Where do I begin? Sole replacement

[baylinerbeginner]

New to forum and new to boat ownership.
On a whim last night, I bought a 1996 Bayliner Capri 1704 sf with a 120 Force outboard. The boat has been sitting outside for several years so all the wood is rotten( I discovered termites this morning). I knew buying it that I would have to replace all the decking and probably the stringers as well as all the upholstery. This is a project boat by every means. I have no experience in boat restoration but couldn't pass it up. I paid $300 for everything. I know I am in for a lot of work but where do I begin?

Here are some pics to give everyone an idea...



I am leaving now to go out of town so I will not be able to reply immediately. Please don't get annoyed with my delay in response. I will reply Sunday evening.

Thanks for all the help and advise in advance.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

Welcome baylinerbeginner,

You have definitely found the best place on the net for any and all information you will need to successfully restore this bayliner to better than the factory ever could...

You are also in luck, as there are quite a few excellent Bayliner restores going on right now...

OK, lets get started...

Best thing to do is read, then read some more...here's an excellent link to get you started... http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288451

Especially #11 & #15...These two guys have done it all, done it right and taken the time to share all of their valuable knowledge...

Also, get a free photobucket account, load your pics there, then click on the IMG tag, and post them in your replies here...

The better for us, to see what you are seeing...

Also, be aware of the folks that respond to your thread, look below their responses at the links in their signatures...most of them will take you their personal restores and other really good tips and ideas...

Another major consideration is to make sure the engine/drive on this boat is in great shape, otherwise, this becomes the one major expense that must be overcome...

Hope this helps get you started...

Best of luck and most of all, Have Fun!!!

Regards,
GT1M

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

What is your power plant? GT is 100% correct. If the motor is not working then it's prolly not worth your efforts. Bayliners are notorious for Rot and poor construction below deck. You will be looking at a total rebuild IMHO. Your first order of business should be to remove all the exterior parts of the boat. Seats, Windshield, Steering everything!!!!. Rip out the carpet. Then take meticulous measurement of the interior of the deck so you will know the attachment points. Use a circular saw with the blade set 1/16th of an inch more than the thickness of the deck and cut it out along the edges. Rip out the wood deck. Take a lot of pics and post em so we can see and guide you along the way. the first link in my signature has some good info in how to fabricate all the new stuff you will be building.

 

[oops!]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

when i do a deck now a days......if i know the deck is coming up.....i dont even bother with tearing out the carpet.

i circ saw right thru it.....

then the sides and edges come up easy.

as wood suggested.....take everything out of the boat.....leave nothing....(you can leave the steering wheel in).

then take a circular saw.....set the depth at 1/2 inch (slightly more if you are cutting with the carpet in) and go around the permiter of the sole.

you will leave a 3 inch lip......sometimes this comes out later.....sometimes it doesnt......but i generally remove mine.

after that, you can inspect the foam and transom........the stringers will be fine due to the fact that they are engineered stringers.

 

[baylinerbeginner]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

Thank you all for the replies and tips. After I got home, I pulled it out of the garage and washed the exterior. Other than a few little chips in the keel, cracking decals and faded blue, the exterior seems good and sound. Back in the garage it when and I got started. Armed with an industrial strength bug spray and a shop vac, I got to work. Holy Hell, what did I get myself into?!?! I started ripping out the padding carpet and floor in the front around the live well. The fiberglass and wood were crumbling. I stopped after two hours and had barely made a dent in it. All the padding is off the front and I am down to the foam on one side. The foam seems to still be good. I cut a small section out and it appears to be dry and firm. Is there any other way to check the foam? Another noob question: The wood between the fiberglass on the live well is rotten and the fiberglass cracks off. How far down does this go and how far down do I need to take it? I am assuming the hull is poured fiberglass and there is no wood there. Otherwise, the entire boat could potentially be eaten away by termites. How can I tell the difference between structure supports and hull? I will take more pictures tomorrow to show what I am talking about.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

To check the foam deep down, get a piece of 1-1/2" or 2" PVC pipe and cut a couple of teeth in one end of it and use it as a core drill...

You need to get to the bottom as much as possible...

Your description follows the same pattern as most of us here...what did we get ourselves into???

More than likely you should mentally begin to prepare yourself for the very real possibility of having to do a complete restore on this boat, hopefully not, but that would be the exception to the rule...

Once wood rot sets in, it is like a cancer, you must completely eliminate it or it will return rather quickly...

Best regards,
GT1M

 

[oops!]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

ripping up carpet......is one of the uglyest toughest jobs in this game......i hate it......and i avoid it !

post pics of the rot and the location.

 

[baylinerbeginner]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

I've been doing some reading while on my lunch break ( funny how quickly you become obsessed with a project) and I've got to ask. Is there a glossary somewhere on this site for "common" terms? I have no idea what: "CSM", "1708", "Peanut Butter", "tabbing" and various other fiberglass related things mean. I feel like the college kid who realizes half way through the class he is in the wrong lecture hall...

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

That is what the link I gave you is...kind of a primer of knowledge... http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=288451

#2 gives you a good bit of info on fiberglass
#11 has an index that will take you to what you want to learn
#15 Has a ton of informational and educational videos

Read all of them, eventually...

 

[baylinerbeginner]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

Thanks and Sorry. Hopefully y'all can understand being new, the wealth of knowledge on here can be somewhat overwhelming.

 

[oops!]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

Thanks and Sorry. Hopefully y'all can understand being new, the wealth of knowledge on here can be somewhat overwhelming.

lol....yes it can....

but that is why we are here.

read the link in my sig.....(that is number 11 on the previous link).
everything you need to know,,,,is in the first 16 pages.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

Thanks and Sorry. Hopefully y'all can understand being new, the wealth of knowledge on here can be somewhat overwhelming.

Absolutely, you are 100% correct... the amount of info here is overwhelming...no worries and no offense meant...sometimes we answer so fast that we don't take our grammar too seriously and tend to come off as rough around the edges...never intended to sound insensitive or mean...and apologies are definitely not necessary...we have all been there and felt like..."hey there, easy does it"...

Sometimes, I am home for lunch, and I only have a few minutes to try and answer a quick question...I am known as being Looooong winded...and when I try to answer something quick, it comes off as rude...I certainly never intend it to sound that way and I humbly apologize if it came off as that way...

Our sole intention here on the Iboats restoration forum is to make any and all feel welcome and try and help them get through a very difficult, challenging and rewarding hobby...

Best regards,
GT1M

 

[baylinerbeginner]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

GT, thanks for all of that. I'm bad about jumping to a question without taking the time to read other posts. It definitely won't be the last time! I'm probably going to do it again here in a few min. I uploaded pics to photobucket and am about to post my progress.
Here is a test run...

 

[baylinerbeginner]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

So today I had a little bit of time to get started. I'm pretty sure y'all are right. I think this is going to be a full restoration. The above pic is a "before". I ripped out the seats(literally ripped) pulled up most of the carpet and started tearing up the floor. I am pretty sure all the foam will need to be replaced. When I stepped on it, it would squish water out so if the top is that bad, I can only imagine it's soaked to the core. Pretty much everything I ripped out today was mulch and I was able to use a flat shovel. Now for more pictures!!

Driver's side:

Pass side:

Should there be a gap like this between the stringer and foam?

How the hell do I get this off? I fought with it for 20 min before I cut it out with a sawzall to it just to get it out of the way.

Lesson learned, when standing in a boat in a garage, look up before moving around...

Now, What next? Is a circular saw the best next step? I am so afraid of cutting a hole in the side of the boat or cutting through something I don't need to.

 

[baylinerbeginner]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

Also, not sure if it makes a difference but after looking at the title, my boat is actually a 1995.

 

[baylinerbeginner]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

I'm thinking an angle grinder or Dremel tool will probably be best to start cutting out everything. I would like to be somewhat precise when I cut so I can get a look at the stringers as well as the closer I get on the major demo, the less grinding I will have to do.

Any suggestions? Am I on the right track or worrying too much this early in?

 

[coolbri70]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

a grinder was most usefull to me get all the attachments too

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

1st Pic. is that Elvis helping you out?

 

[baylinerbeginner]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

That is. Elvis. He was the special guest at our wedding. My family is from Memphis and my wife's father lives in Tupelo, MS so it was only fitting Elvis was there. He actually has a motion sensor and will talk when you walk up on him. I had to turn it off after it kept surprising the hell out of me!

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Where do I begin? Sole replacement

Good luck with your project Pal. Put padding on the garage door opener, cause it won't the last time you bang your noggin on.