1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

[a1964rn]

I purchased this boat a couple of weeks ago for $750. I knew it would need some work, but didn't realize just how much. The motor, a 1981 Evinrude 140 is good, and the trailer is good, which is well worth what I paid for the boat. The bad; every piece of wood in the boat is rotten, except the transom. It seems solid. Even in the thru-hull drain ports I removed, the wood is dry-solid. I will, however, take someones advice I read, and drill a few holes into the transom at various locations, just to make sure.

I'll post more as the progress continues.

 

[a1964rn]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

Got the top cap loose. Engine is off. A whole lof of mess cleaned up!



I'm actually further along on my restore than this, but not on resizing my pics.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

Best way is to get a FREE Photoucket account. Set your default pic size to 640 x 480,
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread....ht=Photobucket
upload your pics, then hover over the pic and when the pop up window opens click the last selection (IMG Code) It will say copied. Now return to iBoats and paste it into your post.

 

[a1964rn]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

Thanks WOG. I can't find a setting on Photobucket that allows an auto resize. I may need to switch to the original photobucket? Thanks for all of the great information you give on here as well.

 

[a1964rn]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

After getting the cap off, here's what I found:

 

[a1964rn]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

And more destruction

These stubs were some 2x4's that were glassed to the hull to support the front deck. Had a piece of plywood screwed to them, then glassed over. Straight pine 2x4's with no fiberglass covering. My previous post shows them before I cut them off. Had to cut a hole in the front deck to get the cap off.

 

[a1964rn]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

Got the hull flipped. Found a little damage, but nothing serious.

Yep, that's a screw coming from the inside (somewhere). I haven't found the other end yet.

Going today to get carpet, and new wood for the trailer. Gonna look at Lowes first, then Home Depot.

 

[sevanseriesta]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

I like the screw, you know that's quality work right there. Look like a difficult setup. Going to be a real project, congrats and cant wait to see what is coming later on this.

 

[a1964rn]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

Well the transom has some rotten spots, so that'll get replaced as well. I counted 37 screw holes in the transom, from previous transducers and who knows what else. Each one dabbed with silicone and the wood underneath is rotten. In a way I'm glad. I kinda wanted to replace it anyway, so I know whats there.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

Thanks WOG. I can't find a setting on Photobucket that allows an auto resize. I may need to switch to the original photobucket? Thanks for all of the great information you give on here as well.

This will tell you how ...http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...r/fyi-autosizing-pics-photobucket-581259.html

 

[a1964rn]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

The new version of Photobucket doesn't have resize feature. I switched to the old version and got it fixed up. Thanks!

 

[a1964rn]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

Exterior repair of nose is almost finished. Just some minor finishing. I'll strengthen it more from the inside.

Sime surface scratches and rub. Strengthened up. Gotta smooth it down now.

Gonna work on the trailer today.

 

[a1964rn]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

Trailer almost ready for primer. Hull almost ready for primer. Order placed from USA Composites. Now off to bed. Gotta work the next three nights.

 

[secondchance22107]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

and i thought i had a mess i think you got me beat.... did you find in bubbles in the fiberglass on the hull and if so what are you going to do with them leave them or grind them out... i have plenty of them and not sure what to do with them....

 

[a1964rn]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

and i thought i had a mess i think you got me beat.... did you find in bubbles in the fiberglass on the hull and if so what are you going to do with them leave them or grind them out... i have plenty of them and not sure what to do with them....

No, I haven't found any bubbles, yet. I believe I would grind them out and refill/repair them. I'm doing my repairs with epoxy. I have read that it is superior to polyester resin, but more expensive. I don't think you can gelcoat over epoxy, though, but I'm not sure. I plan on painting mine anyway.

 

[secondchance22107]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

from what i have read you cant unless you know excatly what you are doing .....i did my slipper 17 with expoy and it cost a lot.....looking on this site and a LOT of reading different post i come to the conclusion that polyester is the only way to go the boat was built with it and it last this long and still i good shape then why use expoy when poly is cheaper and what is was in the beginging....i didnt know about this fourm until i bought the expoy for the slipper and i listened to the west marine salesman BAD MISTAKE....

 

[a1964rn]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

I'm using epoxy for a couple of reasons. 1. it has much more adhesion to old poly resin. 2. it completely resists moisture, where polyester doesn't. This is my 2 main reasons for using epoxy, but there are more advantages. The only advantage I've found in polyester is the cost. Unless, of course, you want to gelcoat, then you have to use polyester. I'm not.

 

[secondchance22107]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

i understand the waterproof and the strength...

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

Hi a1964rn,

Nice looking project you have gotten yourself...I kind of have a soft spot for Bass Boats...

You are cruising through this build so far...and doing a really good job...thanks for sharing...

I would like to come aboard and watch, learn and cheer you on to a successful completion of this task...

Have fun!
GT1M

 

[a1964rn]

Re: 1980 Tidecraft Bass Boat Restoration

Hey GT,
Glad to have you lookin' on. I've been through your thread on your boat as well. Lookin' good. Got my trailer painted today, but I don't like the shade of blue, so I'm gonna mix some black and get a darker shade. I got my bunk boards covered. Hopefully, I can get the hull bottom painted next week. I've decided to use epoxy. I'll post some trailer pics tomorrow.