'74 McKee Craft 14' Here we go!

[kryan2]

Drove to Ft. Worth for the hull and couldn't pick up the tounge of the trailer......water logged foam.
Started to demo.....Here is where I'm at now.
Picked up a 1970 Merc 50hp and a nice center console.
Ordering 5 gallons of resin and about 60lbs of pour foam from a local distributor. (4lb density)
Set the outboard on the transom, had my wife sit on the bow and I put all 300lbs of my weight on the motor.....no flex in transom. We will now move on to the next stage!

 

[kfa4303]

Re: '74 McKee Craft 14' Here we go!

Let the wild rumpus start! Looks like you're making good progress. you should be able to find tons of tips and techniques to help you out here in the forums. Keep us posted. We love pics, of course.

 

[kryan2]

Re: '74 McKee Craft 14' Here we go!



Wet sanded bottom and sides of hull. 800, 1000 then buffed with compound, then went over with a 3m marine finnesse it white compound. Now it "glows". Also had some time to do one light coat on the rear part of the console. The front has a livewell and the rear section has a cooler. Great find for 50.00 out of Alveredo, TX. Thanks Steve!!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: '74 McKee Craft 14' Here we go!

You are an ambitious man! Mckee's are Whaler copies and nice boats........ replacing that foam is a great idea and not an easy task. Seal that thing up and you will have a great boat for years to come.

Looking great!

 

[kryan2]

Re: '74 McKee Craft 14' Here we go!

Scratch the Merc 50hp.....just picked up a 1985 Johnson 70hp VRO. Anyone know the weight capacity of this vessel? I think the max hp is 65. Lots of work to be done...feel free to come on over this weekend for adult beverages and bring your grinder...LOL.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: '74 McKee Craft 14' Here we go!

Tempting but a 29 hour trip......... hmmmmm I will pass Thanks for the invite!!

 

[scott_maier]

Re: '74 McKee Craft 14' Here we go!

Hey there,

I have an identical project going on. Go over to Bateau.com and search "Mckee craft sole replacement/rebuild" and you should find the thread. I took the foam out and made stringers then put foam back in. I got the sole in now, but need to fair the seams and then decide if I want to add a center console. I wanted to flip the boat over as you did, but I'm afraid i'll do some damage in the process. How did you go about flipping her?

 

[kryan2]

Re: '74 McKee Craft 14' Here we go!

Scott!!!!!!!! I saw your photos prior to me EVER, EVER thinking of doing this! I'm following your steps!! Small world...how funny!! The boat was on a tilt trailer and we slid it off on to my front lawn and 4 of us just lifted it on its side and carefully flipped it over. We then carried it to the driveway. Not tough at all for the 4 of us. When it was on it's side, it didn't flex or alter the shape on hull one bit! Mail me the carboard patters of the stringers.......that's what I need to start next! How much foam did you use?

 

[scott_maier]

Re: '74 McKee Craft 14' Here we go!

yeah, after I posted the earlier reply i went back to bateau and saw your username on that thread. These forums are pretty cool for stuff like this.

I'd mail those patterns to you, but I tossed them. Besides making those stringers is the hardest part! Wouldn't want you to miss out on all the fun! As far as foam I think I bought a two gallon kit. I may not have put exactly the same amount back in but it was close.

I'm usually working by myself on this bad boy so I was hoping you had a good trick for a one person boat flip. I'll work it out.

By the way, I'm not an expert by any means, so keep that in mind when looking at the bateau thread and my pictures. I got to call a guy about a motor. Good luck with your project!

 

[kryan2]

Re: '74 McKee Craft 14' Here we go!

Scott--

When you poured the foam how did you get it NOT TO stick to the plywood that was on top of the stringers? The plywood I'm reffering to is the square piece held down with the cinder block in your photos.

I cut the 2 side and 1 center stringers out of solid 2x8's and they are ready to be tabbed in. Why did you put all the "cross braces" inbetween the stringers? I would think the 3 stringers, foam, and sole would "hold" it all together safely. Thoughts?

 

[scott_maier]

Re: '74 McKee Craft 14' Here we go!

Since the original foam (I removed) was the structural support I wanted to make sure what I put back was strong, so I added those side pieces. It was probably overkill and it took a long time, but oh well, it's strong as ell now.

I put a sheet of plastic between the foam and plywood to keep the foam from sticking. Just the normal stuff you'd find in a hardware store. Just pour the foam set the plastic, plywood and block on it and let the foam cure. The plastic will easily peel off once the foam is hard.

I've been back at it sanding and fairing using the "Quik fair" that bateau sells. That stuff is nice.

Have fun!

 

[scott_maier]

Re: '74 McKee Craft 14' Here we go!

I put a few more pictures on my picassa page to show you how i roughed in the transom area. Right now it looks ugly, but I think it'll be decent after fairing/sanding and painting is finished. I cut some pieces from the original cover that sat in the middle of the floor(that long ~6" wide piece) and used those pieces to box in the area between those gussets. There is also a drain plug in that box so any water that gets between the sole and hull can be drained out. Of course if that plug leaks water can get back in. Here is the link again

https://picasaweb.google.com/maierscott/McKeeCraft#

 

[kryan2]

Re: '74 McKee Craft 14' Here we go!

Some more progress on mine. Im not going to do the cross braces. I used 2x8's and cut to fit the shape of the hull, 3 of them. Purchased 60 yards of 2oz CSM, 5 gallons of ortho resin and 3 gallons of part A and 3 gallons of part B pour foam.
I'm thinking 3/4 ply for floor. Should have it all pieced together by Sunday.

Complete water pump housing and seals under the shift rod. Should be grrrrrreat!

 

[Billy O]

Re: '74 McKee Craft 14' Here we go!

I'm running a 14' side console with an 84' 70hp evinrude. My partner and I both top the scales about 250 each and I can trim it out where there is only about 4 or 5' of the boat left on the water. That thing will fly. Ours has the console up by the front deck. Also have one with a 50 merc on it.

 

[NEStriper]

Re: '74 McKee Craft 14' Here we go!

Any update with this?

 

[stephenspann27]

He scrapped it.