Project 'Bad Habits' Build

[Finished Business]

Hey guys. Some of you may have caught my recent post in forum member boats, displaying my new (to me) '95 Crestliner Eagle.
Well I know everyone likes a project thread by the looks of it, so I figured I would start my own, as I am just getting into some work on the boat and would like to get some opinions and insight on the build. Critical or insightful, it all helps in some way!

I wanted to do a plywood mock up of the future cabin, but prior to doing that I realized it would be an incomplete mockup with the current storage and seat assembly still in the boat. So out it all came to prepare for the mock up. Looks solid underneath with floatation between the supports.

The large middle crossmember seperating the 2 gas tanks is likely where I would mount the solid rear wall and door, but a new support may be needed towards the stern to make room for 2 more cabin seats. The cabin wont be abundantly roomy with 4 anglers, but the seats will be removable when its just two onbaord.

I encountered alot of rot towards the helm and removed about 400lbs of old spongy floor all together.

Any other sensible additions or changes I can make in the general dancefloor and storage layout? I've only been on a small handful of boats so again, my experience only takes me so far (not far at all!)

For those more interested in the alloy end of the build, rather than the boat as a whole, you can check out another thread I have going @
http://aluminumalloyboats.com/viewto...p=34466#p34466 offering a more detailed summary of the build progress.

Enjoy the photos, looking forward to your comments as the build progresses!

The motor in the pics would be the blown 5.0L Mercruiser...looking for a low hours MPI 5.7L, anyone have one!?

Nick - FB -

[Sculpin]

And so it begins. You really need to go over her with a fine tooth comb. You will be glad you did.

Are those fish boxes under the seats? I would be pulling that fuel tank and checking it for corrosion and to see whats happening under it. Also check to see if there are routes beside or around the foam for water to flow back to the bildge. If not then you need to make some. There was a couple of really good threads on the Hewescraft forum about this.

Good luck with her FB. I will be paying attention to this one for sure.

Cheers,
John

[Finished Business]

hey thanks for takin a boo john, as always! Kevin over at AAB made some verrry interesting points about the corrosion...cant wait to get into things to clean it up some.....should be ok to blast with the pressure washer and some hot water no?? Will take some more detailed shots of drainage once she get s a wash...

[MGH]

KEEP the water away from the foam, the stuff sucks up water and does not dry out!!!
Just took over 20 garbage bags of foam out of my old new to me boat. Squeeze it and water pours out like a sponge.
Expensive stuff to fill with new pour in foam. One gallon does 8 cu ft. at close to $100 bucks each. Or you have a friend that gets it cheaper but still expensive stuff. Still fun to rebuild old boat.
MGH.

[Finished Business]

MGH, the foam is very very dense and upon my first viewing it was all very solid (was able to walk on it without worry)....no spongy spots but I will look closer tommorrow....tho methinks it will be alright.

[MGH]

Cut a piece out and stick it in a pail of water. Wait a few minutes and see how much water it holds. Maybe ok but if not you don't have to carve wet foam out of the boat. A penny saved is two pennies earned!
MGH

[chris73]

I'd also keep water away from the foam.

[wildwest]

Some drill a 1 inch hole down to the bottom of the foam.Wait a day or 2 and inspect for water.

[Finished Business]

just got into the foam guys....it all looks very good!! There was one spot that oil had dripped onto that seemd to crumbled it, or it was a small mouse making a den, but i trowelled out the problem spot and once i broke the surface it was clean new foam! This boat further makes me smile!

Was worried about corrosion on the gas tanks but all the filth, grime, and residue whiped/scraped off to reveal smooth bare metal. Cut all the old gas and raw waterlines today and Im hoping to removed the gas tanks, so long as I can find a sensible way to siphon it...just to go the full 9 for peace of mind! hoses were in good shape but they will be replaced since Im already into the hall, and rubber is cheap!

pictures to follow once the tanks are out.

[staying alive]

FB i saw all your other pics on the alloy boat site --interesting to see it stripped down --whats your opinion on the welding does it look well done --any cracks ----is there a way for water to drain past the foam??--- By the way I am a glazier with 40 years in the trade if you need a hand with the windshield----- are you planning on putting the same type of flooring down vinyl over marine plywood --mine appears to be sound but it has been stored indoors its whole life. Keep the pics coming.

SS