Re: Picked up a 66? westfield, some questions
...I had water coming from both drain holes. The water was clean and obviously from this current rain storm. I'm a bit concerned because I put my finger in the drain hole for the enclosed area and I felt some mushy fibrous material. I could not get a good enough amount out to see what it was. It was wet though. Not knowing how the boat was stored before I bought it I'm wondering if it is either an old mouse nest or if there is something bad going on under there.
There is one "soft" spot in the floor and it seems to be between two stringers otherwise the floor is solid and intact with no way for water to get through except for the screw holes. At least that I can see.
Should I take a hole saw and drill a few exploratory holes in the floor to see what is going on under there or should I just let it be for now?
NO! DO NOT CUT THE FLOOR WITH A HOLE SAW!!!!
The underhull (a.k.a. weep chamber, moisture chamber, ballast bilge) is TOTALLY devoid of foam or wood on your boat. Stringers and everything are completely fiberglass. Your "soft spot" is not a "soft spot" that should concern you.
The fact that water ran out both holes is a GOOD THING and the water got there through your seat holes. (See more on this below). The stuff you felt is likely mouse leavings. [I actually repeatedly flooded my boat and let it run out to get all the crap out and I don't get anything out anymore as I leave the bottom hole plugged when stored overwinter to keep critters out.
...just picked up a 66 westfield for around $400 with the motor/trailer etc. I've never owned a fiberglass boat before and I have some questions and I'd also appreciate any advice.
This boat will not be like most any other fiberglass boat in existence. The advice is this: construction of most MFGs is very unique and needs to be understood to restore it well and properly.
...If I were to mount new seats would I need to anchor them in any special kind of way? Is the fiberglass strong enough to hold the seats in or is there wood or something else I should use as well?
My seats (16" pedestals) managed over ten years with stainless #6 oval-head screws with washers. I had to upsize a few as time and a few select teenagers had an effect on things LOL. Anyway, the original back-to-backs were mounted with rubber well nuts with bolts to fasten the seats- I plugged the resulting holes with flat-topped 7/16" plastic hole plugs and 5200 about ten years back. STILL fine today. It is important to keep the underhull sealed as it can be considered an additional flotation feature in the case of a capsizing or swamping of the boat.
Anyway, the fiberglass floor is wicked strong. My steel pedestals (purchased in 1994-ish) are simply screwed to the floor. Funny thing is that the starboard side pedestal actually broke around the weld perimeter from metal fatigue while fishing last week at Canadarago and I just welded it and repainted it yesterday.
The floor is strong!
...the deck seems very sturdy and strong with maybe one little area that has some surface cracks that gives just a little. Is the floor all fiberglass or is it wood covered in fiberglass? What is the best way to maintain the deck?
Best way to maintain the deck is with a pressure washer. It *should be* all fiberglass just like the stringers: no wood.
The soft spot is probably where somebody dropped a cast iron anchor (I have a "surface cracked" spot like that from that very same thing.)
There are 2 drain holes and I know the one is for the top deck. The second drain hole, what is to be done with that? I assume it should be plugged but is there something I should do before hand to make sure the area under the boat is clean/dry etc? I put my finger in there and felt what I could only assume was some leafy material right at the rear of the boat. Is this area all fiberglass or would there be some wood in it as well?
The upper drain hole is for the deck/cockpit area. The lower drain hole is for the underhull area. This should be left full of air when running normally over flat-ish water. When desiring to move right along on rough(er) water, this area can be flooded to provide "ballast" to allow the boat to move through the water at a higher speed without pounding. These boats are so light that trying to plane in waves is impossible with slamming at speed.
The windshield needs some work is it possible to find a replacement or is it best to try and clean this one up? My friend suggested using one of those headlight restoration kits (he's a mechanic and thinks it might work) will it?
Headlight kit will work, but is expensive. I buy to Maguire's plastic cleaner and also Maguire's plastic polish. Use with a cotton bonnet (some synthetic and all wool bonnets will melt and swirl the surface of the windshield and severely damage it .
Hope this sets some things straight and helps you out!
Mark
