1975 18' sf

[dave s]

My name is Dave and I live in Boca Raton, South Florida.
Been a member for a few months, mostly just reading and planning how to restore this 18' that needs a complete overhaul.
Not in a rush to finish this project, since I have other boats to use.
Recently finished redoing a 91 Contender and have an 18' Sea Hunt to fish from.
I got the bug to redo a boat and it's good for my mental health!

The demolition was mostly done on the hull when I got it, and I cutout the deck, liner, and cap. Plan is no liner, flush deck/ no step up box in front, raising the stringers and deck, raising the hull sides to keep the freeboard, make the cap one piece, and close the transom for now. Thinking about bracket/ hull extension.

I'm posting this on my IPhone, so can only upload one pic at a time.
Also put this build up on BBC, but pics won't load.

Here is how she looked when I started.

[dave s]

Here she is after cutting the deck out.

[dave s]

If you can see it, the transom skin is distorted. Ground down the gelcoat .

[dave s]

Taped over the holes with 6 oz. cloth.

[dave s]

Also cut out front cap and step up boxes; left some of the liner on the sides so hull doesn't splay out. Bow cap and stern boxes are detached, just laying on hull for now.

[dave s]

Ground out the inside of the transom and cut back the stringers to have more room to work and tab into.

[dginge]

Man that is looking great. How wet was the foam in the stringers? I see the foam exposed in the stern on back Stringer and didn't know how wet it may have been? Was there wood around the fish box thru hole on starboard side bow? Please keep us updated

[dave s]

Surprisingly the foam in the stringers, the wood deck, and the wood in the keelson are dry. Other than the transom, the rest of the boat looked solid, but the previous owner had already cut around the decks, caps, and all the under deck boxes.
Yes there was wood and beige color Potter putty around the front fish box drain and rear through hulls; they were in good condition. Had to use a hammer and chisel to knock off the putty; going to seal the holes and make new ones aft for the water intake and transducer.
I cut the stringers back, mainly to give me more room to work on the transom, but the foam was already exposed. There were some random holes in the stringers with open foam and some rusted nails.
Maybe someone prior tried to make some cheap fixes.
Also looked like some drier whitish color areas in the woven roving around the stringers; might be resin poor or from some damage to the laminate.

[Old'sCool]

Good job and keep the pics coming!! I would like to see pics of the Contender. I love old bracketed ones.

[flyingfrizzle]

Originally Posted by Old'sCool

Good job and keep the pics coming!! I would like to see pics of the Contender. I love old bracketed ones.

X2