18' Starchief OB followed me home

[delms82]

Wow all the recent starchief forum activity pushed me over edge this week. I am still working on my 18' Nova OB project but love cuddy cabin style for trolling lake erie eyes.

72 Chief was recently sandblasted and came with tub of wiring, switches, fuse block ect . The trailer is wimpy and untest 90hp Merc (supposed to run strong and winterized).Floors and transom feel solid but have bad patch and transom.

How bad does the patch and transom skin look? All comments and suggestions appreciated.

 

[Watermann]

Oh boy another MBS patient in the tin looney bin! Nice to see another Chief get taken away from neglectful hands. :thumb:

Not sure I'm seeing what I'm seeing on the transom pics, are those corrosion holes?

 

[laurentide]

They're taking over!

The transom looks rough, but guys here have fixed worse...and they end up better than new. ^^that guy's thread will help a bunch.

Do you have the top glass?

 

[delms82]

No Title

PO said holes and pitting opened up after sandblast job. Doesn't sound right to me. I poked the the transom wood had solid feel. This is only area effected.

I do have the top glass and custom made ss tube frame for top. Front glass is gone.

 

[GA_Boater]

PO said holes and pitting opened up after sandblast job. Doesn't sound right to me. I poked the the transom wood had solid feel. This is only area effected.

I do have the top glass and custom made ss tube frame for top. Front glass is gone.

That's why you don't sand blast AL boats. Even a brand new hull suffers when the high velocity sand hits the tin.

I hope the pics make the termite holes look worse than they are, delms. You have a project. :smile:

 

[delms82]

That's why you don't sand blast AL boats. Even a brand new hull suffers when the high velocity sand hits the tin.

It was $600 gamble I decided take. Figured alum scrap and engine parts would cover cost.

Would the JB Weld Marine 2 part epoxy be good repair choice?

 

[dozerII]

Good to see someone else afflicted with MBS, I'm thinking that transom is going to need a re-skin out to the edges with a 3M 5200 filler in between.

 

[laurentide]

The front glass is plexi. You can make a paper or cardboard template and take it to a glass shop. Mine was $100. You can bend it with a heat gun on low. Put the middle over a table top edge and go slow.

 

[delms82]

No Title

Chem: thanks for plexi tip!

Open to all ideas on transom skin repair.

Also suggestions on hull patch repair appreciated. From inside you can see light from patch. Looks like they ran into something pretty good.

 

[GA_Boater]

Judging by the outside, the crack is fairly long. That might take some rivet removal and putting a plate inside

 

[Watermann]

I'm going to have to hold off on an opinion on how to repair that transom skin until after you get into it and remove the wood.

 

[delms82]

No Title

I think its best to pilfer some Starchief parts and finish the Nova.

The transom is big project for me and want take my time and do it right. The angle support braces look like an add for additional support. A good sign of transom issue. Thanks again for everyone's input.

 

[jbcurt00]

Yep those are definitely add-on 'knee' braces

So the Starchief is simply on hold until the Nova's done, right?

 

[64osby]

Good plan to get the Nova splashed before tackling this one. Carry on.

 

[delms82]

Yea, hope to update with the Nova splash soon. Starchief can wait till erie freezes over again.

 

[hayko1971]

Great looking project! When the time comes, I'm sure there will be ways to address all the issues. I find this forum to be super helpful and full of great ideas. I'm confident that with my own project, any issue I come across has already been documented here somewhere with creative and expert solutions.
Good luck with it and your current project.

 

[delms82]

Thanks for encouragement Hayko! Yes knowledge shared and help received from group is incredible. I love personalities too.
Happy Easter

 

[Gibbles]

I was lucky enough to find a talented welder not to far away from me that could weld up aluminum.

I had holes that looked like my trailer once had rollers and the rollers fell out...
My welder fixed the tears, and then welded a plate on the inside to give him something to weld against, and also for strength.

I have to say he did a fantastic job, also later he saved my tow vehicle when I found cracking from the torsion bars, he welded me up stronger than ever.
I'm very glad I found him.

And the proper way to blast aluminum is with soda, as long as he did not go to thin you should be ok.

 

[delms82]

No Title

I am scheduled to stop at my local fab/weld shop this week.They have marine experience and said Tig Weld is way to go for patched tear.

Did water leak test and found few issues but only 1 rivet. Gluvit work ok for these?

Waiting hear back from PO on what type of blast was used. There is pin holes in caulk likely from blast. Should I go over existing with 3M 5200?

Weekend weather looks promising for Nova interior paint work.

 

[dozerII]

Any loose or damaged rivets should be replaced prior to Gluvit, or they will just leak again shortly after you finish the boat.