1990 Crestliner Sabre 24' G/L Project...

[MarkNY]

I've recently begun a new project. Its 24' Crestliner Sabre outboard model with extended transom. im converting this boat from a hardtop with cuddy to a walkthru open bow with softop. The boat will be used for trolling during summer and duck hunting during winter. I'm sure ill have lots of questions but thought id share a couple pics first. So far ive taken the hardtop off, stripped the floor out and im now working on removing the wood from the transom. That task has been very difficult. I had my metal guy cut a slot out of the spashwell to remove the plywood but the wood is not coming out easy. Just today I ordered an oscillating saw which i hope will work with cutting up the wood so i can remove it be sections. Thanks in advance for my future questions! Mark....

 

[Rickmerrill]

Hey Mark, since the "upgrade" the upload facilities on iboats don't work much. Just get a free photobucket acct, upload there, copy the IMG link and post it directly in your posts. I'm not positive I understand how your access is to the transom, maybe a pic will show, but the o-tool, though I love it, would be slow going. If the surface is still flat you can set a circular saw to a safe depth and cut a bunch of small squares out of the wood then just chisel it out. Just don't get the saw into any low spots and cut thru the transom. I just read Woodonglass recommend 1" squares to someone recently.

 

[Rickmerrill]

Duplicate.

 

[kcassells]

Like Rick said. Pics pics pics.

 

[MarkNY]

 

[Mikeopsycho]

Cool. Can I borrow your forklift? :lol:

 

[MarkNY]

 

[MarkNY]

Discovered that the wood in the rearmost part of the transom is shot too. Man its gonna be a slow start to this project but i dont want any rotten wood left in this transom. Planning on putting a modern 4 stroke on the back of this and dont want any weight issues...

 

[crkranz]

Is your sst filled with foam? How did you dig it out to get to the nuts so you can get the plywood out?

 

[MarkNY]

No foam in the SST.

 

[kcassells]

Wow....Dig the boat and the hard top!! Guys would die to have a hard top on their walkaround. Good pics also. Yup work is looking right at you. What are you going to do with the hardtop/windshield?

 

[MarkNY]

I gave the hardtop to my buddy in exchange for taking it off. He actually used the roof from the top and had an aluminum frame fabricated and put it on his boat. Came out real nice.... I have a nice walk thru windshield that im gonna use on this boat.

 

[kcassells]

Dratz!!! Good exchange though. I think this will be a cool thread to follow. Welcome aboard!

 

[MarkNY]

Thanks for the welcome! I got all but two of the bolts out of the rearmost transom. The last two are inaccessible without cutting metal. The backside of the bolt is enclosed by these gussets in the splashwell. Only thought i have is to cut the bolt off on both sides of the wood with my osc.tool to get old wood out then re install those two bolts in a place where i can get to both sides. Cant wait to finish this repair work and get on with the fun stuff. Mark

 

[Woodonglass]

Uhmmm, You could drill access holes in the gussets to gain access to the bolts, via a socket and extension.

 

[MarkNY]

Good idea! Should i worry about weakening that gusset by drilling into it? Also the bolts are not centered with the gussets.That was my concern. thanks

 

[crkranz]

Thanks for the welcome! I got all but two of the bolts out of the rearmost transom. The last two are inaccessible without cutting metal. The backside of the bolt is enclosed by these gussets in the splashwell. Only thought i have is to cut the bolt off on both sides of the wood with my osc.tool to get old wood out then re install those two bolts in a place where i can get to both sides. Cant wait to finish this repair work and get on with the fun stuff. Mark

This is the exact road block I encountered today and spent time pondering how to deal with it. I came to the same conclusion as the others suggested and I am just going to drill an access hole in the gusset to get on the nut with a socket and extension.

 

[crkranz]

Is your splash well welded in anywhere that you have found? I think I'm going to try and remove mine to get the plywood out instead of cutting the slot like you did.

 

[Woodonglass]

Drilling a 3/4" hole in that gusset should not weaken it to any significant degree, IMHO!!!

 

[MarkNY]

Is your splash well welded in anywhere that you have found? I think I'm going to try and remove mine to get the plywood out instead of cutting the slot like you did.

The reason i had the slot cut is because the splashwell is welded at the bottom. It looks like its all just riveted but it wasnt on my boat. i removed a bunch of rivets thinking i was good to go until i found the welded part. good luck