The boat sat for almost two weeks before I had any real time to do anything. Oh, I go out to the garage and look at something or take a few measurements, or marvel at how a spider was able to construct a web in such a short amount of time from the broken windshield frame to the rafters up above. This whole time, and for about a week prior, I was researching the repair work. There's a lot that has to be thought of. The type of marine plywood to use, the type of epoxy, and what catalyst. Which paints will be compatible with that epoxy? Lots of things I still need to decide on, but I have decided on West System epoxy. It sounds like they are the leader, and they have a catalyst that will allow the epoxy to cure down to 40 degrees; important if I am to do any repair work during the winter.
So last Sunday, bored of watching football (the Hawks got there asses handed to them), I was able to spend a few hours working on the boat. I figured there was no better way to get started than to just get the garbage out, and see exactly what I'm in for.
I started in the transom. Some stuff gets saved, like the outboard controls. Old battery cables and fuel lines are all garbage. I got the transom swept and cleaned out with the shop vac, and noticed just how wet everything was, for being inside for two weeks. I soldiered on and cleaned everything, making my way to the cabin. I discovered the cabin hatch is in perfect working order. Sweet!
I quickly saw that in the transom, having removed all the rotten wood, it was starting to dry out already. I started feeling a lot better about the whole thing. I swept and vacuum cleaned the entire boat, every crevice I could get in. Smells better already.
All the dark spots between the stringers are moisture. The following day, these spots would be mostly gone. I hadn't planned on doing anything major until we had transferred title on the boat, but I wasn't done working yet and saw that it may not have been as bad as I had thought. I must keep going! The sole (deck) had been cut out at the perimeter. I could see some wood under the sole that was under the fuel tanks that was never covered with glass and resin, so those spots just looked like mulch. I pushed a screwdriver into one spot, and water squeezed out.
It should be noted that I was convinced I would clean and reuse the fuel tanks. About 30 seconds of Google research and I discovered that the blended fuels used today (with ethanol) will dissolve older resins. The Coast Guard has responded to many boaters with dissolved tanks, and they recommend if you boat is more than 20 years old, replace them. So much for saving the tanks. Out they go.
I started on the starboard tank because the fiberglass had cracked around much of the tabbing, so I figured it would come right out. And it did. 10 minutes and I had it on the floor. The port tank would take me another 2 hours. It may have been removed at some point? There were several layer of very tough fiberglass holding it firmly at the sides and the top. The starboard tank had maybe a few gallons of fuel in it. The port side felt about half full. It was a little more difficult to lift out of the boat. The tanks gone, I swept and vacuumed again. It's looking better every little thing I do. Now time to check out the stringers.
I was surprised when I got really looking, that there are spots in the fiberglass that appear to have rotted away. Puzzled, I started digging around to see if there was rotten wood in there. After some head scratching, and taking note that the four stringers not on the keel are open on one side, I discovered that the stringers are not wood encased in glass. It looks like the Skagit builders laid 1x2 strips in the top of the stringers (these boats are made up-side down in a mold so this makes sense). These served as anchors for sole, which in turn supported the stringers and kept them from laying over. So with the sole removed, and the boat sitting on a broken trailer, and I have no idea how many people have been walking around in it with no sole, the starboard stringer is damaged. It looks like it is pushed over on its side a little. I think it has a lot to do with the trailer pushing on the hull in that spot. If the sole was still installed, it likely would have supported it.
So at least that one stringer will need replaced. And I have no doubt that laminated marine plywood encased in fabric and epoxy will be a lot stronger than a one-sided stringer with a furring strip glassed into it. And anyone who knows me already knows I'll be replacing all the stringers. The stringer over the keel has two sides, and it's also at an angle to reach across the keel. The one might be a little tougher to replace. I will have to drill some holes in it and see if rotten wood comes out. No decision made on that one yet.
Also of concern is the cabin bulkhead on the starboard side. When I rock the boat on the trailer, the bulkhead and the stringer move apart. The port side is solid. I have to get in there and see what's broken.
All in all, I am happy with the little progress I made. I had not planned on doing any demolition, just cleaning, until I got the title settled. But now I am one step closer to making a list of everything that needs repaired so the real work can begin.
Next, I need to finish removing all the bad wood. I'll cut the glass around the sides and remove the furring strips under the tanks, and I guess I need to remove the rotten motor well. This was enough progress for one day.
So last Sunday, bored of watching football (the Hawks got there asses handed to them), I was able to spend a few hours working on the boat. I figured there was no better way to get started than to just get the garbage out, and see exactly what I'm in for.
I started in the transom. Some stuff gets saved, like the outboard controls. Old battery cables and fuel lines are all garbage. I got the transom swept and cleaned out with the shop vac, and noticed just how wet everything was, for being inside for two weeks. I soldiered on and cleaned everything, making my way to the cabin. I discovered the cabin hatch is in perfect working order. Sweet!
I quickly saw that in the transom, having removed all the rotten wood, it was starting to dry out already. I started feeling a lot better about the whole thing. I swept and vacuum cleaned the entire boat, every crevice I could get in. Smells better already.
All the dark spots between the stringers are moisture. The following day, these spots would be mostly gone. I hadn't planned on doing anything major until we had transferred title on the boat, but I wasn't done working yet and saw that it may not have been as bad as I had thought. I must keep going! The sole (deck) had been cut out at the perimeter. I could see some wood under the sole that was under the fuel tanks that was never covered with glass and resin, so those spots just looked like mulch. I pushed a screwdriver into one spot, and water squeezed out.
It should be noted that I was convinced I would clean and reuse the fuel tanks. About 30 seconds of Google research and I discovered that the blended fuels used today (with ethanol) will dissolve older resins. The Coast Guard has responded to many boaters with dissolved tanks, and they recommend if you boat is more than 20 years old, replace them. So much for saving the tanks. Out they go.
I started on the starboard tank because the fiberglass had cracked around much of the tabbing, so I figured it would come right out. And it did. 10 minutes and I had it on the floor. The port tank would take me another 2 hours. It may have been removed at some point? There were several layer of very tough fiberglass holding it firmly at the sides and the top. The starboard tank had maybe a few gallons of fuel in it. The port side felt about half full. It was a little more difficult to lift out of the boat. The tanks gone, I swept and vacuumed again. It's looking better every little thing I do. Now time to check out the stringers.
I was surprised when I got really looking, that there are spots in the fiberglass that appear to have rotted away. Puzzled, I started digging around to see if there was rotten wood in there. After some head scratching, and taking note that the four stringers not on the keel are open on one side, I discovered that the stringers are not wood encased in glass. It looks like the Skagit builders laid 1x2 strips in the top of the stringers (these boats are made up-side down in a mold so this makes sense). These served as anchors for sole, which in turn supported the stringers and kept them from laying over. So with the sole removed, and the boat sitting on a broken trailer, and I have no idea how many people have been walking around in it with no sole, the starboard stringer is damaged. It looks like it is pushed over on its side a little. I think it has a lot to do with the trailer pushing on the hull in that spot. If the sole was still installed, it likely would have supported it.
So at least that one stringer will need replaced. And I have no doubt that laminated marine plywood encased in fabric and epoxy will be a lot stronger than a one-sided stringer with a furring strip glassed into it. And anyone who knows me already knows I'll be replacing all the stringers. The stringer over the keel has two sides, and it's also at an angle to reach across the keel. The one might be a little tougher to replace. I will have to drill some holes in it and see if rotten wood comes out. No decision made on that one yet.
Also of concern is the cabin bulkhead on the starboard side. When I rock the boat on the trailer, the bulkhead and the stringer move apart. The port side is solid. I have to get in there and see what's broken.
All in all, I am happy with the little progress I made. I had not planned on doing any demolition, just cleaning, until I got the title settled. But now I am one step closer to making a list of everything that needs repaired so the real work can begin.
Next, I need to finish removing all the bad wood. I'll cut the glass around the sides and remove the furring strips under the tanks, and I guess I need to remove the rotten motor well. This was enough progress for one day.
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