1984 17’ hourston rebuild

[Fishin]

Just picked up an other hourston has a Volvo (aq171a in it with 270 leg if anyone needs parts) boats going to be quite the project, likely stringers, transom, floor ect, going to keep using my current one until this is finished getting a pod as well as mounting my 2022 merc 115 when the time comes, first time doing a project like this, yes I’m fully aware it’s going to be a long process and very costly hoping to do most if not all of the work myself except for the pod, first time taking on a project like this, have lots of carpentry experience but not a ton of fibreglass experience but very determined. Any tips/pointers is much appreciated thanks fellas and Huge shout out to @InterMechanico for giving me the hull hopefully she turns out to be a fishing machine.

 

[InterMechanico]

Just picked up an other hourston has a Volvo (aq171a in it with 270 leg if anyone needs parts) boats going to be quite the project, likely stringers, transom, floor ect, going to keep using my current one until this is finished getting a pod as well as mounting my 2022 merc 115 when the time comes, first time doing a project like this, yes I’m fully aware it’s going to be a long process and very costly hoping to do most if not all of the work myself except for the pod, first time taking on a project like this, have lots of carpentry experience but not a ton of fibreglass experience but very determined. Any tips/pointers is much appreciated thanks fellas and Huge shout out to @InterMechanico for giving me the hull hopefully she turns out to be a fishing machine.View attachment 86549

She's gonna be a beauty!

 

[Sttr]

I’m assuming you are aware of the cost and fact it’s a 17 foot boat… with no flybridge

That said I understand for some there’s more to a boat than a dollar figure at the end of the day, especially if you are willing to take a project on like this.

Glassing is by far the toughest part of the build for me. Not necessarily because it’s hard but more of the timing. I can work on 3 different units in my shop, at once, get bothered every 10 mins, pulled off to see something else, drop this do that…. Totally different with a fibreglass boat. When I laid 60 feet of mat in a afternoon by myself it was a 5 hour straight , don’t stop because it will harden, **** show. Turned out great but wow what a experience. Having to finish before the resin sets brings another level of stress to the job.
I do not recommend glassing yourself for the first time no matter how good you think you are, too much to learn and too much can go wrong, experience is priceless.
For example - got some polyester resin from my regular supplier, different batch, start using it, Color seems different, didn’t harden right away, WTF, hardened kind of overnight, tried twice the hardener, same results. Had to add cobalt to the resin to make it harden… Not sure how I would of figured this out without any help. Then there’s rolling the air out when tabbing… once you see a guy with 25 years experience do it you will understand.

Good luck, nice to see someone else want to go balls deep

 

[Sttr]

Keep in mind…. Some of these guys are **** hurt anytime someone mentions a hourston rebuilt.
Might need to put in some time into the build to get some love

 

[wishiniwasfishin1]

Good luck, she’s a beauty.

 

[Fishin]

Keep in mind…. Some of these guys are **** hurt anytime someone mentions a hourston rebuilt.
Might need to put in some time to get some love

Thanks for the reply man really appreciate it! Little back story I’m 23 live at home while I save for a house one day haha but that’s a story for an other day what I’m getting at is I don’t really have any serious commitments I have a decent job in the trades so I can put most of my time/money into the boat I think the biggest thing with other projects are that their building beautifully restored rigs that are super high end finishing ect, nothing wrong with that at all but I’m building a fishing machine it’s going to get scratched and worked hard I want a solid boat that’s it, this being a 17’er is a lot more manageable and considerably less material wise, I’m not super worried about spending the money which is the biggest part I know it’s going to cost a lot, I already have a 2022 115, a new kicker, downriggers all the gear ect so that’s a bonus.

 

[Fishin]

First update, didn’t get much done on Sunday as it was raining pretty good, going to pick up one of those portable shelters from Canadian tire thinking 12x24 should work I’ll put in a little heater or something. Where is everyone buying their resin/cloth in the Victoria area? Checked out industrial plastics today in Vic probably going to get all my materials from them just wondering if there’s a better place maybe? Boat is completely rotten probably one of the worst I’ve seen to be honest stringers are just mush along with transom and floor as to be expected no big deal though because it’s all getting replaced anyway. On my 17’ outboard model hourston I have 2 main stringers nothing in the centre, on this inboard model it has the 2 mains as well as 1 large stringer running down the centre in front of the motor. Is it necessary to put that one back in? Might be a stupid question but I was wanting to put a tank under the floor in that area. What’s everyone’s suggestions on cutting the floor out, this boat has a moulded floor looks like it was just dropped in as 1 piece with the seats built right in was just coming up with a game plan on the most efficient way of cutting it out. Hopefully have the old inboard out by the weekend. Here’s where I’m at.

 

[Fishin]

Couple more photos, had her first bath in a long time lol.

 

[Brando]

Pm if you want a hand with the pod. Good luck on the project.

 

[Fishin]

Pm if you want a hand with the pod. Good luck on the project.

Thanks! Might take you up on that, yours looks amazing.

 

[Brando]

Thanks! Might take you up on that, yours looks amazing.

Thanks. It performs well happy I took the time to replace the stepped style that was on it before.

 

[Fishin]

Put in a few hours after work with an other member, we got the old 270 out and prepped the motor to be removed tomorrow after work then I can really get things rolling with this build!

 

[Fishin]

Got the motor out of the boat tonight, setting up my little garage tomorrow after work and will start gutting the floor, stringers and transom by the weekend.

 

[InterMechanico]

Here's something for inspiration

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02pgF3eGcJgzAYfmvHd5XMPYWDRWEYnBTeQUdoZ25BKWkYEwGJtuNjKVJ5vsnPbSpql&id=100063727052671&eav=AfY_mYTxP9PFjE590HPzyGnchfeCsNZ2UjeMJojdRHcaUohAIM11JrVjCetI4NAGg_k&m_entstream_source=timeline&paipv=0

 

[Fishin]

Here's something for inspiration

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02pgF3eGcJgzAYfmvHd5XMPYWDRWEYnBTeQUdoZ25BKWkYEwGJtuNjKVJ5vsnPbSpql&id=100063727052671&eav=AfY_mYTxP9PFjE590HPzyGnchfeCsNZ2UjeMJojdRHcaUohAIM11JrVjCetI4NAGg_k&m_entstream_source=timeline&paipv=0

Saw that one she’s a beaut!

 

[Fishin]

Nothing to exiting haven’t got nearly as much as I hoped I would done, I guess that’s life though, started the gut process, stringers couldn’t be in worse shape never seen one this bad until now. I knew they were bad but this is next level.

 

[Rayvon]

I would cut the inner lining out completely and use pedestal seats,You'll find it will all have to be replaced (stringers/floor),no point in saving any of the solid stuff and scabbing onto it. The hardtop would be a big problem for me and most people,too low,but that is for later in your build.Fiberglassing outside in winter is going to be very hard to do,it's hard enough when you have controlled temps.Good luck with your project.

 

[Aquaholic]

Back in the day if the lemon law was a thing up here, Hourston might have some explaining to do.

 

[Fishin]

@Rayvon Yes that’s the plan, won’t be keeping anything original, just started to cut into it haven’t taken one of these hourstons apart with the moulded floor so definitely a learning curve, 2 swivel seats up front is definitely the way to go going to give it a nice dance floor with the pod.

 

[Fishin]

Back in the day if the lemon law was a thing up here, Hourston might have some explaining to do.

I know I couldn’t believe it there’s funky drain holes everywhere, no foam under the floor, most of the wood isn’t even coated in resin/cloth it’s definitely a Friday built boat, my other 17’ hourston isn’t even comparable the craftsmanship is 100times better, wish my other hourston was an inboard so I could just pod that one lol but the extra deck space on this boat and hard top is it exactly what I wanted