1963 Lonestar Imperia Restoration

[mcon]

Picked this boat up for free about a year ago and I finally have some free time to restore it. So far I've taken out the cabin walls and door and also the sink and cabinet that was inside the cabin. I have also taken out the rear seat supports. Tomorrow I am ripping up the deck which is very soft and rotted. Hopefully the stringers and transom aren't rotted.

Here's where the questions start becuase I am new to boating and especially restoring.

What is the best way to go about replacing the deck? Should I use pressure treated or non pressure treated plywood? What should I coat the plywood in to completly waterproof it?

Plenty of more questions will be coming but that should be good for now.

I can't figure out how to put pictures in the post so here is a link for the pictures:

http://s779.photobucket.com/albums/yy75/mconnolly1/Boat/

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1963 Lonestar Imperia Restoration

Really cool boat!

You're on the right track with pictures. If they are sized to 640x480 or smaller you can just copy/paste the IMG code links that photobucket provides next to each picture into here.

 

[ben2go]

Re: 1963 Lonestar Imperia Restoration

I am glad you decided to keep and restore her.

 

[mcon]

Re: 1963 Lonestar Imperia Restoration

Ok so the deck is finally up ( I'll post some pics later). What's my next step? I've read different things to use to secure it in and water seal it up. Any suggestions?

 

[mcon]

Re: 1963 Lonestar Imperia Restoration

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1963 Lonestar Imperia Restoration

Check the soundness of the stringers, use a small drill bit to core sample each one here and there...wet shavings means soaked/useless stringers, dry means solid. Clean out the hull, lay in foam if you're going to...install a chase if you plan to run plumbing/wiring under the deck, then install resin encapsulated plywood deck fixed to stringers. After that you can start on the inside layout, seats, instruments, controls, etc.

 

[mcon]

Re: 1963 Lonestar Imperia Restoration

whats involved with having a plumbing system for a sink? It had one originally with a spray hose but when I pulled it out the hose and drain weren't connected to anything.

 

[mcon]

Re: 1963 Lonestar Imperia Restoration

I tried drilling into the stringers and as far as i can tell there is no wood, it seems like they are just fiberglass with metal strips. Is this a problem? Also I have the plywood cut for the deck. What type of fiberglass/resin/epoxy do I use to to seal the deck up?

 

[mcon]

Re: 1963 Lonestar Imperia Restoration

So the weather hasnt been cooperatiing but the the deck should be going in with the next 2 or 3 days. Does anyone know... before i put the deck in... if having hollow only fiberglass stringers is a problem?

 

[OV1961]

Re: 1963 Lonestar Imperia Restoration

The stringers are not a problem. That is the way it's supposed to be. I did the same thing you are doing to my Vacationer. I used 1/2" marine plywood and covered it with woven cloth/epoxy. Use stainless screws and pre-drill the holes thru the wood and aluminum strip.

You have a great boat! Thanks for saving her!