working with fiberglass/ New '77 170 rebuild underway

[Aggie08whoop]

I have decided that i want to completely redo most of the '77 170 that I have. I know that the transom is still in great condition but the floor is dry rotted pretty bad so i need to replace it.  I have never worked with fiberglass and was wondering if anyone new of any good books to get specifically talking about the boat and not sound systems and things like that.  i will be posting pictures pretty soon to show you what i am working with.

[Mad Dog]

Hey Aggie08.  Welcome aboard.  

Here is a link to the site you need to visit.  Everything you need to know and more.  http://forums.bateau2.com/index.php

This is where my rebuild is documented.  

Good luck and post lots of pics.  We call it boat porn.

MD  

[Aggie08whoop]

Thanks Mad Dog

Another question for everyone.  I have started to pull the gas tank and found a bunch of standing water in that area.  Is there suppose to be some kind drain for that area?

[Mad Dog]

Is there suppose to be some kind drain for that area?

When I pulled my tank out it was wet as well.  There were no appearent drain holes.  The water came from the rotted plywood in the bottom of the tank area and from cracked inspection port covers.  

Based on what I have read you want the tank in a sealed coffin. Check out Shine's rebuild.  He was able to eliminate the need for bilge vents. You can see in my photo gallery how I restored the fuel tank coffin and sealed the bottom and ends.  I closed off the notches in the stringers where the fill hose and controls tray passed through.  I routed the fill & vent hoses through the front bulkhead of the coffin and the fuel line through a chase tube to the transom.  If I install the tank correctly then no fuel every enter the coffin nor will water have a place to get in.

MD  

[Aggie08whoop]

not too bad for a free boat

[Aggie08whoop]

picture of the pulled fuel tank
what i want to know is if there is anyway i can salvage this tank.  I have heard of the products like Gluv-it or Black Tar Epoxy.  would that work with my tank or are the wholes too big.

I am also considering maybe rhino lining the tank or glassing the whole tank.

any suggestions would be appreciated.  The absolute last straw is getting a new tank





i found a lot of water in the coffin thinking about putting a drain plug when i rebuild it

[Marcq]

About the tank, I would replace it if I were you, I fixed mine last year with JB weld and two coats of epoxy+mat(the ole tank) but only had pin holes, you have big holes in that tank, you are going to find more!! and you can't use fiberglass(polyester) resin

A good project you have there, she's not bad, a good clean up will do wonders, reminds me of my boat when I first got her

Marc..

[slippery73]

Buy a new tank, that thing is toast. You can find poly tanks online if you don't want to go the expense of aluminum. Not sure what the pros and cons are of them though.

[Marcq]

Buy a new tank, that thing is toast. You can find poly tanks online if you don't want to go the expense of aluminum.

The problem is that he won't find any that thin (6") , as to be custom made. That's why I fixed mine.

But there is someone here that makes them for a very good price but can't remember who

Marc..

[Marcq]

Ha, found it, here's the company

ALLOY METAL WORKS CUSTOM MARINE FUEL TANKS
631-694-8163 TOLL FREE 1-888-549-9353
HTTP://WWW.ALLOYMETALWORKS.COM

Marc..

[Mad Dog]

Replace that tank.  To fix it right will cost as much as a new one and it will have not have the testing and warranty of a new tank.  Here is the link to the company that built mine.  Check them out send the dimension and they will give you a quote.  Be sure to check out the technical specs so that you can see the added value of the custom built.

http://www.speedytanks.com/

MD  

[RaiderRed]

AggieWhoop - Are you going to paint the hull Maroon?  I am staying glued to the 170 rebuilds and I shouldn't be that far behind.

[Mad Dog]

i found a lot of water in the coffin thinking about putting a drain plug when i rebuild it

Aggie08whoop,

That coffin should be sealed tight.  With that much water in there something went wrong with a seal somewhere.  I noticed in the image after the tank was removed, what looked like a slot cut out end of the coffin.  If water accumulated in the bilge that slot could be letting water in.  I would work to seal off all the entry points first.  Adding a drain is not a bad idea but it should be considered a fail safe feature.

MD