1970 Aquasport 222 FB rebuild

[HawgLeg]

I have my newly acquired hull! Getting ready to start my rebuild. I have never done a boat rebuild before so I am going to need all the help I can get. I am ready to become a the forum's student. Pour y'all's wisdom on me.

My ultimate goal: a Tampa style rebuild.
Short term goal: refurbish/ replace stringers, I want a closed transom, integrate a large bait well, re power the boat with a Yamaha 175-200hp with porta bracket stle jack plate.

I am an aircraft mechanic ready for this new challenge. I should have all the tools and working space necessary to do just about anything.

I can't wait to get started!

[RickK]

Hi Edward,
Some friendly suggestions about posting pics. 
The best way to post pics is not attach them but to use the free photo gallery you have here on the site,  Follow this short tutorial - it's very easy to do.  http://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=12725.0 Once you get the pics uploaded into your member gallery let me know and I'll replace the pics in your first post.
When we take a pic with our phone we usually hold the phone vertically and when we look at pics on our phone it is smart enough to rotate them the correct way. Unfortunately that's not the way the pics are actually taken - see above, they're rotated CCW.  To prevent this in the future (we'll rotate them in the gallery) hold your phone like you would a camera - horizontally, I think with the top to the left and they'll be in the correct orientation.

[RickK]

Did the previous owner pop the liner?  That's cool.
Over the past 10 years of this site I've observed that for a FB, the typical goals of a member that rebuilds these old boats is 1) raise the floor so they'll self bail (usually 3+"), 2) enclose the transom because that's what they like 3) put a jackplate or porta-lift (mostly PL) on it, 4) add a tower 5) add livewell and 6) repower.
When you raise the floor, the liner will have to be modified because it won't fit anymore at the bottom.  You'll have to trim3+" off it and that will cut out the floor.
Most members will go 150-175hp and realize a 150 is probably all they need because the FBs get squirrelly and dangerous with too much power.  They nose steer and also slide in turns.
Putting a PL on it will change how the boat sits so you'll have to plan to move weight into the console to counteract it.  Maybe even move the console a little forward.
The tower will require some reinforcement to mount it.
We have quite a few members with FBs they've rebuilt or are in process so the'll be around soon to share their experiences with you.

[Aswaff400]

rick, that is paul's old boat, (flatbackpaul)

150-175 hp is about perfect on these boats, anything over that is a waste. i can easily say that as i have a 225 on my boat and she's thirsty, and i almost never reach WOT before the boat gets too squirrely 44 mph seems to be the max for these hulls before they get weird. that can easily be achieved with a 150-175... i have seen just over 47 mph before i pulled back on the throttle and it was a scary ride.

[HawgLeg]

Yep, Paul and I had a great conversation last night about the FB and I think he's really excited about my plans to rebuild her. I would love for it to be self bailing but I also read that with added weight in the back you take on water. Is self bailing a must? I'm driving up to pick the boat up tomorrow after work and I will have some really good detailed photos once I get her home. What is my first step? Do I go ahead and tackle the stringers?

[Aswaff400]

I raised my deck a total of 5 inches and has no problem draining when I dump a 5 gallon bucket on the deck.

[jaredwayt]

congrats! i saw that for sale... I'm in the same boat as you, as i just basically have the same plans. Good Luck!

[HawgLeg]

Aaron,
Just finished reading your entire rebuild. WOW! Feels like I just finished a great book.

[HawgLeg]

What is the best way to investigate the stringers? Anybody ever use a ziz wheel to do cutting or is a sawzall the way to go? If my stringers need to be replaced, Is it best to pour new foam using the original stringer skins or can you use plywood? Structural integrity vs. weight. Has anyone ever pondered fabricating Aluminum stringers? My best friend that will be helping me rebuild the FB is an Al boat fabricator. The company is Backwater Boatworks out of Macon, GA. They have built 4 boats completely from custom design. They are intended for flats or swamp use, CC, with inboard Mercury jet drives. They are really impressive in their capability but the exhaust is ridonculously loud!!

[RickK]

Look at where the stringer grid meets the hull and make sure that it's all securely bonded to the hull.  If it is, you can reuse the stringers.
To check for water you can drill a 1" hole near the bottom of the stringer in the aft of the boat and see if water comes out or if the foam is soaked.  I would think that unless someone already replaced the foam, that it is holding some water after all these years.  If so, you can cut the tops off the stringers in places and dig out the foam and replace it.  To raise the floor height Aaron has a neat little trick using a hollow PVC fence post or something like that and wrap it with cloth/resin. Lay it on top of the stringers and glass over the whole shebang.

[Aswaff400]

if i where to do over, i would run the sawzall along the base of the stringers and remover as one large piece dig the foam out, grind the whole inside, do a solid layer of 1708 across the entire hull bottom and re-tab the stringer skins, and pour new foam. instead i dug the foam out of the stringers, tabbed inside and out and poured new foam.

[Que Pasa]

Wow Aron thats a great thought, do you think you could get the blade in there to make that cut?

[HawgLeg]

Thanks Rick. Just got her home. no question about it. Full re-do for the stringers. I will take some good detailed pics tomorrow after work. I like Aaron's idea to cut them out completely and beef up the bottom. I think I have just the blade for that job. Could you explain the re-tabbing process. I still haven't learned all the new "language". Paul hooked me up with some left over materials. What's a good inventory list to start with? I am going to close my transom just like Aaron's but I may have a different plan for the bait well position. The stringers have been cut about a foot away from the transom already. How will I tie them back into the transom?

[RickK]

It's always a smart plan to start with fresh cloth across the whole hull. Will reinforce the hull, help stiffen the sides and give you known good glass to start building from.

[Que Pasa]

Good time to ask the age old question as to which way to tab, overlap or bigger to smaller.