As for cutting the transom out. I did this myself and it is a 12-16 hour thing ( I had a bigger area to work on - i/o's ). I used a circular saw in some areas to make some 'entry cuts' and a sawzall w/ a wood blade to do a lot of cutting ( I used the sawzall to go through the wood and you can easily hear or feel when the blade cuts through the wood and taps the inside of the glass - then you stop!). The above tools just help make 'chinks' in the wood -then I used either a wonderbar, a few big screw drivers, and a new, sharp chisel/hammer to remove the wood. Some areas came off easy - in sections - others fought me the whole way. Some sections I was able to take off the (2) pcs of 3/4" ply and in others, on ply at a time.

Take your time. There is no easy way around this. It sucks and then your done! Until you have the next pain in the ass part to do. Do it systematically and ask A LOT of questions.

And in the end - you'll have an awesome boat !

Another tid bit: take it easy and make it an enjoyable project or it can really suck. Always have a cooler of cold beer around - it is great when you bash your hand, cut yourself or are plain ole' freak'n tired !

Good luck !

Alan

[FELLOW-SHIP]

HA ABLE1111
I totally agree with your last statement my boat took a little over a year to complete and now looking back when I started putting time stipulations on my self and when I ran out of beer is when it stopped being fun. If I had to do it all over again I would think 30% more time and 50% more beer would be just about right.
FellowShip [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[TUGBOAT]

I'm gonna ASSume that the other 20% would to be spent with The Wife / Family So You COULD do it AGAIN !!
Scream'n Reels' [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[and then some]

Well I'm commited now. I just cut the back 2' of the inner liner out. It wasn't all that bad. Now I have access to every thing in the rear of the boat. The transom is pretty much falling out. There are some solid pieces but for the most part its not hard to get out. Check out my pics. http://web.tampabay.rr.com/my20seacraft/ Thanks again for all of the help.

[ September 12, 2003, 04:38 PM: Message edited by: and then some ]

[TUGBOAT]

Do those photo's bring some FOND memories back ,Whew !I like your schematics ! Lighting one pretty neat too.
Have Fun,Make sure You send photo's of those 2 lil' ladies when Your finsihed,Just want to see how much they've grown since Ya started ! Ha Ha!
Hopefully it won't take as long as Me !!
Scream'n Reels' [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[barnacle]

I would raise it the 5". Less water in enter with the higher stern. Plus you can find better deals on 25" engines then you do on 20" engines. I just raised my 20 cc 5" and am going to install a 150. My problem is the motor been sitting in the box for over 2 months now and I cant seem to find the time to hang is and try her.

[RingLeader]

Yep.. raise the transom 5" and never look back! Looks like the wood is pretty well rotten, so cleaning all that out shouldn't be too bad. I went back with marine plywood in my project.

Though mine is not a SeaCraft (its a Mako) the process is still the same. Pace yourself, drink lots of Beer, and try to dedicate a few hours every weekend to the wife. My wife hates the Mako and everything that looks like it!

I've been working pretty steady since December, and I figure that I'll finish up sometime nest Spring. For the looks of your schematics, you are a detail oriented person... That is my problem and it deffinitely slows the process down. But the end result is a boat that is better than new.

Best of luck, ask lots of questions here, and get her put back together so you can take those little girls fishing!

Ed Ring
www.classicmako.com

[ September 14, 2003, 12:24 AM: Message edited by: RingLeader ]