I've Wanted One Of These All My Life

hartleck

Seaman
Joined
Mar 14, 2010
Messages
54
For many years I would be driving down the road and see one of these 70's era bass boats and think Wow, I wish I had one of these. Finally I had the chance and jumped on it. Probably, considered by some, not the brightest thing I have ever done but it started the fulfillment of a dream.

It started with the nightmare of getting registered but with the help of a very kind young lady in the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and after a year of struggling it finally received it's sticker. Then there was the rotton floor and the rusted through control cables and the rotted wiring harness. There may be more but I'll find out as I go.

I thought I'd post this ongoing journey to accomplish two major things. One, to get feedback and ideas from many of you and I truly invite the comments and advise. Second, to hold myself accountable to complete this project.

So, to get started this was a Craigs List offering and these pictures started the journey, a 1978 Roughneck Fiberglass Bass Boat .with a 1971 Mercury Thunderbolt 800 .
 

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hartleck

Seaman
Joined
Mar 14, 2010
Messages
54
Re: I've Wanted One Of These All My Life

Once home, the work was to begin but my First Mate was definitely showing approval.
 

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archbuilder

Vice Admiral
Joined
Sep 12, 2009
Messages
5,697
Re: I've Wanted One Of These All My Life

Welcome to Iboats, looking forward to your project!
 

ezmobee

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
23,767
Re: I've Wanted One Of These All My Life

Looks like a great fishing platform. Well worth the effort to fix up. Welcome to the forum and good luck with your project.
 

bartborchardt

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 15, 2003
Messages
134
Re: I've Wanted One Of These All My Life

I know what you mean about your First Mate. I had to have my Quality Control Department approve before I went further on my first boat build.

kandt.jpg
 

hartleck

Seaman
Joined
Mar 14, 2010
Messages
54
Re: I've Wanted One Of These All My Life

I know what you mean about your First Mate. I had to have my Quality Control Department approve before I went further on my first boat build.
Man if we get by their inspections, we should be ready to float. Cool pic and I love that Hornet too.
 

hartleck

Seaman
Joined
Mar 14, 2010
Messages
54
Re: I've Wanted One Of These All My Life

First step was to start stripping out that old shabby torn and rotten carpet. I removed all the closures and seats with some of the broken hardware. Then it was time to cut out that soft rotten floor. The front part was solid so I left it. I had trouble getting the console out so I worked around it . One stringer has a rotten place about 6" long in it so it will be fixed as well.
 

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Woodonglass

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
25,924
Re: I've Wanted One Of These All My Life

I had a similar boat about 20 years ago. 1972 Chrysler. It was a Stick Steer model. Caught a LOT of fish out of her. You could get into places that other boats could not get. On you stringers, take a drill and drill into them down low and see what kind of shavings you get. If they are light tan and dry then OK if dark brown and wet then Not so good. Boats that old, IF they have NOT been take care of properly can have rotten stringers that are NOT readily noticeable. You should also do the same with the transom. Drill down low but DO NOT drill all the way thru, just about 1" into it. Drill in about 3 or 4 places. If its ok then fill the holes with some 3M 4200. If not then you will need to replace the transom and the stringers. Lots of threads on here to show you how. If you just put a new deck over rotting stringers and IF you have a rotten transom, you will be out on the lake in a UNSAFE boat. Check it ALL out while you have everything uncovered.
 

bartborchardt

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 15, 2003
Messages
134
Re: I've Wanted One Of These All My Life

If the stringers are bad and have to be replaced the top cap will have to come off to be able to get to them. The console is probably tabbed somewhere (if not molded) to the top cap that is probably why you had a hard time with it. Do it right and you will have a piece of mind when on the water.
 

hartleck

Seaman
Joined
Mar 14, 2010
Messages
54
Re: I've Wanted One Of These All My Life

I had a similar boat about 20 years ago. 1972 Chrysler. It was a Stick Steer model. Caught a LOT of fish out of her. You could get into places that other boats could not get. On you stringers, take a drill and drill into them down low and see what kind of shavings you get. If they are light tan and dry then OK if dark brown and wet then Not so good. Boats that old, IF they have NOT been take care of properly can have rotten stringers that are NOT readily noticeable. You should also do the same with the transom. Drill down low but DO NOT drill all the way thru, just about 1" into it. Drill in about 3 or 4 places. If its ok then fill the holes with some 3M 4200. If not then you will need to replace the transom and the stringers. Lots of threads on here to show you how. If you just put a new deck over rotting stringers and IF you have a rotten transom, you will be out on the lake in a UNSAFE boat. Check it ALL out while you have everything uncovered.
Thanks for the great advice I would not have known to do this otherwise. The transom appears solid as does the hull but know I can be sure. Thanks again.

If the stringers are bad and have to be replaced the top cap will have to come off to be able to get to them. The console is probably tabbed somewhere (if not molded) to the top cap that is probably why you had a hard time with it. Do it right and you will have a piece of mind when on the water.
The console was bolted to the top cap and I ended up having to cut the bolts to remove it. They were rusted pretty bad.
 

jonesg

Admiral
Joined
Feb 22, 2008
Messages
7,174
Re: I've Wanted One Of These All My Life

Thanks for the great advice I would not have known to do this otherwise. The transom appears solid as does the hull but know I can be sure. Thanks again.

The console was bolted to the top cap and I ended up having to cut the bolts to remove it. They were rusted pretty bad.

Good move getting the console out of the way.
Transom is almost certain toast in a boat that old with bad stringers.
Pop the cap, its not a huge boat so it won't be very difficult.
 

hartleck

Seaman
Joined
Mar 14, 2010
Messages
54
Re: I've Wanted One Of These All My Life

My last post was more than a month ago but I haven't been idle. I have been working on the power for this boat as reflected here on the Mercury section of the forum listed under Thunderbolt 800 topics. I have also worked a little on the boat itself by expanding the new floor to cover the whole bottom deck area.
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I decided to put in large drain holes rather than small ones. and glass the edges and seat compartment.
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I made the decision to Durabak the decks in light gray and Durabak the cap and hull stripe in red.
After doing this and working on the motor I found I needed to remove the motor so I could do a better job so off to my scrap lumber and a days labor produced an engine stand. All materials were what was laying around the shop including some casters that had been given to me. Total Cost $4.00 for the screws used to hold it together.
2011-05-16_16-34-36_532.jpg2011-05-16_16-34-03_915.jpg2011-05-16_16-34-49_442.jpg
 
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