19-6 FF Makeover

[BradleyD]

Now that the games have begun I thought I'd share some progress with my 19-6 as I'm giving her a makeover. First things first I've gone over her all over searching for any structural problems that need attention. My initial inspection before buying didn't reveal anything alarming but it is a 35 year old boat so it was a gamble either way but for $2,700 I figured it was worth it. Poking around this site has definitely showed me where to look for any trouble areas and further inspection has showed a boat in surprisingly good shape with the following results. For the picture lovers bare with me as a lot of times I get too involved and don't get any pictures of what's going on.

Drilled holes in all the suspect areas of rot (over drilling old sealed holes in the transom, around scuppers, etc.) and found one small area around the upper, port side of the transom with a small amount of dry rot and appeared to be a result of a small crack where the top cap meets the transom that was not properly tended to. I used a 24" long drill bit from the top drilling down to see the extent then poured the area with git-rot and buy me some time before a replacement is needed. Other areas were great and filled them with thickened epoxy when done.

Over drilled some existing holes in the floor where a port side pedestal seat was mounted and found a small amount of soft coring. Not even enough to see a flex under your feet but drilled out the area and filled with thickened epoxy.

Drilling through the fuel tank coffin, I drilled out a series of 1/2" holes into the center stringer and found much of it was damp with one section about 6" long that was very soft. Dug further into the soft area and dried everything out as much as possible then filled everything back with thickened epoxy.

Using a couple of the holes I drilled in the floor and the access for the rigging in the back I couldn't find any waterlogged foam on the outside of the stringers. I still want to check the stringers but need to create a bilge access first.

Feeling comfortable with the structural integrity of the boat it was time to give it a serious bath! Much of the gel coat is in serious need of some TLC and the floor is badly worn and will likely do some nonskid later. Wanting to worry about asthetics later I did buff one area and think she has a little beauty left in her.

Before...


After...but still think the seats are going to have to go


Before...


After...


Small area buffed...


Now for the mechanical side of things. The motor runs great but just to be on the safe side a friend of mine who's a certified Yamaha mechanic came over and was able to give the motor a clean bill of health. The trim cylinder has a very minor leak and he's getting the parts for it but that's it. The only real problem with the motor is that it's a 25" shaft on a 20" transom so I fabricated a set of static jack plates with some channel and plate I had around to get it up where it needs to be. Still need to get them installed though.  



I can deal with some rough gel coat on the floor but this rigging is driving me crazy!



The parts are coming to get it straight and should be able to clean that up in the next couple days. Also got new control cables since the existing ones are a little too short and binding when turning hard to starboard and are starting to break and corrode.

And as far as she runs...just fine. Took it for a quick run at the local lake and run great. Definitely more motor than this boat needs but a little extra ponies won't hurt. Topped out just over 40 at 5200 RPM's. If the RPM's don't come up to 5500 when I raise the motor probably going to swap the 19 pitch prop to a 17.  Even the little guy got to drive a little  

[Capt. Bob]

I never realized you were so young BD. Who's the dude without a life jacket behind you?    

She's coming along.

[BradleyD]

I never realized you were so young BD. Who's the dude without a life jacket behind you?  

Hey, I age well  8)

[fishinonthebrain]

Nice find should clean up nice. Keep the pictures coming on your progress.

[seabob4]

Good looking boat Brad!  Amazing what a little clean up will do for an old girl, huh?

And great to see the little dude at the helm!  Perfect little bilge rat too, in a few years...  

[BradleyD]

Bilge rat for sure but wouldn't want it any other way.

Speaking of bilge...I haven't seen any pictures that I can tell  but I want to install an access plate to the bilge and bilge pump. Is there an easy way to route the discharge hose to the side of the boat towards the stern? With the floor directly on top of the stringers I'm not sure where it can go.

[BradleyD]

Was able to get most of the rigging back in civilized order this week. New cables and battery switch tucked under the gunnel. Tomorrow I should have the fuel tank fabbed up and hopefully new fuel lines run...need to get this guy installed since the weather should be clearing up and winds dying down soon.

[seabob4]

Young man, you have some rigging experience!  Very nice!!  

[seabob4]

Like the install of the Blue Seas switch.  Too bad you can't get the batt tucked away somewhere...under the console??  

Is that one of those Minnkota battery boxes?

[BradleyD]

Thanks,  it's greatly appreciated. I'm far from the most organized person in this world but messy cables/wires drive me crazy. I did think about mounting the battery in the cubby hole in the cabin that tucks under the main deck and get the extra weight off the transom but was a little more involved than I wanted to get at this time. Probably be a good winter time project next year.

The box is by Shoreline and similar to the Minn Kona but about half the cost. It's nice being able to hook a charger to the external lugs and not have to open the box.

[seabob4]

Easy peasy when you get around to it.  2 GA runs fwd, clear up your entire aft deck...'cept for the separator.  I guess in the old days people didn't mind having this stuff out in the open...

[RickK]

I guess in the old days people didn't mind having this stuff out in the open...

In the old days there was no other place to put it.  My tank was inside my console so it left zero room to store anything additional inside it.
I've fixed that problem during the rebuild.

[MarshMarlowe196]

Speaking of bilge...I haven't seen any pictures that I can tell  but I want to install an access plate to the bilge and bilge pump. Is there an easy way to route the discharge hose to the side of the boat towards the stern? With the floor directly on top of the stringers I'm not sure where it can go.

This is how I installed bilge access and bilge pumps on my 19-6

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4328&p=27148&hilit=bilge#p27148

[seabob4]

I remember that, Jess.  Damn, 5 years ago!  Time does fly...

[BradleyD]

This is how I installed bilge access and bilge pumps on my 19-6

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4328&p=27148&hilit=bilge#p27148

Thanks. I had a feeling I was going to have to do something like that. I'm thinking I may be able to come up by my battery box and sneek in the rigging boot and everything be pretty hidden. That's next on the list after I get the fuel system straight.