1985 Cheetah 166 rebuild

[KennyH47]

Well here we go, I purchased a 85 Cheetah 166 this summer as a project, I have rebuilt bikes, cars, tractors but never a boat, so I thought why not. This boat came with a mercury 850 motor, I was told if I fixed a couple wires it would start and run no problem, and that’s what did, however the wires included a new switch, stator, trigger, wire bundle, rectifier. But you know what after doing so it started right up!

Anyway, the boat has some issues, however I find its lines 100% sexy and I am going to fix it. I have striped the boat of all wiring, seats and cables. The deck feels strong, however back in the bilge area there is some rot that will need to fixed, something I am going do through chemistry. So please follow my rebuild and give me pointers please.

 

[KennyH47]

Re: 1985 Cheetah 166 rebuild



Bilge fuel tank area, rear of boat and drawing of paint I would like to do. The bilge was 8 inches deep with sand rock and dirt, dead zebra muscles oil and fuel, absolutely disgusting. The man I purchased it from said that the original bilge pump went out, didn't know why, so he threw a new one in, the ordinal was buried and burnt out in the gunk, and when he said he threw one in, he did didn't even mount it.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1985 Cheetah 166 rebuild

Transom core samples should be high on your "To Do" list. 27 yr old bass boat's usually have transom issues. Stringers too!

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1985 Cheetah 166 rebuild

Anyway, the boat has some issues, however I find its lines 100% sexy and I am going to fix it. I have striped the boat of all wiring, seats and cables. The deck feels strong, however back in the bilge area there is some rot that will need to fixed, something I am going do through chemistry. So please follow my rebuild and give me pointers please.

Not clear on what this means, but sounds interesting. I'd suggest you read thru GT1000000's thread he's doing a bass boat & doing it extremely well, and well documented in text & pix. Bass boats are typically constructed slightly different then other fiberglass boats, and often have challenges that are more difficult to overcome, particularly during demo & gaining access to the wooden structure that needs to be inspected & assessed.

With that much debris in the bilge, is there any chance this boat was swamped? W/ 8"+/- sand & etc in the bilge, the wood structure: transom, stringers & deck (Check the links in WoodOnGlass' signature line) all need to be thoroughly inspected, including the core samples WOG suggests.....

Mark a 1/4" drill bit w/ a tape depth gauge to prevent drilling thru the hull:

And only drill from INSIDE the boat towards the exterior.

Welcome to iboats dry dock

 

[KennyH47]

Re: 1985 Cheetah 166 rebuild

I have questioned the past two owners and both claim the boat was never swamped, at launch once the plug was left out but was quickly trailer?d and drained. With the evidence its hard to accept what they are saying, but it is what it is.

When I said through chemistry I am talking about all the new epoxies that are available. I have done some core samples, on one side I have a considerable hole in a stringer I have drilled before and after the damage and the stringer is in good condition, my plan is to build a damn and fill the damaged area with epoxy that will soak in and strengthen the area. Forward I have a set of seats and a live well. I am thinking of cutting that area out and making it a larger fishing deck with seat. I believe I need to drill and check the area under that to make sure there is no structure damage there as well.