93 Mariah engine mount

[Pmt133]

I'll add that before I gutted mine I always had a pull in the steering wheel when coming up on plane. Always assumed it was prop steer. After the rebuild (and seeing how far gone most of the structure was) that no longer happens. Keep that in mind that meant the whole boat was twisting.

 

[cyclops222]

Might be time to sell and start with a better boat.

 

[Mariah212]

Well, this continues to go sideways..The entire RH stringer is wet up till the fuel tank..That is as far as I got.. This looks like it just uses one 3/4" board for the stringer and they box it in a lot from the side...Not real impressed with the construction...There is no resin on stringer, steel staples...just plywood..What is the best way to check the transom? I have tapped it around and it seems solid..If I drill a hole then where? I'm not a quitter, but I'm getting close to my breaking point here...This side went bad from a crack in the glass and the LH side is currently fine..If I fix the RH side am I just gonna to keep having issues with stuff like this? Thank you..

 

[alldodge]

What is the best way to check the transom?

Same way stringer was tested, just put tap on the drill bit 1/2 inch from tip. Start a few inches from the bottom and see if wood is blond (which is good), if dark it's wet

After seeing stringer issues I wouldn't even bother. Water comes in from transom and works it's way forward. Forward is wet, the rest is also

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

This is all typical of wood core fiberglass boats. If you did the RH (starboard) side, you would need to do the LH (port) side too.

It might sound like double the work for nothing, but you would need to cut the floor out from the hull side to the opposite stringer. Then you have half new wood, half old, and all new carpet/vinyl and it's just asking for a bad time. So to do one, you're actually already doing more than half the work, materials, and time of doing the whole thing.

 

[Mariah212]

Thanks guys, my can do attitude is quickly wearing away.... Who makes an open bow runabout that doesn't contain wood? These wood core boats are POS..I don't know how Columbus got over here on boat made entirely of wood...

 

[Mariah212]

Same way stringer was tested, just put tap on the drill bit 1/2 inch from tip. Start a few inches from the bottom and see if wood is blond (which is good), if dark it's wet

After seeing stringer issues I wouldn't even bother. Water comes in from transom and works it's way forward. Forward is wet, the rest is also

Top RH corner of the pic where the glass is cracked...Is that de lamination from water from the transom? It's pretty darn wet in the rear and glass is coming off....

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

Buddy, this boat's wood is done. Either commit to a full tear down or cut your losses.

It sucks, I feel for you, but the more you dig the more it's gonna stress you out and make you mad. Get yourself a little aluminum jon boat with a few bench seats. Room for a few poles and a cooler, just a calm day out on the water.

 

[Mariah212]

Mad isn't the right emotion here..More disgusted...I didn't want a boat with wood for this reason and I'm getting kicked in the nuts..I'm gonna cut around a little more in the AM..I can do a stringer job I'm pretty sure...A transom is out of my skill level and my patience level...At the end of day..It's a boat..not a liver or kidney...I'll just go get another one with no F-ing wood...Thx...

 

[Scott Danforth]

...Not real impressed with the construction...There is no resin on stringer, steel staples...just plywood..

Nearly every boat constructed in the 60s to mid 90s is built like that

Co here https://forums.iboats.com/threads/how-tos-and-other-great-information.283508/

Read links 14, 15, 17, 18, 2, 3, 4a, and 4b in their entirety

 

[alldodge]

Only light in all this, is if you did rebuild eve with wood again, it would be around longer than you

 

[cyclops222]

STOP now ! You will be unhappy repairing all that ROT.
Aluminum boat can have some loose leaking rivets. Check the transom for being soft wood.
1.5 days to repair rivets and transom.
My 1984 Lowe 16; Aluminum is still a never leak boat. Did replace plywood transom. 1 hour and done. It sits uncovered May to September 15 every year.

 

[flashback]

Mariah boats were not known for quality but had nice lines.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Mad isn't the right emotion here..More disgusted...I didn't want a boat with wood for this reason ...

Why did you buy a boat older than 2015?

ALL boats in the 80s and 90s and most in the 00s used wood.

Many boats today have engineered stringer tubs glued together with Plexus or other glorified glue. The glue joints become the failure point

 

[Mariah212]

Talk about project creep...I know some of you think I should gut this thing, but that is too big of adventure..Remember this started off as a engine R&R.. I got farther today and got to the end of my rot on the stringer...The transom is solid..I dug around a little bit and the RH stringer and mount are messed up slightly, but not as bad...I'm gonna fix them as well...I'm butting the stringer sections in...Underneath the tank there was a layer of glass de laminating because it had sheeting under it that rotted away...Do I go back with sheeting or just lay mat? 2 questions...1.) should I remove the gimble housing and reseal it? 2.) do I have to use marine plywood? I'm not be a cheap ass...My local home depot is 4 miles away...I figure this boat won't last another 10 years so what is the point...I was gonna cover it in spar varnish....Thank you again for the help...

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

Underneath the tank there was a layer of glass de laminating because it had sheeting under it that rotted away...Do I go back with sheeting or just lay mat?

I'm guessing you mean a plywood sheet acting as a floor for the tank. I would replace it. It lets water run under the gas tank.

2.) do I have to use marine plywood? I'm not be a cheap ass

No, just don't use treated.

I was gonna cover it in spar varnish....Thank you again for the help...

Don't, the resin from glassing it in will act as your water barrier. Varnish is meant to repel liquid right? Well the resin is a liquid, and needs to penetrate the wood to get a good bond.

 

[Mariah212]

I'm guessing you mean a plywood sheet acting as a floor for the tank. I would replace it. It lets water run under the gas tank.


No, just don't use treated.


Don't, the resin from glassing it in will act as your water barrier. Varnish is meant to repel liquid right? Well the resin is a liquid, and needs to penetrate the wood to get a good bond.

Thx...Does Home depot even sell untreated lumber? What is wrong with the treated? asking and not debating...

I get that...I was gonna use the varnish on areas I'm not glassing in..

appreciate it....