170 Rebuild

[REELCLIMAX]

I have been beating around the bush for a while now and Its time to start the project. Im going to get her out of the water today and begin. Guys, I certainly will be asking a lot of questions so I hope some of you will help. You're boats look awesome and have inspired me to do mine, so thanks in advance. This is her now.






This is what we love to do when in this boat

So guys wish me luck as its all just begining.

[Marcq]

Good luck man, but sure doesn't look like you have much to do on her, she looks in very good shape. 1979 ?

Marc..

[RickK]

So what's the plan - looks great already.

[REELCLIMAX]

The plan is to repaint her. But, I have a little bit of filling to do. The floor needs to be repainted more than anything. Im still trying to decide if I should just go ahead and take everything out and repaint the whole interior or just the floor. I am going to paint the outside probably the same color as the boat Undertow had done. Little things such as rub rail will need to be replaced. The transom also needs some work, there are old lifting eyes that are made into the transom and I cant just pull them out so I guess Ill just cout them of and driil them out and patch over them. Give me any pointers you can. The boat is a 74 model.

[Tyler5150]

I have a 74 also that I am fixing up. This is my first boat. Im learning as I go. Let me know how the painting goes.

[REELCLIMAX]

Well the rain messed up my progress but I did manage to get the rails off and a lot of the hardware such as cleats, anchor holder and the rub rail. Guys ,will my new rub rail match up with the holes from the old one or do I need to patch them and redrill? Also the last picture shows the factory lifting eyes on the transom, They dont go thru so I am going to cut them and drill out enough to get a good fill. Anyone got another idea? Notice my custom baitwell,since it was just put on a few months ago I think I am going to paint around it.

[RickK]

Most rub rail is just a roll of heavy duty rubber and you drill through it anywhere you want.  
I would think the lifting eyes have to go through the transom and have backing plates/nuts on the inside, behind the liner.

[Asport-Rog]

Just curious, why do you want to remove the lifting eyes?

[Mattakeese]

Good luck with the rebuild - She looks pretty darn good already. You may want to keep the lifting eyes in the transom if they're not all nasty and loose and not servicable. My boat is almost identical to yours, so am thinking of the same things you are. My next project is to move the battery from the stbd stern up the center console for better balance and performance getting out of the hole.   Will you be reusing the green, rubber end caps that cover the end of the rubrails at the transom? I am looking for the stbd one, as mine is missing, and would be happy to pay for any shipping if you are just going to throw it away with a new installation. Please let me know.  Also, have you checked out your fuel tank? That is a potentially nasty item to deal with, and had to replace mine 10 years ago. Best wishes,

[REELCLIMAX]

THE OLD LIFTING EYS ARE BENT AND I DONT TRUST THEM. I ALSO INSTALLED NEW ONES FROM THE INSIDE BECAUSE WHEN THE BOAT IS PUT IN AT A MARINA THE LIFTING CHAINS/STRAPS EAT UP THE BOAT PRETTY BAD. iAM MISSIMG ONE OF THE END CAPS BUT I WILL SEE WHICH ONE I HAVE LEFT AND LET YOU KNOW. WHERE IS THE CHEAPEST PLACE TO GET RUB RAIL? tHE FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO AND MADE OUT OF STAINLESS BY MY FATHER.

[REELCLIMAX]

Got a little more done today. Got my seat removed, hatches on the casting deck and trim arond the rod holders. Only thing left is the motor and the console which I will continue to work on this week.

[Mattakeese]

Well that makes sense about the lifting eyes - I don't blame you at all. Glad you already did the fuel tank - sounds like you did it right. As far as the rubrail, why don't you contact Tommy at Hammerhead in Tampa. Check out his website on "Resources" at the top of our Home Page and see all the rebuilds he has done, including a 170. His e-mail is Tommy@Hammerheadlivewells.com and he should know the cheapest & best place to order new rubrail that is closest to origianal. Would be nice to get the green. I replaced my windshield about 10 years ago with a smokey, tinted one, and now wish I had one that is more original. I have found a company in Ft. Lauderdale that will make an exact reproduction with that green tint, so am trying to decide if I want to spend the $$$ right now.

[REELCLIMAX]

Thanks for the info. I wish I could see the final product of that 17 footer. Im sure its going to be awesome. He seems to do really good work.

[RickK]

You'll be extremely lucky to find an original green rubrail however there are companies that try to duplicate them - check the "Resources" forum.

[gw204]

You'll be able to get the old transom lifting eyes out when you recore the transom.  You are recoring the transom, right?  Judging from the cracks I see in one of your photos, she needs it.

On the '75 I had, the lifting eyes appeared to have been installed before the glass was layed over the inside of the transom.  I also found that the bottom 4" of so of transom core (wood) had no glass covering it.  It was completely exposed to whatever water got in the bilge.

Good luck. :)