1980 Glasply Restoration: First things first...

I learned long ago that I need a goal before I can make a plan. In the past week I have made some decisions about the boat project. First off, I will eliminate the 4 cyl Volvo engine and outdrive, glass in the transom hole, and have an outboard offshore bracket installed, with an outboard motor. My research has led me to a company up in Bellingham that makes these brackets, and they just so happened to have done a few boats exactly like mine. Here is the goal:

Eliminating the I/O motor gives you a bunch more room in the boat, which will come in handy for fishing, crabbing, etc. With the extra room, I plan to construct some modular type seats that can be added or removed based on what the day's plan is. This photo shows the bracket, and a spiffy 130 HP Yamaha outboard, which is just about perfect for this boat. All I can say today is that I have a LONG ways to go before my boat looks like this.

Saturday morning. It's nice today, no rain in the immediate forecast. The lawn is in dire need of it's first mowing of the year, but I have boats on the brain. I figure the lawn can wait, and dig into the project. My goal for the day is to get all the vinyl covering up, the fuel tank out, and inspect the space below the decks for any signs of water or rot. I also need to get the wheel hubs replaced. On the trip home with the boat, one of the bearing buddies came off, which allowed the grease to fly everywhere.

A quick inspection confirmed that the hubs are toast, no sense in trying to just replace the bearings. I have to tow the boat up to the shop in Bellevue so I can use the fork lift to remove the engine in the next few days, so I put hubs on my short list.

I got the fuel tank out, thankfully it was only about 1/4 full. I wrestled it out of the compartment, and slid it overboard. I am a little startled with what I saw next. One of the holes that the tank attached to started leaking water as soon as the screw was removed. Not good. I took a 3 inch hole saw and carefully drilled an inspection hole in between the stringers that lay longitudinally from stern to bow. Because of the age, this boat has fiberglass stringers, with a foam core. The compartments under the floor boards are also filled with foam, and I dig hands full out after removing the 3 inch plug with the hole saw. After about 3 fists full, I realized the magnitude of my project just got kicked up a notch. Water. Standing water... and lots of it.

I drilled 4-5 moire inspection holes around the cockpit and every one revealed water in the foam. I try not to get too discouraged, I remind myself that this IS a project boat. Prognosis? The floor boards will all have to come out, the foam removed, and then inspect the stringers and hope they aren't filled with soggy foam too (they probably are). I end my day having learned quite a lot, and my confidence continues to build. Nothing I saw this day scared me too much, which is good. Thankfully I have a great resource, Glasply.net and it's very nice and knowledgeable members who are more than willing to help. I will post my findings and get some opinions. The drone of lawnmowers in my neighborhood all day reminded me that I have another "must do" on my list this weekend. I'll get the lawn mowed Sunday morning, before I tackle the hub project. Good intentions don't deter mother nature though, and Sunday morning dawns, accompanied by a light drizzle. Oh darn.

The hub project goes smoothly.