18 SF Minor Rennovation and misc. Improvements

[fdheld34]

Some more pictures...I also switched out my trailer to my new to me roller trailer...no more 2x4s holding trailer together!!!
-Fred

[Bushwacker]

Fred,

I noticed your new trailer only has 16 rollers supporting the hull, and boat needs to come forward a bit on the trailer so aft rollers are under the transom to support motor weight. You might have to move the winch stand forward a bit.

My trailer has the same set up on the front rack but it has 2X more rollers on the aft x-member and they're spread out wider from keel to chine to better support the hull and make it a little more stable on the trailer. Although that 18 is a fair amount lighter than my boat, it wouldn't hurt to have a few more rollers under it on the rear rack/cross member. Here's a shot of the roller setup on my trailer:
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...20pics/005.jpg

The next time you get up to the marine salvage place in Ft. Pierce, you might check to see if they have any EZ Loader pivoting U-shaped Roller Brackets which would allow you to increase the number of rollers; look for a good deal on a Powerwinch too while you're there! Here's a close up of the U-Brackets:
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...20pics/002.jpg

You might also want to add 1 or 2 keel rollers on that rear x-member too. My experience is that the SeaCraft hull is so deep up front that the keel wants to hit the rear x-member before those rollers out to the side start to contact the hull unless you dunk the trailer real deep, and the whole purpose of a roller trailer is that you don't need to dunk it!

This one shows why you need a center roller on that aft x-member!
http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z...eatrials09.jpg

[fdheld34]

Thanks Denny...I will follow all of your advice...
I will have to give you a call when I get more into the trailer..I had a trailer just like yours under my Seafari and I loved it..This trailer is lacking in rollers and I thought I would be ok with the limited amount of rollers due to weight of boat....


Denny...Do you think it would be ok for now to just move winch stand up a bit to get the rollers directly under the transom more..??? Dont want to compromise the hull/stringers while I am working on boat!!

You should come up one weekend...once I pick up rollers..lunch on me...we can put it on stands and go at it!!!
Thanks for all the info Denny!
-Fred

[fdheld34]

Well, I was finally able to get fuel tank out. I used a 4x4x8 that I rented from Lowe's and my come-along, as well as various pry tools...hammer and shovels.
The tank will need to be replaced and had pitting on the top..the underside was ok?
I cleaned up the tank coffin and will be reordering a tank or will see if I can find a close match at Surplus store.
-Here are pics.

[ct9amr]

Great progress in a short amount of time.

[fdheld34]

Thanks Glen...looking at your signature we have owned the same boats...!!!
Hard to get things done on the weekends so trying to take advantage of the longer days when I get home from work....
-Fred

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by fdheld34

...Do you think it would be ok for now to just move winch stand up a bit to get the rollers directly under the transom more..??? Dont want to compromise the hull/stringers while I am working on boat!!
-Fred

Fred,
You probably don't need to move it at all till you hang a motor on the transom! The SeaCraft hull is so stiff, especially the original Moesly and early Potter 4-stringer 20's up through 1972, that you can actually get away with a pretty marginal trailer. I had a cheap Magic Tilt trailer under mine till 1985; it had short bunks under the back and 4 or 5 keel rollers which I never liked because if those keel rollers aren't perfectly in line, you'll have much higher localized loads at any high roller. I think Potter started pinching pennys in '73 when he changed from 4 stringers to the two wide box stringers and I don't think that design is quite as stiff, but I've never heard of anyone having a problem with the later hulls. Maybe a better way to describe them is to say they're "just a little less overbuilt"! I'm guessing the 18 stringer system is similar to the later 20's.

I figure my boat, as it sits on the trailer with a full tank of gas and no added temporary coolers, etc., weighs about 3200 lbs. (Will e-mail you the weight spreadsheet I put together; once you start adding up all the little pieces of gear, the total can be a real shock!) With 24 rollers, that works out to about 133 lbs/roller, which isn't very much. I can actually wiggle the individual rollers at the transom with the boat resting on them! Your 18 with no console, engine or any other gear in it probably weighs a lot less than that, so your load per roller may currently be less than mine! I wouldn't worry about adding rollers until you start putting the boat back together and hanging the motor, etc. Denny

[fdheld34]

Thanks Denny,
I will look at your spreadsheet today and work on a Spreadsheet for the 18 SF.
I do have motor hung so I have to move the boat forward this pm....I will run up tomorrow to look at surplus store for rollers! I sprayed pb blaster on all bolts etc so I should have no problem swapping out the wobbles!
-Fred

[Beaver]

Im afraid to look under the hatch of my 18. I pulled a tank on a chrs chraft restor I did. The initial pop when the tank finally released about made me piss my pants.