1985 Beachcraft Cuddy Model 240C rehab

[docben]

the fiberglass at lowes has wax in it and it is double the price of good boat yard resin. so if you have to stop, you have to sand before you can start again.

did you not read the links 14, 15, 18, 2, 3, 4a, and 4b? https://forums.iboats.com/threads/how-tos-and-other-great-information.283508/

Yes I did but no mention of this brand and its drawbacks. Will re-read.

 

[docben]

Yes I did but no mention of this brand and its drawbacks. Will re-read.

Surprise find today while opening pockets of old fiberglass in the engine compartment...looks like someone poured pea-gravel concrete into this space!! Who would do such a stupid thing?? What else am I going to find?

 

[matt167]

Yes I did but no mention of this brand and its drawbacks. Will re-read.

Brand on a 39 year old boat won’t matter, even if it was top of the line in 1985 that won’t translate to any better condition since it’s known that boats rot from the inside out

 

[matt167]

Surprise find today while opening pockets of old fiberglass in the engine compartment...looks like someone poured pea-gravel concrete into this space!! Who would do such a stupid thing?? What else am I going to find?

Looks like concrete, and everything else looks pretty bad too. Who knows why

 

[docben]

Looks like concrete, and everything else looks pretty bad too. Who knows why

Today I used a drill hammer to break up the concrete. I though about this a lot today and keep wondering who and why. Concrete in a boat??
The right side still had some relatively good plywood left underneath the fiberglass overlay. Will replace with new and cover over with poly resin.

 

[matt167]

Your stringers are missing. Probably someone’s attempt at adding structure on a redo. you need to bed and tab in stringers. Full gut job as there’s nothing holding your boat together

 

[eggs712]

Wild. I know some off-the-wall ideas float around here sometimes, but concrete stringers in a little glass boat is pretty special.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I would pull the cap and add the correct stringer grid

 

[docben]

Your stringers are missing. Probably someone’s attempt at adding structure on a redo. you need to bed and tab in stringers. Full gut job as there’s nothing holding your boat together

No the stringers are not missing. The engine will sit on very hefty beams that you apparently didn't see in the photos. What you and others are seeing are areas that had no structural beams. I have it figured out, but thanks.

 

[docben]

I would pull the cap and add the correct stringer

Wild. I know some off-the-wall ideas float around here sometimes, but concrete stringers in a little glass boat is pretty special.

Scott: Not necessary.
Others: This is not a "little glass boat" and the concrete I took out was likely put in by the boat builder many, many years ago. How do I know this? Well, if you look closely at the supplied photos, the area I opened up was fully enclosed with the surrounding fiberglass walls. No openings at all. Concrete only on the left side. Why not on the right? I haven't a clue. Did previous owners see the defects? Don't know as the guy I bought from doesn't know. The hard lesson learned by me...do a better inspection of the boat's compartments and flooring. But was this boat and heavy duty trailer worth $500? A dollar?

 

[docben]

Bought this boat recently and decided to at least get the stern area cleaned up and repair the old rotted wood. I have read many other restoration projects and links. I am not wanting to do the full boat at this point, just make the stern area solid enough for the rebuilt OMC 5.7L engine and 800 series sterndrive. Engine to be pulled this week, I hope. I know there is rot, not sure how far it goes toward the cabin and bow. Need the boat operational by March.

For sure, lots of work to do.

The Chevy 350 is all rebuilt. The boat has been restored somewhat, and almost ready to put the engine back in. Photos later.