Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

[Les Robb]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Boy oh boy I sure would like to shop at you marine supply store. Before you know it you will have made money. And your wife didn't have faith in you

Luck

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

I wish,
Now I just need to find someone with some good resin and PT ply and I'll be set. , well maybe some new seats too.
Have a great day
Bob

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

OK, everyone I said that this was going to be a long process, at least for me.
I get get a few hours on the boat this weekend. I even got to try out my new tools. The first was the flush cut saw. worked very well once I new were to cut. I could get very close to the edge leaving less to grind.
The second tool was the chainsaw on a wheel, the jury is still out on this one.
NOW for some pic's.
This is when I first got the main deck off.

Gas tank removed.

The stringer in the middle gone, no tools required.

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

This may be rushing things a little but, I'm looking at ways to correct a major flaw in the design (as I see it). If you look at the picture below you will notice a thin area of foam. There is only a couple of inches between the two stringers or one stringer and one bulkhead. I know I will have trouble getting glass down between the two members. Any suggestions?
One more thing, early in my thread Drewpster ask me if I was pulling the engine, I can now answer that with a definite yes.
The next time I'm home, about 2 weeks, the Stern drive and engine will be coming out. I hope.

The left side is the stringer, the right side is the bulkhead and they both go all the way back to the transom.

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Hello Folks,
I finnally got back on the boat a little today.
Not much to report and no pic's, I will try to post some pic's tomorrow.
I did get the stern drive pulled and the motor out. This allowed me to get a better look at the transom. The transom appears very solid.
I won't get much time on her tomorrow either, I will be heading back out of town.
I will only be gone one week this time and then home for a week.
I hope everyone is having fun.
Bob

 

[system-f]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

If your cap is off replace the transom. 95% of my boat was in awesome shape, but if you are in this deep the transom isn't much extra work. I am terrified that I will leave one piece of wood that might have rot starting and it will spread like cancer to my new repairs. Post more pics!

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Thanks System-f,
I'll have some pic's tomorrow night. when i get back down to TN.
I tend to agree with you about making sure I get all the rotted wood out.
I still have some box sections on the inside to get out and the rest of the transom mounts before I can see all the transom.
My cap is already off too.
I will make up my mind when I completed the inspection, thanks for the advise. Greatly appreciated.
Bob

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Ok,
Yesterday, I pulled the Stern drive and the engine.

It helps to have a small tractor with a front end loader.

Then put it on a skid to store and work on.

I thought my transom looked pretty good, until I pulled the transom plate.
Pic's in next post.
Thanks
Bob

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Another group of pic's.
The lower portion of transom, the part I couldn't see was rotten, I pushed a screw driver all the down to the drain with out even trying.
So System-f, I will be replacing the transom after all. I guess I'm now, I am past lowkee's 10 steps of denial.
I do have some good news, My transom is a stepped transom and that portion is only 25" H X 33" W. Everything but the bottom is standing proud and easy to get to. Plus it is small enough to fit in my vacuum press.
This was my first clue, I had a problem.

Then I found this. View of the bottom of transom hole.

Sorry for the blurry Pic's. I'll work on that.
Thanks
Bob

 

[83vert]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Hey Bob, replacing the transom should not be that bad since the rot did most of the hard part for you. LOL.

 

[system-f]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Yes you are lucky that part of it is rotten. Only the very bottom 1/2" of mine was STARTING to rot so it was still solid. I am now spending hours with the belt sand on the inside transom skin getting the remaining plywood off

Also, this transom repair might help you. He only did the bottom half.

Since your cap is off no point in not doing it all...but I thought this restore was interesting.

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Hey 83vert,
I never really thought about it that way. lol

System-f, thanks for the link and the pic's. However like you said before, I in this deep, I'll just replace the whole thing. I don't want to ever worry if the transom is strong enough to hold up. It is a interesting idea.
Question: I noticed that the drain hole is about 1" off the bottom, Which means that if water gets in at least some of it will not drain. Should I lower it to the bottom during the rebuild or leave it the way it is? What does everyone think?
Thanks for any idea's.
Bob

 

[system-f]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Good question on the drain hole. I also have the same problem/question. I would like to have one of those cool drains that the tin guys can install in the bottom of the bilage. Do they have those for fiberglass boats?

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Good question on the drain hole. I also have the same problem/question. I would like to have one of those cool drains that the tin guys can install in the bottom of the bilage. Do they have those for fiberglass boats?

http://www.iboats.com/Boat_Drains_Drain_Tubes/dm/*******.918195973--**********.588951477--view_id.217452

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Nice work so far Bob....keep tearin it up!!!!!!! youll be putting it back together in no time! (well mebbe a few months)

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Hey Folks,
Not a whole lot to report, I only got a couple hours on the Boat today. Had to do a couple Honey dew items and then blew a hydrlic hose on my tractor. can't get a new one till monday.
I did manage to get the top cut off one of the boxes on side of the engine compartment. Guess what I found in there? yep, more foam. I got enough out of it to fill a couple garbage bags.
The foam was dry at least.
I'll try to get some more Pic's up sunday.
I still would like to know what people think about moving the bilge drain hole down, Yes, NO , Maybee?
Thanks
Bob

 

[system-f]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

I too want to move my drain hole down, but since the transom sits kind of high and I had to use PL to bed it a drain through PL is probably NOT a good idea for me. Looks like it is wet/dry vac time when the bilge gets a little water.


Come on Bob, hurry it up I have the transom beded and most of my stringers cut Don't worry though, when I get to the paint I will stop dead in my tracks due to lack of $$$$.

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Hey Vegas thanks,
We must have been writing about the same time.

System-f,
I knew when I started this project it would be slower then most. It will take me almost till spring to complete mine if I'm lucky. I only get home every other weekend and my boat is outside.
I have to go Mexico after the first of the year for a couple of weeks, and then across the pond for a couple months, late winter, or early spring.

I just keep plugging away every chance I get.
No real complaints.
I really enjoy reading all the other threads and all the great support from everyone.
Thanks again
Bob

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Hello everyone,
I didn't get to work on the boat today but did get some Pic's of the work I completed yesterday.
I got the stringers cut out attached to transom and then strated cutting out the transom.
It actually went better then planned.
My transom protudes into the boat so I just started cutting back about 1.5 " around 3 sides and alon the haul at the bottom. Less then an hour later, with the help of prybars and a hammer an the transom popped off.
The boat builder used 3 sheets of 1/2" ply.

Striped transom.

I at least got enough to make a template out of it. Most of it I put in a bucket.

With a little luck I will get somemore time on her tomorrow. Weather permitting.
Bob

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

I just went through the same thing. It looks like you have the hard stuff behind you.

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: Timid but determined Glasstream restoration

Thanks friscoboater,
I thank most of the hard stuff is behind me but I still have a lot of that dredded grinding to do too.
It all comes with the fun. Snowman suit, her I come.
Thanks Again
Bob