'90 Alumacraft Project

I am just getting started into a '90 17' Alumacraft. This is my first boat project. Found this site to have lots of useful info. I will be posting updates here and probably asking for help and advice. Got started pulling up the floor yesterday and it was a lot worse than I thought. I will upload some pictures later when I get a chance.

Re: '90 Alumacraft Project

Good to see another tin boat restore that ISN'T a Starcraft lol.
Any plans to change it from the factory design / configuration?

Re: '90 Alumacraft Project

I got most of the floor and the front deck removed today. Still need to remove floor from under livewell, console, and storage on the side. I also need to remove bulkheads below spalswell and remove the flooring under there too. I hadent thought much about changing the layout. Thinking of leaving storage open undet the splashwell. Also, would it be a good idea to move the battery out of the center to one of the sides.

Looking for input on floor covering and some concerns with them
I am looking at nautolex, just worried about trying to lay out a large sheet without any bubbles/wrinkles. I am aslo considering Durabak or Tuff Coat. Just wondering how they would adhere to storage compartment lids.

Here are a few pics of my progress so far. The foam under the console was covered in a nasty black slime.

Re: '90 Alumacraft Project

Here are a few more pictures.


The first 2 are looking under the console. The front deck is removed as well as the flooring. Need to get the shop vac out and start cleaning.

Re: '90 Alumacraft Project

Weezer281 said:

Looking for input on floor covering and some concerns with them
I am looking at nautolex, just worried about trying to lay out a large sheet without any bubbles/wrinkles. I am aslo considering Durabak or Tuff Coat. Just wondering how they would adhere to storage compartment lids

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Looks like you got 'er goin' 281.

As for your deck covering concerns:

Don't lay out a large sheet of Nautolex, that's not the way aluminum boats are done. Wrap each piece individually, just like those pieces you're taking out of your boat now wrapped with carpet. After all the pieces are wrapped, they're installed with the fasteners exposed so you can remove all or part of your decking later without destroying your deck covering.

People that cover over their deck fasteners in an aluminum boat are clueless about owning an aluminum boat. There will come a time when you'll need to get below deck for something.

It's the same thing with the deck coatings like tuff coat and duraback too, apply your finish to each piece individually and then install them with the fasteners exposed.

I did my Tracker 17' Deep V last fall with the Nautolex and love it, you can see it here.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=509163

Re: '90 Alumacraft Project

I did my deck with Tuff coat and covered the hatches with vinyl. If you do vinyl, use a carpet roller to get they bubbles out. I really like the Tuff coat. Super grippy when wet vs. the vinyl.
Here's pics of my Tuff coat deck and vinyl hatches.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=534275&page=4
As for moving the battery, I would say it's best to keep it in the middle for balance, but if you move it to the side put it under the splashwell (if its the starter battery) so you don't have much voltage drop.

Re: '90 Alumacraft Project

jigngrub said:

People that cover over their deck fasteners in an aluminum boat are clueless about owning an aluminum boat. There will come a time when you'll need to get below deck for something.

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You know, it IS possible to give advice without insulting people with different methods and opinions.

Re: '90 Alumacraft Project

ezmobee said:

You know, it IS possible to give advice without insulting people with different methods and opinions.

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Sorry, didn't mean to offend or insult anyone and I thought I'd used the mildest description I could think of at the time.

... but now that I've thought about it a little more, maybe overly optimistic would be a better term?

Re: '90 Alumacraft Project

jigngrub said:

Sorry, didn't mean to offend or insult anyone and I thought I'd used the mildest description I could think of at the time.

... but now that I've thought about it a little more, maybe overly optimistic would be a better term?

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Jigngrub, I think it kinda depends on how “original” you keep your refit. To make my “floor” panels individually removable using exposed fasteners, I would have had to replace the sidewalls with larger ones that secured directly to the hull rather than sitting on the floor as per the original Starcraft design and change the floor panel dimensions. Yes, it would be handy to be able to access the bilge area, but if it’s only every 40 years like mine, probably the floor coverings could use replacement anyway. I’ll be 105 years old next time mine gets done, but I suppose I am one of those overly optimistics you mention. – Grandad ;-)

Re: '90 Alumacraft Project

Grandad said:

Jigngrub, I think it kinda depends on how ?original? you keep your refit. To make my ?floor? panels individually removable using exposed fasteners, I would have had to replace the sidewalls with larger ones that secured directly to the hull rather than sitting on the floor as per the original Starcraft design and change the floor panel dimensions. Yes, it would be handy to be able to access the bilge area, but if it?s only every 40 years like mine, probably the floor coverings could use replacement anyway. I?ll be 105 years old next time mine gets done, but I suppose I am one of those overly optimistics you mention. ? Grandad ;-)

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1. If all the finish items are installed with exposed fasteners (decks, sidewalls, kick plates, etc.) everything will come apart without ruining the finish (carpet, vinyl, paint), you'll just have to take a few more things off to get to what you need to remove.

2. I took a look at your resto thread (nice work) and as nice as you have everything looking, I just can't believe you'll sit on your laurels and wait for the the next 40 yr. mark to roll around before you fix it if something goes sour.... I'm thinking more like you'll be on it like a "duck on a june bug" should you develop another hull crack (quite possible with a boat that age) or something.

Re: '90 Alumacraft Project

I almost went to Duluth to buy one of these as a project this spring,..

Looking forward to following along,........

Re: '90 Alumacraft Project

Finally got a chance to work on the boat today. Spent all afternoon anf got the majority of the foam scraped out. Tomorrow I plan on removing the gas tank and start cleaning the rest of the foam up. Next week the plan is to remove the splash well and pull the motor to start removing the transon. I was looking at the splashwell drains and was wondering if anyone had any suggestions on how to remove them and where to get new ones.

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Here are some pictures of my progress today.

Re: '90 Alumacraft Project

I bought the plastic one right here at I boats,..

http://www.iboats.com/Seachoice-Splashwell-Drain-Tube/dm/*******.639638499--session_id.489346409--view_id.20368

I totally wrecked the metal ones when I took them out of my boat,....