79 bumble bee floor repair

[Jasonfroehlich]

Hi my name is Jason I am new to the forum I just got a bumble bee super bee bass boat 1979 and found out the floor is rotten and looks like the stringers are too I gave 500.00 for the boat just a good running 90hp Johnson v4 82 model and trolling motor and depth finder I am wanting to fix the boat. I am not sure what to do it has a bump rail around the top does the top come off and how hard is it? Guy I work with tells me not to do that that I will bust the top he says just cut the floor and patch it but how safe is that fix? I live in Tn and want to fish the Tn river and don't want the boat to break in half on me lol thanks for help and info Jason

 

[esimmons92]

Re: 79 bumble bee floor repair

we will need pictures to know if you will have to pop the top off... some are able to do a complete restore with the cap on and some are not (i had to pop the cap). if you have to pop the cap, be very careful with your rub rail, they can cost about 250 new. BUT if you have some help lifting the cap and support it well it will not break, flex ALOT - yes... break -no.

 

[Jasonfroehlich]

Re: 79 bumble bee floor repair

Ok I will try to get some pics up on here the rub rail is alum. With a piece of continuous rubber in it which is hard as a rock behind the rubber is pop rivets in the alum going in the boat the floor cracked where I stepped so I took a shape razor knife and cut a square chucks of plywood came up easy and I found the outer stinger and its rotten I will try to figure how to upload pics thanks Jason

 

[esimmons92]

Re: 79 bumble bee floor repair

Ok I will try to get some pics up on here the rub rail is alum. With a piece of continuous rubber in it which is hard as a rock behind the rubber is pop rivets in the alum going in the boat the floor cracked where I stepped so I took a shape razor knife and cut a square chucks of plywood came up easy and I found the outer stinger and its rotten I will try to figure how to upload pics thanks Jason

Typically if both the floor and stringers are rotten, the transom is gone as well.

I was in the same boat as you (no pun intended) my rubrail was aluminium and i knew if i took the rubber insert out, there would be no getting it back on. I would suggest looking for just the rubber insert on line...
I was lucky and found a $300 rub rail for $50 on craigslist

 

[Jasonfroehlich]

Re: 79 bumble bee floor repair

Thanks for the info I been thinking on this project and trying to figure out if it will be worth fixing the boat or finding a diff boat and using this engine trailer etc how safe is this boat if I fix the part of the floor I am walking on that's rotten is the boat gonna break in half on me?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 79 bumble bee floor repair

To properly repair a fiberglass boat that has rotten deck/stringers/transom you're looking at many hours of work and approximately $1000 in materials. If you like this boat and want to keep it then it can be a worthwhile project. If done properly, your rebuild will be better than it came from the factory. That being said, you paid $500 and got a real nice motor out of it that's probably worth about double what you paid and that's not even including the other things that came with this boat. Personally, I'd look for an aluminum hull to hang that nice motor on.

 

[brnschoneck]

Re: 79 bumble bee floor repair

wowa i have a 78 solid as a rock !!! these boats were made well someone really neglected that babyyyy... I luv mine but im with ez if mine were rotted id probably llok for a nice tin !!!! however mine is solid so i just put in new carpet ,preassure washed her ,minor repairs at battery... but they are nice boats if u wanna fix it ....however get us some pics these guys are awesome on here and will lead u in the right direction of course ultimatley its ur decision ...id love to see her re-done though ...let us know and good luck

 

[brnschoneck]

Re: 79 bumble bee floor repair

we will need pictures to know if you will have to pop the top off... some are able to do a complete restore with the cap on and some are not (i had to pop the cap). if you have to pop the cap, be very careful with your rub rail, they can cost about 250 new. BUT if you have some help lifting the cap and support it well it will not break, flex ALOT - yes... break -no.

from looking at mine several times i dnt think ud have to pop cap off , however it is still a long big job !!! so its up to you dont quote me on it pics would be nice but not thinking ud have to !!!

 

[gm280]

Re: 79 bumble bee floor repair

One thing I don't see in these types of comments about whether to rebuild/refurbish any boat is, if you truly like the boat and how it looks and/or is laid out, you have to take that into consideration when making your decision to keep her and do the repairs. Yes money is an option and needs to be analyzed as well, but the looks and layout is also a consideration to lay the needed money out to bring her back to life again. And remember, once you do the repairs with quality work, that boat will be better then original and last as long as you want it... And the self satisfaction is so rewarding as well...

 

[Jasonfroehlich]

Re: 79 bumble bee floor repair

Thanks for the info I really like the boat I may go ahead and make it a project looks like after I am done I can still get my money back out of it has anyone ever used frp board for lowes it's a fiber glass wall panel pretty thick for shower walls thought it could be roughted up and glassed to the boat about 40.00 a 4x8 sheet?

 

[Jasonfroehlich]

Re: 79 bumble bee floor repair

Thanks guys I try to get some pics up this weekend

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 79 bumble bee floor repair

has anyone ever used frp board for lowes it's a fiber glass wall panel pretty thick for shower walls thought it could be roughted up and glassed to the boat about 40.00 a 4x8 sheet?

I used that stuff for it's intended purpose (shower) and it was ideal for that, but it doesn't have any lateral strength so I can't think of much of an application for it in a boat.

 

[Jasonfroehlich]

Re: 79 bumble bee floor repair

It was just a thought lol I don't know a lot about glass but I will be learning soon thanks

 

[esimmons92]

Re: 79 bumble bee floor repair

Hows the boat looking?

 

[brnschoneck]

Re: 79 bumble bee floor repair

hows the boat coming along ?? any pics yet ??? Id like to see it ....

 

[Jasonfroehlich]

Re: 79 bumble bee floor repair

hows the boat coming along ?? any pics yet ??? Id like to see it ....

Sorry it took me awhile to get back with you guys had some med problems in the family I ended up buy another boat and using the Johnson engine I bought a 88 sportsman blue fin alum so no problems with rot it was gonna run me alot to fix the bumble bee thanks for the help Jason