96 Bass Tracker Restoration

[Tracker12]

Hello, I'm in the begining process of restoring my tracker I recently purchased. First step, removing deck.
Found deck screws under carpet, so I scrapped off all carpet to unscrew and remove the deck. As of now I'm stuck trying to removed the Phillip head screws. Some came out easily, the others are seized. I tried drilling them out, I tried an impact driver. No luck. I removed some by chiseling plywood around the head and unscrewing the with a vise grip. It did work for a few but some screws head broke off. Any other suggestions? ?

 

[Tracker12]

Re: 96 Bass Tracker Restoration

 

[Tracker12]

Re: 96 Bass Tracker Restoration

 

[Tracker12]

Re: 96 Bass Tracker Restoration

Things I plan to inspect and replace if needed:
Plywood
Check electrical cables
Remove old gas from gas tank
Inspect foam
Inspect and monitor rivets. Rebuck and seal with gluvit or some kind of sealer.
Check bilge pump and aerator system.
Replace carpet.

Open to any ideas. Thx

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 96 Bass Tracker Restoration

Typical previous owner rebuild tactics.

Tracker decks are screwed through the carpet leaving the heads exposed for easy deck removal... you'd be surprised at the people that don't get this and feel like they have to conceal the deck fasteners.

Removing all of the deck screws and/or heads and then pulling/prying the old decking up should work, it'll be some work and a Stanley flat bar will come in handy.

Here's a look at my Tracker resto if you're interested:
http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...ir/97-tracker-pro-deep-v-facelift-509163.html

 

[Tracker12]

Re: 96 Bass Tracker Restoration

How much was the Vinly flooring. Looks very neat. Thx

Typical previous owner rebuild tactics.




Tracker decks are screwed through the carpet leaving the heads exposed for easy deck removal... you'd be surprised at the people that don't get this and feel like they have to conceal the deck fasteners.

Removing all of the deck screws and/or heads and then pulling/prying the old decking up should work, it'll be some work and a Stanley flat bar will come in handy.

Here's a look at my Tracker resto if you're interested:
http://forums.iboats.com/boat-resto...ir/97-tracker-pro-deep-v-facelift-509163.html

 

[Tracker12]

Re: 96 Bass Tracker Restoration

Removing outboard to begin transom project

After removing the outboard, found some bad news. There's holes in the aluminum of the transom. I performed a Leak treat last week and found water leaking from that area. What procedures do I take to correct these leaks?. Are holes like that normal. ?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 96 Bass Tracker Restoration

Holes like that are not normal... but unfortunately they are common.

Those holes are caused by galvanic corrosion, this happens when water gets trapped between the plywood and transom metal. The water depletes of oxygen and turns acidic and corrodes the aluminum.

Clean that junk up with a stainless steel wire cup brush on an angle grinder and then skim coat it with JB Weld Marine or Loc-tite Marine Epoxy to fill the pitting and holes. Sand the filler smooth after it cures and then paint over it with the self etching aluminum primer. Do this to both the inside and outside of the transom.

This damage is due to neglect and exposing the boat to the elements by not keeping it covered and dry when the boat isn't in use... we see this a lot with aging aluminum boats. It's sad to see this kind of preventable damage, but like everything else it's nothing that can't be fixed.

 

[Tracker12]

Re: 96 Bass Tracker Restoration

What about getting it welded

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 96 Bass Tracker Restoration

You can get it welded if you want, but welding .063 gauge aluminum isn't easy and will likely be pretty expensive. A marine metal filler epoxy will do a good job, will be cheaper, and you can do it yourself.

About half or more of the aluminum boat restorations on here have had to do this very same thing, like I said it's a pretty common problem.

The Loc-tite marine epoxy is available at Home Depot and pretty easy to use:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Loctite-0-85-fl-oz-Marine-Epoxy-1405604/100371825
You'll probably need 3 or 4 tubes.

 

[Tracker12]

Re: 96 Bass Tracker Restoration

Thank for all the help jigngrub. Ill start cleaning the transom,, ill post pics in s few days once stripped. Thx

 

[Tracker12]

Re: 96 Bass Tracker Restoration

Stripped the transom paint to pin point holes in aluminum. Found bondo.

Removed covers to transon wood, inspected inside of boat, found aluminum damaged and cracked. Chunks of aluminum are missing due to heavy corrosion damage. Now I don't know what to do? Any suggestions?

 

[Tracker12]

Re: 96 Bass Tracker Restoration

I also found 3 bilge pumps wired to switch. The previous owner would take it out and run all 3 pumps to remove water from boat. Fml

 

[83mulligan]

Re: 96 Bass Tracker Restoration

Is that the inside of the transom? You'll be ok, lots of good help here.

 

[Tracker12]

Re: 96 Bass Tracker Restoration

Yes its the inside of the boat. Transom area.

Is that the inside of the transom? You'll be ok, lots of good help here.

 

[Tracker12]

Re: 96 Bass Tracker Restoration

Ttt

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 96 Bass Tracker Restoration

Use a wire wheel (stainless) cup brush in an angle grinder to remove that crapola inside and out.

Then skim the pitting and holes with a marine epoxy metal filler like Loc-tite marine epoxy or JB Weld Marine.

When you get everything filled, sand it down nice and smooth and paint with the zinc chromate self etching primer. Then a couple coats of metal primer on top of that and you'll never have to worry about pitting or corrosion again.

How many of those bilge pumps run?

 

[Tracker12]

Re: 96 Bass Tracker Restoration

Perfect. Ill get on it. Thx