Quachita/ Ouachita 16' fiberglass reinforcement

[The bass assassin]

So I purchased a 1970's Quachita 16' tri-hull bass boat with stick steering, and after a year of rebuilding the power head and lower unit (1973 50hp Evinrude) I was finally able to get it down to the water. Now that it actually moves I can move onto the interior. Along the entire boat there is a little gully in the side rails and from people stepping on them they have cracked and show the stress lines. Mainly on the back in front of the transom it has a big crack from sitting. I know that fiberglass would repair the cracks and add a little more strength, but will it reinforce it enough to where i CAN sit on this area. I was considering building a back seat/bench and have it also reinforce these areas but i would still like to reinforce it to hold more weight. How can i reinforce this without bracing to the floor?
Also if there is anyone out there with this boat, or anything like it especially stick steer I would love to see as many pictures as possible. I'd love to get it all original mainly the original seats i would love the dimensions and pictures.

PS. is it "Q"uachita or "O"uachita?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Quachita/ Ouachita 16' fiberglass reinforcement

Install a piece of 3/4" exterior plywood under that part of the splashwell and laminate it to the fiberglass.

I will move this to the restoration section. (Lot's of help there)

Welcome to iboats! Nice boat!

 

[The bass assassin]

Re: Quachita/ Ouachita 16' fiberglass reinforcement

Now that area where i could insert wood is only about 2", is that really gonna be strong enough?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Quachita/ Ouachita 16' fiberglass reinforcement

You'd be surprised how much rigidity a 3/4" piece of exterior grade plywood wrapped in CSM, installed w/ thickened poly resin, then covered w/ a layer of 1708, will add to the area at the front of the splashwell.

You could fab an inverted 'U' (wrapped, installed w/ resin & covered similarly) to fit up under the splashwell's front & it'll be even more substantial...

Was the 2X4 (that seems to fallen down from the front apron of the splashwell) an added support?

A temp fix maybe?

 

[surlyjoe]

Re: Quachita/ Ouachita 16' fiberglass reinforcement

Sweet Quachita !! I love the old stick steer bass boats! very cool!

My motorwell cracked in the same spot and I plasterd a 2x2 wrapped in glass up under the front lip and its super strong now.

the little gully thing down the sides is pretty funky! I'd wanna put a trex 2x4 in it for that faux wood look I would bet the bottom of that gulley has plywood glassed to it thats going south and thats why its cracking, same way my gunwhales were.

 

[The bass assassin]

Re: Quachita/ Ouachita 16' fiberglass reinforcement

Do you mean attaching the "U" to the transom or to the floor because i don't want to block the sides for the drainage factor...

No the 2x4 was me just making sure that it would fit as i contemplate different solutions to my problem.

 

[surlyjoe]

Re: Quachita/ Ouachita 16' fiberglass reinforcement

I think he meant making a 2x2 " channel out of glass that would fit up under the lip at the front of the splashwell instaed of using a 2x2" of wood

 

[The bass assassin]

Re: Quachita/ Ouachita 16' fiberglass reinforcement

I'd wanna put a trex 2x4 in it for that faux wood look I would bet the bottom of that gulley has plywood glassed to it thats going south and thats why its cracking, same way my gunwhales were.

Hmmm. i really like that idea actually, however there is no plywood anywhere along it. the "gunwhales" (as i think you called them) are basically free standing off the hull of the boat hence why i am trying to strengthen it as much as possible. i was in the water and had to change the game plan while i was trying to pull myself in and all i heard was cracking.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Quachita/ Ouachita 16' fiberglass reinforcement

I meant a U out of plywood, installed upside down up into that channel at the front of the splashwell.


I wouldn't do anything to (and definitely wouldn't fill) that channel along the hull at the edge of the deck. It's intent is to allow water that gets on the deck, to collect in that channel (like a gutter) and be directed towards the back of the boat to drain either thru the drain plug or the bilge pump.

 

[surlyjoe]

Re: Quachita/ Ouachita 16' fiberglass reinforcement

Hmmm. i really like that idea actually, however there is no plywood anywhere along it. the "gunwhales" (as i think you called them) are basically free standing off the hull of the boat hence why i am trying to strengthen it as much as possible. i was in the water and had to change the game plan while i was trying to pull myself in and all i heard was cracking.

I see what your sayin about the it flexing, my buddy converted an old Mitchell cabin cruiser to a center console and had the same problem. we glassed in some little I'll say "corbels" cause I dont know the proper term for them from the side of the hull to the bottom of the gunwhale, he made em so they'd hang down a bit so he could mount rod holders on em. I'll see if he has a pic, he keeps his boat at a storage yard so taking one is probably not gonna happen soon.

 

[The bass assassin]

Re: Quachita/ Ouachita 16' fiberglass reinforcement

ya id be interested in seeing that, naturally whenever you can.. pictures are always encouraged

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Quachita/ Ouachita 16' fiberglass reinforcement

Hi Bass Assassin, welcome to the Iboats Dry Dock...
Cool boat, seems like a real serious fishing machine...
Some of the suggestions given sound like they could work...just make sure you prep any areas you are going to glass into on the boat real well for good adhesion...
Good Luck,
GT1M
PS- your screen name and my bass boat share similar names...:cool-new:

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Quachita/ Ouachita 16' fiberglass reinforcement

It's actually pronounced "Wahchita". I had a similar boat back in the Early 90's. Stick Steer with a 65 hp Rude' Caught a lot of Crappie out of that boat!!!! I'm in agreement with all the other suggested remedies.

 

[The bass assassin]

Re: Quachita/ Ouachita 16' fiberglass reinforcement

It's actually pronounced "Wahchita". I had a similar boat back in the Early 90's. Stick Steer with a 65 hp Rude' Caught a lot of Crappie out of that boat!!!! I'm in agreement with all the other suggested remedies.

i understand how to pronounce it but the confusion i guess is that the logo is spelled "Ouachita" and that is how i found most of the information about this boat but the title is spelled "Quachita". now to my understanding they were manufactured in the Quachita lake Arkansas area which would make sense for it to be spelled with a Q but why so much confusion. All in all i just want more information on this boat and the spelling problems are a true pain in the ***.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Quachita/ Ouachita 16' fiberglass reinforcement

It's a "Q" not an "O".