What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

[Sevfdemt]

First off, I am a complete newbie to both the forum here and boating. I was given, yes free, a 1994 Bayliner Capri 1700LS. The floor is rotten, which means the Transom is most likely rotten and needs to be replaced. I'm pretty mech. inclined so I'm willing to give anything a try. I've have read some fascinating post on restorations here that even included some Capri's. Honestly though, I'm a little more than timid concerning this project and still have a lot of questions.
First, what is "peanut butter"? I take it that it's nothing more than resin mixed with something to fill and smooth the gaps.
What should be used to fill the dings in gelcoat if you plan to paint instead of re-gelling?
Please be patient with me. I know some here have answered these questions dozens if not hundreds of times.
Thanks in advance and more to come. I will start a new thread when I get started and include pictures.

 

[JDA1975]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

welcome to the drydock, your assumption on PB is correct, dings in gel-coat can be filled with a fairing compound. As far as starting a new thread when ya get started, don't...just continue this thread, the title works, and there's no reason to have multiple threads on a single project.

This forum will be a good place for you, my first post was similar...newbie with a 1000 questions and no idea where to start, but with the guidance here I am feeling more confident with each day. Enjoy your resto, it can be fun, and satisfying

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

Hang out out here and you will learn quickly. I still have a huge learning curve ahead of me, but have learned so much by just digging into my project and following others threads/projects. I found that people on this forum are very eager to help...there are several seasoned pros on here that have decades of marine experience, but it's also a whole bunch of people who backed into projects due to a love for boating or a good project or both. Because many have stood in your shoes and asked the same question (what I have I gotten myself into?) there is strong desire to continue the iboats legacy of making boating/projects more doable/accessible.

As far as pb goes, friscoboater has a video in his sea ray thread on how to make it (which by the way is required reading/viewing for getting started). Oops's hull extension thread has recipe as well (see index on first page of thread for where to find it). Also a required course.

Hope this helps you get oriented a bit and welcome aboard.

 

[zopperman]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

Talk about patience... you should see how ignorant I was.. I didn't know what poly was...
If I can do it, you can do it. Check out Judge's thread above.. he's really an inspiration to all of us
Welcome aboard, bud you'll be fine.

 

[JDA1975]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

Talk about patience... you should see how ignorant I was.. I didn't know what poly was...
If I can do it, you can do it. Check out Judge's thread above.. he's really an inspiration to all of us
Welcome aboard, bud you'll be fine.

I think you misspelled "Annoyance to all of us" I just have too much time on my hands and not enough on my feet

 

[zopperman]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

hahaha oh man, nope, I'm pretty sure I got it right

 

[Sevfdemt]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

Next question:
Should I or is it a good idea once I have stripped this hull clean, to lay another layer of glass. Some "friends" who call Bayliners the "rapture boat" say they are very light because they Bayliner skimped on the amount of glass in the hull layup, therefore the boat just disappears on you al of a sudden. No boat.
Any opinions? I've read different things here concerning the Trophys whichnused to be a Brunswich product. I'm not looking at taking this thing offshore, just run around in the Bay and up and down the river.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

Howdy Sevfdemt,

I too, would like to welcome you aboard the iboats dry dock and want you to know you are in good hands. The guys here will not only help you out with great info on how to do things, but will cheer you on to "Splash Day".

Like the others have said, stay with this thread, get those pics posted, use the "Go Advanced" feature, it works better, or use photobucket and tag the images.

Remember to ask lots of questions and remember we all started out pretty much in the same boat.

And finally, to answer your question about whether or not Bayliners suddenly disintegrate, well I guess anything is possible, but most of the boats that we have all tackled, usually come with dire warnings and watch out for this or that...the truth is, wood eventually rots, even super expensive, super elite yachts can be improperly built, major manufacturers need to make a profit, so some corners might get cut, etc., etc...that being said, by the time you get done with your boat, following the advice of the iboaters, you will have a craft that you will be proud to own and is better built than most...You are building this for yourself, and you have heard the old saying..."If you want it done right, do it yourself...

Best of luck and have Fun!
GT1M

 

[ezmobee]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

Any opinions?

If you replace the stringers, deck, and transom and all are properly sealed and tabbed to the hull, your boat will be plenty strong and probably better than it was from the factory. Good luck with you project.

 

[Sevfdemt]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

Well, I got after the outboard today. Supposedly, this motor was running a year ago.
I pulled the boat out to work on her. Started by trying to figure out the wiring after hooking up the battery. Got her to turn over! Acted like no fire or no fuel. Pulled the plugs and checked one by one. Got fire.
Checked fuel supply. Carbs getting fuel. Checked that the fuel pump was working. Checked out no problem. Gotta be bad fuel. Cant find a tank drain anywhere on this boat. Engineered an external tank with semi fresh fuel I siphoned from my Polaris and added some mix.
It really is amazing what good fuel will do. The nearly two decade old motor cranked right up!! Not bad for a free boat at this point. I'm on the upside the way I see it with a running motor and a great boat trailer.
Pressure washed the boat before dark set in. She brightened up nice. Time to start ripping the deck out and getting her ready for the water! Let the destruction begin!
Before I start the tear down, I need to pull the motor off. Don't have a motor stand but I've seen where some here have built one out of wood. Does anyone have plans for a motor stand?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

Does anyone have plans for a motor stand?

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=266570

 

[Sevfdemt]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

Built a motor stand this weekend and pulled the motor. What a chore. No pad eye to hook to and lift. Had to sling it with a soft nylon rope and the front end loaded on my tractor. It ended up laying on it's side on the ground at one point. I hope that didn't damage it in some way. It didn't hit the ground. Just had to lay it down nice and easy on it's side so that we could re-adjust before someone got hurt. I don't know how much that Force 120 weights but it was a brute. Got it on the stand and bolted on. Had to add another diagonal brace to sturdy it up. Rolled it into the shop and called it a success.
I was able to gut all the throttle controls, steering and the wiring harness. Slowly getting my shop cleaned out so that I can have a place to work on her. I was looking at her the past few weeks and have discovered that the floor has been replaced one time already. I will take some pictures and post them as soon as I can but it will probably be later in the week since it's dark when I leave for work and when I get home. Time to get out the power tools and dig in. Need to spend time just taking measurements before I start gutting. Excited but scared at the same time. I hope my nerve and pocket book can take it.
I have a million questions right now. The biggest is if I were to put a lift hook on that Force, where does it go? Does somebody have some pictures of a Force that I can look at to compare?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

I'm not 100% sure but I believe you remove the flywheel center bolt and the lifting ring screws in the same hole.

 

[oops!]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

hi buddy.

welcome to iboats......(even tho u have been here allmost a month....lol)

one of the things i would be doing asap is choosing your wood....and letting it dry......new wood is not dry...it needs time...all the better if its in a heated garage with a fan blowing on it.

your choices of wood are exterior grade ply...
pressure treated ply
and marine grade.

what you use is up to you.
the longer you dry the wood...the better it takes resin and you will get a good bond
you will need enough ply to make the transom 2 inches thick.
make stringers.....(depending in the assembly of the liner.....the stringers might be glass, so no wood is needed).
and enough wood for the deck.

cheers
oops

 

[Sevfdemt]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

Ok I just posted a long reply but it didn't take for some reason. Here is the short version.
This one is for you Opps. Concerning my choice in wood materials, how about composites? I know it's been asked in the forum but I haven't seen anyone say yay or nay yet. I'm thinking about Prisma Prefab stringers and Penske Board for the transom.
One question is does the wood provide the support and take the load or does the glass/resin where the stringers are concerned. If the glass/resin takes the load, can you gut out the rotten stringer and pour foam into the void and cap with glass/resin? Prisma is appea
Ing due to weight, ease of installation, time savings and cost.(7 to 10 bucks for a 4 ft stringer section)
I haven't been able to find a complete thread on the subject. I even read an entire blog on a Mako rebuild that just stopped in early to mid 2010 if memory serves me. It not that I'm against wood, I just want to remove the possibility that it could rot again it some thing is missed or goes wrong. Remember, I'm new to this.

 

[JDA1975]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

I have looked into alternatives myself, but in the long run it seems most here stick to wood core...and as I toil over my current task, I am starting to agree...the added expense and work involved, just doesn't justify not using wood...I have to look at it this way, my boat is 30 years old, all in all was still pretty sound, but the owner died and his son parked it in the middle of a field to sit and die a slow death of rot cancer! properly done, and then taken care of wood is going to last...I know when I am done it will be parked under a carport when not in use, I wont leave it out there, because I want my grandkids to go fishing with their dad and tell stories about when i rebuilt it lol!If your all for the extra cost, it will be a lot more peace of mind for ya and they are engineered to work

 

[Sevfdemt]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

Just thinking about the time savings that can be gained with the Prisma and Penske options. Not scared of wood in regards to the work, just the potential of rot from possible missed spots when sealing. Remember, I have never owned a boat and now I'm about to gut one for a rebuild. The composites are appealing.
I know there are some hardcore wood guys on here, and I'm not putting them down or disregarding them. They are a wealth of experience and knowledge. That's why I'm asking the questions here on the forum. I am just looking to be progressive. If the majority says wood there's got to be a good reason. I just haven't seen anyone on here that has used the composites and posted success or failures. I'm really interested.
Anyway, hope to get outside and work on the boat when the wife gets back from shopping and can watch the youngun.

 

[Sevfdemt]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

I promised some pics. Some were too large to attach but here are a few.
I've removed the Force as you can see looking back. Obviously not the original floor either. They didn't bother putting the Ski Locker back in either.

Transom doesn't look bad and taps solid. Time will tell once I get into it. Planning on replacing regardless.

If you look closely, you can make out the old floor. It was at the level where the carpet stops. They cut it out and sunk a new sheet of ply into her with a layer of glass on top.

View from the back looking forward. Already pulled the steering, throttle controls and wiring harness out.

Ironically, Felix's Abs are the weakest part of the floor.


Really want to hear your opinions. Let fly.
Getting the shop cleared out to park her in so that I can work indoors. Also need a heater to go in the shop to stay warm and dry her out.

 

[zopperman]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

That's an interesting sole...

I say, core sample the transom, stringers and deck, the whole deck probably needs to go... Start cutting.

 

[Sevfdemt]

Re: What have I gotten myself into? 1994 Capri 1700 LS

The deck does need to go. It is really rotten. It rotted once before and is rotten again. Pretty sure the stringers are going to be a problem when I pull the floor. It's been stored outside without a cover for awhile. The bilge is damp and filled with pine straw.