Project 2nd Chance… 1977 v-20 CC

[Mikeyz]

Well, I wanted to wait for winter before I started this rebuild, But what hell it's not gonna fix itself. I picked up this boat on trade so don't have a lot into it (YET). I am planning to do a full restoration with this boat and have the hopes of making a nice bay boat that can go skinny if needed. I am going to be pulling the top cap to fix any stringers and redo the under floor foam. I also want to install a big live well in the floor (that’s the main reason the cap is coming off). I have never done a project like this before so I am hoping to get some help from the pros on this forum and will have some good local help also.

[Mikeyz]

A few pics of the day I picked up the boat

[Mikeyz]

I pulled the motor off today to find a mess. I knew when I got it she needed a transom but I didn’t expect to find mashed potatoes for what once was a transom. I also found some stringer damage back by the transom. I guess now I know I was right to follow my gut on this one and pull the cap. I would hate to do a lot of work only to find a mess under the floor at a later date. I did get a good start on this until the rain delay. Well I guess the console can wait until tomorrow.

[Destroyer]

Looks like you're off to a good start. Sweet looking boat.. worth saving for sure. GL with it.. keep us posted with pics... we all love to see other peoples projects..gives us hope and ideas..well done

[Mikeyz]

I didn’t get to much done Sunday. However I did get the console out and the floor cover for the fuel tank. I started to pull the foam out around the tank only to find the smell of gas. I guess I will be adding a fuel tank to the list of things I will need. I guess do it right once or fix it 20 miles offshore and hope you get home right.
I have a question? How do you fix two BIG holes in the floor from the old captain’s chairs.
Oh Oh I know screw down a cooler seat over them and make the next guy fix it.
(Thanks buddy)

On a good note today I stopped by a boat salvage yard after a nice fishing trip on the kayak. I talked with the guy for awhile he has poly tanks that will fit I didn’t get a price yet but wanted to know if this is a good or bad idea. The boat currently has an aluminum tank. What would be the better tank get a new aluminum tank or go with a poly tank? His yard also has some live wells and fish boxes cut out of the floors of other boats. I think I might try a get one and cut it down to fit so I am not starting from scratch.

[RWilson2526]

Keep up the good work. Great documentation... Like Destroyer said we love lookin at that stuff. Especially when its somebody else doing the hard work!.

IMHO I think a poly tank would be superior to a aluminum tank as far as longevity is concerned. Although if you dont foam in the new aluminum tank I'm sure it will outlast the boat. (probably would even if you did foam it in) If you could find a used poly tank that didn't sacrifice fuel capacity (if capacity is even important to you) for cheaper than an aluminum one that would be my plan of action.

[Mikeyz]

Well boat is on hold for a week or two. Last Sunday we had a bad storm and a 65ft tall oak tree was hit by lighting 20ft from my house. ( BOAT IS OK) The lighting jumped out of the tree and also hit the house ( will have pic's soon very scary what lighting can do ) So I have got to get the tree down and fix a few things that are burned up. I lost both laptops, printer tv,surround sound and few other things. I did get the boat ready to pull the cap off on Sat, but pics are on the computer that was smoking on Sunday night. If a storm is by you be carefull this strike was so hard it broke CONCRETE PAVERS and moved one almost five feet..

Mike

[spanishmak]

ive been wondering how difficult it would be to get that cap off!I have the same boat and need to redo transom im in pasco county fl ill be following youre work good luck

[Destroyer]

Damn Mikeyz, tough luck on that lightning strike. We had a huge Maple in our back yard take a strike about 3 years ago.. split the tree down the center and caused one side of it to fall.. destroyed the above ground pool, the split rail fence and the corner of our house...So I know what you're talking about ... It's amazing what 50 million volts of electricity can do... Glad to see that you're back online at least so we can comiserate with you. Keep your chin up... (that way your jaw is an easier target)

[Mikeyz]

spanishmak

I don't think you will need to pull the top cap if you are only going to fix the Transom. I am pulling mine so I can replace some stringers install new foam (old is full of water) and add a bad *** live well in the floor (going to use the two useless hatches behind the console in the floor) I am thinking about doing a pourable transom from what I have heard it’s stronger then wood and you never have to worry about rot again. I live in Dade City, I don’t know why it says Tampa Bay but good luck and talk to you later.

Mike