1974 Aquasport 19-6 Rebuild

[billh1963]

Checked out the boat in person today and things are progressing well. (like a dummy I forgot to take pictures!).

Anyway, the holes have been filled in the cap, console, and hull. about 2/3 of the deck has been replaced...the last 1/3 is waiting on the leaning post/livewell to make sure the hose layout is right before the deck is put down. All thru-hulls have been replaced with bronze units and a new thru-hull with bronze seacock has been installed for the livewell.

I decided to go with a totally flush bow so the pop-up bow light, cleats, etc. will be installed once the cap has been painted.

The hull will be painted Hatteras White (slightly off white) and the deck will be gelcoated a light gray (wears better than paint).

The builder has remarked several times about the good quality of the older Aquasport hulls. He showed me a couple of newer "quality" hulls he was working on and the hull on my 19-6 was a good bit thicker.

Looks like he's only a couple of weeks away from finishing up so I better decide if I'm going with new or used power!

[Mr. Osprey]

You should go with a Yamaha 115 4-stroke. Good, reliable motor that will push that hull fine and won't kill you on fuel

[scott_gunn]

...(like a dummy I forgot to take pictures!)...

 :x  :x  :x

We must have pics!

[RickK]

That leaning post's pad makes the unit look big enough to have room for storage in it too.  Is there - maybe on the front?  Sounds like she's coming along fine.

[billh1963]

I don't know if there is storage in there or not. I really bought it for the livewell. I would bet there is!

One interesting note: The cap was held on by hundreds of small (but long) bolts. This was the factory installation. It certainly made the cap removal a challenge! He'll be doing something a little different when reinstalling.

I'll be selling some stuff too....
The leaning post that came with the boat, the front vents (which are in good shape), the original green rub rail (which is in decent shape), original bow lights, etc. I'll post everything when I get ready to sell them.

And I am very disappointed with myself for not taking pics!

[Bluesbrother]

A 115 HP should push that hull quite enough, I know mine does. If it is a 2 stroke it should be faster (less weight) I have to say that you will love the sound (or lack thereof) of the 4 stroke.

[JimCt]

Which vents?  If its the stainless steel louvered vents, I'm interested.

[billh1963]

Jim,
They're the plastic "hood scoops" that many of the boats had on the front of the cap to force air through the bilge to keep it dry and push out gas fumes.

[JimCt]

Can't use them.

I'm looking to replace the stainless ones... the louvers are dented in.  Can straighten them out some but they'll never look right.

[billh1963]

Purchased an engine today... a 2001 Suzuki 115 2-stroke. It's a freshwater unit that looks like new.

Jim, aren't the stainless louvers made by Attwood (I think) a replacement?

[JimCt]

I didn't know that... Will check it out.
Thanks for the lead :!:  

[billh1963]

Jim,
Try this...
http://www.attwoodmarine.com/Products/products.asp?category=2&gtype=5&subtype=0&path=ventilation&categoryname=Ventilation+Equipment&typename=Vent+Cover&headername=Ventilation+Equipment

[billh1963]

New pics added to the gallery

[JimCt]

Great progress!  Very few (if any) of the rebuilders I've followed on the site have removed the cap as you have done.  To me it makes sense to go that route.

Warthog5 made the comment on one of his posts awhile back about the sin Aquasport (and Mako & maybe others) committed in cutting a channel in the stringer for the rigging trough.  Better plan would have been to glass in a PVC rigging tube through the stringer.  That way the stringer would preserve its box girder structure the entire length.  That cut through the top degrades the structure some but apparently not enough to cause problems... The stringer layout in these boats has certainly proven itself over the years.

Thanks for the Attwood link.  I've bookmarked it for future reference.
Keep the pictures coming!

[billh1963]

Warthog5 has some very valid points and I am sure that on a heavier boat it may be an issue. The 19-6 only weighs 1500 lbs....add an engine, fuel, misc odds & ends, and my 200+ lb butt and we'll weigh in around 2500 lbs. That is still pretty light. The stringers on the 19-6 are very substantial when you look at the pics. Of course, they are foam filled versus wood so they won't be as strong. However, just the sheer surface area of the stringer system should provide ample strength. Factor in the aspect that Aquasport attached the deck to stringers with sawdust filled resin (that's how it was on my boat) and you can get some incredible strength!

In terms of removing the cap I think that is the only way to do it. This gives great access to everything in the boat and allows the builder to get to all nooks and crannies. It also allowed him to easily replace some rotten plywood core in the bow area of the cap and let him add some strengthening wood to strategic areas of the cap (step plate areas, outrigger mounts, etc.)