1968' All Original Flatback Diver Model 222

[Ulysses485]

Sooooo, I ran across this ALL ORIGINAL Classic Diver Model 222 (Yes, with Diver door and viewing windows) over the summer and finally brought it home a few weeks ago. I really didn't NEED another project but we don't get into these projects because we NEED them, RIGHT?  I've been a sucker for this model year with the diver door and couldn't help but pick it up after looking for such a long time and settling for a 1970. I don't really have firm plans at this point but I am thinking of keeping it as simple as possible, lightweight and floating skinny with lightweight power on a 4 to 6'' jackplate.

These are the beginning of the flatbacks with NO LINER, FIBERGLASSED Caps, and SOLID fiberglass decks that were set in place and trimmed on the perimeter with Teak at the hull to deck joint. The casting platform was built in a mold, glassed on the topside to the hullside and trimmed with teak on the face of the platform with teak. The Deck had no access and it appears as shown in other 1968 or previous rebuild threads that the entire underside of the deck was filled with foam, including inside the stringers. It was a poor design that was improved upon in about 1970 when the liner allowed for no access below deck BUT a recessed rigging trough to keep the below deck area dry and NO foam outside the stringers to keep from absorbing the foam (at least that's the way it was in both the 1970s that I have owned).

Some photos before start tearing the deck out: 

[Duffy1470]

Congratulations. Good get.

[umecheme]

Super cool find!

[RickK]

Nice to see an old FB preserved 

[Ulysses485]

It is really cool to see one in person and be able to see how they did it back then. But its clear where they missed the mark and the reason why there is a fish tank below deck. LOL No escape for water to exit but clear pathway for water to get below from the deck. In the early 70s they built watertight rigging troughs because of this. In my 1970, the only way for water to get below deck was through screw holes and drain plug. However, there were voids below deck with no access, and no pump in the event of an emergency.