Don't have a clue but im doing it anyway!

[mtnshark]

I just bought an Aristocraft Funliner 17, trailer and a 1970 115 Mercury for $250.00. (Think C.W. McCall song classified advertisement, If you haven't heard the song, go listen, substitute boat for chevrolet pick up truck and come back to thread) No idea on the year of the boat, in fact until i found the logo, I had no idea what kind of boat it was, just liked the lines! It needs hull work, someone did some pretty ghetto glass work. I know the boat has glass stringers and foam between the inner and outer hull. I'm sure the foam is probably water logged and should be replaced, not to mention I just want to see the inside. The seats and hardware are removed. How do I get the hull cap off and what should I expect? Im not worried about the engine, I will get around to it. I have a pretty good handle on doing glass work but will be seeking advise as we go. The top cap is coming off tomorrow one way or the other so this will either be an epic fail or a seriously fun project. Need advise, tips, tricks and photos if you have them.

 

[tpenfield]

Not sure you 'need' to take the cap off to re-do fiberglass work in the area of the stringers (i.e. floor) . . . although a few pictures of the areas you are talking about would help.

 

[Scott Danforth]

make sure to make a cradle prior to taking the cap off

 

[alldodge]

The cap comes off probably easy enough. Have a similar boat still sitting in the shop I took the cap off :facepalm:

The rub rail is removed by drilling rivets, or removing screws (unable to tell in pic)
Once rub is removed there will be another set of rivets which get drilled off.

The transom area of the top may be glued to the transom. This will be the area which may be hardest to get loose. Once loose, the top will come off

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Pains me to see holes in old boat dashes.

 

[mtnshark]

Well day 1 was a success, in between rain storms, got the engine off (should have been a 2 or 3 person job), the inner trim and several other pieces. Ended up drilling most of the screws (they were aluminum) and the rivets. All the nuts and bolts were a mix of brass, stainless and aluminum. The drain plug was interesting, it was solid brass with both ends flared out after it was put through the transom. It was kind if interesting, the transom wood was solid as a rock, go figure. lets see what happens tomorrow.

 

[alldodge]

drain plug was interesting, it was solid brass with both ends flared out after it was put through the transom.

Yes there is a tool to reinstall. I bought one some time back, don't remember what it cost

 

[frustratedboater]

Nice boat! I could run through that motor for you and have it dialed in.. I could see beveled cut big piece of mahogany as your dash, covering up the holes and some old style gauges. yeah!Great vintage classic.