Hello, first time poster here, although I?ve lurking for a while. I recently picked up a 1975 BeeCraft fiberglass trihull as a project boat. The price was right? free. It has a nice trailer under it and a 1973 Johnson 50. According to the former owner, the boat had been sitting for four years.
Luckily the motor started right up so I know it runs. I only ran it for a few minutes because I was worried about the impeller functioning correctly since I didn?t know the history of the motor and due to it sitting for so long. I wanted to make sure it ran before I proceeded with the rest of the project. Today, I changed out the lower unit oil, sprayed Seafoam in the cylinders, and removed it from the boat. While removing it, I confirmed my suspicions that the transom needs replaced. I?ve already ripped out most of the floor. It was well rotted. I suspect the stringers are also, so I?ll be ripping them out too. Which brings me to my series of newbie questions.
First the motor. Is it okay to leave it lying horizontally for a while? It?s currently lying on it?s side on a small garden trailer. I?ll probably fabricate a stand for it later.
Now for the boat, I?ve been reading threads on here about removing the wood in the transom but still have a few questions. In some threads, the entire top was removed from the hull. I?m assuming the rub rail is removed and the rivets are drilled out so it can be lifted off the boat. Is this correct? Is the rubber part of the rub rail easily found and replaced?
In some threads, it appears that only part of the top at the back of the boat was cut off and removed. How do you deal with the rub rail with this method?
Another option is to use SeaCast. Do you just remove the very top portion of the transom where the motor sits or do you have to remove the top from the entire width of the transom? I have the ability to fabricate the tools needed to drill and chip out the wood so that?s not a problem. I get the feeling SeaCast is pretty expensive, but if it saves me from dismantling the entire boat, it might be a viable option.
I plan to do the deconstructing and cleanup this fall and then finish it in the spring when the weather warms up. I don?t have a shop big enough to work in but I do have one I can work out of.
I really like the lines of this boat. It was just what I was looking for when I decided to do something like this, so I don?t have a problem with the time and expense involved. (It?s still cheaper than buying a new boat.) I plan on turning it into a general purpose fishing boat, with a small deck up front. I?d like to put permanently mounted fishing seats in the cockpit area and two removable pedestal seats in the rear. I plan to place a pedestal base on the front deck so I can use one of the rear pedestal seats up front when we?re actually fishing. Only my wife and I will be fishing out of this boat 99% of the time.
Any and all comments are appreciated. Thanks.
Luckily the motor started right up so I know it runs. I only ran it for a few minutes because I was worried about the impeller functioning correctly since I didn?t know the history of the motor and due to it sitting for so long. I wanted to make sure it ran before I proceeded with the rest of the project. Today, I changed out the lower unit oil, sprayed Seafoam in the cylinders, and removed it from the boat. While removing it, I confirmed my suspicions that the transom needs replaced. I?ve already ripped out most of the floor. It was well rotted. I suspect the stringers are also, so I?ll be ripping them out too. Which brings me to my series of newbie questions.
First the motor. Is it okay to leave it lying horizontally for a while? It?s currently lying on it?s side on a small garden trailer. I?ll probably fabricate a stand for it later.
Now for the boat, I?ve been reading threads on here about removing the wood in the transom but still have a few questions. In some threads, the entire top was removed from the hull. I?m assuming the rub rail is removed and the rivets are drilled out so it can be lifted off the boat. Is this correct? Is the rubber part of the rub rail easily found and replaced?
In some threads, it appears that only part of the top at the back of the boat was cut off and removed. How do you deal with the rub rail with this method?
Another option is to use SeaCast. Do you just remove the very top portion of the transom where the motor sits or do you have to remove the top from the entire width of the transom? I have the ability to fabricate the tools needed to drill and chip out the wood so that?s not a problem. I get the feeling SeaCast is pretty expensive, but if it saves me from dismantling the entire boat, it might be a viable option.
I plan to do the deconstructing and cleanup this fall and then finish it in the spring when the weather warms up. I don?t have a shop big enough to work in but I do have one I can work out of.
I really like the lines of this boat. It was just what I was looking for when I decided to do something like this, so I don?t have a problem with the time and expense involved. (It?s still cheaper than buying a new boat.) I plan on turning it into a general purpose fishing boat, with a small deck up front. I?d like to put permanently mounted fishing seats in the cockpit area and two removable pedestal seats in the rear. I plan to place a pedestal base on the front deck so I can use one of the rear pedestal seats up front when we?re actually fishing. Only my wife and I will be fishing out of this boat 99% of the time.
Any and all comments are appreciated. Thanks.
