Have the hull pretty much cleaned out, I'm going to use cleaner on it and power wash it tomorrow to see what I have. Took the transom out this morning. It was surprisingly solid considering the floors were shot. I figured I may as well swap it out as long as I have everything torn apart. I had a hard time getting the transom out until I put a scab on the transom and then used a bottle jack to pop it out of the channel. I tugged and tugged from above and got nowhere. This worked really well and did not put stress on the bottom of the boat. I gently put pressure on both sides and it popped right out. I had a small board under the jack to spread the pressure around. And I was at the corner of the bottom, sides and transom so it's a pretty structurally sound area of the boat. I think I read where others used this approach - it made popping the transom out really easy.
I backed mine under the kid's swing set and ran a ratchet strap thru the splashwell drain holes (inside the transom skin) and up and over the cross beam. Started to lift the hull off the trailer, but a fat old man stepped into the boat and it popped right out.
You gotta figure out some way to get some leverage on it that's for sure. I doubt many of them will just lift out manually unless its really rotten. Working on the top of my gunwales to get carpet glue off. I bought a little can of Goof Off which works with steel wool. I'll have to see if they sell bigger cans at a better price.
Got a lot of the glue off of this today. Came up with a system where I soaked a 6" x 12" rag with Goof Off and then laid it on the top of the gunwales for about 5 minutes. That softened the glue up pretty good to follow up with a scraper. And then I would soak steel wool in Goof Off for a final scrubbing and it came up pretty easily. I used my power washer to knock a lot out of the hull including the injected foam residue. It also took off a lot of the carpet remnants. I'm wondering if I should spend the time and energy to get all of the old carpet glue out since I will be covering it up with new carpet.
It's up to you but it could make the new carpet look bumpy with all the old glue so knocking it down some would be a good idea.
I see you had some steel rivet mandrels left behind by Starcraftsmen too. I used some rust dissolver to get that stuff off my hull, I had a ton of rusty old mandrels in the bottom of my SS.
I see you have 2 piece gunnels in your model too. I replaced all the bind rivets in mine as the mandrels are steel and were rusted out leaving the rivets loose or soon to be and the gunnels were sorta floppy. I also added a hundred or so new rivets since they were 5/32nds.
Just curious to get opinions. This boat had a bunch of overstuffed upholstery with buttons, vinyl wrapped consoles, and basically no metal exposed. Does anyone ever just paint this stuff and leave it exposed? I tend to like things simpler. Maybe its because I ripped all this rotten stuff out. This even had a padded splashwell!
Whoa padded everything with buttons, that's pimpin'!
On my SS I painted everything you mentioned and on the top surfaces, bow deck, gunnels and console tops are all painted with Epihanies poly beads mixed in the paint for a nice durable surface that doesn't get marred up. I also added catalyst hardener to the concoction.
Same here. Console, gunnel tops, and even gunnel sides are all painted. I patched the holes in the bow area gunnels with JB Weld with a little square of tin flashing applied from behind like chewing gum on a school desk and sanded smooth (patched all holes like that actually).
45 degrees this weekend so I'm going to build the transom in the basement. Have 3/4" marine plywood. Is Titebond Waterproof good to use? Or I have some chopped strand fiberglass I can layer in between and use polyester resin or is that overkill?
I assume 1 bottle is enough for a transom? Just curious and not that I intend to do it, but is glass and resin corrosive to aluminum? I know you have to use aluminum rivets and stainless nuts, bolts, and washers. And no PT lumber.
I assume 1 bottle is enough for a transom? Just curious and not that I intend to do it, but is glass and resin corrosive to aluminum? I know you have to use aluminum rivets and stainless nuts, bolts, and washers. And no PT lumber.
