Past the point of no return

[zorak]

Hi all.After looking at every post i could find on the subject of boat hull rebuilding i decided to jump in and replace the rotten wood in my newly aquired boat.I got a good deal on an 87 15' procraft trihull boat ,trailer and running Merc 50 with power tilt and trim for next to nothing.I could tell that there was something seriously wrong with the hull as it was sagging on the trailer so i guess i shouldn't have been too surprised to find every single piece of wood totally rotten.The stringers weren't attached to the hull except with the odd piece of fiberglass mat and a chopper gun,no bedding of the stringers whatsoever.I think it will make the hull cleanup easier as there won't be as much grinding.the scary thing is the guy i got it from had it on the water last year and hit something that put a small hole in the hull and then parked it. i wonder how many people are blissfully unaware of how dangerous their boats are.I will post some photos as i go along as i think i am capable of doing the work and in the spirit of this forum will share what i learn.

 

[maxum247]

Re: Past the point of no return

Hi all.After looking at every post i could find on the subject of boat hull rebuilding i decided to jump in and replace the rotten wood in my newly aquired boat.I got a good deal on an 87 15' procraft trihull boat ,trailer and running Merc 50 with power tilt and trim for next to nothing.I could tell that there was something seriously wrong with the hull as it was sagging on the trailer so i guess i shouldn't have been too surprised to find every single piece of wood totally rotten.The stringers weren't attached to the hull except with the odd piece of fiberglass mat and a chopper gun,no bedding of the stringers whatsoever.I think it will make the hull cleanup easier as there won't be as much grinding.the scary thing is the guy i got it from had it on the water last year and hit something that put a small hole in the hull and then parked it. i wonder how many people are blissfully unaware of how dangerous their boats are.I will post some photos as i go along as i think i am capable of doing the work and in the spirit of this forum will share what i learn.

Looks like you've gotten a good start on your project, be sure to invest in the proper safety gear to wear while your in there grinding and so on.

max!

 

[zorak]

Re: Past the point of no return

Thanks.I do have a good respirator,safety glasses,goggles etc.i don't have a tyvek suit but i have worked with fiberglass insulation for years so it doesn't bother me too much.I am saying that now but i am sure on a good hot sweaty day i will have to run thru the sprinkler in order to preserve my sanity.I am going to have to try to true the hull back up after i clean out the rest of the rotten wood .I have read some on the forum about this so i hope i won't have a problem . I used to do sheetmetal layout for a living so that knowledge should come in handy.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Past the point of no return

Well, you're half way done! Before you start installing the stringers, the cap should go back on otherwise the hull may bow out and then with the stringers and deck installed the cap won't fit right.

What style tri hull is that? Bow Rider, Closed bow runabout? Hard to tell from the pics.

 

[zorak]

Re: Past the point of no return

I am acutely aware of just such a possibility but i can't install the stringers with the cap in place.The boat is a typical bass fishing boat.The hull is sagging as of now and the cap will fit it but i think i can shore up the hull as it sits on the trailer so it won't deform any further,however i am extremely open to ideas as i am treading in unknown waters.

 

[maxum247]

Re: Past the point of no return

I am acutely aware of just such a possibility but i can't install the stringers with the cap in place.The boat is a typical bass fishing boat.The hull is sagging as of now and the cap will fit it but i think i can shore up the hull as it sits on the trailer so it won't deform any further,however i am extremely open to ideas as i am treading in unknown waters.

I would think you should be able to straighten it up some. A warm sunny day may help the straightening process by making the fiberglass a little more flexable and responsive to the repositioning process.

max!

 

[zorak]

Re: Past the point of no return

Actually,after i pulled all of the water logged foam and some of the wood out the hull looks a lot more in line with how it should look.I think it has been twisted for quite some time. I also think the PO moved the trailer bunks inward to try to keep some weight off the sagging parts of the hull but the wood where he had them positioned was rotten as well .As a result the boat was really tippy as it sat on the trailer as the bunks are currently only spaced about 18" from the center of the trailer instead of being much farther out as they should be.Do you think that sounds right?By the way me and the po slid the boat into the water to straighten it on the trailer and id did float despite the 3" hole in the bottom and 300 lbs of rotten stuff under the floor.I think this will work out pretty good for me.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Past the point of no return

Your doing just fine m8

Long tip sawsalls work wonders ..

If you have some scrap ply and some 2 by's then make a couple of DIY steady jacks on the hull for stability.

YD.

 

[zorak]

Re: Past the point of no return

Oh don't i know it.I have a 1-1/2" long gash thru the bottom of my hull.sawzall blades have a tendency to really bite and pull the saw out of your hands .I actually have had much better luck with an angle grinder and a 1/16" fiberglass abrasive cutoff wheel.Its very easy to control depth and direction of cut and the dust isn't as bad as you would think.i save the sawzall for the really tight areas

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Past the point of no return

Zorak..

I suggested LONG blades..like 10". I could have your stringers out and measured in a day m8..cut and resin coated.

Yes the wafer blade is good .. too much dust..inline saw from HF for the win on the corners ..

YD.

 

[zorak]

Re: Past the point of no return

Of that i have no doubt.A quick question.My center stringer was originaly made form 1 piece of dimensioal lumber aprox 7" x 3/4".x 12' long.I want to use 2 pcs of 1/2" plywood 8' long and 2 pcs of 1/2" plywood 4' long laminated together with the seams staggered so there is 4' of overlap and the whole thing laminated together using pl premium.i can then bed my stringers using pl premium and then what would be best to use ,1708 biax or csm and cloth to laminate everything together?

 

[Mark42]

Re: Past the point of no return

I think after gutting the hull, the cap should be fit back on, measurements taken and marked on the outside of the hull every 2 feet(use duct tape to write on). Then remove the cap, and put rope around the hull to pull it back to the proper dimension while the stringers and deck are installed. Tie the rope a little loose, then a short piece of wood dowel, or broom stick handle can be used to twist the rope to tighten to the correct dimension, and also to adjust daily as rope stretches. Especially the plastic ropes like poly and nylon.

 

[zorak]

Re: Past the point of no return

Great idea man.I am lovin it!!! I will definetly put that into practice as i think it will solve some problems.Thanks