TOPIC: First restoration of an old fiberglass boat!!

hello my name is tim and me and my dad are planning on doing a moderate restoration to an old 15 ft seaswirl, our plan is to repaint the upper part of the boat, redo the electrical system and throw a newer 35 hp envinrude on it, a couple questions,

1. How do you do the body work for spider cracks?
I have some experience with car body work and fiber glassing surfboards.

2. How are the floors finished in these older boats? Right now its just the fiberglass on the bottom.

3. What do i need to convert mny 1988 35 hp evinrude from a tiller motor to a remote motor? the boat has steering helm already in place.

Thank you for the help!!

furyspeed,

WELCOME ABOARD.

1. It depends on how deep that the crazing is. - MOST can be sanded out & refinished. The rest have to be filled, sanded smooth and then refinished.
(IF you've ever refinished a Corvette, it's about the same method.)

2.That depends on the maker's design. MOST had plywood "floors" (On a boat the "floor" is called a "sole".), covered with fiberglass and then carpeted.
(Some utilities had NO floors at all.)

3. I know LITTLE about "modern OBs", so you'll have to ask one of our numerous experts.

yours, satx

Thank you for the information, I will probably have many more questions!!

furyspeed,

There are MANY real experts on FG.= Feel free to ask all your questions.
(I'm a "dabbler", rather than an expert.)

BEST WISHES, satx

Obviously, a boat needs to float, steer, run and be structurally sound. Everything else is icing on the cake. The decking and the transom are the most important. If the deck feels mushy or soggy under foot, there is a lot of hidden water damage and it will need to come out and be replaced...same with the transom. A lot can be determined by poking with an icepick. Gelcoat cracks are way down on the list of priorities with the rest of the cosmetic issues.

I always start on the inside, front to back; on the outside, top to bottom. Just chip away at it like an ant. You'll get there.

You really owe it to yourself to purchase a little book called "Runabout Renovation" You can buy it online - it's been in print for years. It will answer hundreds of questions for you & may help to keep you from making some costly mistakes. I was given a copy of it many years ago & I thought it was an excellent resource for the beginner. It will be the best money spent at the front - end of your project.

Good luck with it

Thank you all for the help, il keep the questions coming!

Today i started sanding the boat preparing for paint, im using 80 grit for now to take off the first layer and the shine then will go back with a finer grit, also started the 1988 30 horse today, starting to gather parts for the restoration

i tried uploading pictures they didnt go through

Are you sure they're small enough?

www.fiberglassics.com/glassic-forums/home/support/how-to-post-pictures


Bob

Got my copy of runabout renovation in the mail today, going to read it before i really start to tear into the boat