Please help

Michael Kirk · Jan 26, 2010

I was given this boat for free over the weekend. It has been sitting for about
5+ years, under an awning. It was filthy and full of owl dung, but she cleaned up pretty good. I love the body style and since I got it for free I have decided to restore it. The title says its a 1972 Fiberform - does anybody know what model it is? It is 18ft long, a tri hull, and has a 1970 Evinrude 115HP.

Game plan:

New back to back boat seats
New out door carpet
Replace all seat cushions
Re-paint the blue trim throughout the boat

The motor appears to be in good condition although the propneeds to be replaced. I took the coveroff and it looks very clean. Since it has been sitting for 5 years, any advice as to how I should tackle the motor?

Any advise on doing and economical restoration.....?

boatflipper · Jan 26, 2010

Re: Please help

Sounds like you have some good plans for her!
Have you checked the transom and stringers for soundness?
Also, you can use photobucket to put full-size pics in the post! Just upload your pics to photobucket and use the link code for full-size pics in forums. Make sure they are 640X480 (I think that is the accepted size on here-mods will clarify if I am wrong)

TitanTea · Jan 26, 2010

Re: Please help

Free is the best kind! You know you can sell Owl pellets (dung). You could use the cash for your restore.

almostblue · Jan 26, 2010

Re: Please help

Michael Kirk said:
I was given this boat for free over the weekend. It has been sitting for about
5+ years, under an awning. It was filthy and full of owl dung, but she cleaned up pretty good. I love the body style and since I got it for free I have decided to restore it. The title says its a 1972 Fiberform - does anybody know what model it is? It is 18ft long, a tri hull, and has a 1970 Evinrude 115HP.

Game plan:

New back to back boat seats
New out door carpet
Replace all seat cushions
Re-paint the blue trim throughout the boat

The motor appears to be in good condition although the propneeds to be replaced. I took the coveroff and it looks very clean. Since it has been sitting for 5 years, any advice as to how I should tackle the motor?

Any advise on doing and economical restoration.....?

Looks like a 72 Beachcomb to me. I can't remember if they use a foam sandwich hull like the Whalers.. but if so and there is mosisture you need to abandon it now ! Great that you will be restoring a "classic" - same goes for the outboard. Finding the original brochures, magazine photos, etc. will add to the retro experience.

jt185 · Jan 26, 2010

Re: Please help

Check floor, stringers and transom for rot first. Nice looking boat! This restoration section is filled with information and some really talented, thrifty, creative people. Read and post questions before you start your project

Side note: I taught an elementary aged science unit using owl pellets. The students would carefully take the pellets apart and reassemble rodent skeletons. Kind of morbid, but very educational. The owl pellets were purchased from folks who harvest them. Real science that beats the heck out of the boring textbooks when I was a kid.

Woodonglass · Jan 26, 2010

Re: Please help

I think this is your boat.

http://www.boatxchange.com/pboats/detail.html?boatId=119165

Bob_VT · Jan 27, 2010

Re: Please help

Welcome to iboats!

First a few items for your outboard motor.......

Read these...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=158086
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=188767

Post your outboard questions here.....
http://forums.iboats.com/forumdisplay.php?f=24

The real route you need to consider is this......
Checking the hull for being sound and inspect for evidence of rot and weakness......... check the outboard and see if you can wake it up........ then the last part of this route is to do the pretty stuff..... paint carpet seat etc....

One other helping note...... please use specific titles in your thread.... titles such as HELP or help please do not express what the topic is!

ezmobee · Jan 27, 2010

Re: Please help

That outboard is an electric shift model. It's a good system when it's working but parts for it are no longer made. I'd want to verify that it was shifting properly before dumping money into it. Parts shouldn't be an issue for the rest of the powerhead (carb, electrical, etc) just anything related to the electric shift.

As was mentioned, check carefully for rot. You want a solid deck and transom. Any soft spots in the floor could indicate more serious problems with the underlying structure. All fixable though.

Michael Kirk · Jan 27, 2010

Re: Please help

Woodonglass said:
I think this is your boat.

http://www.boatxchange.com/pboats/detail.html?boatId=119165

Broken Arrow, OK??

I graduated from Broken Arrow High School - Class of 1982. I still have friends and family in Broken Arrow, although I now live in Parker, AZ on the Colorado River

Thanks for the info, you nailed it. It's a 1972 Fiberform Beachcomber Bowrider.

tallcanadian · Jan 27, 2010

Re: Please help

Oh nice, finally, another tri hull. Welcome aboard and have fun with your boat. As said above, check the deck (floor) for soft spots. Check the transom for soft spots and cracks, both inside and on the top. Be nice if you can get that motor fired up. Of course you can find a good outboard if need be. What are your plans for the boat? Paint? Any major fiberglass damage? Keep the pics coming.

Michael Kirk · Jan 28, 2010

Houston we have a problem

Houston we have a problem

After reading posts at work yesterday, I went home highly motivated and went to work on my boat. I pulled off all of the carpeting and the thin layer of fiberglass mesh.......Wet rotted plywood....I pulled about half of it off before it got dark. Under the plywood is foam. Do I need to take out all of the foam down to hull and stringers or can I stip it down to the foam and let the Arizona sun dry it out before I replace the plywood floor??? I am determined to rebuild her - her transom is solid.... After a few beers last night I named her "Hornet" after a famous WWII Aircraft Carrier..I will post some pictures this evening....

ezmobee · Jan 28, 2010

Re: Houston we have a problem

Re: Houston we have a problem

Rip out the foam. It will never dry.

Michael Kirk · Jan 28, 2010

Removing Foam

Removing Foam

After I remove all of the plywood, how do I remove the foam. Do I just start digging it out until I reach the hull?

tallcanadian · Jan 28, 2010

Re: Houston we have a problem

Re: Houston we have a problem

ezmobee said:
Rip out the foam. It will never dry.

You can lay it in all the Arizona sun you want, throw it away. Check the stringers and transom. The foam can wait for now. Some people don't use foam, some use empty plastic pop bottles, some use those pool noodles. And some use the proper foam flotation. It's your boat, do it your way. Can't wait for some pics.

tallcanadian · Jan 28, 2010

Re: Removing Foam

Re: Removing Foam

Michael Kirk said:
After I remove all of the plywood, how do I remove the foam. Do I just start digging it out until I reach the hull?

Most of my foam came out in big chunks. The foam was the easiest to remove. You will see that in my pics. Just follow my link on my build. Might give you some ideas. Just dig it all out.

tmcalavy · Jan 28, 2010

Re: Removing Foam

Re: Removing Foam

My Dad was stationed on the Hornet back in the day...before me. You can pull the foam up in chunks, with a roofer's hatchet, spade fork or flat bladed shovel. Looks like a good project. Search the forum for Skanky Beast, by JasonJ...takes you right through restoring a tri-hull...that thread is probably in the finished projects portion of the Boat Restoration forum here on Iboats.

Michael Kirk · Jan 28, 2010

Pictures of "Hornet"

Pictures of "Hornet"

I down loaded a bunch of pictures to photo bucket. How do I link them to this forum????

Bob_VT · Jan 28, 2010

Re: Pictures of "Hornet"

Re: Pictures of "Hornet"

Picture instructions in the top three threads here http://forums.iboats.com/forumdisplay.php?f=32

archbuilder · Jan 28, 2010

Re: Please help

Nice looking boat, great name! Good luck on the restore, you came to the right place.

Michael Kirk · Feb 5, 2010

Pictures of "Hornet"

Pictures of "Hornet"

Here are pictures of "Hornet" my project. I want to restore her right but I am on a budget. These pictures were taken about a week ago. Since then - the foam has completely dried out.... I have checked a number of spots and dug a few inches deep and it's dry...Can I skip the step of taking all of the foam out?? The transom is solid and in very good shape. How far in front does the plywood go?? I am thinking the next step is to remove the rest of the plywood and replace with new plywood and resin her and replace the carpeting...Any advise would be greatly appriciated...

http://s830.photobucket.com/albums/zz226/ike1964/Hornet/

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