Please offer any suggestions you have on this fiber glass boat

[RTripp]

I just bought this Cherokee 14' fiber glass boat. It was made in Panama City, Fl. about 30 years ago. I got it cheap.
I don't think it has much in the way of foam, if any. There is a raised section under the front seat which might have some foam. There isn't any under the two seats. I'm thinking maybe I should fill the two side compartments with foam and of course under the seats.

If there is foam under the raised section in the bow and foam under both seats would that be enough foam?

 

[Scott Danforth]

how long did the boat sit in the woods. that is a fair amount of mold on the outside. how much is in the wood structure?

 

[444]

All the foam was removed from my boat and never replaced. The foam is only there to prevent the boat from sinking to the bottom of the lake. At 30 years old and looks like your boat spent it's life sitting outside, your foam is probably water logged and doing more harm than good. I would be worried more about rotten transom and stringers than foam.

 

[RTripp]

I've walked on the floor while on the trailer and the floor/stringers seems solid.

Half of the transom the left half when looking at the back of the boat seems pretty strong however; the fiber glass does seem to be separated form the wood underneath on the right side. When I shake the transom with the 15 hp Johnson on it, it seems sturdy.

Is there a way to add strength to the transom without taking the fiber glass off and redoing the whole thing?

 

[mr 88]

My guess is you have a sub floor and foam is sandwiched between the hull and subfloor. Is there a catch basin at the transom below the motor on the floor ? I really can't tell from the pictures. I also would guess that being in Fla it is saturated with water because of the moisture in the air along with its age and is useless . You will have to drill a exploratory hole or 3 in the transom and see what the wood looks like when you use a pick to feel around the wood. If dry and not mushy,fill in holes with 3m 4200 and move on after determining what you come up with the foam situation . Other than that being ok I would move on from that hull and look for a aluminum replacement or solid replacement boat instead of burning time and money on a rotted out hull. Now maybe I am wrong on the above thoughts ,if so, have at it, and stay close to shore !

 

[Scott Danforth]

Is there a way to add strength to the transom without taking the fiber glass off and redoing the whole thing?

nope, at least not a good safe way

 

[RTripp]

Mr 88 asked------Is there a catch basin at the transom below the motor on the floor ? See photo.

I will drill a couple of exploratory holes in a couple of days. We are getting lots of rain this week.

I love the line 'Stay close to shore'

Here in the Big Bend of Florida in the salt water we have not only sharks, we also have alligators. I have seen them !/2 mile off shore. Not great for sinking boats, swimming, etc.

I just watched several videos on repairing transoms. Yikes!!

I bought this boat because it came with a Magic Tilt trailer, a 1969 Johnson 9.5, which runs great, a Moeller 6 gallon gas tank and a 30 lb. Minn Kota, for $400. The motors, trailer and gas tank are keepers. The Boat.....we'll see.

 

[mr 88]

Doesn't appear to have a sub floor with foam between the two. If it was me I would just throw a bunch of life preservers under the seats and in the "dog houses" and be done with it. Not going to be going faster than 10 mph from the looks of it. I would try it out first before putting a dime into except for the preservers which your going to need by law anyway. The platform in the bow will either hold enough air or have foam in it so if something happens you wont be dropping like the Titanic in the last few seconds of its life above sea.

 

[RTripp]

I've discovered the secondary metal piece on the transom ( I guess for mounting an electric motor) is the reason for water getting into the transom and rotting the plywood on that side of the transom.

Under the motor and to the other side the transom is solid. So...there is about a 1-1.5' of rotten wood.

After looking at videos of replacing a fiberglass transom I don't think I want to try to fix this boat.

I've never done fiberglass work before.

I don't need the Magic Tilt trailer either, so I guess I will sell those two and the Minnkota for whatever I can get.

I'm keeping the 9.5 Johnson and gas tank.

Thanks for everyone's responses.