18SF rehab

[erebus]

So I've begun in earnest on the rehab of my 1975 18SF.
The boat is in pretty good shape for being 38 years old (at least structurally), and only needs a few things. Some more labor intensive than others.
New fuel tank is top of the bill. Then some hatch recoring, fabbing a new lid for the tank coffin, and then new non-skid and maybe a rub rail.
Thats pretty much it for the winter.
The deck is solid and when I was filling some holes in the transom and the caps I only found dry wood. A minor miracle that.
I'm going to try and not look that one directly in the eye...

I got the 1985 Mariner running passably (but would really like to upgrade to something more reliable) and was able to do a nice sea trial one evening on Nantucket Sound, so this morning it was time to start the tear down.

I know a picture is worth a thousand words, and you guys are ravenous for photos, so I'll shut up and let the camera do the talking (more or less).


Here she is before work had commenced.




Hull is in pretty good shape for 38 years old.




Not too bad looking.





Here's why the motor wouldn't run right.




The carbs were absolutely full of crap. I think she ran off the bad gas in the tank for too long, and was never properly cleaned out.




An hour or so in the ultrasonic parts cleaner and a full carb rebuild, plus some other odds and ends and she fired right up.
45 knots across Nantucket Sound at between 4500 and 5000 RPM's. Not too bad.
Still needs some work (fuel pump some misc electrical), but at least she runs.
That was a good evening.




Pulled the T-top, and leaning post off first thing this morning.




At some point somebody hacked off half the tank lid to see why there was water in the gas (a large rotten hole), and left it open. The rest of the tank lid is now junk.




Theres the hole.




I'm coming for you next console.




Console's off and the top of the nasty tank is exposed.




OK tank, now I'm coming for you...




And out.




Now the cleanup begins.