1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

[jasonneal]

Okay here is the deal, I want a boat real bad. My wife who I didn't get my bluff in on early in our marriage says no. So I have this 67 Glastron that my inlaws gave me but it has the following problems. The carpet no longer looks like carpet, it is so trodden it looks like vinyl. The windshields are no longer transparent they are cloudy with what looks like a million cracks, but I don't think they go all the way through. The boat is red and cream and looks really cool, but the shine is gone from the gel coat. The seats are good(recovered). The floor is okay except at the back right in front of the bilge it has a soft spot about the size of a dinner plate. The trailer is fine just rusty. Now for the worst part. The motor, a 67 Johnson Golden Meteor Electralux 100 hp outboard. My father in law told me that the motor would stop abrubtly and he would let it sit and then it would start again. Well I took it out and it ran like a dream, then after about fifteen minutes it quit and would not restart. It still won't start three weeks later. I took a look and found the voltage regulator has a wire that has corroded in two, and I don't know how long it has been this way, like a dummy I didn't look under the cowling before I ran it. Now I don't know if that would make it not start, the motor turns over all day long just no fire. I also have been told on this forum that the regulator not working could have fouled my pulse pack. Are voltage regulators and pulse packs factory parts on a 1967 outboard? It seems high tech for the year to me. So my question is this, can the windshields be cleared up? Can the gel coat be shined up? How to fix the soft spot in the floor? And lastly is the motor gonna be worth messing with. From looking around I can buy a used boat about as cheap as a newer outboard. So after all of that, if you get here in the post I could use your advice. Thanks in advance.

 

[gcboat]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

Well Jason you have the situation that most boating forums are made for - bought an old boat and want to fix it up - .
First off I can't give you much, if any, info on you motor. I'll leave that up to the mechanics here.
Let's start with the easy stuff.
The windshields are toast - trash them and buy new. You could possibly buff out some of the damage but the cracks will never clean up.
You'll get at least a million different ways that folks use to restore gel coat.
I'm from the old school so sanding and buffing is my train of thought. However there are some newer advances on the market such as Poli Glow, etc. that many folks just love.
The soft spot in the deck could just be limited to that one area but I doubt it.
Once you start digging around you're more than likely gonna' find rot elsewhere. So keep that in mind.
I'd be tempted to hold off on any major restoration work until you get that motor purring.
But however you go about this have fun and do one little project at a time until done. Tearing into everything at once can be a little overwhelming when it comes time to do the refit.

 

[redfury]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

Well, I hope you try to get it running again. You can look at the links in my post at my boat to see what you might be up against as far as what lies underneath all that Glastron beauty. Hopefully you just have some floor rot in the back, but most likely the stringers are rotting out there too. Glastron used Redwood in the transom, so if you can't detect any wiggle in the transom when you lift up on the motor by hand, it's probably something not worth messing with. I could have left mine, but the outer skin had delaminated from it, and I had the cap off the boat already, so why not do the transom...

If the motor turns over but won't start...it's most likely a spark issue. If I were a guessing man, I'd say that that wire finally got bad enough to disable the ignition system. It was probably okay for a while until it would heat up and then resistance would get so high that it would shut down the electronics.

 

[jasonneal]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

Thanks for the input and the encouragement both. Redfury that is an awesome looking boat. I don't notice any give or weakness in the transom when I move the motor. Of course there is no electric trim and the catch on the motor bracket is broken so I have to pry the spring loaded catch back with a pry bar and then lift up on the motor myself, and that is no lightweight so surely I would have noticed if the transom was weak. How could I replace the windshields? Do I have plexiglass cut or can you order the panels to fit? My friend says I should take them out, but to me the boat wouldn't look right without them. I really think I am going to abort the new boat search and just take this boat to the mechanic and see if my outboard is worth trying to save. If it is I guess I can add another project to the list. I will try to get some photos on here so maybe you guys could point out some troubles that I am not seeing. If Hurrican Ike doesn't ruin tomorrow I will take some pics. Thanks again for your help.

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

Well, I hope you try to get it running again. You can look at the links in my post at my boat to see what you might be up against as far as what lies underneath all that Glastron beauty. Hopefully you just have some floor rot in the back, but most likely the stringers are rotting out there too. Glastron used Redwood in the transom, so if you can't detect any wiggle in the transom when you lift up on the motor by hand, it's probably something not worth messing with. I could have left mine, but the outer skin had delaminated from it, and I had the cap off the boat already, so why not do the transom...



If the motor turns over but won't start...it's most likely a spark issue. If I were a guessing man, I'd say that that wire finally got bad enough to disable the ignition system. It was probably okay for a while until it would heat up and then resistance would get so high that it would shut down the electronics.

HAy Jasonneal , allways glad to see a fellow glastron onwer on here , I have to agree with Redfury hole hearted , if there is rot in the one spot there more then likely there is more , I hate to say it , i dont know if they [ glastron ] made them any better in 67 then 76 , but mine was a mess , they didnt have the stringer all glassed in or the transom , it was really bad workmenship !! so if you really like the boat I would say go for it and fix it , just be ware that you just might have to pull the top and do all the stringers and the transom , I know you said it was pertty sound , I thought so to [ i couldnt move mine eather ] then i found a spot in the bottom courner and then on vhere the U bolts !! I dont want to sound down about alll this , I am really glad i re did mine , IT WAS WORTH EVERY HOUR I PUT in to it !!! hahah and there were quit a few but man that frist time i took it out !!! OHHH man was it sweet !!

now for the motor if you can get it running it should move your boat pertty well !! When i got my boat it had a 90hp merc , the guy said it really run , well after I got stuck twice with it I took it to my merc guy and he said it was shot , so I went looking and I found a 1000 100hp merc 1962 , yep found it on ebay , went and seen the guy before i bought it , and am i ever glad i did , [ call him uncle Joe now ] i love that motor she really scoots !! so dont let the age fool yea , it was your father in laws , so if he took good care of it it should work just fine for her !! it might have some work to get her running but it should be a heck of a lot cheaper then a new one !!

Ok well i guess i went on for long enough here !! lol keep us posted on how its going !! John

 

[jasonneal]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

Man I just noticed my own title after that last post. I am not a good typist, my boat is a 1967 not a 1976 as is stated in the title. Sorry about that I should proof read I guess. When you guys talk about taking off the top what do you mean? I am a fairly good carpenter and am currently restoring a house that is over 100 years old but I have never worked on a boat. By the way on my motor mount it has a catch on the motor side that is spring loaded, and it grabs hold of a small bar that slides through holes on the boat side. The bar is adjustable as there are several sets of holes. Can someone tell me how this is supposed to work. It is a real drag when you are loading on the trailer and need to trim up. Like I mentioned mine is apparently broken and I have to pry it up with a crowbar and unless you are in the water it is tough to pry this spring loaded catch up and then pick up on the motor at the same time. Anyway thanks again and I will try to read my post before I hit the button. Jason

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

hay Jason , welll to pull the top you have to take the rub rail off and then split the two , top and bottom , you might have to grind some glass that is holding on by the transom , other then that it should pop off [ with a lot of lifting] lol as for the motor I will let the experts answer that one !! I do know that the holes are for different trim setting you can use , that bar should have a swivel on one end set it straight and you can take it out , and put it in a different hole !! john

Ps i stink at spelling also . always hitting the edit botton to go back and fix something

 

[redfury]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

There should be a piece of wire that goes down to that release lever to pull the motor up....they break off. You can sneak a piece of wire or rope in there and fix it that way....it's hard to describe, but it should come up by the middle of the motor leg under the cowl of the motor. You'd pull up on the lever/wire/rope and tilt the motor back from inside the boat normally. You may have to really look in there to see how it actually works on your boat, but that's essentially what's going on.

As far as the pin goes, that is your trim adjustment. When you move the pin to the various holes, you'll notice different performance from the motor slightly. It'll feel like it's "pushing" the nose down, or the boat will porpoise ( jump on waves more than it should ). The right setting will put the boat on plane fastest and keep it on plane.

John pretty much hit it with the removal of the cap. that hardest part is deciding to remove it, or just move it forward... it's heavy and awkward. I built a device to lift it off since I don't have that many willing accomplices to perform such tasks.

 

[jasonneal]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

Okay so I took a closer look at the soft place in the floor. Does this boat have wood underneath the carpet or is it fiberglass? I tore the old carpet back and it looks like some type of fiberglass which is seperating and I can stick my hand inside the hull. Let's say the decay is to the point that I should take it down and replace a lot of stuff, but I don't. Lets say I just patch the hole and let it go. What could happen. I can hang off of the motor and I am a big guy. The transom seems rock solid. I am not trying to be difficult I just wonder is it worth putting a ton of effort and money into a boat that might just stand up to my occasional use as it is now. What are stringers anyway? Thanks for the help guys. I owe you all a cold one.

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

OHH man jasonneal, it sounds bad , the floor there is plywood then glass over that , and if all you got there is glass that mean the wood there has rotted and droped off , and that usally mean that rot has gotton everwhere!!!!

stringers are your braces that hold up the floor ,kind of like your rafters in your house except in this case there holding up your floor , and if that spot is that bad I will bet that rott has gotton to your stringers , and that is a major problem !!

You could run it for a year or two , [ maybe if your luckey] but if your out in the water and a storm comes up and you start hitting big waves , your boat could break up with you in it !!

You have to decide for your self , if you want to put the work into it , I did on mine and am i ever glad i did , I know so much more how there made and what to look for next time , nut the big thing i think is that I did it right this time !! mine is built 10 times better now !! and I dont have to worrie about my kids being out there , you could cut mine in half and both pieces would float !! so its really up to you !! John

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

ps you will never get the money you put into it back out when you sell it , I got 2000 into mine and I will never get that out of her , and i still got to paint !! John

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

I believe John also noticed a substantial performance improvement in his boat after he replaced all the rotting wood. It is a major project but worthwhile. If you just want to get on the water cheaply then start searching for an aluminum boat. Very little wood in those and what there is is easy to replace if needed. I, myself, am afraid of old glass boats just for the reasons you've found.

As for the windshield, I was in a similar situation and was able to find a complete used windshield on eBay. Check out the link in my signiture below for the before/after on my windshield.

 

[jasonneal]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

Now that is what I guess I need to decide, if this boat is worth working on. I have nothing in it right now, as it was given to me, but I bet the engine will need at least $500 and now I have the hull to worry about. So the stringers should be sealed between two pieces of fiberglass so that they stay dry is that right? How far apart are the stringers? If I were to take the cap off and replace the stringers, how would I fix the hole in the fiberglass floor?

 

[reelfishin]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

ps you will never get the money you put into it back out when you sell it , I got 2000 into mine and I will never get that out of her , and i still got to paint !! John

Another way to look at it is that if you were to buy a new boat, you will never recoup all of your money either if you go to resell.
By doing the work yourself, fixing it 100%, then you know what you have. It will most likely end up better than it ever was when new.

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

Another way to look at it is that if you were to buy a new boat, you will never recoup all of your money either if you go to resell.
By doing the work yourself, fixing it 100%, then you know what you have. It will most likely end up better than it ever was when new.

OOOHH yea mine it will , glastron didnt have the stringers or the transom all glassed in , it is now !!

And ezmobee is right It made a huge difference in my boat !!!! she jumps out of the water now to get on plane , and she is a heck of a lot more solid then when i got her !! john

 

[redfury]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

Now that is what I guess I need to decide, if this boat is worth working on. I have nothing in it right now, as it was given to me, but I bet the engine will need at least $500 and now I have the hull to worry about. So the stringers should be sealed between two pieces of fiberglass so that they stay dry is that right? How far apart are the stringers? If I were to take the cap off and replace the stringers, how would I fix the hole in the fiberglass floor?

If you are going after stringers, then you are replacing the floor honestly. Structural repair really don't happen with these boats...you end up re-engineering what was there into a better product. It seems intimidating at first, but the more you read and see here, the more confidence you get, and a better understanding of what you may decide to tackle...or not.

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

If you are going after stringers, then you are replacing the floor honestly. Structural repair really don't happen with these boats...you end up re-engineering what was there into a better product. It seems intimidating at first, but the more you read and see here, the more confidence you get, and a better understanding of what you may decide to tackle...or not.

very well put redfury, I think i read for 6 months before i started mine !! I joine in may and didntstart til a, most christmas !! John

 

[EricInScottsdale]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

I have a similar boat, a 1973 Glastron V-186 Swinger... I cannot find anywhere the piece, I think its called a NOSE CAP; The very front of the boat (bow) where the rub rail is connected in the middle, right on the tip. What is that thing called, and where can I get one? (ERICMORGANEVANS@YAHOO.COM). Any help would be very much appreciated! Mine is all smashed up.

 

[redfury]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

I don't think that is the original piece for that. John can verify, but I believe they are made of cast aluminum. I'm pretty sure mine is, I'd have to verify in my photo album in my link. What you have there looks like something made to replace the original.

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 1976 Glastron V176 Swinger

Mine dont have one , the rubber on the rub rail covers the hole tip !! John