Re: Aluminum Boat Rebuild Methods by 191Seanymphstriper
I ripped out the wood floor and foam I sanded the iner hull and sprayed her down with some primate then primer and some new grey paint. It wasnt a 4 day job it was a 12 day process. Im just making it sound easy. I cut some new plywood out and resined both sides and then got some spray glue and new carpet. I then installed everything and she came out great! I then got a new battery plastic and installed a power shut off key and installed running lights and a vhf and vhf antenna. As well i installed a cigerette lighter for the old spot light. Added some switches for the running light vhf and cigerette lighter and bilge pump that i installed.
I got a new cover for her and a newer sprint trailer! i used her for about 2 months even took her offshore to collar banks 8 miles from jones inlet on a nice day! I love doing inshore and inlet fluking but i also like doing strippers and wreck fishinhg for black fish and porgy. I loved the boat. Alot of fun. But being that i have 2 kids now 9yrs and 8yrs and they love to fish the boat was a little small and unsafe for them in the inlet. I also wanted somthing bigger so I could go out in the ocean on nicer days. At the time i also couldnt afford 2 boats so i put this one up for sale and 2 weeks later she was gone..........
Originally I was looking for a bigger 161 fm sea nymph side console or a starcraft and came upon a 171 cc striper center console sea nymph striper... Wow was I impressed! This was a 1982 light wieght easy to trailer 17 foot cc with a 50hp 3 cyclyner 82 merc that looked well taken care of. I called the guy went down there and brought it home. Wow I was in love with it! The floor was in bad shape but the hull was in excellent shape. Console controls ran great etc. So I gave her a check over changed the lower unit oil spark plugs and fuel filter and hit the water. Wow she did 29 mph with the kids and gear. I had 2 6 gal fuel cells and she ate nothing. She had very high gunnels and a fort knox style back splash! It was perfect for the kids and was great because I was able to hit the ocean on nicer days! I intalled a new bilge pump and other then that she was all set up for stripers! Caught lots of fish with this boat. This was a good luck boat! i miss this one
When winter came around I took it out of the water and took the motor off and the center console. The transome was in emaculate condition. So I did not replace it! No rot etc I couldnt believe it. The floor on the other hand was in poor shape. So after ripping the floor up surprizingly the foam was in great shape. I marked each piece and removed it in large chunks kinda came up in one large piece minus 3 or 4 pieces that came up in 2's...
I got out the wire wheel and went to work with my heat gun and machine. In 1 full day she was as clean as a whistle. I then got my fathers very large compressor 55gal and a sprayer that i borrowed from a friend and ordered white ryno lining from a local shop in town and went to work. The reason why I choose to spray the entire inner hull with ryno lining is because I seen the process done and the stuff is bullet proof and comes with a lifetime warrenty! I spoke to the rep and he said that not only will rtno lining quite the ride of a aluminum boat, it will seal it because its very very thick and its self leveling as well. It will also make clean up a spray hose type job and will always look clean! Also if you knock a sinker into it it will not scatch or nick like paint will and can! After picking my fathers brain and taking about it I decided to go that route. It came out flawless........
Now after redoing a floor in the 141 FM sea nymph I said to myself. There has to be a better way. I was planing on keeping the 141 and then keeping the 171 cc and said to myself. I only want to do this one time and want it to last forever! .....
So I thoiught of star board. Star board is that cutting board type plastic material that comes in (NONE SKID)plywood size sheets made for boat decking. quarter inch thick half inch thick 1 inch thick etc.. It also comes in different colors white black blue green off white etc.......
This material has been used on boats for over 20 years now. Electronic boxes fish boxes decking etc.... So I looked some up on line ordered it and wala it was perfect. I cut it with the same tools I would use for wood and the job came out better then expected. Now My 141 sea nymph I did with wood, resin,glue, Carpet. The sea nymph had no leaks at all. The wood then resin then glue then carpet is very heavy and star board half inch isnt light either but comes in about the same in wieght then the wood and resin glue and carpet.....
Another reason i went with the star board is that the decking is now more like a fiberglass boat that I am used to. A nice deck you can wash and hose off. No more replacing wood. No more glue and vinyl coming up. No more smelly carpet etc. No more soft spots and soggy wood to change every 7 to 15 years etc... This stuff should have been oem equipment!
http://www.interstateplastics.com/search.php?searchtext=starboard&gclid=COq8x8vN3aMCFZxo5QodN2GLlg
