Tri-Hull sank- complete restore

[rfnbry]

Howdy Y'all. I have been reading these post with in here and I have now have a project in head of me. I have a 1987 ( i believe) Tri Hull 14" Coho P-134. I got it from this guy in a trade. At first I thought it was a fantastic idea. This being my first boat, I was excited to just have one. Any way. I decided to put it in the Puget Sound one morning with a incoming tide and 2-3' swells. Not the best idea I have ever had. Needless to say judging by the pictures attached, the waves over took my boat and I sat helplessly for the next 4 1/2 hours watching the waves smash into the boat filling it with salt water, rocks, wood and small shell fish. Well it took me about 2-3 months but I completely dried her out (so I thought), re wired her, completely re did the motor and re fiberglassed some nicks and holes left in the hull by the waves smashing her up onto the rocks. Well the next trip out was in a lake out here. It was good to go. So I decided to enter into a Salmon Derby again in the Puget Sound. This is where it gets real bad. The first 2 hours of trolling with the Down riggers went well. Decided to head back ( roughly 3 miles) across the Sound and the waves were reaching 6-8 feet. The end soon cam. One big wave lifted my bow straight up into the air and slammed me down Arse first. Another 5-7 wave comes from behind and completely devours my boat in water. 5 seconds later, the boat capsizes. We were left to get on what was left sticking out of the drink and signal for help the best we could. Unfortunately the boat was left that way tied to a doc only accessible by another boat on this Island. 3 weeks later I was able to go out and get it and thankfully the Island Police had it lifted and drained for me by the time I got there. Sooo, with that being said. I am completely gutting the boat. Everything has come off, and now I am cutting into the fiberglass to expose the floor and transom. I am expecting the worse. Replacing the foam, stringers, floor, wiring, everything. Like I said I have been doing as much research and reading as possible. I have been taking notes and learning from most on here. Any and all advise would be helpful.

 

[rfnbry]

Re: Tri-Hull sank- complete restore

 

[Mud Puppy]

Re: Tri-Hull sank- complete restore

Welcome to Dry Dock RF!:welcome:

You have landed on absolutely the BEST website there is to find help if you need it.

The guys and gals that hang out here are experts at "Been There, Don That" and on the other side, you have a place where you can find the materials and parts you need to put it back together. There are those like you that have done there own restorations and there are those that do this kinda stuff for a living.

Sounds like your committed to putting it back together, so be prepared for things to take a lot longer than you planned and cost a lot more than you expected. Don't get discouraged if your sure that is the direction you truly want to take. If you should decide to go that way, it will be one of the greatest adventures you will ever take (and us watching) and you will know what you have in it come "Splash Day".

There will be many hours of grinding and itching along with working with smelly messy expensive materials. Be prepared for $1500 minimum to about as high as you want to spend ($2500 -$3500) in materials unless you shop around. Anything "Marine" runs about three times what "Auto" stuff runs, but it has to be different than "Auto" stuff and that's why.

Expect the foam to be saturated, mine was all the way to the bow. Make sure and take core samples of the stringers. and tap around on the transom for any hollow sound. Light colored and dry "Good"; Dark colored and damp or wet "Bad".

Anywhere the water could have gotten in, "intrusion", there will be problems that extend beyond what you think. You were swamped quite a while after your first bad experience which was enough to start the dreaded rot which may have already old boat. Once foam gets wet, it wont dry out on it own.

Get you a free Photobucket account and post some real sized pictures for us old guys!

We all love pictures and it will help us steer you in the right direction.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Tri-Hull sank- complete restore

I strongly suggest you take a Power Squadron course while you restore your boat.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Tri-Hull sank- complete restore

Hi and welcome, rfnbry...
As has been mentioned by MP, you are in the best place for all the info you'll need to bring this boat to better than new condition...
One other thing you need to be aware of...since it was swamped in salt water, if the wiring is of the old school thinking, it may be just plain copper wire and may have been compromised by the salt water...if you are fortunate that it is made with Marine grade wiring, which is tinned to help prevent corrosion, you might get lucky and not have to replace it...50/50 either way...just something to keep in mind as you move forward...
For better picture posting use a Free Photobucket account...that way you can post your pics like this...

I also must add that you are a braver individual than I for venturing out in big water on purpose, on such a small boat...
Anyhow, we'll be here to guide and cheer you on as you restore this boat...
Best of luck and have fun!
GT1M

 

[Bondo]

Re: Tri-Hull sank- complete restore

Ayuh,.... If yer gonna continue fishin' the Sound, I suggest ya get a Bigger boat,....

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Tri-Hull sank- complete restore

Uhmmm, a MUCH bigger boat!!!!:faint2:

 

[rfnbry]

Re: Tri-Hull sank- complete restore

Hi and welcome, rfnbry...
As has been mentioned by MP, you are in the best place for all the info you'll need to bring this boat to better than new condition...
One other thing you need to be aware of...since it was swamped in salt water, if the wiring is of the old school thinking, it may be just plain copper wire and may have been compromised by the salt water...if you are fortunate that it is made with Marine grade wiring, which is tinned to help prevent corrosion, you might get lucky and not have to replace it...50/50 either way...just something to keep in mind as you move forward...
For better picture posting use a Free Photobucket account...that way you can post your pics like this...

I also must add that you are a braver individual than I for venturing out in big water on purpose, on such a small boat...
Anyhow, we'll be here to guide and cheer you on as you restore this boat...
Best of luck and have fun!
GT1M

Thank GT1000000, I had done all the wiring in it before hand with the exception of some of the wiring in the motor. So im pretty sure it want marine grade and needs to be replaced. I am looking forward to this project. But as far as braver than you. Dont think so. Dumber and more pig headed maybe. As far as the rest of the comments. Yes that is a given. Bigger boat. Got it. This will be strickly a river and small lake boat from now on. Took the motor off of it today and statrted digging into the wood where the throttle was hooked up at. Completely soaked. Anyways Ill get pics on here from a photo bucket account. Thanks for the tips.

 

[rfnbry]

Re: Tri-Hull sank- complete restore

Thanks mud puppy. Will do.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Tri-Hull sank- complete restore

How is the Evinrude with all the saltwater sloshing in and out?

 

[rfnbry]

Re: Tri-Hull sank- complete restore

Seeing if it can be salvaged

 

[java230]

Any Progress? I have a Coho too, love to see what the insides look like without tearing mine apart! I'm in the Seattle Area too.

 

[Rickmerrill]

Funny java230 I just finished reading your nice thread before this one. I hope rfnbry continues the restore of this nice little boat and updates this thread. I grew up on the Chesapeake Bay and it has it's challenges being fairly shallow the chop can build up quick when the wind kicks up. I'm a sailor at heart but now that we're landlocked I have an 18' BR for local lakes. We bareboat charter sailboats in the Caribbean most every year (no we're not rich we live cheap and save our pennies for one nice vacation every year) and I've seen my share of 10' rolling waves but it's nothing like breaking waves or short chop. We chartered a 36' motor cat in the San Juan's a few years back and in perpetration I read about how quickly conditions can get dangerous on Puget sound. A beautiful area - it just doesn't get much better than boating with a gorgeous sunset to the West and snow capped mountains to the East but darn that water is cold and those currents between the passes can make for some nasty conditions if the wind is blowing in the opposite direction.

 

[Chris Yeates]

Would love to see this project! I have the same boat.

 

[jigngrub]

That picture should be every boaters worst nightmare... I know it's mine!

 

[redneck joe]

Re: Tri-Hull sank- complete restore

Ayuh,.... If yer gonna continue fishin' the Sound, I suggest ya get a Bigger boat,....

spent a lot of time on the water there and best advice posted thus far

 

[java230]

Well the trailer is for sale along with the "gutted" boat. Id still like to see pics if your around OP

 

[500dollar744ti]

Re: Tri-Hull sank- complete restore

My question is, why is a boat like that moored to a beach with crashing waves? Isn't that thing light enough to be dragged up on the beach to avoid the whole mess in the first place?

 

[jigngrub]

My question is, why is a boat like that moored to a beach with crashing waves? Isn't that thing light enough to be dragged up on the beach to avoid the whole mess in the first place?

Because that's where the boat washed ashore after it sank.

You should try to drag a boat filled with water up onto a beach sometime and see how far you get.

 

[500dollar744ti]

Ah I see. I suppose that would be quite difficult :lol: