my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

[jigngrub]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

Your stringers are in this pic and run parallel with the gas tank, they're the 3/4" members you have your longitudinal 2x's screwed to... I count 4 in the pic.

I see in this pic that you're also missing some foam in the 2 spaces on each side of your gas tank.

The sheet foam, noodles, and bottles are for aluminum boats.

The 2 part urethane expanding foam is what is used in fiberglass boats, it helps support the deck and adds rigidity to the hull.

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

That's what I thought you were calling stringers. I think the two sections beside the gas tank were probably like that OEM. The top looks just like the rest of the foam, no signs it was cut or shaved or anything. But it does stop an inch or two shorter on both sides than the outer two compartments. I actually thought those stringers were solid fiberglass.

Where do I find the proper foam, and the fiberglass needed?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

Where do I find the proper foam, and the fiberglass needed?

I buy that kind of stuff here:

http://www.uscomposites.com/

The best prices I've found on the internet, and quick shipping.

Your stringers are plywood laid over with fiberglass, you'll want to check them for rot by drilling a 3/8" hole in them down close to the bottom. It the shavings are light in color the stringers are good, if the shavings are dark and moist they're bad... check your transom the same way.

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

Thanks. I'm gonna be hardheaded enough to finish out the season. About December it'll be too cold . I was in the water March 3rd this season lol. Then ill pull the floor back up, core the foam, check it, and check the transom and stringers. That transom is gonna be tough to work with under that platform. I guess after replacing the transom, that area of the gelcoat from the outside just wont match any more? Transom and stringers really sounds like something I can tackle. A fiberglassed floor, I'm not so sure. Does it attach to the stringers sorta how I did? Or does it just lie on top, coated in glass, and tie the glass back into the sides of the boat with more glass, like the original did?

Perhaps I can cover it with truck bed coating instead of carpet?

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

Still, can I pleeease have a kudo for creativity, and a job that looks good and was functional to everything I knew?? Haha. I don't mind a piddling project. Not as much as the girlfriend!

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

I feel like, with a good looking interior, and the outward appearance as good as it is, the boat can bring 3000$. So I'm willing to foot another 1500. I just don't have the means to do it all at once. I have a house I'm updating as well.'we' chose the old one because the ex wife liked it >:O. I feel it will take far less than that to do these few things.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

Jig has provided good advice, mrjd as well, IMHO

Approval of, encouragement/support of & use of a boat repair done in this fashion, isn't wise, again IMHO.

I hope that the boat in it's current status allows you to reach your goal of boating. And that it does so safely.

Best of luck w/ your project, and practice safe boating

You may find helpful tips in Don's How to thread

 

[emoney]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

Kudos for trying anything I say. However, the guys are right, you really need to make sure your transom and stringers are not rotted. Think of it in "house terms": If the house you lived in right now had a basement, and those basement walls were all but caving in, hanging on only by one piece of gravel, how well would you sleep tonight, right above it? You may even find out that your transom isn't rotted, but they aren't exaggerating when someone tells a "horror story" about a boat sinking from a transom giving way....I've seen it. That's truly the only reason guys will weigh in with "negative" comments, because noone wants to see any boater, let a lone a new one, have a catastrophic event like that happen. On the other hand, if your transom is solid and the stringers are as well, why you could run that boat as is for a few more seasons I'm sure, and you wouldn't be the first person to "get lucky" in that regard.

If, however, you find that she really does need a complete gutting and rehab, then just make sure this is the boat you can see yourself in later on down the road, say 3-5 years from now. If not, then do what you've already thought about and find a hull you like better and swap the motor. There are tons of them out there on the market. If you're going to be putting work into something, then make sure it's something you can cherish and enjoy after you're done. Heck, I just recently sold a perfect running boat in order to purchase a "project" because the one I sold wasn't what I truly wanted. The "project" I have now, while my issues are all mechanical at the moment, is something I can see owning 10 years from now and that makes it worth all the heartache, busted knuckles, blood, sweat and swear words it'll take to get it "right". Regardless which route you go, stay on the path because a lot of worries and trouble can be washed away when you're "on the water in your own boat". KUDOS!

 

[jigngrub]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

When I said what I said about the way you fixed your boat I wasn't talking about the way it looks... it looks good.

... but I firmly believe if you leave it "as is" you'll have more and bigger problems down the road... then you'll have to undo everything you've done, plus fix the other stuff that goes wrong.

If you do it right this time you won't have to worry about fixing anything else on it for quite a while and you'll have a new boat for about 3K which is a heck of a bargain if you go out and look at the price of brand new boats these days.

 

[500dollar744ti]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

^^^ that's a good point. I think it really depends on his long term plans for it.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

First this:

I see. I will certainly check my transom soon. Sounds like more winter projects haha. Gotta stay busy! I plan to add a wake tower this winter, and ha e a camper I'm trying to sell for "boat betterment".

I really, really dread the thought of working with fiberglass, but I figure this boat is worth putting a little more moneys into than I have so far. In order to replace the transom, cut out the part of it that is wood, gelcoat and all? Then replace with a new fiberglassed piece?

Almost sounds like I need to start looking for a boat with a blown motor for cheeap. Then I have one cylinder low on compression. Planned to rebuild it myself, before finding this out haha. Maybe sell it all next season and wait for a few payments to disappear and try again.

Then:

I feel like, with a good looking interior, and the outward appearance as good as it is, the boat can bring 3000$. So I'm willing to foot another 1500. I just don't have the means to do it all at once. I have a house I'm updating as well.'we' chose the old one because the ex wife liked it >:O. I feel it will take far less than that to do these few things.

Is what makes this:

^^^ that's a good point. I think it really depends on his long term plans for it.

And this:

More then a little troublesome for me.....

Hidden problems do occur, plus caveat emptor & all that. But to suggest that this 'repair' is sound & suitable isn't wise. IMHO. To propose selling it to someone else isn't appropriate either, again IMHO.

I'm also confident that Jig meant that although it looks good finished, he did not imply or intend to imply that this 'repair' WAS 'good', 'sound' or safe when he posted this:

When I said what I said about the way you fixed your boat I wasn't talking about the way it looks... it looks good.... but I firmly believe if you leave it "as is" you'll have more and bigger problems down the road... then you'll have to undo everything you've done, plus fix the other stuff that goes wrong.

And if I am mistaken, Jig will correct me. We haven't seen eye to eye on a few occasions @ the iboats forum. However, I do feel strongly that we fully agree w/ regards to this repair & it's short/long term safety & it's implications.

Boat safely

 

[jigngrub]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

You are correct JB.

I meant this looks good:

This however, is a Billy Goat's butt sewed up with a grapevine:

I wouldn't put off checking for rot, if you do have rot you could really damage your boat by finishing out the season with it "as is"... and with just that little bit of floatation foam your boat won't float for long if the hull or transom is breeched, she will go to the bottom of the lake.

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

I will check the transom soon. Its easy enough to get to. Probably go ahead and pull up a few boards while I'm at it and check the stringers. One question...what if I drill too far throughout the transom? Ans even if I don't drill all the way through, should I not fill the holes back in with something?

To get to the bottom of the stringers, I'm assuming I have to dig through some of the foam. Buy the product listed above to fill the spot back in.

If the transom needs replacing, do you cut that entire section out of the rear of the boat? All the way through, gelcoat and all? I also can't see where the wood section of the transom ends, or is that whole panel that is the rear of the boat one wood piece?

Truth be told, may not be smart, I'm sorta fond of the boat. I like the shape and look of the boat, and its quick, does what I want it to. Its not horrible of fuel. Wouldn't be right to sell it like this, so I might as well fix it up. Maybe a few years down the road after the money hasn't been freshly spent I can sell it and move up. You can see an old blue Ford beside the boat. It was my dads truck, and he passed it to me when I turned 15. It gets 6 MPG (bb460) and I have a powerstroke, but I can't get rid of it. I tend to get sentimentally attached to things.

But, hear this, I'm not taking all of this lightly. I will check the transom and stringers, and work on a fiberglassed floor this winter. It is just a pain to search the forums on my phone. There is an advertisement behind the search button that it clicks instead of search.

Will the floor just rest on top of the stringers? The old floor didn't appear to be attached to them. It didn't give much structural support, I'm sure. It was soft in a few spots.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

I will check the transom soon. Its easy enough to get to. Probably go ahead and pull up a few boards while I'm at it and check the stringers. One question...what if I drill too far throughout the transom? Ans even if I don't drill all the way through, should I not fill the holes back in with something?

Use PB: a poly resin & cabosil mixed filler (using products @US Comp, other online retailers as well). DO NOT drill thru the outer hull, then no cosmetic repair will be needed.

Check the threads in Don's How to thread I posted, PB (peanut butter, pookie) is in more then 1. Try reading them. They contain lots of great info, and will answer some questions you haven't thought to ask yet, having not done boat glassing work before.

To get to the bottom of the stringers, I'm assuming I have to dig through some of the foam. Buy the product listed above to fill the spot back in.

Again, read thru some of the other resto threads, and the ones posted in Don's list. It typically is not a pull the foam out, pour more in situation. Unless you plan to re-connect the hull sides to the bow & transom, & the stringers via a fiberglass'd deck & re-create the boats fiberglass deck system, there is little need to check the stringers.

BTW, as i remember, Trex is significantly heavier then even 3/4" glassed plywood.

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

Use PB: a poly resin & cabosil mixed filler (using products @US Comp, other online retailers as well). DO NOT drill thru the outer hull, then no cosmetic repair will be needed.

Check the threads in Don's How to thread I posted, PB (peanut butter, pookie) is in more then 1. Try reading them. They contain lots of great info, and will answer some questions you haven't thought to ask yet, having not done boat glassing work before.



Again, read thru some of the other resto threads, and the ones posted in Don's list. It typically is not a pull the foam out, pour more in situation. Unless you plan to re-connect the hull sides to the bow & transom, & the stringers via a fiberglass'd deck & re-create the boats fiberglass deck system, there is little need to check the stringers.

BTW, as i remember, Trex is significantly heavier then even 3/4" glassed plywood.

If it needs to be done for structural integrity, then I will fiberglass in a new floor so that everything is tied back together.I thought a boat deck was something to stand on lol. Trex is a bit heavy, which is not unwanted for me. A little more wake would be appreciated. I've had plans to add ballast bags and a wake tower before this discovery. Guess that'll be next winter. Ill check through the links and work on figuring out more.


Right now I need to know
1) how to remove the wood part of the transom if it is indeed in bad shape without just cutting through the boat,

2) How the fiberglass floor is tied to the stringers.ill also need to figure out what to put topside the floor instead of carpet. I despise carpet. Too hard to clean.

 

[mrdjflores]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

here's a quick and dirty on the transom...
the outer layer of fiberglass and gelcoat (the actually hull you see from the outside) stays put, uncut.
you cut out the inner layer of glass and the wood from inside the boat...sometimes you have to remove the cap (top half of the boat)
to put in the new wood.
like many have said, read through the sticky thread on the "how to's".
i am actually at the same stage of replacing the transom in my thread.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

Right now I need to know
1) how to remove the wood part of the transom if it is indeed in bad shape without just cutting through the boat,

2) How the fiberglass floor is tied to the stringers.ill also need to figure out what to put topside the floor instead of carpet. I despise carpet. Too hard to clean.

1. DJ explained it in a nutshell, I'll expand a little.

There's 2 ways to remove the transom wood, the hard/hard way and the hard/easy way.

The hard/hard way:

You see that black hole behind your back seats, you crawl up in there and do all the work while scrunched up in there. Removing the inner fiberglass skin digging the rotten wood out and replacing everything.

The hard/easy way:

You take the cap off of your boat (top half) it's fastened to the bottom half at the rub rail (you have to pull the rubber out to locate the screws or pop rivets). Set the cap off to the side and you'll have plenty of room to work on the inside of your transom.

2. Fastening the decking to the stringers:

You have quite a bit of work to do before you do this, but I'll give you a brief explanation.

You can either just screw the decking to the stringers, or you can put adhesive on top or the stringers and then screw the decking down. After the decking is fastened down you'll lay the fiberglass and resin on it (the entire deck) and tab (tie) it into the hull. This will be the last structural thing you do, the stuff that comes after is the finishes like installing your choice of deck finish like carpet, vinyl, or a paint type coating.

This isn't the same kind of boat as yours, but it is fiberglass:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=471173&highlight=decker83

I posted this thread because much of the things this old guy is doing will be pretty much the same as yours, except his is on a larger scale. This guy does some very good looking work and is craftsman... you can see how stuff is done the right way.

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

Thank-you. Been doing some reading, and I believe, if foam is necessary, ill need the 4 lb density?
Also I see that ill need fiberglass cloth and poly resin. How do I determine how much I need? I understand the cloth is sold in ft?, and they gibe a rough ratio by weight of resin to cloth, but do I only need one layer of cloth?

My stringers are not wide enough to screw anything to. Maybe 1/2". That is why the 2x2's were necessary to give me something to screw to. Glass a 2x2 to the stringers at the top? I'm tempted to start ordering stuff I need over the next few months. Ill just park the boat I guess . A buddy just bought a boat I guess that can get me through the season, but it's not like taking MINE out. I've only gotten to run it a handful of times because I've been chasing a trim issue for a few months.

Is there ANY chance of harming my boat while removing the top half? For instance if someone fell and lost one corner, would it crack the whole top half? If so ill just deal with the frustration and swearing of lying under the platform. Would I be able to get the rubber trim back on to hide the screw heads?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

2x2 on top of the stringer and then glassed in will work fine.

I've seen quite a few caps removed on here and haven't heard of anyone breaking one yet, and even if you do ding it... it isn't something that can't be fixed. Fiberglass repair is one of the main topics on this board, someone is always dinging a keel or getting a gouge somewhere.

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

Re: my minor boat restoration...first boat on a budget! 84 dixie ski 19' runabout

I may be wasting my time, because I haven't even checked my transom yet, but I'm reading in the Hull extension thread it may be possible to remove the inner classing from the wood in one piece if I get it cut in the right place. Then I could resin the wood, and epoxy the wood to the glass, inside and out, and 'tab' the inner glassing back together where it was before?

Is it very common to get lucky enough for it to work this way? Gotta get up at three am for work, so I guess reading through to the transom repair is as far as ill get tonight!