1977 Hydra Sports 158VEE Floor Repair

[mpore]

I own a 1977 Hydra Sports 158VEE bass boat that needs the floor and some stringers replaced. I cut out a section of the floor and discovered that the top and hull need to be separated to do this job correctly. There is one local marina but they don't do hull repairs. The owner told me that the top and bottom were glassed together during factory assembly and that it needed to be cut in order to be separated. He said it was a pretty tough job. Does anyone have any experience or insight on separating the top and bottom of this bass boat? Thanks in advance.

 

[corm]

Re: 1977 Hydra Sports 158VEE Floor Repair

Hi,
They are glassed, but do to the age and depending on usage the deck and hull has probably seperated in places. I would remove the black molding insert and take out the screws holding the AL molding on for a few feet to see just how big of a project it will be. You can probably split it apart with a sharp wood chisel.
Mine was more than half seperated so I use a 15" wood trim pry bar for house base board and a 1" wood chisel on mine. It poped apart pretty easy. The transom is a little harder. You will need a new through the hull drain for the splashwell. Be sure to check the stringers while you in there. Mine were busted.
It is a project and takes some time, but you will learn some things.

 

[mpore]

Re: 1977 Hydra Sports 158VEE Floor Repair

Thanks for the reply and the good info. The stringers and all of the wood are going to need replaced for sure. I am considering Seacast to pour the stringers and also for the transom. I have read some good reviews on that product. I'm not sure if I am going to put any wood back in it if I can avoid it.

 

[corm]

Re: 1977 Hydra Sports 158VEE Floor Repair

Hi,

I use 5 ply plywood for the stringers. I cut enough strips to get the desired thickness and fiberglas them together and then glass them to the floor covering them with resin and fiberglass woven tape. I use this method because I am comfortable with it and the tools needed. The Seacast method looks pretty nice. I may use it on an old Glasspas G3 M son and I are rebuilding. I will still do the stringers my way, but their transom method looks a little easier to me than taking the deck off. This G3 has a curved transom.
I sometimes use the same plywood that the interstate signs use to be made of for floors, a resin covered plywood that I have had good luck with. I usually use an oak and plywood sandwich for the transom..

I would check with Hydrosport boat co to see if they remember if they used epoxy or poly resin and if you have a Kevlar hull on your little rocketship.
The 158 Vee took off with a L6 150HP Merc on them.

 

[mpore]

Re: 1977 Hydra Sports 158VEE Floor Repair

Thanks again for the valuable information.