project started

[71flatback]

i purchased a 1971 flatback a couple weeks ago. I got it for $400 Didn't think that was too bad. I started cutting the floors out. where should i go from here? kinda on a tight budget, but i'm gonna do it right. I'm gonna use plasicore on the floors, and possibly coosa board in the transom. Any feedback would help alot.

[Kaczki]

Flatback! I personally think that is a steal for what you can do with it and more importantly what it will do for you.  I'm sure that all the experts will be around shortly, I'm just the guy who stares at the hunk of fiberglass in the backyard hoping it will rebuild its own transom and sole.

[LilRichard]

Welcome/Congrats... that's a good deal.  I would start by assessing the stringers... are they attached?  Are they solid?  

IF everything is good, I would start by trying to fit a fuel tank under the floor... prolly need to change the middle stringer setup a little bit.  Then transom, then put the floor back in...

Let's hear how things look.

[71flatback]

Stringers are solid and attached. No delamination. I was possibly going to put the fuel tank under the front deck when it goes back in. Good Idea?

[LilRichard]

Under the front deck may shift the weight too far forward - depends on the size of the tank.  These boats tend to bow-steer a little - so keep that in mind.  You will also lose the storage space up there.

[71flatback]

Yea im not positive where i'm gonna put it. Probably only gonna go with about a 30-40 gallon tank. i dont need alot of storage, but its nice. I'm gonna have a livewell and baitwell towards the back, also a heavy fourstroke on the transom

[71flatback]

Transom was rotten like i thought. Progress is slow when working on three boats at once.

[LilRichard]

What are the other 2?  Did I miss an earlier post?  I am hair-brained sometimes.

It's too late now - but I might have gone from the inside in order to extend the stringers up the transom some.  Either way will be great - especially once you get a nice new skin on there.

[71flatback]

i went from the outside because there was barely any glass out there, the inside was near a 1/2" of solid glass.  Once i get the transom in i'm gonna extend the stringers up the transom. The other boats are an old offshore hull that will get me by for now  "said i'd finish before i started the aquasport", and an new shrimpboat we've been building for about a year  now.

[LilRichard]

Neat.

And btw, there's nothing saying you cannot post pictures of other boat projects here.  Hint hint...

 :)

[71flatback]

I'll have some pics of the other boats tomarrow. I guess i'm gonna put plywood back in the aquasport for the floors. I got 7 leftover brand new full sheets of AB marine fir from a friend for $20 a sheet.  I wanted to go with sometin lighter, but the price was right

[LilRichard]

Hey man, nothing wrong with wood if treated properly.  It lasted 30 years in my boat...

[71flatback]

yea the wood was in excellent condition in my boat except around the livewell.  BTW, heres some pics of my other boats. I cant wait til the shrimpboat is done, so i can make some money.  The other boat is a p.o.s. but it will get me by til the aquasport's done

[LilRichard]

Cool!

Bubba Gump!

[71flatback]

I bought spray rail for the boat. I want to bolt it on, instead of screwing it, so i have to have it on before the floor goes in. Plus, if i buy everything over a long period it doesn't seem like i'll have a lot of money in the boat.