1974 Silverline Tri Hull

[OwenDR11]

Hi everyone. I've been a long time lurker on this forum and have found a lot of helpful info over the years. I have a 1974 Silverline Tri Hull that I bought 4 years ago with a Johnson 85 on it. I love the boat and it is a great fishing and tubing boat. From what I gather, not too many boats can do both!
I've recently noticed that the transom has about 1/8 of flex with me jumping on the back of the motor and bouncing the front trailer wheel off the ground. I know the boat has received a new floor and transom somewhere in the past. Could be the 90s for all I know. The rest of the boat is in excellent shape and doesn't take on a drop of water.
I'm wondering what your opinions are on this. Do I pull the boat apart and restore it, or not worry about it and have fun. Wondering what your opinions are.

Owen

 

[CClassen]

You can drill a few 1/4” test holes into the transom wood from the inside if you’d like to know it’s actual condition. If the wood shavings come out light colored and dry, it’s in good shape. If the shavings come out dark and/ or wet, it’s probably not sound. You’d then fill the test holes with thickened resin/ pb to seal them back up.

 

[southkogs]

Welcome aboard. Nice Comoro. I used to have one - a 17'. Great boats.

I'd do what CClassen suggests.

 

[OwenDR11]

Thanks guys. I'll take care of that this winter. I was out on the water on Saturday and the transom didn't flex after I went full throttle from a dead stop.
Has anyone filled in button snap holes before and painted/gel coated them? My boat has about 50 holes drilled in the top and I would like to fix it up a little bit.

 

[todhunter]

If you want the repair to last, you'll have to grind out an area at least 1" diameter around each hole, lay in some CSM, sand, fill, sand, fill, sand, fill, gelcoat, wet sand, and buff. If you just fill the hole as is, it won't last. Not trying to discourage you, just saying it's a lot of work to do it right.

 

[OwenDR11]

I didn't know about cutting them out by 1 inch. I was thinking about patching the 1 1/16 holes but you are right. It probably wouldn't have that much strength. The boat is 50 years old, so I'm not super picky about it. I want it to look as nice as possible, but want to be able to enjoy it without worry.

 

[todhunter]

I don't want you to misunderstand - you don't cut a hole through that big, but rather grind a very shallow funnel around the hole, with the funnel being about 1" or so in diameter at the widest part.

I would probably just leave the holes and enjoy the boat for what it is.

 

[OwenDR11]

Oh OK I understand. I probably will leave the boat as is and focus on polishing it up. The red paint is single stage and has quite a bit of orange peel in it. I'll be making a new dash with new matching gauges and aluminum fuel tank for it this winter.