79 MA restoration... here we go

[CaptCurt]

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 , 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.

[Seacraft84]

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.

[CaptCurt]

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.

[CaptCurt]

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.





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:







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?

[Capt Chuck]

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

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

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

[CaptCurt]

What may I ask are you saving by filling it in

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

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

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.

[Seacraft84]

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

[ricknewman]

Just put a plug in it.

[CaptCurt]

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!).