restoring a classic, need some advice.

[meads910]

I just aquired a 1977 20 ft center console with a 225 johnson i have just taken the console off and i am about to check the stringers and gas tank was just wondering what i should be looking for as far as replacing stringers and transom. also alternatives to a plywood transom. the boat was ran three years ago. any help would definitly be appreciated.

[ July 20, 2003, 02:30 PM: Message edited by: meads910 ]

[meads910]

also any help on gas tank removal would be nice.

[FELLOW-SHIP]

There are a lot of threads on doing gas tanks, transoms and stringers on this site. If you go back in the older conversations by changing the amount of days on topics section both in general and also repair you will see lots of stuff you can also look at pictures under home page and click on your boat size. The stringers on you boat are foam filled they usually are ok but I would bet the transom needs to be done. I did my 23 with plywood 1 ½ years ago if I would have to do it all over again I would use the new divinycell type materials with west epoxy.
Fellow-Ship [img]images/icons/cool.gif[/img]

[meads910]

I have another question, while i removed the console i looked in a hole in the deck where the trim tab resevoir tubes came up and saw a hole in some fiberglass coated wood, i put my finger in it and it was soft. Is this a stringer? or just a deck support and is it something i should be worried about? the fiberglass coated wood is located about 6inches from the gas tank. thanks

[ocuyler]

Mead,

You absolutely must remove all of the floor panels to get a good look at what's in there. All of the serious issues are out of sight. The most probable suspects are the wood in the panels themselves, the fuel tank and hoses, particularly if they were foamed in, the plywood beneath the fuel tank, etc.

The stringers are foam filled and most likely wet with water incursion. Most guys that are serious about truely renovating their SeaCrafts will cut the entire floor out to expose all the stringers, do what they have to do and replace it with a non-wood material. Bottom line? The sooner you get all of that stuff opened up and the fuel tank removed, the sooner you'll know the extent of your project. You're really in demolition mode now.

If you are serious about a "renovation", you need to think from the keel up and do everything required to make it better than new. It's time consuming and expensive. If that worries you, you are probably in over your head.

My 1 piece of advice... don't use a chain saw to remove the fuel tank.

[ July 23, 2003, 10:57 AM: Message edited by: Otto Cuyler ]

[meads910]

Otto,
Thanks, I figured that this was going to be an extensive project. but one well worth the efforts, do you know of the best way to get the deck off of the hull?

[ocuyler]

Determine the depth of your floor, set your circular saw for that and cut it.


[ July 23, 2003, 11:04 AM: Message edited by: Otto Cuyler ]

[meads910]

Otto,
Any other suggestions that you might have would also be appreciated.

[meads910]

Otto,
thanks for the picture.

[meads910]

anyone else who can give me some help is welcomed to reply.