1963 Glaspar Avalon restore

[jshdrake]

Hello everyone,

I bought a 63 glaspar avalon a couple of years back for $400. The outer hull is pretty clean with minimal spider cracks. The transom's shot and the deck was too. I pulled the deck to find who ever last did the transom stopped the glass at the deck. When the deck was compromised so was the transom. There was 3" of water in the bilge. I am starting the thread now, because I am a federal employee and will soon have at least a day week to work on it. I'm moving in a couple of weeks and will be in a much better work space than I currently have. I've been poking around on different threads for 2 years. I've done construction work for years and am pretty good with my hands. This is my first boat and I want it to be the only one I ever own, So I don't want to cut corners. I have been kicking around the idea of taking all the wood out and going with seacast/arjay/nidabond. I'd like to do the work now and never have to tear the boat apart again. It's currently all white, I'm thinking of doing candy apple re on white. I'll try to get some pictures up when I get home. Just seeing what you guys think.

 

[jshdrake]

Re: 1963 Glaspar Avalon restore

Alright, got home and found some pictures from when I first bought it.

I am also wondering if anyone know if my stringers are fiberglass. I can't get a picture right now, but they are extremely solid no give at all. I know the glass should cover the stringer. I am thinking if they are indeed wood I may clean them out and leave the fiberglass form and fill with a pourable compound. I look forward to hearing from you guys. I am also looking forward to starting to make the old girl beautiful again.

 

[jshdrake]

Re: 1963 Glaspar Avalon restore

oops posted 2 times

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1963 Glaspar Avalon restore

You might go here and ask...Glasspar Forums :: Category Index
Do you have the deck removed where you can see the stringers?

 

[jshdrake]

Re: 1963 Glaspar Avalon restore

Here are some picks of the stringers. I have the deck completely out. A couple show where the stringers meet the transom. One has a hole I can get an entire finger in. There is nothing there but air.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1963 Glaspar Avalon restore

It appears that you have Engineered Glass Stringers.. Still hard to tell from the pics but that's my guess. If that is the fact then your build just got a Lot easier and faster. Do some more cleanup and post some better pics of em so we can determine if in fact that's what they are. How wide and tall are they? How thick are the walls of the stringers?

 

[jshdrake]

Re: 1963 Glaspar Avalon restore

Thanks Wood,

Sorry about the poor pictures, I have my tools and stuff in the boat for my upcoming move. My workspace now is a 2 car garage shared by my wifes car. My new house has a 20'x24' outbuilding that is all mine. I also kept the seat bases so I have a template when I put them back in. The stringers are 2-2.5" where they would meet the deck and 3.5-4" at their base. At their tallest they are maybe 5" tall and form to the hull and the glass is 1/8-1/4". I haven't cleaned them up much, was just trying to see what I was working with. I was working on getting the interior hull cleaned up from the pb used on the deck. I have a curved transom, the curve can kinda be seen on the first photos. This will probably be a long rebuild because I have to rerun all the electric (right now the only thing that works is the ignition and alternator)and fix the horn. I've been debating on taking the top off or not. I'd like to clean up the aluminum. The windshield is very clear. She currently has a busted pulley steering system and the engine needs an impellar. I'm thinking about putting in a rack and pinion system. Just so you know the motor is the original 63' 75 Hp Evinrude starflite v4.

Sorry to ramble, but I've been seeing this girl in the garage for a year and am excited to get started on her.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1963 Glaspar Avalon restore

Based on your description of the stringers I'm pretty sure they're all Glass so that's a Major Plus for you. Have you core sampled the transom yet? Is the Splashwell for sure in the way for getting to the transom? I wish I had your motor for the Blue Flamingo. My little 40hp is just not cuttin it.

 

[jshdrake]

Re: 1963 Glaspar Avalon restore

The bottom 3" of the transom is exposed below the deck line. I can pull pieces of ply out with my fingers and when it was still wet the wood in the transom was sitting in 2.5" of water it appears that someone glued the lower drain plug in place so I used a shop vac to get all standing water out. The splash well is in the way of the transom, but appears to just have been capped with metal. There are screws and nails holding it in place. Will try to get some pics tomorrow but I'm heading to Louisville for a wedding so no promises. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.