1990 bee -V160- bass boat overhaul

[Lowcountry26]

Greetings!
I’m so happy to have discovered this forum! So much inspiration in the form of progressionary projects and detailed advice.

My father and I are currently re-habbing a 16’ bass boat.
-1990 Bumble Bee V160-

The rig was water-logged, floor rotten, stringer caps were eroded, transom was relatively solid. It was a classic case of “looks good from 20 feet”

The boat has been through quite a bit in the past calendar year since we began the tear down....
we demo’d the entire vessel, removed rivets holding down top cap and silicone sealant.

removed layers of paint from the top cap, someone made a few silly decisions in this rig’s past.

here you can see the before/after paint removal which was followed by wet sanding...

thoroughly cleaned the bilge

cleaned the rig spotless to send her off to have surgery!

-Enlisted the pros at Marine Pro/Falcon boats in Newberry,S.C. to replace the stringers, transom, floor, flotation and a beautiful buff/compound on the hull.

Here’s the clean slate we’re working with now.

bilge painted in black gel coat

thanks for checking out our project!

Next up
- installing the fuel tank after cleaning it and mounting new sending unit.
-flow rite system #2 livewell control system and bilge pump with associated electrical feeds/returns run to console.
-battery trays, batteries, fuel/water separator, new trolling motor wiring harness.
-custom carbon fiber dash panel from newmarinewire.com with pre cuts for 6 rocker switches/breakers and gauges.
(Trying to do this right so the boat will last).
-deck extension with three storage compartments
(Glassed in properly).
-gel coat re-finish(outsourced) top cap only.
-deck pad/carpet, seats.

I’m a traveling utilities contractor so I have to make the most of my time in between jobs, aka enjoying the process.
Props to all my hard working dudes out here!

Stay tuned..

 

[Lowcountry26]

Here’s a sneak peak of the deck extension.

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[Willyclay]

Welcome to the iboats.com forum! The experts here, which I am not, can help you with any issues involving your boat, motor and/or trailer. Staying tuned for your next post. Good luck!

 

[mickyryan]

welcome, neet project looks like its coming along nicely.

 

[Lowcountry26]

I’ve finally begun to grasp, at least conceptually, fiberglass over wood construction. I’ve been through many of the sticky’s and they are super informative!

*Casting deck extension w/storage*

However, I’m sorta scratching my head on making a few decisions regarding:
-marine ply thickness for boxes
-marine ply thickness for deck
-epoxy or poly resin?
-the glass layup on storage boxes (stringer-like)
-how to handle mating the marine ply to the new floor which seems to be CSM from boat builder. edit* I plan to fillet and tab in the boxes, my inference is regarding the actual contact point between dry marine ply and cured csm floor.

[here is my blueprint]

Any selection advice would be greatly appreciated. My goal is waterproofness since this is mating to the surface of my current deck. The final thing to consider is the deck will be covered by carpet.

 

[Lowcountry26]

Really? No one has any input? All these guys on here conversing about various fiberglass aspects. I thought for sure I could rely on some engagement here.

 

[chevymaher]

Everything your doing is elective surgery. Not stuctural.

Use 1/2 inch ACX ply it since isn't structural save money. Tab the bottoms with 1708 for strength. Then cover the rest with CSM inside and out to seal it. Gel coat it and call it.

Deck is always 1/2 inch. With csm on it totally sealing it top and bottom. Which is more than they were factory open at the bottoms. Floatation foam adds to the solidity of the deck surface if done correctly.

Poly or epoxy Just depends on what you want to spend. Epoxy is stronger granted. But if you literally got to tear the boat in half with a bulldozer to get the poly to fail. It seems kinda overkill to me.

No matter how you do it. It is adding additional strength over the factory set up.

 

[kcassells]

Hmm like above said.
But,, you could extend all the wood to sides, backs and fronts to create actual bulkheads and stringers storage, hence strength. Not sure but a box in a box is a box in a box.
Lookin good!
Boats already poly so no need for EEEEPPPoooxxxy.
1708 glass would do the job completely.Has a csm backing. Run the glass full height of new wood.
Yup on foam for the voids.

 

[Woodonglass]

I replied to your PM!!

 

[Lowcountry26]

Thanks tremendously for the assistance with my inquiry! I can’t believe I’m saying this, but, I feel confident in my upcoming glass project... thanks to this resource

speaking of the deck extension. It will begin in two/three days when the temps rise and I finish the trailer restoration which begins in full force tomorrow.

-Re-arranged the garage!

-3m 4200 blk sealant at cap/hull junction, got a nice bead.

-starting to see some progress

-3/16” alum. rivets pre-drilled, counter sunk. Cap lined up perfectly

-used #8 ss screws to align everything pre-rivets

Sandblasting trailer and hatches/lids tomorrow. I have a feeling we’ll be working double time! :argue:

 

[garbageguy]

Your ambition is inspiring, keep[ at it!

 

[kcassells]

Well if you have the time...try a do a couple of glass layups on a table/on the flat on pcs you are going to install. The trial time will give you a feel for how the glass rolls. Plus good practice.

 

[Lowcountry26]

Thanks guys for the inspiration and advice!

I failed to reserve the SINGLE rentable sandblaster in town
and someone else got to it first, oh well, time to break out the 4 1/2” grinder/wire wheels/paint stripper/etc....

-it takes around three passes in total to reach bare metal

-cleaned the hull in preparation for minor blemish repair (somehow the bottom of this rig is damn near perfect)

good luck to everyone and here’s to some much needed forward motion ! Cheers boys

 

[Lowcountry26]

Holy moly that was a task......

-still need to wire the trailer and install the winch

I wouldn’t wish that grinding job on my worst enemy!

time to rehydrate after the 72 beers