1985 Cheetah transom repair.

[McKinney]

Hello! I finally got to join this forum. I've been trying for months and it keeps telling me to click an email link I never get, so I used my Gmail and it worked. But aside from that, I'm glad I got in because there seems to be a ton of knowledge here. Short version of my story is i managed to find my grandpa's old boat and got it home. Discovered it has a soft spot in the transom so I'll be learning how to replace it in the near future. Im betting between youtube and this forum I should get alot of tips and get this boat back on the water.

 

[Mc Tool]

Nice looking boat , it would do me

 

[McKinney]

My grandpa bought it almost brand new from the first owner that owned it one season. He sold it to my cousin maybe 15 years ago and then it was sold about 5 years ago to a guy land then ended up on marketplace last year. My grandpa's since passed so there's definitely sentimental value in this boat for me. Its in very good shape for its age, minus the transom issue but I expected to have to put some work in being its a 40 year old boat.

 

[Scott Danforth]

The only youtube vids to watch are FriscoBoaters. Which are in the 3rd sticky down. Everything you need is in the sticky at the top of the forum.

 

[redneck joe]

Welcome to the forum.

It will not be the cheapest nor easiest thing you've ever done but since you have an emotional connection I bet will be the most satisfying.

 

[bakerjw]

I bought an 1989 Stratos CC. Around here there aren't many CCs so I made an impulse buy. Loved the boat but it was HEAVY and most of the wood was waterlogged.
94 days straight to get it back on the water. Long hot itchy days.
You'll do good and the people here are the best.

 

[bakerjw]

To add. You might want to start up a thread in the Boat Restoration, Building, and Hull Repair subforum.
I am unfamiliar with the boat model but it looks like an I/O. If the transom is soft, you more than likely will have more wet wood in the boat. That is not a deal breaker but be aware of the potential can of worms waiting to be opened. As it was your grandfathers boat, I say go for it. Just go in with eyes wide open and ask questions. This IS the best place

As it was your grandfathers boat, I say go for it. I am a proponent of pulling the cap if possible as it gives easier access to the transom, stringers and bulkheads. Might have to build a cradle for the boat to keep it's form.

On YouTube, for lessons on how to do things, this is the place IMHO. https://www.youtube.com/@FishBumpTV

 

[McKinney]

To add. You might want to start up a thread in the Boat Restoration, Building, and Hull Repair subforum.
I am unfamiliar with the boat model but it looks like an I/O. If the transom is soft, you more than likely will have more wet wood in the boat. That is not a deal breaker but be aware of the potential can of worms waiting to be opened. As it was your grandfathers boat, I say go for it. Just go in with eyes wide open and ask questions. This IS the best place

As it was your grandfathers boat, I say go for it. I am a proponent of pulling the cap if possible as it gives easier access to the transom, stringers and bulkheads. Might have to build a cradle for the boat to keep it's form.

On YouTube, for lessons on how to do things, this is the place IMHO. https://www.youtube.com/@FishBumpTV

I appreciate that advice. Its been so cold here my garage is packed full so my work probably wont begin until spring. I have been watching alot of videos and im worried but prepared to tackle the entire thing if I have to.

 

[McKinney]

Also, yes. It is an i/o with the 2.5 mercruiser.

 

[Mc Tool]

a soggy transom would further damage itself in freezing temps ?

 

[bakerjw]

Like me, you will likely get yourself a Big Blue Elephant. That is a structure with blue tarps to protect from weather like rain.
Cold here too so I'm pulling everything out that I can get out and reworking hatches and prepping to recore my console. Amazingly enough, small cellulose eating ants have gotten into the plywood in it. Small wonders. I'll bet that they won't eat Nidacore.

 

[McKinney]

a soggy transom would further damage itself in freezing temps ?

I got this boat back into my possession this fall. So far there's a small spot i found the fiberglass can be pushed on. I have no idea where the boat was kept/stored for the last 5-6 years of is life as it was sold out of the family. I'll do my best to restore it though.

 

[McKinney]

Like me, you will likely get yourself a Big Blue Elephant. That is a structure with blue tarps to protect from weather like rain.
Cold here too so I'm pulling everything out that I can get out and reworking hatches and prepping to recore my console. Amazingly enough, small cellulose eating ants have gotten into the plywood in it. Small wonders. I'll bet that they won't eat Nidacore.

My garage isn't heated but it is mostly insulated. There's two boats in there currently with my lawn mower and kids bikes/ scooters. Pretty packed in but stays out of the elements at least.

 

[bakerjw]

oh to have an insulated garage.
My last rebuild. Not quite a BBE, but tarps were used to keep water out when it rained.
By this point, the deck was back in place and I used the pullies to drop the cap as needed before securing it to the hull.

 

[McKinney]

oh to have an insulated garage.
My last rebuild. Not quite a BBE, but tarps were used to keep water out when it rained.
By this point, the deck was back in place and I used the pullies to drop the cap as needed before securing it to the hull.

Holy cow!! You really weren't messing around! I'm going mine wont be that extreme but if it is it know who to bug for ideas lol. There is a spot by the ski storage that's gonna need replaced as well. So most likely the whole floor. Someone put a live well down there and used the boat for fishing at some point.

 

[bakerjw]

One mistake a lot of people make is not cradling the hull. This is especially important if you go down to bare fiberglass which is what I did.
I did have some water intrusion in the deck that I am fixing along with replacing the transom. Rather than patch it up, I'm pulling the cap again. Easy enough since I am the one who put it back together.
Take LOTS of pics. People are always amazed at what we do.
ETA.
I am going to regelcoat the hull and cap. Will be some sanding but nothing I can't handle.