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

[jbcurt00]

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..............
so I guess reading through to the transom repair is as far as ill get tonight!

Not a waste of time, if you're likely to always be on a budget build, following a completed thread or a substantially completed thread will help you start to look at it as a series of smaller steps. Then 1 day, perhaps not very soon, it'll start looking like a boat again, and before you know it, you're jumping up & down at the boat ramp shooting a cellphone video to post up for us boat nerds to watch

I will likely never be able to rebuild 1 more then a little at a time, spending a little out of a paycheck. It happens. Check some of the threads in the resto section, some of those guys joined before they owned a boat. Lurked around & read thru some threads, bought a boat, found the below deck horror show that is very often the case, and started to tear into it. And years later, some have still not reached the payoff.

Even in the Starcraft (aluminum division, don't ask it's cult like behavior) owners forum, many of those guys are on a 2-3yr timeline and the tinny's are supposed to be a 'quicker' 'easier' build.

None of mine have been back in the water & under power yet. So count your work to date as a learning experience. You were able to use your boat more then once & it brought you, your gear & your guests back safely. I as of yet, can't say the same. And many of the materials you mentioned you'd gotten as leftover scrap from work. So less out of pocket to date as well. The biggest problem was the big question mark as to the current setup's longevity. Did it work, yes. It was for how long...

The crew @ iboats is really helpful & willing to help in anyway they can. But most will attempt to err on the side of safety 1st & above almost everything else. On this, Jig & I rarely disagree.

Welcome. Nice to have you join us, post up questions as soon & as often as you think of them. If it's directly related to the rehab of the boat, post the questions here. If you are having trim problems w/ the motor's power T&T post a thread in the engine forum for your make engine. There's tons of good info there too.

I don't know what engine you're running but if you need a manual you might try here:

http://search.ebscohost.com/

Username: marshall
Password: public

after logon:

Select small engine repair

Select Marine/Boat motor

Scroll down to find your make

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

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

The boat has a mercury 150 black Max xr2. One of the biggest reasons I like it so. That motor spools up quickly and runs with my dad's bayliner with a 302. I actually am faster than him with both 19? props. At this point, I'm searching for a ptt unit used from perhaps a blown motor.

I work weekends, so with 4 days off a week, as long as money allows for supplies, I see no reason I can't have transom and stringers rebuilt, foam replaced, and a floor back in. If it even needs all that. Knowing my luck, though, it will. I think the boat looks nice, so I don't mind. I just spent quite a bit on stereo equipment for it :/. Maybe ill sit in the seat under the carport and listen to my music haha!

Sidenote: I plan to add a wake tower when I complete all this. So, if I need to pull the top half off, I might as well reinforce the mounting points where the tower feet will be. There is no other way to really get to the spot where the front feet will rest anyway because the seats are screwed on somehow from the inside. Just glass in a piece of plywood in the largest section I can fit it, since I don't know exactly where the feet will rest yet?

Any ideas on determining how much weight I can safely add? I think the tag on my boat says 1250 lbs cargo. Considering screwing the trex boards on top of a proper glass floor when I get it down. I like the look, and then maybe I won't want ballast bags so badly. Might improve the weight enough. My boat weighs pretty much nothing. I can move it around the yard on the trailer alone, by picking the tongue up, and compared to the other boats I haul it is very light behind the truck.



There is an aluminum plate behind where the top two motor mounting bolts are. Ill bet after reading all this, that isn't OEM.

 

[mrdjflores]

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

sometimes i wish my boat was that light

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

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

That part is nice, but it creates a little less wake than my friends Seville sea ray with 3.0 I/0 or my dads bayliner with 302. Nice to pull and hook up though, definitely.

What would be wrong with sealing the plywood for the floor with resin, or even polyurethane or something, then using fiberglass around the edges, rear, and front to tab the floor to the rest of the boat? I think that would still provide the necessary structural support, and the resin would waterproof it, no? This would cut down on some of my material costs.

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

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

So, is this section in the middle that's not carpeted where the edges of the transom probably are? How deep do I need to drill?

If the stringers are going bad, this one at the rear probably is, right? Good place to start checking them?

You can see here where a metal plate was added on the inside of the top portion of the transom here.

Always thought nothing of it untilled I removed the ptt unit and discovered it was covering up this drain hole...

I think that plate is a sign somebody noticed a problem.perhaps water began leeching into the wood around that drain hole.

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

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

I drill a few holes in the stringers around the bilge, and at the rear of the boat its light colored wood. Up close to where the foam compartments start, I get some dark, almost like a light Burgundy colored wood. Sorta looks like cedar. Doesn't really seem wet, and its not rot. Since its not white, though, does that indeed mean it is wet?

Drilled the first hole in the transom, and, as soon as I got throughout the outer layer of glass, the drill bit poked through with no resistance and water poured out of the hole. Odd thing is it was clear water. A hole higher up yielded dark colored wettish wood, and another hole along the bottom on the other side gave more water, but accompanied by wood. I could post pics, but obviously the transom is a candidate for replacement. Ill have to test the stringers more underneath the floor beside the foam, if they all seem to be like what I found in the back, they might be OK.

I dread unhooking everything, removing the motor, and lifting the cap off more than replacing the transom.

As you see above, the top half of the boat comes down and encased part of the transom. So, to get it all off, the lid HAS to be removed.

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

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

How do I remove the rubber trim over the screws holding the cap on without damaging it? Would I ever be able to get it back on anyway?

How do I unhook the steering wheel? The entire console will come up too. Tips on keeping all the wires to all the gauges and switches in order? I was thinking try to label them with tape or something.

It is soooo tempting to cut a piece of wood that spans the whole rear of the boa, coat it, and epoxy it in. Then the cap could stay on. Please talk me out of that.

Edit-brain fart. I don't have to unhooking the steering wheel or the gauges, that'll all come off together. Doh! I just have to unhooking and remove the motor. Right now I wish it were smaller!

 

[mrdjflores]

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

for the rub-rail...find the seam and pry out the rubber....usually wont damage it....usually...
when re-installing rub rail, i've heard some guys talk about laying it out in the sun to get really warm and flexible, to make installation easier.

as far as your wires and things....they typically can stay hooked to the cap...just have to check for other connections like fuel lines, pumps, speed sensors, etc....also check under the cap rails to see how the wires are bundled together and fastened to the boat...some boats run all the wires and controls under the deck instead of under the cap....

and yeah, with burgandy colored wood, even though it may not feel wet, they are probably toast..

on drilling the holes in your transom...dill you drill from the outside of the boat?? or from the inside?
really doesn't matter, just have to plug the holes on the outside if you drilled from there

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

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

Lol I drilled from the inside. That's why clean water pouring out puzzled me so. It has begun. Nuts for the motor are loose but not off. Throttle cables are unhooked. I need to unhoo all the fuel and oil hoses, and the wires to the starter, as well as the steering. Then its ready to lift off.

All I can really do is set the cap in the yard and put a tarp over it. And pray a limb doesn't fall on it.

I removed the rubber, it came off well and is in good shape. Also drilled the heads off the million or so rivets holding the metal track, then the rivets under it. Taking a break, and ill build a stand for my engine in a little bit. Drive out the rivets, get a few buddies over, and ill ready to lift the cap.

I'm past the point of no return. She's down for the count at least till next summer. Anything I need to do to ready my motor to sit all winter? Maybe to keep the carbs from gumming up?

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

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

Sorry to keep posting and posting. Half of you are probably tired of this thread coming back up into view, but I get ancy. I'm also a little more than intimidated by this project, but ill get it.

Last pic before she's topless, and begins being gutted.

I'm assuming pry it up and get three two bys under it, then six people to lift? Or will two boards suffice? I'm terribly afraid of cracking this thing.

 

[mrdjflores]

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

yeah, lift it up to get some 2x4's under her and verify eveything is unhooked and not binding anywhere. check around where your consoles hit the deck and make sure they arre not attached.
depending on how your cap is, you may want to build some supports for it to sit on so it doesn't flex with those consoles and windshield not allowing her to sit flush on the ground.
get a case of beer and some friends over to help carry her off......
and the BIGGEST TIP!!!!!!.....the beer is only to be used AFTER the cap is sitting securely off of the boat

your doing good...no need to be intimidated

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

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

Haha. I have a pile of scrap wood the girlfriend has been beeeeeggging me to get rid of, but I just knew I'd need it eventually! Yes, the consoles are boosted to a raised spot in the floor, realized that after I went along and cut through all the caulk between the cap and Hull. There was enough caulk to hold it with no rivets! I believe those screws on the consoles and the fuel filler hose is all that's left, aside from completing engine removal. But hats a given. Its all loose now.

I think I'm gonna have a special appreciation for this boat once I'm finished.

Don't want to cut any corners that shouldn't be, but is resin alone fine to seal the stringers and floor? Then just use a layer or two of glass at the edges of the floor, and bottom of the stringers, to tie everything together?

I'll use 2x6 boards, or however wide they should be, for the stringers. I'm also gonna make sure there is drainage from each compartment to the bilge.

Do I use acetone after removing the stringers and foam to clean the old fiberglass so new will adhere properly?

 

[mrdjflores]

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

couple answers:
1)stringers should be made out of plywood, not dimensional lumber.
2)stringers are coated in resin, then bonded to the hull with PB (preferred method to most) or PB
then you do your fglass layup over the stringers and tabbed to hull
3) deck is coated all over in resin, some people will also but a layer of glass on the bottom side.
4) as far as attaching deck to stringers, there are multiple methods that people have used:
a)bead of PB or PL on top of stringers, then lay deck down and load with weigth until it cures, then tab the deck to the hull
b)screw or staple deck to top of stringers, then tab deck to hull
5) glass over top of the entire deck, then your choice of final finishes

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

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

Thanks, that answers most question. Except...pb? When I attach my new piece of transom, apply resin to the outer layer of glass, then use this 'pb' to secure the wood to the outer glass of the boat? Then let all that set, and glue my inner piece of glass, if I've gotten it all off in one piece, to the transom wood. Then I should glass over it all to tie the inner layer of fiberglass all back together?

I believe I should use the 4 lb density foam, correct? Just rough figure how many cubic feet I need, and order based on that?

Do I need to look at a way to support the walls of my Hull with the cap removed, and no floor? I believe I should put the cap back on and make sure the windshield fits well before I tab the deck to the Hull.

 

[joewithaboat]

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

couple answers:
1)stringers should be made out of plywood, not dimensional lumber.
2)stringers are coated in resin, then bonded to the hull with PB (preferred method to most) or PB
then you do your fglass layup over the stringers and tabbed to hull
3) deck is coated all over in resin, some people will also but a layer of glass on the bottom side.
4) as far as attaching deck to stringers, there are multiple methods that people have used:
a)bead of PB or PL on top of stringers, then lay deck down and load with weigth until it cures, then tab the deck to the hull
b)screw or staple deck to top of stringers, then tab deck to hull
5) glass over top of the entire deck, then your choice of final finishes

What is wrong with using dimensional lumber?

 

[jigngrub]

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

What is wrong with using dimensional lumber?

Plywood is stronger and resists warping.

 

[mrdjflores]

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

Thanks, that answers most question. Except...pb? When I attach my new piece of transom, apply resin to the outer layer of glass, then use this 'pb' to secure the wood to the outer glass of the boat? Then let all that set, and glue my inner piece of glass, if I've gotten it all off in one piece, to the transom wood. Then I should glass over it all to tie the inner layer of fiberglass all back together?

I believe I should use the 4 lb density foam, correct? Just rough figure how many cubic feet I need, and order based on that?

Do I need to look at a way to support the walls of my Hull with the cap removed, and no floor? I believe I should put the cap back on and make sure the windshield fits well before I tab the deck to the Hull.

no to putting resin on the inside of the outer layer of glass of the transom...PB is resin mixed with cabosil, glass beads or loose chopped mat..or a mixture of the 3....a popular mixture is 1qt resin+1/2qt glass beads+1/2qt of 1/4" chopped mat....trowel that to the inside of the hull over the transom area, then put your wood transom (that is already coated with resin) up against the troweled area and clamp tight until cured.
alot of people will support the hull with some all-thread or cross bars to keep it from flexing out....some even put extra support under the boat....kinda all depends on how the boat was constructed...

as far as foam goes...again, it depends on the boat construction...some boats, the foam is strictly for flotation, and 2lb density is fine, BUT..many boats use the foam as an integrated part of the support structure and therefore use 4lb density foam (some of the more experienced guys will chime in if i'm off base here)

 

[joewithaboat]

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

Plywood is stronger and resists warping.

Not sure i totally agree with blanket statement that plywood it better. I was just curious. I watch these rebuilds and as a professional woodworker I am always interested to see what folks come up with.

I helped (mostly watched) my Father years ago redo 2 different boat deck systems with 8/4 Honduran Mahogany cross lapped and wedge tenoned stringers and 5/8 marine deck. Mahogany is very expensive these days (even wholesale) so if i were to do one i might go the plywood route as well.

Plywood or any laminated product is very strong until water is introduced. Most readily available plywood is made of wood that has almost no resistance to water damage. It quickly turns to mush.

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

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

Alright, seems to me a great deal of my questions have been answered. Once I get the floor back up, will you guys be able to tell me through pics if the foam is structural and 4 lb is needed?

 

[mrdjflores]

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

we will be here...although, i'm not sure if i could tell the difference just from a picture...others might be able to....i haven't actually gotten to that part of me rebuild yet.