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stumbles
24-12-2011, 03:44 PM
I bought a cheap runabout with trailer.

Had the local boat shop have a quick look on my way back from picking it up and they said the hull, floor and transom all seemed good. Took the gunwale rubber off and its a bit rough, not sure if this is a major issue or not ?

plan was just to give it a quick coat of paint throw a smallish motor on and just use it on the local bays etc.

If its a lost cause its not a big deal, was only $400 with the trailer so was half expecting it to be rubbish.

Heres a couple of pics of the area concerned ....

this is how it is most of the way around. still has enough edge on it and strength for new rubber.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa230/stumblesau/side2.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa230/stumblesau/side1.jpg

this is the worse of it

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa230/stumblesau/worst2.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa230/stumblesau/worst1.jpg

Area around the transom, is it normal to be exposed like that ?

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa230/stumblesau/P1010967.jpg

Ive got different opinions from fix it up and keep it, fix it up and sell it , just get rid of it.

Appreciate some experienced opinions.

cheers
Adrian

p.s merry christmas.

hutcheau
04-01-2012, 05:07 PM
just did the gunwhale rubber on my 78 pongrass and came out similar,looks like the black stuff is excess glue sand it back and replace rubber using sikaflex as glue and all should be good

Nathan Tuskes
04-01-2012, 05:17 PM
normally that transom should have some form of aluminium capping thatsnormally stuck down with some form of sealer and screwed into the transom tosecure it. having a guess i reckon your transom is going to be rottedout....when you tap on it is it a uniform sound from top to bottom, left toright, all over....

wirlybird
05-01-2012, 08:20 AM
Woh thats some funky looking sika should be fine to cut off and reinforce with poly resin and chopstrand. The transom will need some tappinging around to see if the water got in like nathan said. If you find an area that sounds diffrent drill it with a small bit from the inside making sure you dont drill all the way through the transom. The timber residue on the drill bit should be dry if not you have a rot issue. Most of these issues will be around old drill holes or fittings so there is a good place to start tapping.

Jarrah Jack
05-01-2012, 08:33 AM
Boats can still go a long time with some rot in them. I'd take it to an experienced fiberglasser and get their opinion while telling them how you intend to use the boat.

BM
05-01-2012, 09:14 AM
Stumbles, the substance on your gunwales is resin bog as used by boatbuilders to install gunwale rubbers. Typically a mixture of resin and talc. Generally if it is grey in colour it is asbestos based so DONT grind it. Yours has gone black so its hard to know if it is asbestos based although the age of the boat it could well be. Chip it off with a hammer and chisel. Better safe than sorry.

As mentioned the transom should have originally had an aluminium cap covering the join. You can fit another or seal up the join with sikaflex or similar or even glass the join over.

But first, hit around the transom with a hammer or a large ring spanner. If it is solid, you will get a "ring" sound as the hammer bounces off it. If its soft you will get a thud and the hammer wont bounce as it would on a solid transom. You may very likely find that areas can be soild and others where water has penetrated will be soft. If it's still solid where the engine mounts then whilst not perfect it is still usable.

Then take to the floor with your hammer. Same thing here also. Good solid floor and your hammer will bounce back at you. YOu can also use the heel of your boots to thump around searching for soft spots.

If the floor is good and the transom is good then its probably well worth keeping.

Cheers

simo2601
05-01-2012, 10:54 AM
Looks like a good start for you. What size motor are you thinking of? I have an old 40hp mariner short shaft with foreward controls I have been meaning tos sell for a while. It was running fine, but the boat it was on was stuffed so i bought a tinny with a motor on it. Let me know if you are interested and I will pull it out and make sure it is still all good.

stumbles
05-01-2012, 01:43 PM
cheers for the responses.

Have given it a good bashing all over, its very solid and havent felt any soft spots. there was a metal strip on top of the transom like some have suggested which I removed when doing a bit of a clean up.

Have already started removing the old black stuff and have some new gunwale rubber and sealant lined up.

will put up some progress pics


Looks like a good start for you. What size motor are you thinking of? I have an old 40hp mariner short shaft with foreward controls I have been meaning tos sell for a while. It was running fine, but the boat it was on was stuffed so i bought a tinny with a motor on it. Let me know if you are interested and I will pull it out and make sure it is still all good.

yeh mate could be a goer. let us know. would a short shaft be ok though ? thought i might of needed a long one.

wirlybird
05-01-2012, 02:51 PM
cheers for the responses.


yeh mate could be a goer. let us know. would a short shaft be ok though ? thought i might of needed a long one.

measure the transom from top to bottom of the boat and post the measurement. The guys on here will be able to tell you if you need a long or short shaft engine;)

stumbles
05-01-2012, 04:31 PM
cheers , from the top of transom to the bottom of the boat is 60cm

johncar
05-01-2012, 07:33 PM
cheers , from the top of transom to the bottom of the boat is 60cm
That seems like you would need a 25" XL leg, Looks like a great project, hope she is solid and good luck with it.

Stuart
05-01-2012, 08:55 PM
Thats going to be a fair bit of work. Any boat can be brought back from the brink. Your labour is free and the cost of materials isnt all that dear. There are some really great threads on this site from guys that have totally gutted there glass boats and re built them. Jeffo did a small hains and Matt frasier did a small hains as well. Jeffo's boat turned out fantastic, I looked at it the other day and you would swear it just came off the showroom floor. I know he didnt have any experiance at the begining but if you dont give it a go you will never know. Take your time and you will have a boat that will last many years to come.

Stuart
05-01-2012, 08:57 PM
Forgot, one good tip before you start grinding glass, apply plenty of talc powder to all your exposed skin. It helps keep the itch factor right down by filling the poors of your skin.

Stu

stumbles
05-01-2012, 09:07 PM
So far I've been chipping off most of the black stuff what's the best way to get the harder stuff off ? Sander / grinder ?

Thanks for tip re talc

fisho8
06-01-2012, 08:30 AM
Looks Nasty mate but by what you have said is fixable keep the pic's coming of your progress.:)

stumbles
15-01-2012, 07:00 PM
have been getting stuck in, have removed all the various fittings and started sanding it back.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa230/stumblesau/P1020318.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa230/stumblesau/P1020321.jpg

Was thinking of using some filler with with fibreglass in it to run along the inside of edge of where the top and bottom halves meet inside the boat for some added strength. thoughts ?

stumbles
11-02-2012, 02:43 PM
well after pricing up a motor and all the other bits needed to complete it (plus my effort in doing it) just sold it as is (for what i paid for it) and just bought something complete.

Great little boat 100% ready to hit the water.

Doing my licence course tomorrow and cant wait to hit the bay.

http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa230/stumblesau/boat/IMG_0529.jpg
http://i199.photobucket.com/albums/aa230/stumblesau/boat/IMG_0530.jpg

wirlybird
11-02-2012, 05:39 PM
you have the bug now mate there isnt a cure for it ;)

stumbles
11-02-2012, 05:45 PM
yeh had a similar boat 10yrs ago, kids have stopped me from getting one till now. Now to get the wife hooked so can continue to upgrade.