1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

[Streetgang]

The story:

A few years back my friend retires to Sandusky area, on the shores of Lake Erie. ?The Islands?. He settles in and goes on the search for a trailerable aluminum boat for use in the bays and near shore. CL and local classifieds are filled with plenty of options and he auickly finds a lot scams, misrepresentations and if in good shape high prices.

Of course being a pal, I check out the Cleveland area and forward my findings but pretty much what he is seeing, scams or high prices but having some fun discovering what is out there. Well, the search came to a halt when he found a new roof was in order and we went on our merry way becoming golfing fools. This past summer put another notch on the gun belts as golfed in every month for 2012.

When searching for my friend I kept noticing a covered tin boat, on a trailer next to a fellows garage on the way to the local fuel pump. Always thought I should stop and knock on the door for a looksee,,,,for the friend of course. About 2 months ago on the way for gas, the trailer and boat are pulled out to side of street with a for sale sign. Scoobie says rut roo. I stop in, knock, nobody home, take the phone number down and look it over. Carpet and deck are shot, but hull, in and out looks good. Some extras appear to go with it, so give him a call, set appointment, talk it over and I buy it.

So what comes first, chicken or the egg / the boat or Iboat. Looks like the boat for me.

After lurking for a bit, my tin resto project:

1979 Sea Nymph

FM161 16-1/2? Fish Machine

Single side console, remote steer.

1979 Evinrude 35 hp po started it so it runs

1979 Lil Dude tilt trailer

1979 OMC model BFL4S, forward mount elec. trolling motor

Here she is arriving home.

Next comes the plan.

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

Let me give you a belated welcome to iboats (11 posts in) and an equally warm welcome to the Sea Nymph club. Of course, I have only enjoyed my boat once (before I tore it apart) but so far I have been really impressed with it. IMHO, they are well-constructed and easy to work on. Yours appears to be in really good shape! Nice score!!!

Game on; can't wait to see more updates...

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

That'll be a real nice boat when you get done with it!

Now we need to see pics of her being taken apart!!!

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

She's going to make for a sweet fishing rig streetgang, very cool!

Sea Nymph owners are easily the sharpest (and most handsome) boat owners on the face of the planet, just sayen:joyous:

 

[64osby]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

Sea Nymph owners are easily the sharpest (and most handsome) boat owners on the face of the planet, just sayen:joyous:

And modest it seems.:laugh:

Streetgang - Nice score, way to keep your eye on the important things. Working motor, nice trailer and the boat looks like a nice project.

 

[Streetgang]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

Ahh, the Legends stop by. Thank you all for the welcome.

I have been having trouble with the new beta p bucket so went back to original and think have it all set to go.

One other note, the time space continuum will be out of wack with sunshine in the pics and real snow out the door but will catch up the thread to real time soon.

Big Plan is to have a boat that can easily get grandkids, sons, friends and myself onto Lake Erie?s shoreline, islands and bays. Throw in a few trips to Pelee Island, southern most point in Canada and almost fulltime residence of my business partner and that makes a pretty full deck. I am well aware of how this shallowest of all the Great Lakes can kick up and bite you pretty quickly so will be safe and prudent.

So now looking this boat over and thinking through what to do. My lurking has shown the sitting and thinking is an integral part of all these restos. I didn?t realize this yet at the time and certainly hadn?t heard of Iboats.

General plan is to clean her up, get that flooring removed, check out mechanicals and look over the hull in greater detail. So we start taking the misc. gear po threw in, off the boat. There is a live well under the pilot seat, some closed storage compartments along both rear gunwales, the tm is both 12 & or 24 volt, combo gps/fish finder, anchor that could stop the USS Ticonderoga and just enough dirt, moistness to know po didn?t maintain her much. I know his wife was happy to see it go. PO thought RTV silicone was the solution to mounting thru hulls or some leakers in bottom hull but no bumps or bruises to speak of.

It is getting obvious to get floor up will have to remove some rivets for the control console, live well, open and closed compartments, etc. Time to start trolling the web to see what type of help is out there. Obviously, found the Mother Lode here at Iboats.. Took some time to learn how powerful the search functions are, how good the sticky notes can be, how encouraging everyone is and on top of that all of these ?Characters? from all over the world.

So will let the plan develop on the fly and will search, lurk and learn while starting the removal. Just having a hard time wrapping my mind around this wet foam thingy that seems pervasive??

I enjoy the variety of info. found on any subject. A good selection of experiences and opinions, let alone intents of how to restore boat to each individuals desires. Wish I could remember the member who recommended the ?Navy? method of removing rivets in order to give him his due. Basically center punch, drill just deep enough to level of domed head and knock off head with punch. It worked well on the thru hull rivets.

So get the engine off but steer cable is tight and cylindrical receiver on engine is corroded. Picking around on the transom shows it is very nice shape which doesnt make much sense compared to rest of wood. Misc. parts, fittings, seats, removed.

The live well under pilot seat has 2 thru hulls exiting side of boat. When I sat there it is a snug fit and not so sure to my liking but will worry about that later.

Now we're making some smoke. Thru hull rivets out, console loose, live well loose, compartments defoamed and out. No agua in the foam inside compartments but they are above deck,,,,sure am curious. Ah yes, no pics but the obligatory rodent nests.

Next up the deck and debugging this limber smimber hole thing.

 

[Streetgang]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

It is impossible not to pick up on how frequently soaked foam comes up in the restos or in the Legends providing advise to newbies. I need to resolve this for myself of course.


Sure didnt take long. First deck section up. First foam compartment opened up. Soaked foam..........beauty

Yup, just a few more compartments to handle.

Water everywhere.

Right about this stage I am thinking quite a few others have been here before and since it is just a grind is there a tool or something to make this easier.

Not for the faint of heart and cant loose concentration but worked well. Not the pointy end.

17 bags. 7 lbs per gallon of water and quite a few heavy bags.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

Lookin' good SG!

That decking looks heavy with all that water in it, and that transom looks like one stage before garden mulch.

What thickness decking do you plan to go back with?... and what do you plan to seal it with?

What type of floatation foam?

Do you know if the boat leaks yet?

 

[Bwana Don]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

Foam out and then a quick leak test. Buck or replace any rivets needed, seal with Gluvit. Then foam board from Home Depot, unless you want to use the pour in foam. I don't think there's a huge following for pour in although some guys use it. And for gosh sakes make sure you're limber holes are cleaned out! lol

Good Luck
Don

 

[jasoutside]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

Wet heavy foam:mad-new:

 

[a1964rn]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

I found this tool to be a great help with getting foam out, etc. They have them at Lowes, and have different widths as well. Nice looking boat, too!

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

Right about this stage I am thinking quite a few others have been here before and since it is just a grind is there a tool or something to make

I found this tool to be a great help with getting foam out, etc.

Yep, ^^^^^ a reciprocating saw (sawzall), a pry bar and a regular old shovel will defoam a waterlogged boat in no time...

 

[Streetgang]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

Yep, ^^^^^ a reciprocating saw (sawzall), a pry bar and a regular old shovel will defoam a waterlogged boat in no time...

u r correct sir

just tryin g to be an IPO (instant petty officer) but will pay my dues

thank you and best of the best for the holidays and efforts

 

[Streetgang]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

I found this tool to be a great help with getting foam out, etc. They have them at Lowes, and have different widths as well. Nice looking boat, too!

Thank you for the feedback...foamers need to stay in the woooop

It is me but can no figure out what I am seeing in pic

If u r tricking w/glass photo, I am running hard / fast and that my friend is not something u want to c

 

[Streetgang]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

Wet heavy foam:mad-new:

u r back in the hood ??

legends r legends

 

[Streetgang]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

Yep, ^^^^^ a reciprocating saw (sawzall), a pry bar and a regular old shovel will defoam a waterlogged boat in no time...[/QUOTE\

cant argue at all just thinkin and sometime stinkin

 

[a1964rn]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

I was not referring to the sawzall in the pic. The scraper blade on it (instead of a saw blade) works great for removing stuck on foam, glue, etc.

 

[Streetgang]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

I was not referring to the sawzall in the pic. The scraper blade on it (instead of a saw blade) works great for removing stuck on foam, glue, etc.

Yup, now I got it.

I think that was my evil twin brother Labatt that stole my password last evening. He isnt the sharpest tack !

 

[Streetgang]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

Side bar:

Took wheels off trailer to get some new hoops. They were dry rotted. Inside of rims were covered with grease. I am not a big fan of bearing buddies as false sense of security IMO. Will have to check out the bearings and seals soon.

 

[a1964rn]

Re: 1979 Sea Nymph FM 161 resto

Yup, now I got it.

I think that was my evil twin brother Labatt that stole my password last evening. He isnt the sharpest tack !

LOL..I have one of those evil twins as well!