18...and I like it

[steel686]

So I figured I needed an anthem for this project to get me through some of the low points. I have been absorbing information for the past few years and got my inspiration reading Strick's masterpiece (several times, thankfully while I could still see the pictures). The talent and passion on this site is amazing.

Let me back up for a minute. I bought the hull back in 1992 and can't see ever selling it. There have been a few re-powers and a sound but minimal 25" transom conversion. The boat bails pretty well with ball scuppers and I wanted to keep it as original as possible. I decided to replace the DF140 after 15 years and thought I would do the transom right and carve out the livewell to compensate for the extra weight of another 400 lb motor. I stripped the console, removed an expired aluminum tank and cut the liner out behind the console. As referenced in a few recent 18 posts, my liner popped loose easily and I realized the whole mid-section with the coffin box was loose as well. This was last April when the snow was gone. There is a moment when you realize that your boat won't see the water for Independence Day... or Labor Day. So back to Alice Cooper, "I'm in the middle without any plan."

In the meantime, finished a basement, sold a house, moved, etc.. The scope is now removing and re-coring the liner to a point just behind the casting platform, coring sides
refinishing console for new gauges, cut/fill/raise stringers, and a paint job. The 1.5" Airex transom went in on Saturday. The hatches, liner, and hull sides are going to be Divinycell. I'm using epoxy for everything.

I hope to ask for your help on layup sequence, reinforcement, materials, etc. if I can't pull it from memory. And if anyone can tell me how to manage iPhone pictures it would be greatly appreciated.