High Dive rebuild 1989

ebol5 · #1 09-16-2006, 08:38 PM

Here are pic's of the High dive opened up back in 1989. A friend of mine had a 74 and we first noticed cracks running between the front and rear floor boxes.. you could see the florr flexing when underway. Turns out the factory stringers weren't glassed over the top, just up the sides in the early years (not sure exactly what years)... so water would get in and rot them out. he had his rebuilt and then a year later I had my 73 done. I could hear the loose rotten stringer pieces bouncing around inside when I would pound on the bottom of my hull. I then developed a crack in the bottom of the hull and was taking on water the last time I was out before I got it fixed... That sucked! Anyway I got the same guy to do mine that had done my buddies. Cost me $2000 back then.

He took it apart put in new stringers, encapsulated them in glass, re-did the transom, sanded off the blue bottom paint and put it back together.. It is still solid as a rock. does have some stress cracks in spalsh well etc. from before and during the rebuild but no new ones since.

msbhammer · #2 09-16-2006, 10:09 PM

Those are some super great Frankenstein rebuild pictures. Good Job Hig Diver.

macojoe · #3 09-17-2006, 02:28 AM

Thats amazing how it all came out in one piece like that!!

Nice shots!! Thanks!

#4 09-17-2006, 02:46 AM

High Diver, I realllyyyy appreciate those pics!!!! :D At least I know I'm on the right track. Glad to hear you've had so many years of good service since! :D

msbhammer · #5 09-17-2006, 03:20 AM

Dumb question, so where are the stringers ?
You have more pics of putting her back together ??
She's a hot looking V now for sure. *;D

reelapeelin · #6 09-17-2006, 06:28 AM

No stringers in those pics, Hammer...apparently already removed...the last shot of the liner shows where it sat down on the stringers...

Great pics, Diver...never saw one apart like that... 8) ...

TheTinMan · #7 09-17-2006, 09:46 AM

Great pics, thanks! 2 grand for ALL that work sounds like a steal.

reelapeelin · #8 09-17-2006, 01:42 PM

That was $2,000 in '89...Hurricane Hugo and my oldest daughter born and now she's a senior in high school :-/ ...

Hey Diver...is the guy who did that work still around and doin' the same stuff??...just curious ;) ...and did he reach through the little opening in the front of the liner to cut it away from the hull ??? ...he must have some "spider-monkey'' in him ;) ...not to mention GLASSIN' IT BACK IN :o ...

ebol5 · #9 09-17-2006, 08:18 PM

Yea, by the time I got there after work he had her apart and cleaned out.. two days later he was putting it back together. Those are all the pic's I got. I can only take his word (and 17 years of boating) for the fact that he completely glassed the new stringers in. I have every confidence he did exactly what he said he did.
The place was called "Ricks Fiberglass" in Lake Worth FL. I just tried to call the # but no answer...It is Sunday though.. oh yea, speaking of Sunday, Culpepper plays football like a girl! Put Harrington in there! I'm depressed! :P Anyway if I remember right, He told me he removed the rub rail (screwed through both parts all around) and then got in between and worked around the inner and outer hulls and slowly "pryed" them apart, breaking the resin or bondo material free as he went. There is one spot just forward of the windshield on port side where the top cap cracked a little, but nothing serious.. he did good work! My buddy got his done eight months earlier for $1200 DOLLARS.. I guess Rick realize what was involved, hence $2000 for me, still a lot less then trying to replace the boat and then I knew she was solid! ;D

NOW I MUST CATCH FISH....MUST CATCH BIG FISH...

reelapeelin · #10 09-17-2006, 11:27 PM

Diver, no doubt he did a great job!!...and that investment all those years back has paid for itself several times over...good stuff ;) 8) ...