1995 Invader Montigo 169 Restoration

[RebTech]

Hi All

This is my first post and I am in need of some suggestions and help.
I bought my first real boat. I'm coming from a 10.5' Seamax inflatable with a 15HP

I read as much as I could on these forums before going out and picking up a boat. I ended up with a 1995 Invader (Made In Canada) Montego 169 and a merc 3.0 LX. Of course, all looks good until you get her home.

I knew the seats needed to be done and I was willing to do it. What I wasn't ready for was the surprise when I lifted the Gas tank cover in the boat.
It was covered in black sludge at least a 1/4" thick. We have since cleaned it and allowed it to dry out. The wood is soft and wet but not totally falling apart, I would say it was spongy when we first opened it up. It is drying out and the plywood is delaminating but still strong if I was to stand on it.

The real damage is around the gas tank, all the deck water seeped into the locker and had nowhere to go! And, of course, everything around it got wet and stayed that way.


My questions are:

If I decide to open it up....I was thinking about 6" inches on either side and see how bad things are (black jiffy markers). If things look okay and minor repair is needed, how would one patch this? How do I join the old with the new? Do I add wood bracing between the two?

If the stringers are rotten near the top can the bad parts be cut out and just replaced? Or what if the stringer is rotten only where the gas tank is and the rest is okay, how does one join new wood with the old?

I've been literally sitting in this boat for hours thinking about my options and consequences? I need your guys help!

 

[Chris51280]

You already see the stringer being bad and the deck in the area of the ski locker. plywood is wood and uses the capillary effect like the tree to transport water. so the rot is most likely all the way through the whole boat. it is almost 25 years old. 5 years younger than mine and you can look at how mine looked like when i tore it apart. I did not have sludge which i wonder how this is possible.
If you look, you can see that these boats were put together without any concern of water protection.
The underside of the deck is probably not glassed.
The stringer just has some weak spray on chopped strand on it like mine did. I think you are it for a rebuild.
The advise we give is, drill test holes about 1" above the hull into the stringers or bulkheads or transom. if dry and nice bright colors, you are ok. if not........ you know the answer already since you have been lurking around here.
I think its worth saving. its nice looking and if the mechanical stuff is in order, then thats half the battle.