79 Terry 450 transom, deck, stringers, hull -- too much?

[Dabbler_E]

OK, got this a couple years ago -- first boat, steep learning curve. Work done to date includes: lots of motor work (running great now), rewire, add trolling motor, bilge pump float switch, sonar, replace plywood rear hatch, replace foredeck plywood, replace carpet, new seats, smart tabs, bimini top, plus lots of other small tweaks. Plus, I painted it a completely unmarketable camo to allow use as a duck boat. I've finally gotten it just the way I like it....

...except the transom is bowing out and cracking.

So, I'm now in the phase of assessing the larger rot & damage and trying to decide whether I'm in deeper than I want to be.

Done before reading enough on Iboats --- cutting out the outer skin is bad.

However, the outer skin was pretty badly cracked and has weird gouges

 

[Dabbler_E]

Re: 79 Terry 450 restoration (?) -- too much?

Re: 79 Terry 450 restoration (?) -- too much?

This shows the inner transom skin -- very thin, fragile layer of mat. Breaks with 2 fingers. Note the holes to either side of the center

The actual original stringer is pretty rotten out, but someone has since put in PT dimensional lumber supports. Plus the obligatory waterlogged foam.

So, I drill out the rivets to pop the cap. Something tells this isn't the boat's first rodeo.

Stole Oops' crane frame design to lift the cap.

What's underneath???? A semi-old deck repair, with really shoddy glass work.

No glass underneath decking.

 

[Dabbler_E]

Re: 79 Terry 450 restoration (?) -- too much?

Re: 79 Terry 450 restoration (?) -- too much?

View down the bilge -- note water leaking in from the waterlogged compartments to the sides.


What about the keel & chines? Well...

Looks like a chop gun job. Zero fairing.

Several ginches like this along the chines.

Hull hook from trailer roller set too high -- it's actually a bunk trailer, just has a center roller. I lowered the roller very shortly after getting the boat, but the damage was done.

This crack along the inside corner of a chine is probably the most worrisome thing. It's a couple feet long.

Another page taken from Oops' book.


Keep in mind I'm looking to repair to serviceability, not really to restore to original. My experience in glassing was helping a buddy glass a cedar strip canoe (epoxy), but I've been reading here a lot, and am learning a ton. I guess the real question I have is: would you all consider the structural keel & chine issues daunting enough to consider seeking another hull (despite the time & effort already sunk into this one) or are they fairly doable.

Respectfully submitted to the collective wisdom. Hoping to tear out some decking tomorrow to see what lies beneath.

 

[Dabbler_E]

Re: 79 Terry 450 transom, deck, stringers, hull -- too much?

Early morning mini-demo to take out a chunk of the deck & take a peek underneath.

rotten plywood, no glass on underside, very poor adhesion on top side. No apparent sealer otherwise.

Here's the glass mat that was laid over the decking -- lifted off as one beautiful sheet.

Lovely wet subdeck compartment. The glassed in stringer (just mat) is on the right, but is buttressed with a chunk of PT lumber, drywall screwed into it. Surely the screw holes helped slow the stringer rot. I'm assuming this is not original work.....(I sure hope not)

Here's an edge-on view of the decking -- 5/8" ply over an unglassed PT lumber support.

Here's the inside portion of the lovely exterior repair job. Looks like they wetted out some mat and literally slapped it on. Love the curled up edges! I guess they should be commended for doing an inside-outside job, but....

 

[Dabbler_E]

Re: 79 Terry 450 transom, deck, stringers, hull -- too much?

Demolition continues --

pulled up deck, consisting of plywood w/ poorly adhered csm on top surface only. Glass peeled easily off the original glass. Then scooped out the wet foam -- it only came to 75 lbs, so I felt kind of gypped after reading about folks dropping 200 lbs in foam. Previous repair left the original stringers, just buttressed them w/ lumber.

stringers are mush

Below: is this repair work? Very opaque white, possibly very resin-rich glass.

Right now I'm waiting for it to dry out to look for delaminated glass and check out the interior of the cracked areas.

 

[scrawnyronny]

Re: 79 Terry 450 transom, deck, stringers, hull -- too much?

Keep it coming Dabbler. I've been waiting for a Terry of this vintage and design to show up here. I have a 78' 460 and the boats look super similar to me. For selfish reasons I'd say suck it up and getter done just so I can see what I could expect. But, as you questioned "too much", only you can ultimately decide. So I will gladly subscribe to your thread hoping you choose to proceed with your project.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 79 Terry 450 transom, deck, stringers, hull -- too much?

Is the glass delaminating? That is not a good sign How is the exterior of the hull......

I have no idea of where you are but in my opinion...... you should look for a different project. I see FAR too much work needed both with the structure and the hull.

 

[Dabbler_E]

Re: 79 Terry 450 transom, deck, stringers, hull -- too much?

BVT -- I own this boat, and paid too much, as you might have guessed. The keel and strakes have several areas of damage down to the glass, and there is a 3-foot crack along the inside corner of one of the strakes. All previous exterior repairs consisted of slathered-on putty, except for one area that looks like it was hit with a chop gun. Several areas of glass damage have been persistently wet for who know how long, due to waterlogged interior compartments.

This boat has sentimental (first boat) and investment value (meaning, I've invested in a lot into it -- the Concorde effect), but honestly it isn't a great match for what we need. It's seriously cramped with 2 adults and 2 kids, and has a lot of not-very-usable space up front with a large casting deck and live well. I also use it as a duck boat, and the setup is poor for carrying lots of bulky stuff (i.e., decoys).

The upside is that the motor (70 hp 3cyl Johnson) is running great and the trailer is really stout -- really overkill for this lil boat -- and in good shape.

So, I'm going out today to look for a more worthy project. Hoping to find someone looking to unload a runabout with a blown motor. Stay tuned for "is this a good find or a lurking nightmare?" posts. Fortunately, I've learned a ton from working on this boat and reading Iboats and "Runabout Renovation" -- I'll know a lot more about what to run away from.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 79 Terry 450 transom, deck, stringers, hull -- too much?

Update your profile so it reflects where you are. Many of us see "free boats" or great deals and often talk about them. If there is one in your area we would know.

 

[Dabbler_E]

Re: 79 Terry 450 transom, deck, stringers, hull -- too much?

Looks like my Terry will either be tarped for the near future or sold. There's a new girl in town.

1975 Mark Twain 17' V hull.

Lots of upholstery work to do, and motor will be a project, but the hull is in fantastic shape.

 

[SnowHunter]

Re: 79 Terry 450 transom, deck, stringers, hull -- too much?

Congrats on the new beauty Drabbler!!!!! She;s puuuuuuurty!!!