First Boat & First Restoration- Advice Requested

[KaptainHook]

Hello everyone! I have been looking at getting a 14' lake/river/redfish boat for almost a year now and I just found what I thought was a great deal on a fiberglass boat. Little did I know, it was completely waterlogged.

It's a 14' Fiberglass Ouachita that I think is from 1971. Stick steer and throttle. It came with a 15 hp Johnson.

I decided to take the boat on as a summer project. Here are some pictures of what I have done so far.


The deck was filled with water logged foam that I scraped out. I think what I'm going to do is use pink foam from Home Depot because I don't trust myself with the 2 part marine foam. I'm not sure how I'm going to relay the deck yet but I think I am going to just put some stripping ontop the stringers so that they come flush with the deck, and just raise the whole deck even with the fiberglass I left on the sides.

My main question right now is how I should keep the pink foam glued down.. I know The Great Stuff shouldn't be used, but is there anything I can spray to not only fill the nooks and crannies but also keep the pink foam secure?

I've never done fiberglass work in my life, but have a friend who says he knows a little bit.. any advice?

Thanks guys!

 

[KaptainHook]

Re: First Boat & First Restoration- Fiberglass Time

Re: First Boat & First Restoration- Fiberglass Time

The only tools used for the job..

Bonus pics of my new motor stand I built based off of some plans here..

 

[chargerboy]

Re: First Boat & First Restoration- Advice Requested

Good start, how solid are those stringers? Whatever you do with the foam, remember to space it above the hull of the boat to allow for water to drain underneath the foam and not keep it soaking in water all the time.

 

[KaptainHook]

Re: First Boat & First Restoration- Advice Requested

Thanks charger.. the stringers are very solid. I can't find anywhere where water would have gotten into them and there are no soft spots.

I plan on either creating channels with the pink foam or using the pool noodle idea... what do you suggest?

 

[chargerboy]

Re: First Boat & First Restoration- Advice Requested

I'd stick with the pink foam if possible. Never tried pool noodles in a boat, but I know the ones in my pool get waterlogged and hold water. Extra weight you don't need in the boat. If you got some foam, wrap it in plastic, and then resin over the plastic to keep it rigid, you can either fiberglass big chunks suspended in the stringers, or find some other way to support them off the hull, and it will remain waterproof and you won't have to worry about the foam ever soaking any water and holding weight in the boat.

 

[KaptainHook]

Re: First Boat & First Restoration- Advice Requested

Haven't made any progress lately due to vacation but I have been dreading trying to install foam in the boat. I know that in order to make the boat Coast Guard compliant I need foam but other than keep the vessel afloat in the event of a breech to the hull.. what else does the foam do?

I am seriously considering not foaming my boat, it's only a 14' vessel and I don't be going anywhere without life vests or out of range of land. I also don't plan on ever reselling this boat (and if I do I will be sure to make a buyer aware).

What are the thoughts/concerns with not foaming this boat but just laying the deck straight down?

 

[chargerboy]

Re: First Boat & First Restoration- Advice Requested

Coast Guard regulations require all boats to have the minimum amount of flotation required to keep a swamped boat above the water. Keep some foam in.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: First Boat & First Restoration- Advice Requested

I enjoy the peace of mind. If you don't want to do to the hassle of poured in foam (I wouldn't) just go the pool noodle or the pink/blue sheet foam from Lowes/HD route.

 

[KaptainHook]

Re: First Boat & First Restoration- Advice Requested

So I have finished laying the deck.


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

Now I have to fiberglass- Something I know nothing about. I have read the FAQs on fiberglassing but still don't understand somethings.

Which should I use for this small boat? Epoxy or Resin? Also, what weight mat should I use? I see there are different types of "mats" but I was planning on just using fiberglass cloth. Is this fine for the deck?

 

[mikeg045]

Re: First Boat & First Restoration- Advice Requested

I have the same outboard. How did you convert it to stick steer? I am having trouble finding the parts i need to do it. Do you mind showing me some more pictures of the motor?

 

[KaptainHook]

Re: First Boat & First Restoration- Advice Requested

I have the same outboard. How did you convert it to stick steer? I am having trouble finding the parts i need to do it. Do you mind showing me some more pictures of the motor?

Sorry man, I have no idea... I just took the stick steer and throttle controls. I'm going to take it somewhere to have hooked back up.