246 Aquasport FF Rebuild/Mod

[jdupree]

That is normal for the transom to curve up like that.  The 246 CCP that I just sold was the same exact way and was not rotten by any means.

[bhdykes]

Awesome. Thanks Capt bob

[d2dykes]

Alright we have gotten back to work. Hunting season kind of set us back. But here's what we've been up to since the end of January.

We've taken the stringer tops off, grinded the insides to prep for glass. We wanted to practice glassing on the inside of the stringers and give it more strength.








Then we put the stringer tops back on:










Then we glassed the stringer bottoms on the outside to the hull for added reinforcement and to replace the glass we accidentally took off while grinding:










Then we reinforced the chine:





Then we debated long and hard about the keel. We were told by a boat manufacturer that the we should remove the keel. But after much deliberation I decided to prep it for glass. The boat is a 79 and the wood isn't rotten so I just smoothed it up and roughed up the glass and now we plan to put a layer over the keel and hull. Here's a few shots from yesterday after the grinding session:






Then late last night I decided to go ahead and remove the backs of the stringers.




Next plan is to glass the keel, glass some foam board on the back of the stringers to close them in, run a single layer of glass on the stringer tops. Cut holes back out then fill the stringers with foam. Then possibly glass some foam on top of the stringers to raise the floor. Install bilge bulkheads, remove guts of transom and install a new closed in transom (coosa, penske, kcell...)

Then I'm debating on whether or not to raise the floor by putting some thickness of foam board on top of the stringers before doing bulkheads. Anyone know how far I should raise the floor if at all to make sure I stay self bailing. We plan to put a 300 hp 4 stroke on a portabracket and make this a towered center console with baitwell on the transom. Anyone have any experience doing this conversion to a 246. Really will be upset if we get done with this and the boat won't self bail.

[d2dykes]

Glassed the keel today. Tough job to get the air out from between the keel and the hull with  those big pieces of 1708. Here it is

[RickK]

Looks good - yeah that 1708 doesn't like bends.

[d2dykes]

Looks good - yeah that 1708 doesn't like bends.

RickK,
I'm thinking I might need to change the topic of the post. Other than the 246 deep vee hull, this boat layout will no longer be a Family Fisherman. We plan to convert to center console with closed in transom. Under which topic would this thread best be placed?

I'd really like to see some all of the other projects where folks have done or are doing the same things we are. We are also doing all new gunnels so its a completed redesign. Since you are most knowledgable on the current posts, do you have any suggestions on other very similar project threads? My dad and I have done quite a bit of searching and have certainly found great info on the other threads but haven't found a completed rebuild of a 246. I also understand all projects are unique but thought you'd be the best to ask for suggestions.

Thanks a bunch!
Dustin

[Capt. Bob]

No need to change the title or the location. It is/was a FF and that's a logical spot to begin a search. Also, we haven't really seen a lot of FF re-builds or other model conversions other than Aquas used for commercial purposes.so....

Good luck and keep posting.

[d2dykes]

No need to change the title or the location. It is/was a FF and that's a logical spot to begin a search. Also, we haven't really seen a lot of FF re-builds or other model conversions other than Aquas used for commercial purposes.so....

Good luck and keep posting.

Thanks Capt. Bob.

[d2dykes]

Just picked up three 4x8 sheets of 1-1/2" Polyurethane foam board to cap the ends of the stringers before filling with foam and for making bulkheads.

Does anyone have any suggestions on whether or not I should glass some foam on the tops of the stringers to raise the deck? Or should it be fine to put the floor back at the same height to keep the self bail? Not sure how heavy the boat will be in relation to original weight. I've never seen one of these boats in the water before to tell how deep they sat with the factory config.

[ftac03]

Any updates?

[RickK]

  This pic definitely shows how huge/tall the stringers are in the deep V models
Question - you mentioned closing in the transom, are you going to remove the core before raising it? You mentioned self bailing - if you replace the core you can put the scuppers where ever you want.

[d2dykes]

Sorry for the long hiatus, we are back on it heavy.

RikK, These are some huge stringers, pretty awesome they did this back in the day for this boat.

I plan to remove the wood core on the transom and leave the outer skin. Then I plan to put something on the outerskin that can be removed and glass to it to bring the outer skin up to the gunnel height before fiberglassing in a new core, would like to use something like coosa. But I just don't know yet how exactly to deal with these curves on the existing transom which will remain in the out skin, I posted some pics of what it looks like currently previously.

Since my last post we have foamed the stringers and glassed the stringer tops. We have also roughly laid out out the boat on paper and started shaping bulkheads for glassing

I really hope the floor ends up above the waterline when all is said and done. I have some confidence because the previous floor was plywood adhered to the top of the stringers so that's what I plan to match. I hope we aren't heavier when we are done. Here are the latest pics of progress

[Capt. Bob]

 

[d2dykes]

I did have one question, when should I start using surfacing wax. And is it critical to put in in the areas where I won't be able to coat with gel coat or awl grip such as under the the fuel tank bin

I haven't used any wax in my resin yet because I've mostly resurfaced everywhere so far but I was wondering if I should start using it. Or is it ok to leave fiberglass uncoated in certain areas of the hull where I won't be able to paint.

[RickK]

Great progress!
What kind of fuel tank are you going to use? If aluminum, you're good, but if you're using poly, make sure you allow room for the tank to grow.

Are you using poly for resin?  Usually you use wax in gelcoat on the final coat to seal it off so it can harden. I suppose you can add wax to the last coat of poly to seal it off.