1973 MFG Carefree Restore

[Chrisravosa36]

Hello Mariners, I just purchased my third boat, Its a 13'6" MFG Carefree, It seems like a very solid hull, it came with a trailer and that seems solid (except the bearings ;() I am planning out a full restore, Paint, Carpet , Gutted out, New Foam, New Seats, Motor, everything. Ive already sanded it down to 22grit and getting ready to paint it (Off White and Largo blue) I will take picture and give more updates with my progress on that later. First I have a few questions about motors and shafts. My Boats max HP is 30hp SS, I have seen videos with 40HP and 50HPs, I just don't think 30 will do, I plan on pulling a tuber and 1 - 2 people in the boat. I was wondering if a 50 or 40hp would be safe, sometimes, I will go alone and fish around for a bit, would that be safe with a 40 - 50hp, I believe the hull is around 400lbs, I will most likely have it loaded 12 gallons of gas, 2 batteries (100lbs), fishing gear, safety gear. I like to go fast, real fast I also was wondering if a short shaft has any advantages or disadvantages over the long shafts or regular shafts?

If you need any pictures or video to help clarify what ive said, I will be happy to provide them!\

Thanks!

 

[pckeen]

Nice looking ride, and good luck with the restoration. Get a photobucket account, and by uploading your pics on that, you can post it into your text - so they look something like this. Just upload a photograph that has websized resolution, click on the photograph, click on the textbox to the right of IMg, and you can then paste the photograph right into your text - like the image below.



As for your questions - while it is physically possible to put on a more powerful motor, it won't be considered safe - you will be adding a lot of weight, and a whole lot of power - a 50hp is 66% over your max hp - a 40hp 33% over. So this isn't advisable, particularly on such a small, light boat. Is it safe? I would say not.

As for towing tubers, you can tow a tube in any boat - but the ride will depend on the size of the rider and power of your boat. If you are looking at towing small kids, the 30hp will be fine. If you are trying to tow adults and give them a wild ride, then you would want a different boat.

 

[David Young]

You'll have a beautiful little boat when you get finished

 

[Chrisravosa36]

Thanks, looks like you have a great MFG also! I might get a 40hp, because Ive seen those in action, not to bad, just takin a shot with 50hp, thanks for your input! With 2 people I would think 40hp would be safe, again, im loading it up pretty heavy. and the 30hp and 40hp isnt much of a weight difference.

 

[Woodonglass]

The Height of your transom will dictate the length of motor shaft you'll need. 15" - 17"transom height = short shaft motor. 20" - 22"= Long Shaft...

 

[sphelps]

Welcome aboard Chris !
Woody is correct you need to match your o/b length to your transom height ... You might be ok going with a 40 but that would be as maxed out as you would ever want to go .. My Edinboro's o/b is over by 5 hp . Rated on plate at 85 and I'm running a 90 .. It's definitely maxed out ...
Here is a great thread on an older Carefree .. http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat...need-help-with-transom-repair-w-pics?t=492080
Good luck and let us know how we can help !

 

[Chrisravosa36]

Thanks for the input, I will go with 40hp then, and definitely a short shaft. Also will a short shaft preform differently? When I hit a wave will the prop come out of the water more often?

 

[Woodonglass]

Nope, If the transom is built for a short shaft motor it'll perform as designed.

 

[Chrisravosa36]

Well, I started sanding down the hull, started at 120 --&grit; 220 Grit. Starting to think about paints, Ive used Total Boat Jamestown and Rolled an tipped before, the end product was to my standards. I do not have a air compressor nor am I in any situation to buy one. I relize that rolling and tipping does give me great covrage, so would I only need one quart of each color? (I will be painting the bottom with this paint, because I wont be putting it in the water for a long enough time) I was wondering your guys input on Paints, I know its a broad topic, but let me know what you think of my idea.

Here are the links to the paints.

MOD EDIT - The link below to a competitor has been deep sixed. They do not pay for the forum and it has been replaced with a generic iboats store link.​

 

[Chrisravosa36]

Hit a brick wall here and need some help. The transom is worse than I thought, I still haven't seem it fully yet, but have seen moisture on the plywood. Not sure what to do. Ive heard of sea cast, but have considered that to be to expensive. I don't want to take the transom fully apart. Here was my plan (just brainstorming) SUpport the Transom with a big plate, Pour 1 Gallon of Fiberglass Resin with small chunks of glass mixed in then Slip a thich steel sheet in between the transom and the outer gelcoat layer (I think?) Lasty on the inside portion of the boat put a new 3/4 or 1/2 oak transom glassed onto the sides and to the back. So Essentially keeping the old wood there, just creating a plywood support in the inside of the boat. (This is just a brainstorm)

Any Advice would be GREAT!!

Thanks

 

[sphelps]

Heck by the time you did all that you could have installed a new transom .. Not really that hard .. If you are painting the top cap you ca cut the cap just in front of the splashwell .. Take the splash out to gain the access needed to replace the transom the correct way ... Then glass the splash back in ... JMO ....
Or just pop the whole cap off ... Does it have the white looking bondo looking stuff under the rub rail ? If it does then I would cut it as I already mentioned ...

 

[Chrisravosa36]

Well sadly somebody told me it was good before I started painting the boat, I just finished painting 70% of it, and I don't really feel like cutting and taking apart, glassing then repairing. Another option I considered is cutting the 1 inch guard that goes over the transom and digging out all of the bad wood, but then idk what I would do from there.

 

[MTboatguy]

It could be jerry rigged as you know, but there is only one correct way to do it if there is rot in the transom and that is the pull it apart and replace it, then you know it will be safe. If you have a compromised transom you are only looking for trouble and those you might tow will be in harms way as well as the people in the boat, it could with an over rated engine actually rip the transom out and send the boat, engine and people to the bottom. If you are going to do anything to the boat, it might as well be safety projects over cosmetic projects.

 

[Chrisravosa36]

No Title

MTboatguy, I agree with you, Ive been thinking more about it, and I should safe, because the transom will have alot of stress on it with a big engine and pulling a tube. Those are some pictures of the paint job. I rolled and tipped, it it turned out great! Any inout on what I should do to redo the transom, I dont think I can take the deck off without a fight, so I was hoping to find a way to do it without removing the deck? Ive seen videos, and it is possible, but just slightly difficult.

 

[sphelps]

Have you done the calculation for Seacast yet ? An expensive option but an option ..

 

[Chrisravosa36]

Yes, Its about 5 gallons of seacast, Im not sure what weather you can apply it in though.

 

[sphelps]

I think it's like poly resin . 60 deg's or higher ..

 

[Chrisravosa36]

I looked on the website, didn't really say how long it take to set, I guess different transom would be diff. Could you give me a guess at how long it would take on mine? 15in Tall 1 Inch think I belive and about 60 inches wide

 

[sphelps]

It will set in just a few hours . The colder the temps the longer the cure time .
Are you sure it's only 1 inch thick ? Most are 1.5 " .
If you go that route you must prep the inside of the skin correctly . Every bit of wood must come out ..

 

[Chrisravosa36]

No Title

It is 1.5 Inches, sorry my mistake. Im not sure how I would fill the curves at the top of the transom, I was considerting leaving the wood there? But Im not sure if It would effect the seacast.