1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

Bill, you might try a sharp chisel to knock off the heads of the rivets and then a Punch Chisel to knock em out. They can spin on you and make drilling a PITA! If you are gunna use screws to put it back on then use an oversized bit and drill em out. You can glass a 1 1/2" backer board on the inside of the hull for the screws to bite into on the re-install

 

[madman960]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

Woodonglass,

Thanks for the tips. I am certain they will come in handy.

Bill

 

[madman960]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

Happy new year everyone.

Bill

 

[madman960]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

Pulled the rub rail off. Only took 3 minutes. Some of the rivets came out with it. LOL. Going back out to remove the steering cable. So far I have not found any help to remove the 135. I may have to use my homemade 4x4 engine lift.

Bill

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

Pulled the rub rail off. Only took 3 minutes. Some of the rivets came out with it. LOL. Going back out to remove the steering cable. So far I have not found any help to remove the 135. I may have to use my homemade 4x4 engine lift.

Bill

Or you could try this...

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

Think you have made the right decision on the motor. Over power by 15 hp I would say go with it, but not twice the horsepower. The weight might be an issue as well with a larger motor on a 15 ft boat. A 70 hp motor is actually just the right size for that boat with a couple or three people in her.

I had a 15 ft mako that had a 75 hp johnson and it pushed her fast enough.

Good luck on the restore man, people here will help you through the process.

 

[madman960]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

I removed most of the steering parts today. I have to unbolt a part from the transom then I will be done with that. There are 4 screws or lag bolts that the PO ran through the transom. They were not sealed but the heads were dug into the transom so far that I was barely able to get a wrench on them. My wife is going to help remove them tomorrow. Other than that there are 4 bolts holding the motor on.

Wood, my homemade lift is similar to what you drew up. It was originally used to pull a small diesel motor out of a sailboat. It is made with 4x4s. It is 15 ft long. I need to cut off about 5 ft and bury 4-6 ft. It has a swing arm built with 4x4s and industrial hinges. I have pics.

Chriscraft254;

Speed is not much of a concern for me. I live 1 mile from the boat launch and the best fishing is 1/2-3/4 of a mile from the boat launch. not sure about shrimping or crabbing as I have yet to do either.Thanks for sharing.

The 1st 3 pics are of the engine lift with swing arm.

Bill

 

[madman960]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore



The last pic is how the PO shimmed up the steering. There were also 2 nuts on top that I threw in the trash.

Bill

 

[madman960]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

I may not get anything done on the boat over the next few days. I am working on another project. I am building a powder coating oven. I will take lots of pics anexplain every step in detail. It will be more for small parts like motorcycle gas tanks, valve covers, etc. Not sure what boat parts could be coated other than motor parts. I think trailer rims would fit.

If I do not get on iboats the next few days; that will be why.

Bill

 

[madman960]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

It rained the last 2 days so no progress on anything. Not raining today so I hope to get the last of the steering undone. I am also going to try and remove motor this weekend. I found more rivets that were under the rub rail.

I am also working on getting a second boat. It is a 1979 Galaxy. 18 footer. Comes with galvanized trailer. All for $250. It has an I/O 140 HP. Not sure of motor type just yet. I will be getting pics this afternoon. I know it needs seats, an alternator, and an impeller for the boat and a tire for the trailer. Of course that is according to the owner. I can see it in person when they get back in town.

Anything I should look for in the Galaxy? They are unsure of model. I plan to see what the boat needs. If it is to far gone, I will remove anything of value or use and scrap the hull. I am mainly buying it for the 18' galvanized trailer. If it does not need much, I will get it water ready and use it until the Cobia is ready.

Thanks all. Have a great weekend.

Bill

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

I don't think an I/O has an impeller, should be a water pump, for both a closed or an open system, correct?

A rolling 18' galv trailer for $250 sounds like a pretty good deal to me, everything else is a bonus....

You can look thru the Galaxy specs here after you get a model.

Thorough check of deck, bilge, transom, any & all structure you can put your hands, eyes & an awl on, the overall condition of the fiberglass hull & cap. If you can, take water muffs & a charged battery & jumper cables and any other tools you need to give the motor a good once over & make sure it cranks, turns over or rotates freely.

The boat is extremely likely to need more then 'just' new upholstery & seats if the interior is shot, it's 33+yrs old.

 

[madman960]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

JB,

Thanks for the advice. I will print it out and take it with me once the owner gets back. (10 days or so)

Bill

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

A rolling 18' galv trailer for $250 sounds like a pretty good deal to me, everything else is a bonus....


The boat is extremely likely to need more then 'just' new upholstery & seats if the interior is shot, it's 33+yrs old.

The price is worth it for the trailer alone if it's in decent condition.

The boat however will be a money pit... I can smell the rotten decking, stringers, transom, and waterlogged foam from here.

Then there's the outdrive, would it happen to be an OMC by chance?... even if it isn't it'll still need lots of stuff just to catch it up on normal maintenance.

 

[madman960]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore



Here is the picture I was emailed of the Galaxy.

Bill

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

Looks Good Bill - You got alota work ahead of you and it can be done.

I would take alook at the Galaxy in person - But it's gona need all the same work as the Cobia.....So pick the best boat for your needs and part out/scrap the other.

Good Luck and i will be following!

 

[madman960]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

Jig,

I agree with you. I am not sure yet on the out drive. I am mainly interested in the trailer for the Cobia.

Checkmate,

I have to wait for the owner to get back before I can see it in person. I have already agreed to purchase. I may keep both boats even if it needs as much work as the other. 1 can never have to many projects. I will be following the rest of your build as well.

Bill

 

[madman960]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

Here are some pics the owner sent me.

 

[madman960]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

 

[madman960]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

I decided to pass on the Galaxy. However, I do have an update about the Cobia. I have removed the weatherstripping and drilled out all the rivets holding the cap in place. I still need to remove the 1350 Merc so I can take the cap off. Rear section of stringers removed. I am not re-installing the upper cap. I will be running full length stringers and adding some braces. I am going to put in a new rub rail and glass it in. And the bow will be getting a false bottom box filled with flotation foam in the bottom section with a casting deck up top. Final pieces are built in live well and bait tanks. It will basically be an over built jon boat. Power will be from a 25-35 hp outboard. It should be complete and water ready by March 2014.

Bill

 

[madman960]

Re: 1972 Cobia 15 ft restore

About to have some time to get working on the Cobia. I have an extended vacation coming up. I purchased an engine lift. Still need to remove the 135 Merc. Putting it on my 18 ft Steury.

Can I leave the cap off the Cobia and build front and rear casting decks? Also want to build a center console for it.

Thank you,

Bill