23 Project Started

mrobertson · #1 09-15-2008, 11:14 AM

Dad and I purchased this boat last Tuesday, September 9th 2008. We bought the boat with no engine or trailer. I borrowed a trailer from a friend and we picked it up and trailered it about 130 miles. The hull is a 1985 and it had some work done in 2005, we just don't know how much. Apparently, it was hung under a piling and sunk in the slip. We are going to attempt to rescue her. This is the first time either of us have attempted a project like this.

Here she is when we got her home (on a borrowed trailer)

Here she is after being blocked up in my dads shop (note - we had to take the console rail off to get it under the 10ft shop doors)

We were both nervous taking it off the trailer. Once we got it set on blocks, its very solid. Getting it back on a trailer should be fun!!!

Capt Chuck · #2 09-15-2008, 11:18 AM

Besides a nice shop to work in, it appears you have the most inportant tool------> 2nd Frig for the Beer

Good Luck and get your refurb pics coming !!!

mrobertson · #3 09-15-2008, 12:01 PM

Saturday 9-13-08

Today we started stripping the boat. Since there is no engine and the wiring is crap, de-rigging was quick and easy. The only thing salvageable was a like new Seastar hydraulic steering system and a bennett hydraulic trim tabs.

Here's a shot of the console after we got it out, it's actually in pretty decent shape

Shot looking inside with no console

Here is the tank coming out. It was pretty easy to get out. When they put it back in, very little foam was used and it was anchored directly into the stringer with a non-glassed piece of deckboard used as a wedge.....very crappy work IMO and we will do a better job re-installing it

The floor under the tank was wet and had broken loose from the stringer

We pulled out the floor under the tank and the bulkhead at the rear of the hatch.

The wood in the bulkhead was very wet

We cut the top skin off a couple places on the deck, and sure enough the wood was wet. We went ahead and cut the deck out

The stringers are foam filled and appear to be in good shape aside from a few holes in them where they anchored the tank. We are considering cutting open the top and re-filling with new foam.

The only foam in the hull is between the sides and the stringer, and there is very little of it.

We have alot of cleanup to do and plenty of work under the new deck. This will be a slow moving project because i live 2 hrs from the boat and it's fishing season (we have another boat).

Till next time.......

-Mike Robertson

mrobertson · #4 09-15-2008, 12:22 PM

One thing i wanted to make a note of, is the way the transom is currently.

In this picture you can see that the stern splashwell and boxes are part of the top cap. There is a molded lip on the liner that is all sort of fits in. The cuts are ugly and they covered it up with starboard trim strips.

I don't like the design at all. Our thoughts are to open it up and do a full transom with a bracket. I cut the skin on the top of the stern cutout and the wood is 100% dry. We have also drilled several test holes only to find dry wood. It's going to be a tough decision but ultimately i'd like to pull the cap off and get a look at the inside of the transom.

-Mike

grgrmouse · #5 09-16-2008, 11:39 PM

Man, you're not wasting any time! Can't wait to see what your gonna do with this!

mrobertson · #6 09-28-2008, 10:39 PM

Didn't have alot of time to work on the boat this weekend. However, we did get some stuff done.

The foam in the stringers was very loose and we had some broken glass in random places. We decided to cut open the tops and clean out all the foam.

We got them all cleaned out and put the heat lamp in for a while. Then we started pouring in fresh foam.

After 2 1/1 gallon pours they were getting close

It took 3 1/1 (6 gallons) gallon pours to fill the starboard side stringer up. We had to trim up some of the foam that came out the tops.

Here we are about to lay up a layer of 1708 to close it up.

Wetting out a 2nd layer of 1708

The glass that we cut out was fairly thick. We figured two layers of 1708 would be strong enough. We are using epoxy resin for this whole project. The difference in the new stringer and the old stringer is night and day. The old stringer is VERY weak compared to the new.

4 Bags of wet foam we dug out of the starboard side stringer and between the outside of the stringers and hull sides.

We plan to do the same thing on the port side stringer. After cleaning up the old glass today....i've got the "itch" pretty bad.

more to come......

-Mike

mrobertson · #7 11-10-2008, 12:20 PM

We had some time on saturday to do some boat work.

The starboard side stringer is done. All the old foam dug out, repoured with new and closed the stringer back up with 2 layers of 1708 and epoxy.

I didn't take any progress pics of us cleaning out the port side stringer. However, it was cleaned out and new foam poured in.

Here was are wetting out some cloth to close it up.

We had to build a new rear bulkhead. It is 2 pieces of 1/2" plywood glued together with epoxy and a piece of 1708 cloth in the middle, clamped together and allowed to dry. Then, we layed 1708 cloth on both sides and sealed it up.

We set the rear bulked down in a bed of epoxy thickened with cabosil and made a nice fillet around it.

After the resin kicked, man it is STRONG.

We are going to use 1x4 slats for the tank to lay on. The slats are made out of red oak and will be glassed over both sides and then glassed to the boat.

The jury is still out on the transom. The transom that is in it is very dry and sound. Still unsure if we are going to tackle it or not.

More to come......

-Mike

yankee · #8 11-10-2008, 08:43 PM

Red Oak is a rather unusual choice. It is not used in boats as it typically rots very quickly. You may want to research that a little.

Your project looks Great. I want a 23 so much I can taste it!!

Islandtrader · #9 11-11-2008, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Red Oak is a rather unusual choice. It is not used in boats as it typically rots very quickly. You may want to research that a little.

I agree.

White Oak is what the sail guys use to use for there ribs.

In the original 21 it had spruce (pine) and that stuff lasted over 40 years. I stayed with it and so has bowrider.

billythekid · #10 11-13-2008, 01:27 AM

Everything is coming along great. I agree no red oak. especially in the bilge. There are a couple other options out there, Wood wrapped with glass is tough becuase you have to remeber fiberglass is pourous and water will end up getting in. If you are going to use wood marine ply, exterior ply, pressure treated.If you are going to use some type of wood I would suggest painting them with an expoy based primer to seal the fiberglass. I ended up making solid fiberglass strips so I know they will not rot. You dont have to make them with epoxy for obvious money issues, lay them up with polyester and epoxy them into place.

keep the picks coming it keeps people interested in the build and helps when you ask questions.