1969 mako restore. First timer needs lots of help.

[mrainwater]

Hey was just given a 69 mako 19. it was sitting a while with an opening above the gas tank so the deck was very soft. Started cutting the deck open and everything was soaked wood was rotted out stringers were cracked and warped. Anyway do i need to take the cap off to replace the stringers and the deck? im not even sure how to take the cap off or where to start. Most of the other projects ive seen the deck was sitting directly on top of the stringers my boat was set up like this.

There could have been other work done im not sure gas tank looked bigger in there so maybe the deck was raised?

Anyways should i take the cap off and should i make my stringers one piece? thanks for the help

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1969 mako restore. First timer needs lots of help.

Hi and welcome to the Iboats Dry Dock, mrainwater...
Definitely going to be better if you can remove the cap for the necessary repairs, but I am not too familiar with the type of construction used on the Mako to help guide you.
From the looks of the pics posted, it seems the cap was sealed to the hull when constructed and may require cutting.
Hopefully someone who knows these boats will help give some insight.
Worst case, we will figure it out and get you on the right path.
Best of Luck and Have Fun!
GT1M

 

[zool]

Re: 1969 mako restore. First timer needs lots of help.

With most of the Makos I see in restoration, just the rear portion of the cap is cut to replace the transom.

This shows whats under the deck.

ClassicMako Owners Club, Inc. - 1968 Mako 19 Total Rebuild

 

[Teamster]

Re: 1969 mako restore. First timer needs lots of help.

Nice old hull,.............

I'll follow along,....

 

[bakerjw]

Re: 1969 mako restore. First timer needs lots of help.

The structure looks a lot like my Stratos. If it was built the same way, you will likely have to cut out the deck and possibly some of the aft area near the transom to get the cap off of it. Cap removal will likely be a necessity in order to replace all of the rotted wood. But on the plus side, it makes transom replacement easier.

Do you have the center console that went over the fuel tank?

There's a lot of work there and the people here will give you good advice and get you on the right track. If you take it on, you can end up with a better boat than it was originally from the factory but you'll probably never get your money back out of it. You are almost at the point where you need to make the call as to whether you want to spend $1,000, or more, and a lot of long dirty and itchy hours on rebuilding it. Worst case, you get the cap removed and see what lies ahead underneath.

In my case, I was into my Stratos for more money that I was willing to throw away otherwise I'd have parted it out and scrapped the entire boat.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: 1969 mako restore. First timer needs lots of help.

You may not need to remove the cap to replace the stringers, until you open the floor up you wont know. I think most remove the cap when they are doing the transom too, have you checked your transom for rot yet? If it's good you may not need to remove it. Nice looking boat you have there.

 

[mrainwater]

Re: 1969 mako restore. First timer needs lots of help.

thanks for the advice decided to just go on ahead and tear open the deck. the transom felt solid it looks like there has been work done to it but im going to tear it open and seacast the core. I had a fuel tank under the deck under the center console it looks like it had been replaced was foamed in with chunks of tires all around it to prevent rubbing so its still in good shape. stringers are destroyed going to build new stringers up to the bottom of the deck instead of the floating deck.

One question what do you guys think i should do with these boxes. ive seen one person cut around it to get it off i just see a nightmare trying to get that fiberglass smoothed out when i go to put them back in the reason they need to come out is cause theres a stringer underneath it