1970 mfg

[ltoolmanb]

Greetings everyone!
Just started my project boat, tore the floor out, well most of it still have to get in under the tray and chisel around the bilge. I have a crack in the bottom and was told the best way to fix it would be through the floor. Floor was replaced in the past and was soft. I kinda have the feeling that there was give between the floor and stringers causing the crack.
It has molded fiberglass stringers that look like a big wash board, they look ok and they are kinda free floating but would it be better to replace them?
Right now it has the pulley system for the steering but I want to replace it with teleflex.
I'll have more questions as I go along and will start taking lots of pic's.
Lew

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1970 mfg

fix it right, those stringers have wood in them. should not be free floating, should be attached to the hull. see the skanky beast post at the top of this forum, great project, and it is safe to open.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: 1970 mfg

fix it right, those stringers have wood in them.

Maybe not. Most do, but my '66 woodson has 100% fiberglass stringers. He might be as lucky.

In either case though, TD is right about needing to replace them because they aren't attached to the hull. Having freefloating stringers is like having a leg without bones, you just can't stand on it no matter how hard you try.

 

[Mark42]

Re: 1970 mfg

Many MFG's have solid fiberglass W stringers. I wouldn't remove them unless they were damaged. They will never rot and are very strong. They really shouldn't be "free floating", If you look close, you should see epoxy or some other adhesive holding them to the hull. If they are loose, take them out to do the hull repair, then epoxy back in place.

My MFG has the glass stringer and glass floor, the only wood is in the transom.

Definatelly upgrade the steering to a Teleflex rotary or rack system. The difference in how it handles will be like night and day. And the original steering wheel should fit the new Teleflex tapered shaft helm, so you can keep that neat old wheel.

Another item to check is the bow eye block. Its a hardwood block carved to v shap about 8" long. The eye bolt goes throught the block and is tightened with a nut and washer. The block usually comes loose and lets the eye move around when winching the boat onto the trailer. Climb in there and remove the block and epoxy it back in place if its loose. Then tighten the eye bolt and it will be rock solid.

The MFG's are very well built boats, that is why there are so many of the 60's and 70's models still around today. They were made in Pennsylvania so thats why there are so many around in the north east. Infact, there are a few in Sweden that I sent replacement emblems!

Good luck with the restore. Hows the gel coat and windshield? Got pictures? What model do you have?

Mark

 

[ltoolmanb]

Re: 1970 mfg

Thanks for all the great responses, I do plan on fixing it right even if I have to wait till the fall blackfish season to get it in the water! any wood I see will be suspect till I prove otherwise.
I'm not the original owner and whoever replaced the floor before did a substandard job to say the least. The eye in the front has been "fixed" also so I'll have to look at that closely too. The windshield was shot, cracked in many places so I took it off. It's going to be a pure fishing boat, so it will probably morph into something unrecognisable as an mfg. The stringers are pure fiberglass and as I said free floating or loose. I suspect that's how the bottom got cracked in the first place, no support. Next I have to put up the portable garage around the boat to keep the pine needles out,
One question though, when would be a good time to tell the wife to be that I spent a small fortune on a portable garage for the boat while her car sits outside getting pine sap on it? I've had it in boxes in the garage and she's tripped over them but never asked what was in them. I may want to get the hammock out of storage so I have a place to sleep first.
well that's all for today, "lunch time"
Lew

 

[External Combustion]

Re: 1970 mfg

It seem as though you have three chioces for your prolem.

One: Buy an additional carport to cover your wife's car.

Two: Buy an additional house, carport, dishes, bedding and small ammenities for your new wife.

Three: Get your current wife as excited about your boat as you are.

Number three seems the least expensive option. Glad I managed to pull it off when we recieved our used '71 Gypsie! Our Gypsie has wooden stringers that will have to be replaced this year and the teleflex steering. You will enjoy the change to Teleflex. The change to a new wife would not be as easy or as enjoyable.

Keep us informed.