I have the disease...

[Pons]

Against my better judgment I picked up a 83' 20 CCP from West Palm Beach yesterday.  Now we are a two boat family(I also have a 175 Osprey)  It is going to need a new tank, deck, and will need to be completely rewired.  I'm hoping that the stringers are ok, I'll find out when I tear out the floor.  I paid $1,400 for the boat and the dual axle aluminum trailer, the trailer is going to need new hubs and tires, but I still thougth it was a good deal.  I was suprised by the condition of the hull, it is in very good shape, hardly a scratch on her...

I'm not going to start on this project for a little while yet, we have to sell our house here in Lake City and buy one in Titusville with room to work on the boat.  When I do, I'll turn to you guys for help, I've never done fiberglass work before, but I think I'll be able to.

I don't have many pics(wife left the digital at the beach) but I'll try to post them when I can...

[JimCt]

Congrets., Pons!

Sounds like a good deal on the boat and a great project.

[jdupree]

Pons,

Sent you a PM.  Check your box.

[Pons]

Thanks guys, I'm definatley going to need some advice when it comes time to install the floor.  I'm not sure if I'm going to use plywood or composite material.  I've never done fiberglass work before so any tips you can give me would be great.

[RickK]

Welcome aboard Pons :!:  :!:
Congrats on the new family member  8)

[Pons]

Thanks guys, here's an update.  

The boat is in a barn in Ocala(About 80 miles away from me)  when I dropped it off, I was in a terrible hurry so I basically just backed the boat in the barn and left.  I was in the area, so I stopped by there today, it was full of water about 100 gals or so.  When I bought the boat, I knew that the gas tank and tub were full, so I drained that.  I didn't think to look elsewhere.

   The floor in the front has caven in, today I pulled open a hole in the floor and saw that it was full of water.  Drained it with a hose and by unplugging the rear drain.  I was hoping that the foam stringers on this boat would be ok, but now knowing that they have been in contact with water for probably 2 years I don't think so.

[RickK]

Ouch  :cry:

[LilRichard]

As long as the stringers are not separated from the hull, it is a pretty easy (comparatively speaking) process to cut open the tops of the stringers and dig the foam out.  Glass them over, refoam, and you're done!

[Pons]

Thanks Richard, I'm hoping that they are dry if not, I hope that the stringers are still attached to the hull.  We'll see.  Do you know of a chemical that dissolves foam?  I remember watching mythbusters one time, and the guys were trying to make a concrete airplane.  One of the guys make an foam glider, then covered it with concrete, after the concrete dried, he poured a chemical on the foam and it dissolved like magic.  I can't remember what he used though...  Hopefully I won't need it...

I'm thinking about bringing the boat up here so I can get started.  I really hate that it is just sitting in the barn waiting to be worked on.

Take care, Michael Pons...

[Undertow2]

Didn't Jim say that he liked to use a paint stir but on a 1/2 drill to extract the foam?

[Undertow2]

PAINT STIR "BIT", sorry....

[hammockpete]

Pons,

Isn't the deck, floor, and tank tub on the 20 the same one piece molded
inner liner like your 175? Also, the glass is over plywood on the bow, gunwales,and tank access cover. The remainder is just glass. This is just an assumption based on the 175 construction. Basically, the entire deck is
screwed and glued to the hull beneath the rub rail. I think it would be
quite a project to replace the entire deck .

If my fading memory serves me correctly, your 175 was a beautiful boat
at a good price. You don't find many people that take care of their stuff
anymore.

[RickK]

Welcome aboard HP  :!:  :!:

[hammockpete]

pons,
Lake Mary neighborhoods would never allow a boat rebuild. However,they probably would allow that beautiful '90 175 Hialeah boat in the front yard
with Frosty at the wheel.

Does that 18 year old Mercury Marine product still run strong? I'd bet
my next paycheck on it. Opps,I'm retired.

I hear that Performance Trailer went under?

Hammockpete

[GoneFission]

Hey Pons - how about some pictures so we can see what we are talking about?  A picture is really worth a thousand words!

You may find the stringers are OK - you don't know until you check it out!  

Good luck!