1989 5.4 mtr cruise craft restoration

[cruisecraft]

Hi there everyone ! Yes, another complete novice contemplating a restoration !
Had the boat for about 4 years until a few tell tale signs started to appear, like about 30-40 litres of water draining out of the transom bungs after each use.
So, once the fuel tank was removed and I saw how soggy it was underneath, I knew I was up for some work ahead of me.
I cut the floor out and was shocked to see that the fibre glass was delaminating from the stringers, the bulk heads were complete mush and it was in a pretty bad state. A bit of detective work, found that the eye lit in the bow, for the winch strap had at some stage been repaired, however the re enforcing pieces inside were completely rotten, water, I believe, still flowed in, forcing its way around the bunk seats in the cuddy cabin and the rest is history.
I felt it was too bigger job to attempt myself, So I found a local fibre glass shop prepared to take on the work, a deposit was left with him and away I went. Unfortunately, I managed to finally get my boat back off him 6 months later, completely untouched and pretty well worse for ware, left in his yard out in the elements for the entire time !!!! My deposit money was gone !!! while I kick my self for not regularly visiting his premises, his assurances on the phone that the boat repairs were well in hand were very convincing. Currently going the legal avenue to try and get my 3 grand back and stop him from doing this to other boaties.
So, back at square one again, got some quotes from other fibre glass companies, ranging from 9-13k for the work, but after being burnt once, and seeing how much it was going to cost, made me closely look at the possibility of doing the project myself.
The list of work needed, are as follows, new stringers and floor, raising transom to take a 25 inch leg motor, repair eye lit area in bow, reconstruct the cuddy cabin side seats area, possibly putting a kill box in the floor at the rear........
After reading through this forum for the past couple of months and taking on board all the great information there was to be had, I made the decision to have a go at this myself. Now I'm not under any illusions that this will be an easy task, having never had anything to do with fibre glassing, but I'm not one to shirk a challenge !
Oh no !! Another newbie attempting a boat restoration, I can hear you all now LOL
I'm located down under in Australia, after researching here in Melbourne, there are fibre glass suppliers here with all my material needs, but the experience and knowledge here on this forum will hopefully be my greatest resource.
I'll try and see if I have a suitable photo of how she stands at the minute and thanks in advance for answering any questions which will enevitably be thrown out there during my journey.

regards
colin

 

[cruisecraft]

 

[shaw520]

Well looks like you are well on your way,.. congrats for taking on the project yourself, with plenty of help here on the forum you will reap the self satisfaction of completing the work yourself. Welcome Aboard!

 

[cruisecraft]

Thanks for the welcome shaw520.
I am completing my list of "need to have" at the minute, as far as material goes, well most places don't open till next week after the festive season.
First question
It looks as though I can break my tasks into 3 specific areas, my transom appears to be sound, but I have removed the old 2 stroke motor with the intention of fitting up a new 4 stroke once complete. It has a very low transom design at the back of which, I want to build it up to take a 25 inch leg motor and probably completely re do the whole transom while I'm there, its a 1988 boat so I chances are it will need doing. So taking that into account, transom work will be done from the outside,
so that should mean effectively that I can start and fully complete the stringers and the floor before I worry about the transom work ?
the third job will be cutting out inside up front to get to the eye lit issue, but to me it looks like I can do each job separately ???? yes

 

[jbcurt00]

I wouldnt advise repairing the transom from the outside.

It appears that you've hollowed out the stringer 'channels', but you plan to remove thwm completely, correct?

The hull needs to be well supported before you start to dismantle it, not just by the trailer and bunks.

Transom is tied to the stringers and both are tied to the deck. IMO, all 3 ahould be tackled effectively as 1 large task w 3 intersecting parts.

Woodonglass has a great graphic for transom, stringers and deck replacement.

 

[cruisecraft]

Hi jbcut00, when I removed the floor. the fibre glass basically pulled off the stringers, the stringers then basically fell over, it was so water effected that they were
no longer attached to the hull, I ground some of the old fibre glass from the surrounding area, left the centre one in for hull support and that's when I decided to take it to a professional. As far as the transom goes, I was thinking that because it needs to be raised on the outside section of the transom to take a 25 inch leg, that the inside section could left as is and just repair and alter from the outside ??????
The boat is still on the multi roller trailer, but I have put support timbers to the floor underneath up the centre.
Are you saying it would be best practice to completely remove all of the transom

 

[proshadetree]

A pic of the transom would make it easier to recomend a modification plan. Most times it is better to leave the outer skin on and modify it to a taller height. The inner skins are thinner and offer less support. Good start there man.

 

[shaw520]

As indicated above,...its best to leave the outer skin of the transom in tact and ad to the height, remove all inner material and lightly grind the inner skin to except new adhesive/plywood. I would do this first so stringers can be joined in front of new transom work.

 

[gsxrdan]

from 1 newbie to another, this is what the forum is for! I had hopes of saving the transom on my build, thinking it was beyond my capabilities to remove and rebuild it, but it was as toasted as the rest of the wood, its just the way wood rot spreads - everywhere! Given you are planning on hanging a 4 stroke off it, the transom really needs to be as strong as you can make it (imo). But dont despair, id never touched fiberglass before either, and it turns out to be a lot of fun, and not that challenging! Its1 big job, not 3, start with a clean slate (grind the hull bare, including the the front area), then do the transom first and work your way to the bow; the worst thing for me was picking up the grinder again after id started glassing, its a job u just want to be done with! Use flappy discs on the grinder, bunnings sells cheap multi packs (trojan i think), they cut a lot of carp fast! good luck, dont be afraid to ask dumb questions, and ul be chasing the snapper in port phillip bay in no time!!

 

[cruisecraft]

Thanks for the advice guys, appreciated. haven't had a chance to get down to the boat as yet, working through the festive season this year.
Thanks gsxrdan, great to get feedback from someone else that's had a crack at it. I'm not under any time pressure here, I want to do it right. I waited for quite a while to track down this hull originally as a mate has exactly the same boat and I have no intention of parting with it, well, maybe when I'm in the retirement village, maybe........
I'll continue to get bits and pieces needed to do the job over the next few days, then post up a decent photo of the transom etc.
I guess like with all new projects, its getting my head around everything and having a good game plan, I'm anal like that HaHa.
Interestingly, as far as weight of a new fourstroke goes, the new merc 115 is basically the same weight as the 2 stroke that was on there before, that's if I go down that path, there's a few options to be had, but firstly the fibre glass side.
gsxrdan, you sound as though your down my way ? did you have a thread on here on your re build ?

 

[jbcurt00]

Gsxdan does and his rebuild is nominated for the Restoration forum Splash of the Year
http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat...estoration-forum-2016-splash-of-the-year-poll

Take a look at all the nominees and cast a vote...

 

[cruisecraft]

Yes I've found it and am working my way through it, great detailed posts !
Geez, hard act to follow !
I guess its like anything, get all the facts, listen to the advice and have a go !
I remember my first B.
British bike restoration, decided I was going to do it, completely stripped her down, including the motor, so there was no turning back LOL.
Well, plenty more reading to do I'm figuring.

colin