3Squids '87 Cuddy thread

[3 Squids]

Well guys I did it. I bought a 1987 Cuddy to go along with my center console. If you've followed that thread you know that project is on hold. Here is the most recent photo I have and will update as things go.


I travelled 5 hours to Wilmington NC to pick the old girl up. I pretty much bought this boat sight unseen with the exception of getting a friend to check it over for me. He gave me a good report and I offered to give the owner a deposit as I wasn't able to pick it up for a couple weeks. I even offered to pay in full as my buddy believed the guy was a good old fashioned handshake deal kind of guy. He declined any deposit and just told me to come get it when I could and it'd be there. I told him I'd come 3/25 and unfortunately couldn't make it due to truck trouble. But I busted tail and got the truck straight and headed out at 0330 to pick it up.

Pulled in right at 8:45 (stopped for breakfast). Soon as I seen the boat I was loving it. The owner was still 5 minutes out so I started checking it out. First thing I did was take a hammer to the transom. I figured regardless I'd find moisture somewhere in the stern. Tapped around and it was nice crisp bouncing smacks of the hammer. But 2 spots, one on each side had that dull thump. It's is exactly in the same place on both sides and about the same size spot. Sure enough it's right where the stringers meet the transom which I found with my '79 is where Wellcraft didn't pay much attention to detail. It is a very weak point of these boats.

I climbed in the boat and reached down under the live wells and tapped the stringers and they seem rock solid. So I definitely believe as far as transom/stringer issues go I may be ok for a while. The deck is very solid with exception of a 8-10" diameter spot right in the center where the step down to the cuddy is. I've always seemed to have floor issues in the past that began in areas where fasteners are however in this area and really nowhere near it is there any fasteners so not really sure where and how the moisture is entering it. I talked to my NC buddy on my ride home and he suggested injecting epoxy resin into the area to hold me over. May be something I'll try.

Now the paint... from 20' away the boat looks great. But it seems lack of prep when painted is now showing through. On the front near the water line it looks as if the paint has just been washed away. Elsewhere along the waterline its chipping off. I used my fingernail and scratched it and it comes right off. It looks like there's no primer. I'm undecided on what to do here but if reprinting is the fix it won't take long to strip the old paint. I've king of tossed the idea around in my head of making a vinyl boot stripe to hold me over for the time being.

The trailer is pretty rough. The tires have excellent tread but the are rotted bad. I took a spare in not much better shape just in case but fortunately didn't need it. There were multiple rollers missing or collapsed. There where even some 4x4 blocks where roller should be. The owner told me he launched it in April every year and pulled it in October pending no hurricanes so the trailer wasn't too much worry. All the hardware is rusted, nuts 90% rusted off. It's a torsion trailer and the torsion area was extremely heavy rust. This all had me nervous the whole ride home but we made it with no issues.

My motor plans are to put my fresh 200 Merc on it and fish it this summer. I've been scouring for side mount controls only to find out that the boat is set up for top mount. So all the rigging will be removed from the Green boat.

This is going to be another fun project that hopefully I won't have to tear into too far. I will get many more pics tomorrow as I know you guys want to see more. Again I'll update the main pic as I go along...here we go....

[Greyduk]

3S, Looks great!! Look forward to seeing more pictures. I am sending you a PM.

[Destroyer]

Tom, she's a looker for sure. Best of luck with her. Check your PM's, I might have a deal for you on a trailer.

[3 Squids]

Thanks guys. Well here she is as I brought her home. Grabbed these pics quick tonight as I've been pretty busy. Note the starboard side rod box isn't there. He removed it to de-rig the boat and never screwed it back in. We drove about 25 miles before our first stop to check on things and it was laying in the floor. Whew losing that would of sucked. Threw it in the cuddy for the rest of the ride.

Anyways enjoy:
















As you look over the pics please feel free to express any concern you may have over something you see. You may have noticed the fuel filler located toward the stern. The guy I got it from said it was done when he got the boat. It had a tank put in it approx 6 years ago and that's where they relocated the filler neck for some reason. Only con I see in it is I'll have to pull up further at a station to fuel it up and block up the parking lot more. I plan on closing off the existing hole as one of my first projects.

Also while the tank was replaced it appears the hatch covers were glassed over. Whoever did it did a good solid job. My plan is to try and epoxy fill the soft spot in the floor then roll Awlgrip or something similar over the whole floor. That will take care of those patches as well.

I believe I may start prepping it for paint before I even put my motor on as the paint can pretty much be wiped right off. I believe between no primer and possibly the wrong paint it's just not holding on too well. I can paint well so I should be able to knock this out in a couple weekends. As far as fiberglass work the hull itself is perfect so it's gonna be a quick sand, prime and paint, just gotta get the money from somewhere.

This should be a good quick project to get on the water this year. I believe a hardtop is in the future but not anytime soon. The bottom paint is ok and I really don't require it as I leave my boat in the water overnight once and a while but never more than 2 days. If I can get by this year without bottom painting that'd be great. When it's time I'll use antifouling paint again. Even though I don't need it I really don't want to go through the hassle of trying to get it off and paint the hull with nice paint. If it were a complete resto I'd consider it.

[Destroyer]

I see existing bolt holes on the stern port side where there was obviously a swim platform. I have a teak one lying in the garage that's yours if you want it. Love that cooler seat on the mates side.

[3 Squids]

Originally Posted by Destroyer

I see existing bolt holes on the stern port side where there was obviously a swim platform. I have a teak one lying in the garage that's yours if you want it. Love that cooler seat on the mates side.

The swim platform is in the cuddy. It is also teak. I didn't take it out and inspect it yet so I'm not sure why it was removed. Definitely going to have to do something as one of the holes is below the water line. The cooler seat is neat but it's in bad shape. The cooler is banged up pretty bad. I think I may do a back to back seat there so I have more seating for the kiddos.

[spareparts]

sand the paint off up to the chine, continue that angler till you hit the bow, finish it off with vinyl boot stripe. Extra credit if you get custom and have V20 in the boot stripe alla Blackfin

[3 Squids]

Originally Posted by spareparts

sand the paint off up to the chine, continue that angler till you hit the bow, finish it off with vinyl boot stripe. Extra credit if you get custom and have V20 in the boot stripe alla Blackfin

Where I've scraped off the paint the gel coat seems not in bad shape. I'm wondering if I just got over it with some 1500 grit or something like that and then buff the gelcoat. Guess it's one of those things I'll figure out when I get going. I'm really not scared to repaint and probably will go that route.

[spareparts]

if you repaint, you'll need to strip all that paint off

[Destroyer]

Personally, if she's going to be a trailer queen, why paint it at all? If the Gel Coat is good and she has no blisters I'd just have it soda blasted to remove the old paint and then wax it to bring up the shine. These boats really look beautiful with no paint. IMHO