1979 Imperial

[bear_69cuda]

Hi Gang,

I found this 1979 15' ASI Imperial with a 70hp Johnson long-shaft on Craigslist, and for a small song later she's in my garage... This boat spent the last 7 years owned by a family in Wisconsin. She's always been garage kept, and well cared for.... The second owner put her in a semi trailer in SW Wisconsin where she slept 10 years. I have no information on the original owner.

My plan is to modify this small boat, so I can launch with ease, and take my dog or a buddy fishing... I've been daydreaming about a center console project for some time, then I found this Imperial.... I just love the thing! Just can't imagine cutting her up into a CC... So DC it will be...

I'll spend the next few weeks removing the seats and carpet, fully inspecting structure of the transom, deck and stringers... For now I'm thinking gel coated front and aft casting decks with storage below for gear, fuel, and batteries. I'll be adding a bow-mount trolling motor, movable pedestal seats instead of current stock style. This should save some space, as I'll be able to use them on both casting decks as well...

Anyhow, I'm excited to be active with a project on iboats again!

Here is how I found her...

Have a great weekend!

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: 1979 Imperial

A few additional pics.

 

[Bill3434]

Re: 1979 Imperial

That is one clean engine for it's age. Very nice boat too.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1979 Imperial

That is one clean boat! Congrats on the find!

 

[Luhrs28]

Re: 1979 Imperial

I love the color scheme. Really really nice. Great score.

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: 1979 Imperial

Awesome find... I loved your bayliner thread/project. You do great work, so I'm looking forward to following along.

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: 1979 Imperial

Thanks gang for the kind words. She's very clean for 32 years old...

After hours of spacing out looking at her... The plan today is to prep the outboard for removal, strip out the interior, and purchase lumber to build an outboard stand and dollies, then I can remove the trailer and move around the garage..

First I'll remove the cap so I can flip the boat to address the hull first. There are some nicks and scrapes, plus even though I dig the color scheme, I'm thinking of painting the hull the same color white as the OB, then incorporating two of colors from the Johnson, (orange pin and dark grey) for side stripes on the hull...

Then once hull is painted and repaired flip it right side up so I can then address any stringer/transom/deck issues I may encounter.

Gonna spend time thread searching for OB motor stand ideas, and dolly stands so I can get to work... If anyone has suggestions I'm all ears.

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: 1979 Imperial

Gang,

Some good demo progress today.

All the interior and carpet has been removed. Looks like the deck was tabbed, and glassed from the factory. Not a very good job, but seems to have kept the surface from any visible rot. The deck seems to be very thin plywood, and I still feel I should drill some inspection holes to check the stringers. (advice on this please would be great) Since the deck was covered with carpet from the factory the glassed surface finish is poor and very uneven. So far there I cannot locate any type of drain into the tiny bilge area, and as I'm building a fishing boat, I'm contemplating removing the deck and redesigning everything. Here are some pictures.

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: 1979 Imperial

I plan on removing the rear seating area in preparation of the aft casting deck and storage.

Sorry for the lame paint graphics, but it will give a representation of the material I'll be removing from the cap.

Before...

Concept after...

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: 1979 Imperial

I found a great design for my outboard stand on iboats, in the outboard non-repair http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=266570

I have all the rigging removed but cannot seem to figure out how to remove the steering cable from the ram. Any hints would be appreciated. Here are a few pics.

 

[craigweaver]

Re: 1979 Imperial

Hey, nice boat! I wish mine was in that good of shape to start! I built that same motor stand and it has done me well! I modified the front to be only a foot long as I only needed to have battery storage. I also built it out of all 2x6's in hopes that it would beef everything up enough to work.(although I only had a 40h Mariner, but she weighed a couple hundy)

Lookin forward to seeing your updates.

\\Craig

 

[craigweaver]

Re: 1979 Imperial

oh, by the way, I loosened all the steering ram stuff, (big nut on the starboard side, smaller end nut on the port side) then turned the wheel as far starboard as she would go, then picked the motor up and slid it aft and port until it was clear.

\\Craig

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1979 Imperial

Super nice find. That deck looks great. If it isn't soft, I would NOT go drilling into it looking for trouble. If you want to add a little glass, feel free.

You'll probably have to unbolt and move the motor over to get enough access to get the steering tube out. This is not uncommon.

I'm sorry, but myself (and I suspect lots of others) are firmly vetoing you plans to ditch the yellow. It's GOT to stay!!!!

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: 1979 Imperial

Super nice find. That deck looks great. If it isn't soft, I would NOT go drilling into it looking for trouble. If you want to add a little glass, feel free.

You'll probably have to unbolt and move the motor over to get enough access to get the steering tube out. This is not uncommon.

I'm sorry, but myself (and I suspect lots of others) are firmly vetoing you plans to ditch the yellow. It's GOT to stay!!!!

Hey EZ,

I know what you mean in regards to drilling looking for trouble. I think the deck has some flex due to thin plywood used. I still would feel better drilling a 2" hole to get some light and inspect stringers. I agree I could add glass to strengthen things up. I could build up low areas PB voids and such, the coat or paint. Should I lay some 1708 on the deck finish off with a layer of CSM? Thanks for the motor advice, I'm building the stand today. Also I'm leaning for keeping it Yellow, everyone says it's a cool color combo... I still need to fix some issues on the keel, so I may paint the bottom to match the cap, and leave the sides Yellow. I feel it would be difficult to get a good color match...

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: 1979 Imperial

oh, by the way, I loosened all the steering ram stuff, (big nut on the starboard side, smaller end nut on the port side) then turned the wheel as far starboard as she would go, then picked the motor up and slid it aft and port until it was clear.

\\Craig

Thanks for the advice brutha!

 

[zopperman]

Re: 1979 Imperial

Craig's got the right idea of the steering cable...

I would ABSOLUTELY drill core samples. You don't want to bust your butt to make this a beautiful boat just to have it rot in 5 years. If you really want to add glass, I would ruff and scuff teh current surface and add a layer of CSM and then a whole layer of 1708, tabbed 3" up the sidewalls.

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: 1979 Imperial

What do you think about this combo? Sides stay yellow, paint the bottom white after keel repairs...

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1979 Imperial

I think that would look good. The yellow looks to be in really good shape but if you need to do keel repairs the white on the bottom would look good.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1979 Imperial

What do you think about this combo? Sides stay yellow, paint the bottom white after keel repairs...

That looks great.

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: 1979 Imperial

I dig the white hull with the yellow sides also!

I decided to drill a inspection hole close to the bilge so I could take a look at stringers and deck... The boat is dry and no rot! Looks like I'll be adding glass, and building my casting decks, and will not need to do stringers and main deck. I may not need to pull the cap either! Here are a few pics...

You can see the inspection hole in this shot