Restoring a 1978 Venture Boat:

[suwanneered]

Hello: I couldn't find the Venture restoration site so I will post a new thread.
I have finally got the cap offf the boat and boy was it stuck at the Motor well on the transom.I did inflict some small damage getting it off but nothing that I cannot fix.
I was thinking about if the stringers are encapulasated fully in glass why not just re enforce them with a layer of glass after cleaning them for bonding.I have a 38 foot Chris Craft that has no wood and the stringers are hollow which were made and then placed in the hull and glased in and she is strong as can be!I will start to remove the floor today and actually see what is going on below.This a a thought about the stringers and would save a lot of work and cost which is going to be higher each day..Thanks,Bill

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: Restoring a 1978 Venture Boat:

Welcome to iboats suwanneered!

This is probably the thread you were referring to. Its probably best that you started your own thread though to keep all your questions and progress in one spot. Not to mention a bit of etiquette [FONT=arial, sans-serif]to [/FONT]keep from cluttering someone else's thread.

Last bit of advice I can offer is to post up some pics so everyone can see what you're working on/with and give better input.

Just in case you need the info how to post pictures.

 

[oops!]

Re: Restoring a 1978 Venture Boat:

there is a big difference between engineered stringers and wood encased glass.

it is not a good idea to just re wrap the stringers with more glass and hope for the best.

you are in there any way.....may as well do it correctly ......that way you will have no worries for the next 30 years

 

[suwanneered]

Re: Restoring a 1978 Venture Boat:

Hello :Well yesterday was abig day!I got the sole removed and a lot of the wet foam out.I was wondering if the foam can be dried out and put in with the new foam to cut the volume need to fill the bilge which was foamed in soild.The boat only has 2 stringers which the glass looks good but sure the wood onside is toast as all the deck was rotten under the thin coat of glass.
The foam is a big part of the structal being of the boat judging from the way it is stuck to the stringers and bottom of the boat.
I am thinking about making a couple of new wood stringers and glassing them to the old ones as the glass looks good and the wood is goine inside I am sure.
The boat only has 2 stringers and the foam is a very big part of the ridigety of the boat.So it must be replaced .The wood decking that the foam was in contact with had rotted out completely.I am sure this boat was outside a lot of its life and it shows.
Also thinking about trying to dry out the foam and reuse some of it along with some new foam.On second thought I guess a trip to the old Venture Plant and discuss the boat with a couple of workers who did work at the plant when it was making boats.The plant is still there but only does repairs sold all the molds,chopper guns,etc.My boat was not hand laid up hull and was done with a chopper gun and just guess all were made the same way.I might find out exactly how much foam is required to fill the bilge of the boat.I am thinkjing a 10 gallon kit will be required any ideas??Back to work on the project! Happy Easter to All!!! Bill