Project Cobra

[12Footer]

This is a werk in progress. <br />1989 Bayliner Cobra "Bass Trophy" 16.5ft, 50HP Force outboard.<br />Any comments/questions/ sugjestions are apreciated. <br /><br />I purchased this for 300buks from my Brother inlaw. He brought it over here to begin to restore it. I started on the motor, but he stopped comming over to help, so the boat sat in the back yard.<br />After 3 years, I asked him if he wanted to sell, and he did. I should've just hauled it off.<br /><br />Actual start date was March 1st,2003. Projected sea-trial is February,2005.<br /><br />

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<br />This is the aft fishing deck, after I pulled-up the purple carpet. The hole was where the seat pedestal "was".<br />The entire boat was covered in this purple monkey fur...No wonder the original owner let it sit in his backyard and go to pot! I can just immagine the laughs he got at the ramp, not to mentrion, all the hook-snags while he fished her.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Project Cobra

This is the bow baitwell. The actual well looks to be solid, but wont know until the deck has been yanked. And from the looks of it, the entire decking must be removed.<br />

<br />Another angle of it. The brother inlaw had removed the purple monkey fur here first.<br />

 

[12Footer]

Re: Project Cobra

Let the games begin!!<br />This is the aft deck lift. Yes, the entire interior was covered with this stuff! Very 80's, and it hid a multitude of horrors. Virtually everything made of wood has turned to mush.<br />

 

[12Footer]

Re: Project Cobra

This is a pic showing the horrors beneath the bow fishing platform. The previous owner had gone a bit nutz with the application of 2-part foam. That in itself, would not have presented a problem....Had he known how to use the stuff. <br />This shot also shows the primary "deck-removal tool" in my arsenal-- An electric chain saw, new chain, no oil.<br />It rips-out decking like nobody's buisness!!<br /><br />

<br /><br />Just be carefull!! I got overheated in that monkey suit, and couldn't see thru the sweat and fog on my safety specs. This was the result;<br />2" long, cutting-chain wide, right thru the hull.<br /><br />

<br /><br />Sniff... The trials and tribulations of the boat restorer <br /><br /> Here is a pic showing the cocpit seat bench and battery hatch...The next purple thing to go.<br />If you look closely, this pic shows a "buldge" of sorts. The guy had poured so much foam into 3/4" holes thruout the boat, that it started to set before it finished expansion, lifting the woood and actually putting a visable buldge in the hull!<br />Every bit of it so far, has been saturated with water.No wonder all wood I come-accross is mushy rot!<br /><br /><br />

 

[12Footer]

Re: Project Cobra

I got the cockpit decking removed, revealing the stringer and midships crossbrace...It does not look good!<br /><br />

<br /><br />At this point, it is shear determination that motivates me..Had I known what lay under the rotten decking, I never would've taken this on.<br />I think I would have prefered a transom-replacement to this;<br /><br />

 

[12Footer]

Re: Project Cobra

Deck-removal is complete to just aft of the cockpit. The guy really went crazy with the foam. It was under every piece of decking, and appears to continue under the fuel deck! It now looks like it too, must be removed. But pics of that later.<br /><br />

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: Project Cobra

howdy 12'er... all I see is the dreaded red 'X'<br />edit: right click, properties, cut/paste into<br />browser.... wow! now that's quite the project!

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Project Cobra

Well how do you like that! After cutting and pasting all the pics, they now show up in the thread.<br /><br />Keep the faith, 12footer, all that work will make you a better person as well as making a better boat. <br /><br />It sure looks like Bayliner didn't bend over backward to protect the deck and under structure.<br /><br />I'm sure puttin her back together will be fulfilling.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Project Cobra

EDIT...Every stinking time I get it to werk, they change the syntax. I hope they are done goofin around ! Great buncha folks over there at Pbase (my web host). %The techy-girl was very polite, and got me back on track. All should now be visable ...I hope I have better luck getting things to werk first try on the Cobra!! <br />And you're right about Bayliner's layup and core protection techniques. It's what gave them a terrible reputation. The funny thing is, thier hulls are as thick as Mako and PennYan. But they go downhill from there.<br />Back to the Cobra;<br /><br />I was right. This pic shows the rear sub-deck, where the fuel tanks were. You can see where I cut along one side of the stringer, all the way to the transom. And it is foam-filled all the way. This is getting old.<br /><br />

<br /><br />OK, I'm convinced...It really isn't a boat. It's an 1800 pound waterlogged surfboard! <br />

 

[12Footer]

Re: Project Cobra

This used to be the battery box, or the area between the two seats. The battery rested on this glassed-in chunk of plywood. Water would pool forward of this slab. I cut a trough thru it to allow water to pass underneath the battery,and to the transom drain.<br />This pic shows this silly piece, after it has been sealed using chop-strand mat.<br />Note the area forward of that, showing where the stringer brace was. I had to re-seal all of that too.<br /><br />

 

[denniston]

Re: Project Cobra

12footer...I can't seem to get your pictures to come up.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Project Cobra

All should werk thru the web host now...There is joy in Mudville with the pic host. (my syntax was wrong...What's new?)<br /> <br /> Try this link to my "host"

 

[Realgun]

Re: Project Cobra

Dont feel bad 12Footer, my 1700 Capri looks a little better. I am still ripping the bottom out as the guy left it in the yard over winter in Minnesota. Every place that is plywood is rotted. The tops of said seat tops are ok but the bottom is rotted. Bayliner sure did a funny job putting the boat stuff in the hull. I am going to reinforce a little more and use epoxy coated plywood. However I probably could get by without as I live in New Mexico. We get 10 inches of rain a year and I am religiously covering the boat, not to keep out rain but the UV from the sun.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Project Cobra

Realgun, yes, they are all built that way. They make great project boats tho, because when you're done with them, they get bewildered looks and head-scratchin from the old salts at the boat ramp<br />My cobra survived Hurricane Charlie, but all the residual floatation (that I planned to keep), got saturated. When the cover comes off,as opposed to being BLOWN-OFF this Fall, it appears I have more removal werk ahead...That draws vacuum, but at least I wont be werkin on the roof of my house . I wiped-out the project's funding account to but a new Generator (mine threw a rod last Sunday )

 

[Realgun]

Re: Project Cobra

I wish I lived in Fl until you had a hurricane! Glad your OK!!! Think you could send me some water? They had to move the Marina at the Butte. Thats Elephante butte resivior. As the water went down 22 feet! We are in a drought and people are looking at me and twirling their fingers near their ears. I know I have to trailer the boat a minimum of 140 miles to get it in the water but it is fun once there.