First aquasport, 87' 170 striper rebuild

[ANTIBLING]

Hey all, I bought my first aquasport a few weekends ago. Its a 78' 170. I really do not know much about these boats at all so any tips or tricks would be well appreciated. I will post pictures this weekend or so. I bought the boat for 3500 and could of used it the way it was just fine, but I am a perfectionist and wanted to fix all spider cracks and make the boat look like new again. Boat has a 02' 115 yamadog 2 stroke which I pulled off yesterday. As it sits right now, everything is taken apart with just the gas tank left in it.

The transom seems solid but does have cracking all the way around the cap so I havent decided what to do, maybe you all can help once i post pictures.

I plan on just repainting/filling/cleaning up everything and making the boat the way I want. Picked out Pettit Bikini Blue as the color. Once I post pictures then maybe yall can help me out. Im excited to get it all back together!

[Marcq]

Coooool, another Aqua in the family , you're welcome and will find it great here, looking forward seeing pictures of it. I have a 1979 170 :)

Marc..

[GoneFission]

Welcome to the site!  Lots of 170 owners here and they can provide as much advice as you want or can stand!     Why not post some pics of you boat as-is - you may get some feedback that helps do a better job of getting her ready for the water!  

Congrats on the boat and welcome!  

[ANTIBLING]

the boat is at my dads like 15 min away and I have to work from 8-5 everyday then go to class right afterward so i dont really get a chance during the week to get over there. But friday or saterday ill have some pictures up. and PLENTY of questions. I am exhausted now and cant even begin to start asking questions about it  

I live in St. Pete, FL anyone else close by?

[RickK]

Welcome aboard!! Another addition to our ever growing 170 family  8)
Too bad you took her apart, you could have brought her to the next gathering at Ft Desoto.  Maybe you still can, you have a month.

[ANTIBLING]

now i have a deadline!  

[LilRichard]

AB- post up some pics please.

My first reco for a "to-do": check that gas tank for corrosion / pitting.  If you have everything stripped already, this is the time to do it.  Where in SP are you?

Enjoy, and welcome to the site.

[ANTIBLING]

gas tank is good. The boat was actually in fairly good condition really. Was taken really good care of by the previous-previous owner (last guy didnt really know anything about anything really). And I live in Shore Acres/Venetian Isles in St. Pete.

Made myself a to-do list today so i can try and get a little organized lol

few things:
- has anyone else made access panels in place of the vertically mounted cleats to install pop-up cleats or any horizontal cleats?
- and also, my thru-hull drain for the center front hatch is broken off inside the hull. I see that there is an access in the right hatch but i can barely get my arm in there to get to the drain to pull it out. any tips?

Everybody work with me. This is my first project and im only 20.

[LilRichard]

AB - not to kick the horse, but have you pulled the tank?  Many many times the top looks good, bottom not so good.  Just askin'.

[ANTIBLING]

boattt


So i have been told many different ways to fix these things but I would like to hear what you all have to say... give me advice:

[ANTIBLING]

so i decided to just sand all the non skid off. there are way too many cracks and imperfections in the deck and to try and keep the diamond pattern would be retarded hard work.

So I yesterday I started. got all the non skid off the gunnel off on both sides and about a quarter of the deck done. should be able to knock the rest out today. then lots of filling. and im going to cut out the rear access panel to the bilge to fit a big rectangle hatch because the wood is starting to rot in that area.

and off to work making plastic things

[LilRichard]

Keep in mind that those cracks are there for a reason - there may be core issues or something else causing flexing - so you may need to add more glass to the floor in areas where the cracking was significant.  

For superficial gelcoat cracks (that disappear when you grind down to the glass) you can typically get away with not adding a bunch more glass.  Please post pics as you go.

[ANTIBLING]

I dont have any glass experience at all. ill take pictures later today when I start sanding again.

[slippery73]

Most of the cracks look like gel coat crazing not stress cracks, this happens over time as gelcoat shrinks if its not waxed properly. Should be fine once you sand it out, as Lilrichard noted though, probably not a bad idea to lay some glass over questionable areas.

[Marcq]

ANTIBLING, are you sure the year of your boat is 1978 ? Looks more like it was build in the late 80is

Marc..