74 hydroswift total gut.

[GA_Boater]

Welcome aboard, Clutch.

This is how we all learn how to buy our second boat.

What all needs fixin'? Got any pictures to help with any advice we can give?

 

[Clutch777]

Hey everybody! This is my first post about my first boat. Just like a lot of 1st time used boat buyers here, my Lack of boat buying knowledge also makes this my 1st restore! I pretty much got the boat because (I thought) it looked like my grandpa's boat that I had alot of good memories on as a kid and the guy said the engine cranks And that he had it on the water a couple years ago and then just sat.... But once I got home and really inspected it, I noticed it needed a lot of helphwell:

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​​.... I am a mechanic and fabricator by trade, I've built off road trucks that do 100mph in the desert to lowered Cadillac that you couldn't fit a baseball card under so I'm not scared of the work or difficulty. But I would like the help of this knowledgeable community about boats.... I'm also ok with carpentry as I remodeled bathrooms and kitchens lol But the whole fiberglass process is gonna be pretty new to me. I'm hoping with your guys knowledge and my Manual labor I'll have a nice little boat my family and I can enjoy fishing and tubing with for years. Thank you guys and I will Hopefully have pictures attached here if it works. I have already removed the engine, drive and Gimble housing/ inner&outer transom plates.... The floor is removed except for the area the engine sits at. I think it's called a bulkhead? I have almost half the foam pulled out And starting to break out all the rotton stringers.... I'm pretty sure I will be doing the transom also. Everything I've done and learn so far as came from searching this awesome for thank you guys again

 

[GA_Boater]

All fixed for ya, Clutch.

 

[Clutch777]

Thank you! I'm gonna post pics as soon as I can find a way to shrink them under 2mb!

 

[GA_Boater]

Click on Forum Help in my sig for ways to add pics. Has some pic shrink help, too.

 

[Clutch777]

This is what I'm working on! I will post more pics tonight of where I'm actually at in the restore process .

 

[Clutch777]

And here is where I'm at! I will post some questions for you guys and some.more pics when I get back to work on it tomorrow! I'm down for the night!

 

[Clutch777]

Now I got some questions! Like I've said I dont know anything about boats and have been Learning as I go and winging it. There is a little squared shelf That runs a good portion down the length of the boat. The boat's floor that I'm ripping up is rotten to the edge of that shelf. I'm now thinking it has to do with the boat's structure maybe to make it a little more rigid? So I was thinking of Cutting where the bottom meets the floor At the red line I drawn in one of the pics. And because I wasn't thinking I cut the back corner off to look at the structure instead of just possibly taking a hole saw.:facepalm: So if I don't take that whole shelf out I will have to fiberglass that back on. haha I'm kinda lost at what I should do. It's also filled with foam and I'm sure truthfully the floor wood is rotten under that shelf all the way to the hull. Im thinking I Should I try to keep the shelf? Hopefully you guys can let me know of other opinions or if that's a good idea.:joyous:

 

[Clutch777]

I have more beginner questions that I couldn't find in search if someone can chime in. I cut another Section out where the engine sits the check out structure again, I figured I'm gonna rebuild it anyway so it doesn't matter how I cut it up:noidea: haha, if you notice the Hull drain is on the top yet there is still quite a bit of hull underneath the engine floor which is lower than the normal boat floor. Why wouldn't there be a hull drain at the bottom? Also it you look at the pics There seems to be a 2×4 laying flat going down the boat ncapsuled in fiberglass that I think......( Havent removed foam for a good look yet)......a Stringer rests on Starting at the middle of the boat in front of the fuel tank going all the way forward. Even though everything else was rotted this piece of wood seems to be in good condition, should I remove it? I need some help guys... SOS!!! Haha

 

[froggy1150]

Before you cut too much out.....
1. Need to figure out how you are supporting hull for the long term. Are you removing the cap?(top of boat). Are you leaving on trailer and if so is it a roller or bunk or setting on a cradle? Once you have it secure.....
2. Yup plan on cutting it all out. It will be a better quality job and I thought I was going to just cut the bad out. I had a tiny soft spot on the right rear and told myself I was going to stop when it got dry. And that's what I did all the way to the left front. All was wet.
3. MEASURE EVERYTHING WITH PICS!!!! I wish I had took more than I did but I was gung-ho before I did my research. I did measure enough... barley

 

[Clutch777]

I was thinking about stabilization yesterday. I'm planning on keeping it on the trailer, don't have really any where else to put it... It has V like rollers down the middle of it On the keel (I think it's called) And then it has carpets covered wood pieces on the sides,And then underneath it holding probly most of the weight is A bar with a lot of flat rollers on it. I posted pictures to show what I'm talking about and to see if you guys think it's sufficient..... As of right now I think it feels pretty stable, I've been climbing in-and-out of it a lot and it doesn't flex or move any.... if I can replace the transom without uncapping it that's what I'm gonna do, I know the cap has a big part in holding the structure together.. I also posted pictures of the tandem mating to the hull. It looks like pretty much around 2" of wood is just glued to the back and should be easy to cut out. What do yall think?

 

[Clutch777]

I'm also starting to measure everything, But what if I wanted the floor a 1/2 an inch taller or an extra compartment somewhere ? Am I able to add stuff or does this structure need to be the only thing? Not saying I'm going to, I'm just wondering. I'm thinking it's kind of like a blank slate that I could do what I wish.:nevreness: thank you guys!

 

[Clutch777]

I went back at it last night, I got all the foam removed and can actually see structural bonding of the stringers to the hull. It looks horrible haha. My middle Stringer isn't even in the middle at the front of the boat and that makes my OCD go crazy haha. I tried looking online for information about this boat but there is nothing except seeing that they used to be in Salt Lake City Utah. I now know why the company didn't last, they can't line stringers up and their hull drain is like 6" from the bottom of the hull leaving a puddle of water or fuel and whatever else that got inside and was inside to just sit and soak up in the wood and foam... Oh well at least it will be put back together the right way I'm starting to cut the "shelf" off Which I think does a lot to the stability of the sides of the hull.... I'm thinking my trailer cradles the boat pretty good with the beams of wood on the side and and the the long rollers that are short distanced apart from each other holding most of the weight. If you guys can possibly chime in and give me some insight On the hulls stability And if the trailer is sufficient enough for support I would really appreciate it! I know there's a lot of knowledge here and guys that has done just about everything right to wrong on a boat.... I need help! Haha

 

[Scott Danforth]

what you are seeing is common for most small boats under 20-25 feet. its also why small run-abouts have a design life of 15 years. even in my boat there is a 1/2" discrepancy between port and starboard height from gunwales to cockpit sole and those were made as modules that were then glued in place. Boats are a balance between making them look pretty and slapping the minimum amount of labor in them to get them out the door and make some profit.

build a cradle under the boat. the trailer is not good enough

 

[Clutch777]

Hey thanks for the input scott! I've been searching on how to make a cradle but I'm not really finding anything.... is there a good method everyone uses perhaps? Im New to this whole boat thing haha

 

[Scott Danforth]

use 2x4's, 2x6's and plywood to match the shape of the hull about every 2 feet.

i used a compass to scribe the shape of my hull and transfer to 3/4" plywood pieces that were sistered to 2x4's across the hull, and 2x6's supporting the hull between the bunks on my trailer.

 

[steve_h7]

Hey thanks for the input scott! I've been searching on how to make a cradle but I'm not really finding anything.... is there a good method everyone uses perhaps? Im New to this whole boat thing haha

I left mine on the trailer and built a support around it. 2x6's run under the boat and have supports to keep the hull from moving. I only removed my splash well but it held everything very securely.

 

[Clutch777]

I'm planning at least at the moment to do everything I need to with the cap still on. Do I need to still worry about bracing and cradling if I don't pop the cap off? Thanks guys!

 

[steve_h7]

If not removing the cap then no, I don't think you need any extra support. Here's an educational video and shows an example of doing a total restoration while on a trailer without removing the cap:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kopF4muvF0c&list=PL02C318B574CD948D

 

[Clutch777]

Hey y'all I'm back at it! Had to take a little break....( life called ) I've got quite a bit more done since last post even though it dont look like it haha. I will be posting pics in next post!