restoring a classic, need some advice.

[EBEACH]

Meads,

There is nothing wrong with the stringers. They're fiberglass, and won't rot out. Don't fool with the floor either unless it's soft or mushy. Fix the problems you find, but don't go looking for trouble. If you need to replace the transom, that would be a lot of work by itself.

Any pictures?

[meads910]

I dont have any pictures but i can get some, the deck is pretty solid, no soft spots. is that how you tell if the stingers need work?

[meads910]

im still a little confused if that hole in some fiberglass coated wood is a stringer or just a deck support?

[TUGBOAT]

Meads
Maybe this will Help. On the top of the stringer is a hole where liquid foam was poured in,it expands to fill the stringer.If You put Your Finger in it will be soft & Mushy - filling ! ?
Could this be what Your talking about ?
Try & take a piece out & You'll see that its foam & not wood ? Maybe ? This is how My 20' MA is.
Finally I found someone that will go grappling with Me when I go back Home(La.) That's how We catch catfish , Sticking Our hands & fingers in Holes where We can't SEE !!
Oh By the way Boy'z Water Moccasons Do & WILL Bite under water !! That is not a THEORY !!!!
Scream'n & a Runn'n !! [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

[ScottM]

Capt. Brad,
I don't know about you Cajun types [img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img] , but I'm not one to stick ANY of my appendages in holes where I can't see! [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]

Water moccasins? I hate snakes.

[meads910]

It doesnt feel like foam,but i will have to look at it again it sits right below the deck about 6in to a 12in from the gas tank does this sound similar to yours and did you have to replace it?

im definitly up for some catfishin'

[TUGBOAT]

Its about 12"s or so from the transom on top.
when I had the top deck off (Replacing the transom) You could clearly see into it.about 2" hole.Yours could be the wood that was glassed over then cut & poured . Go straight down about an 1" or 2 (If you feel Teeth get OUT Quick).
I have a '83 the photo's are in the camera.


Water moccasins? I hate snakes.

I knew I "spelt" it wrong !!
Da only ting in the da Bayou ta worry bout is de Alligat'r Snapp'n Turtle !!
Scream'n Foots'
Sauce pe cau' ! Bon Temps !!

[img]images/icons/tongue.gif[/img]

[meads910]

Capt. Brad.
I checked out the hole with a screwdriver and found out that it was foam in there i appreciate the info. do you have any suggestions for removing the gas tank.

[Dave Hirshberg]

meads,

1st of all make sure its completely empty. These old alum tanks have a tendancy to corrode on the sides and fuel will spill out fuel as soon as they are dislodged from their origional position. Trust me it is a mess and dangerous.
Leave a section of your vent hose and fuel line on the tank and fold them in half and secure with a couple of nylon tie wraps(so excess fuel won't spill as the tank is tilted). Then plug the fuel fill hole with somthing.
Try and cut thru the foam down each side of the tank with a hand saw(long)to split the foam from the stringer. Then pull and pry out the tank. It should come out pretty easy.
Dave

[TUGBOAT]

That70'boat has it the same way,I took my hose's off instead ?Drained off(Siphoned)(Got a lot of X-periance as a kid) as much fuel as possible.lifted the front up after unbolting & defoaming.Drained more fuel out,then looked in there with a lighter,(flashlite doesn't get Bright enough)!
I might have put a lilo bilge cleaner in there at some point knowing that I was gonna clean it & weld on it.Mine came out pretty easy once Ya cut the foam away . [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]