What materials to use for restore?

[CSD23]

I just found this site and it came at a perfect time. I just bought a Hydro Viper that was "re-done" by someone who obviously didn't know what they were doing. The transom was rebuilt a year ago but power was never put back on the boat. When I went to buy the boat he told me it was solid as a rock so took an ice pick and stuck it right through from the inside. Needless to say I loved the look of the hull. Now it is stripped out with the cap off and I was wondering what I should use to build the transom so it is really solid and will hopefully last forever. I am use to wood but am thinking about composite. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. The motor is going to be a 140 evinrude with a jackplate. I don't want my work to end up like the last guy's. Please help!

[Riverman]

Just did mine - have a look here.

My transom was ok as was the floor, but the balsa core was rotten. It is a huge job to replace but you will have a nifty boat when you are done.

[The Big Al]

The first material your gonna need is!

CASH!!!

[CSD23]

What is balsa core? How do I know if my has it and if it is bad? I thought that I was only going to do the transom but I need to fix everything now so I don't have to do it again. Does anyone know about coosa for a transom? The floor is pretty solid so I was thinking of drilling big holes in it and pouring in closed cell foam, good idea or bad?

[The Big Al]

Foam is a great idea. light and does help with structure.

[Riverman]

What is balsa core? How do I know if my has it and if it is bad? I thought that I was only going to do the transom but I need to fix everything now so I don't have to do it again. Does anyone know about coosa for a transom? The floor is pretty solid so I was thinking of drilling big holes in it and pouring in closed cell foam, good idea or bad?

The core is what gives the boat it's strength. Almost all Hydrostreams have core, your boat sure does. The core works like the web of an I-beam, the thin skins work like the flanges, forming a stiff panel. If there is a disbond the strength of the panel is lost. Consider how strong an I-beam would be if the web was not attached to the flange - not very. If the core is wet, (most likely) there will surely be disbonds.

The best thing to do (in your case) is to remove the floor and have a look. If it's bad, you'll know. If the core is still good, it sounds like the old repair was a butcher job and you needed to redo the floor anyway.

WRT the transom, replace it with plywood and seal it well.

Don't even think of using pour-in foam, you'll just be ripping it out again when it gets saturated.

[CSD23]

thanks riverman, i just got done reading through your buildup and found a lot of useful information. congrats on your rig it looks awesome, exactly what i want mine to be like, but i don't have nearly enough time or know how to do all of what you did. Most of the things you did like vacuum bagging, use of different resins and mats, etc., i don't know anything about or how to get the tools and materials. tearing the boat apart isn't a big deal since the transom is out and the cap is off but i wouldn't know where to go after that. I live in florida and theres a lot of humidity here also and from what i read in your thread, that humidity is a big deal! Any suggestions on where to get the things i will need?

[Riverman]

I knew nothing when I started either, just learned as I went along. As for obtaining materials, better to ask someone in your area.

[CSD23]

Anyone around the Sarasota, Florida area doing restores and or know where a good place to get materials is?

[CSD23]

Especially the core material and vacuum bagging supplies?

[Riverman]

For bagging film I just used heavy poly vapour barrier and attached it to the hull with strip caulking.

You also have to source the following materials:

Dow Derakane 8084 etching resin for the secondary bond layer.
A bunch of 1/2" coated balsa
A couple of pails of good quality iso resin
A roll of stitchmat for covering the core with
ATC CoreBond B70 for bonding the core in
10 oz cloth
A bunch of 1 1/2 oz mat
Some GP resin for priming with the CoreBond

And most of all a whole bunch of sticktoitiveness!

[JUPITER PULSARE]

Anyone around the Sarasota, Florida area doing restores and or know where a good place to get materials is?

Contact Merrit Marine Supply in Palm Beach. They carry everything you will need. I would use high density Mantex for the transom and stringers. You'll never have to worry about rot again!!

[CSD23]

Thanks Riverman and jupiter pulsare. It looks like that info will get me on started on the right path.