Interesting discovery...

[Chinewalker]

Now that the transom is fully installed in my '74 Starcraft American 15, I am moving on to replacing the stringers. First step is to clean all the old foam and wood out. In scooping the foam out last night I discovered that there is STILL a lot of water in there! I pulled the floor up almost 2-years ago and it has been inside a dry garage that whole time, much of it next to a pot-belly stove during the winter, and I can still take a handful of the foam flotation and squeeze out a half-cup of water! <br /><br />Goes to show that once the water is in there, it STAYS in there. No amount of fans, heat lamps, etc. will get it out of there. If you've got a waterlogged boat, the only way to dry it out is to rip it out.... <br /><br />Hopefully I'll be installing stringers this weekend! Then deck goes back on, then the floor goes in.... Shooting for a July 1st launching (if not before)! <br /><br />- Scott

 

[patuxent]

Re: Interesting discovery...

Man, that makes me wonder if I should put foam in my '72 Scat-Craft...<br /><br />BTW, TTH is an excellent band.

 

[mudrow]

Re: Interesting discovery...

Hay Chinewalker; I am doing the same thing. Replacing the transom and floor on a 16 ft Welcraft. It's not the best looking boat but has potential. I was wondering if you will go with marine ply or OSB board. I'm thinking OSB and completely encase it with fiberglass. Even if I used marine grade I would do the same thing. Also I am confused about Gelcoat. Is it a paint or just a cover for the glass and then paint over the Gelcoat. Thanks for your posts and keep em coming cause I am a learning. Also do you have any pic's of your boat.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Interesting discovery...

Patuxent - glad to hear that The Hip are being heard along the Chesepeake...<br /><br />Mudrow - I am using high grade CDX exterior for the transom and floor, not marine grade. I epoxied and clamped together four layers of 3/8" ply for the transom with a layer of glass cloth between each layer. I am trying plywood for the stringers, laminating two layers of 3/8" with glass cloth between them for a 3/4" stringer. I can't believe how solid the transom is now. The original one was the same thickness - in some areas. It tapered down to about 3/4-inch near the chines and outer edges. This one is 1.5 inches full width and heigth...<br /><br />All plywood will be encapsulated in epoxy and being that it isn't in water contact (.ie outer sheathing) the exterior grade should be fine. Having seen the original construction used in the transom and stringers, I'm already WAY ahead of that as far as longevity and strength goes.<br /><br />For pics, check out the Fiberglass Boats Restoration page off my website: www.pfs-ware.com/smith<br /><br />I don't know about Gelcoat - the outer finish on my boat is decent...<br /><br />- Scott

 

[chuckz]

Re: Interesting discovery...

Gelcoat is a finish.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Interesting discovery...

gelcoat is usually sprayed in the mold before the glass and resin, so that when it comes outa the mold, the gel coat is what you see.<br /><br />you can get gel coat that is self curing so that you can do patch work at home and it will cure with air contact.<br /><br />some gel coats wont cure with air and have to be sealed off from the universe<br /><br />i know im not exact, but im close

 

[Bondo]

Re: Interesting discovery...

In scooping the foam out last night I discovered that there is STILL a lot of water in there! I pulled the floor up almost 2-years ago and it has been inside a dry garage that whole time, much of it next to a pot-belly stove during the winter, and I can still take a handful of the foam flotation and squeeze out a half-cup of water!

Ayuh,........... I Bet Soda Pop Bottles wouldn't hold that kind of Water............. <br /><br />I Like your construction Methods.......... I Think Construction Grade Plywood,+ Epoxy are The Way To Go.............