'88 Sportscraft CC Deck & Stringer Restoration

[ltjackson]

Well it's been quite some time since I've posted on this forum but due to a recent project I've started I'll probably be active again for a good while! I'll start this with a real basic introduction to myself and the recent project I've started then I'll show you guys what I've done so far. Any feedback is appreciated as this is really the first time I'm doing a restore to this level.

Anyway my name is Lee and I live in the Florida Panhandle just a little north of the Ft. Walton Beach area. Living in the area naturally means I have a love of boats and have for my entire life. My baby at this point is a 1999 Yamaha Exciter Twin Jet-Drive 270HP that we use to enjoy crab island and cruising around in the bay. However being a avid fisherman I've been waiting a fishing boat which leads me to the topic at hand. Not to long ago a good friend of mine called and told me the project boat he's been holding onto isn't going anywhere and would I like to have it. Of course I jumped at the idea and went to pick it up the weekend after the call. I knew it was in bad shape prior to getting it myself but I like a project and learning how to do this kind of thing though the process itself.

The engine is a 65hp Evenrude outboard with no controls, no trim ..... that's one thing I'm not excited about having to purchase but maybe I'll be able to find something used. The hull itself is is okay shape but probably needs a new gelcoat and the deck was soft in multiple areas.

The boat when I got it home (the console was already detached and the only thing that I did prior to these pictures was take off most of the hardware.)






And the console,


Looking over everything before I really got to work I noticed that the transom and the front live well were really solid. So when I got to working on the deck (later in the post) I noticed where the rot really stopped and how much work will be needed. So next came a long week at work because I'm the type of person that can't get their mind off of whatever project they are working on. The weekend finally arrives and it's time to cut the deck out!

Heat index in Florida was over 100!


Yuck ...






Now the whole deck is removed,




So that's where I am at the current moment. I've taken some pictures as I've been ripping out foam but I've only cut one of the stringer pieces out so far. The heat in Florida this time of the year is killer so I only have about 2 to 3 hours of work per weekend early in the mornings before it gets to hot.

My plan at this point is to continue to rip foam/stringers completely out, remove the gas tank, grind down the fiberglass where the previous stringers were attached then wash it out really good to see what I'm working with. Then I'm going to install new stringers/bulkheads with PL glue and a thickened fiberglass resin and tab them in with dual layers of CSM for waterproofing. Then comes the deck, 2 layers of CSM and gelcoat. I've watched every one of the videos friscoboater posted on the searay restoration and it made me feel much more comfortable doing this. I'm very experienced in fiberglass work due to my past professions so that shouldnt be any issue and I'm feeling pretty confident at this point. As I said at the beginning of this post any feedback is welcome as this is a really big project that I've never attempted anything like before.

Thanks everyone!

 

[Rickmerrill]

Hey lt, looks that will be a good Florida boat when you're finished. Got to admire you Florida guys stamina in this heat. I'm in TN and it "feels like" 106 right now so I'm taking the day off! Woodonglass has revised his "stringers, decks and transoms" a little since Frisco did his so take a look it might save some time and materials. PL seems to be falling out of favor too because of the cure times and bubbles from off-gassing when doing fillets so a lot of guys are recommending PB. Anyway, just my thoughts, maybe you already knew all that. I'd like to follow along. Here's hoping for some early cool spells for you!

 

[Corjen1]

Welcome to dry dock and Iboats!!! Good luck on your build! I spent some time at Herbi and lived in Navarre. Really miss hellnback pizza!!!

 

[ltjackson]

Yeah I can't help but get excited to see it finished! The other half keeps me on the ground and reminds me it's going to be a long process. I haven't seen the revised stringers, desk, and transoms so I'll check that out when I get off work tonight. I've been reading a bit on the PL and have seen the bad reviews you mentioned but haven't found anything else to use, by PB what do you mean?

I'm also looking for some cool spells but not to cold, after all that's why I live here in the first place!

EDIT: I love hellenback! At least once a week, can't beat that pizza. All these people that don't live in Florida will never know

 

[Rickmerrill]

Peanut Butter - thickened resin mixture used for bedding, bonding, fillets and gap filling. For example 1qt polyester resin, 1.5qt of cabosil and 1/4 cup of 1/4" chopped strands (Woods recipe).

 

[ltjackson]

Ah, I may end up using that (however I bet the price increase from PL to that is fairly high).

 

[Rickmerrill]

I've heard PB was cheaper but always wondered. Looked up the 28 fl oz pl premium online HD $7 or .25 per oz. if you buy a 5gal pail of resin from US Composits it's $125 for 5 gal/$25 gal or .195 per oz. Add 1.5 oz of cabosil and a few chopped strands and it's close. Figure in quantity discounts, shipping, taxes you can tilt it in favor of either but the cost looks to be about the same. I think the convince of pl in a one part tube sways some people but others don't like to wait 72 hours for it to cure.

 

[kcassells]

Oh yea!!! The Classic SportCraft! Love taht under rated boat. Most were built on a Fri. after the bar lunch scene...when that was allowed. They are of the best concept but tough construction due to who-ever. The hulls, designs are perfect. To re-do and have is nothing short of Heaven. I'm doing my Sportcraft 222 top to bottom and love the ole' gal. Good luck. ! Enjoy the mess.

 

[kcassells]

[h=1]1973 Sportcraft Sportsman 21'[/h] I don't know if you guys are related but this fellow just started a thread with the almost same boat. You guys should yap.

 

[kcassells]

Oh yea!!! The Classic SportCraft! Love taht under rated boat. Most were built on a Fri. after the bar lunch scene...when that was allowed. They are of the best concept but tough construction due to who-ever. The hulls, designs are perfect. To re-do and have is nothing short of Heaven. I'm doing my Sportcraft 222 top to bottom and love the ole' gal. Good luck. ! Enjoy the mess.

Wow... looking at that pic reminds me of how clean she was once. Grind, vacuum,wipe, fiberglass, grind, vacuum, wipe, fiberglass........lol

 

[ltjackson]

Haha, yeah I've been told as soon as I finish cutting old stringers out and start the grinding process that cleanup never stops.

 

[ltjackson]

Well I finally got home and uploaded a few more recent photos since last weekend!

After finishing getting the deck out I started to tackle the foam. Man that stuff is a pain to get out! The smell was horrible but to my surprise it wasn't to waterlogged to bad, however there was water trapped underneath when I finally reached the hull. After researching a bunch of builds I figured cutting the foam into big chunks and taking a prybar and mini-tiller would be the best bet. Anyway here are the pictures!

Toyed with the idea of cutting the foam with a saw but I didn't want to risk going through the deck and didn't want to make the trip to Lowes for a drywall saw. This is what I came up with (worked fantastic mind you)!


Man that's a lot of foam,




Look at what I found underneath ....




I forgot to take pictures of the boat without foam before starting to cut into the stringers. I guess I got excited but that was short lived because cutting these things is a pain!




That's as far as I have gotten on the stringers, with the heat index over 100 degrees last weekend it was rough. I'm looking forward to getting the final stringers out and the fuel cell pulled. I can't get under it with the stringers still in there so after I cut the back one I'm going to get one of those big pallet pry bars from Lowes, see if I can get under it and break that foam seal.

 

[Woodonglass]

Looks like you're making good progress. Take care in the heat!!! Stay Hydrated!!!! When you get your Tank out do me a favor and take some pics of the sides of the tank where the foam was in contact with it and the bottom as well. Will be interesting to see the effects. Thanks.

 

[ltjackson]

Looks like you're making good progress. Take care in the heat!!! Stay Hydrated!!!! When you get your Tank out do me a favor and take some pics of the sides of the tank where the foam was in contact with it and the bottom as well. Will be interesting to see the effects. Thanks.

Sure thing, I've got some time off work coming up and should be able to get the rest of the deconstruction done. One thing I've been trying to decide on is should I finish the stringer/deck stuff before flipping the boat and working on the hull or the other way around? The bottom of the hull has quite a few dings and it's not glossy at all. I've read just sanding it down then buffing/waxing will do the trick but how do I tell if I need to completely re-gelcoat?

 

[kcassells]

Do the interior work first. So if there is a issue or idea in regards to the exterior you can develop those thoughts as you move along with the interior. Spills happen, accidental cuts into hull etc. save that for last. In regards to the tank {mine was aluminum} the whole exterior was so pitted that it could not be repaired. Some pits were the size of a quarter and nearly all the way through. Took it to a shop for rehab but they said after messing with it to buy a new one. of course my boat was in a bad state so I cannot actually determine if it was the foam, water or just abuse by prior owner.

 

[Woodonglass]

I'd say the need to Re-Gel is slim. I'd recommend removing the tank, leaving the stringers for now, and flipping her now to effect the repairs to the hull. Once you get her flipped, take some pics of the areas needing repairs and we can guide you on the methods.

 

[jc55]

Yes, interior first then flip. Hopefully Sport Craft has eliminated the massive void problems in their layups since 1968. Love your hull...following along

 

[ltjackson]

I'm thinking the interior first is a good bet from what I've read, After I finish up the deck I plan on flipping and refinishing the hull (which I'll need a lot of advice on) so expect a lot of pictures in the coming months. Quick question for you guys, the trailer I have this thing on is shot, I've been looking on my local craigslist and have found 2 trailers that look okay. One the poster says is for an 18ft and the other for a 20ft. The 18ft is single axel for $300 obo and the 20ft is dual for $375. They both need some work but my question is what measurements do I need to pull on the boat and after that what should I look for as far as trailer size.

Thanks again!