72 FB build

[dirtwheelsfl]

Picked up a 72 FB last week. Got the floor and liner out (not in these pics obviously), going to redo stringer system completely, originals were patched up by a bunch of monkies or something and are just completely shot, something like lilrichard's more than likely, but putting a new transom in first. Planning on Nidacore deck with forward fishbox/platform, bilge hatch, and false wall with closed transom, simple bare bones... suggestions welcome, heres some pics...








tried to get a good pic of the transom, this thing is a giant lumpy wave, piss poor craftsmanship, and the wood core isnt even sealed off to the bottom of the hull on the inside, thats my first order of bid'ness

[RickK]

Welcome aboard dirtwheelsfl  :!:  :!:

The stringer system looks to be in great shape and you might think about salvaging it - hard to beat those trapazoid types.  I would cut the top centers out of the stringers in a few places and dig the foam out and then make sure the bottom of the stringers are attached to the hull well.  Another thing you might consider is measure for an under floor fuel tank and then carefully cut the center stringer out enough to fit it in plus put a bulkhead across the aft to contain it.

[slvrlng]

Be careful if you remove the stringers, the hull will have a tendancy to flex once they are removed. Building a cradle will keep it from doing this since the cap is already off. Plus if you put it on a cradle you can drop it closer to the ground and make it easier to climb in and out of. Looks good so far! Are the stringers delaminated from the hull because they look pretty good in your pics. I agree with rickk that its hard to beat the strength of the original design. Can you show a closeup of the monkey part?

[dirtwheelsfl]

ya its hard to see in the pics but every stringer is cracked and delaminated in multiple places. the port stringer had its foam replaced and was glassed over at one point, but i can pull the glass off with my hand if i wanted too.  im in the process of building a cradle to go over the gunnels and already have the bottom along the chines braced up. the whole inside of the hull is getting a layer of biax to keep her stiff with no inner liner, plus some extra along the chines and keel. yes rick definitely doing an under floor tank, only way to go...

[dirtwheelsfl]

just picked up an '06 dual axle continental aluminum trailer for her, for $1000,
it also came with a '72 seacraft , brand new ttop, aluminum bracket, and running 225 johnson sitting on top of her... steal of the century i think, hopefully i can turn around te things i dont need to make my money back, anyone want a hull? gas tank? etc..

[LilRichard]

What size hull, and how much???

BTW - are you SURE you have a '72?  I am 99% sure that the FB stopped in '71.  Either way, good luck with your project, looks like you have a great boat to start with!

[dirtwheelsfl]

Well lilrichard its a pop off from a seacraft mold, a company called barcone. there were a couple different ones, a company called continental made one called a barcone thats similar but this one is simply barcone. looks to be a direct pop off from seacraft but they added a few inches and call it a 21. it'd be a probably a month or so until id be able to sell it i need to strip off what i need for the fb (bracket ttop steering and whatnot) my neighbor says hell give me a thousand for it so somewhere around there would be what id be looking to get, but i doubt he'll pull through with it. it needs a new transom and floor but under that it looked and felt good in the spots i can get to.
The fb didnt have a id number or anything so i dont really know what year it is, but the title says 72, and ive seen some other 72 fb's on the internet so who knows, ill stick with it...
Is there any way to tell what year(s) it was made? i.e. differences in the layout or anything, colors, etc.?

[LilRichard]

Not really - only way to know is if you have a hull ID (which may be on your title)?  Not that it much matters - a FB is a FB!

Wish your hull was a 23!  That is the nicest Seacraft EVER (IMHO).

[dirtwheelsfl]

finally got some funds for materials, been slow with the cold weather though. transom totally layed up ready to go in, and cap is being rebuilt . after these go in/on, stringer time begins. pics will be up soon..

[gran398]

Brother, you STOLE that trailer!!.....Makes poor ol' granny jealous....

[dirtwheelsfl]

ya i still dont believe i got it, one of those husband went to jail things, wife sold it to me haha

[gran398]

[dirtwheelsfl]

transom laid up- 2 sheets 3/4 marine vacuum bagged together with 1708 between, and 2  layers hand laid on each side afterward.



ready to go in



compressor out of a fridge used for the bagging



rebuilding cap







recoring



stringer shot

[Capt. Bob]

Pretty amazing, really.
Not a whole lot of cap removal (at least since I've been here).

[dirtwheelsfl]

wont let me post pic of the transom and stringers, says it must be 600 pixels high maximum? tried resizing but it didnt work, any solution?