14' mckee wood rot?

bcraigan · #1 02-21-2010, 04:23 PM

Ok, now that I have a great engine that runs like a top i'm discovering that this 14' mckee is suffering from a LOT of rot... I didn't realize there was so much wood in these boats, but everywhere I look i'm finding water coming through screw holes, and rotten wood. I know there is extensive rotten wood in the front where the bow eye was located. I removed it and found a lot of rotten wood behind it. There is extensive water in all of the foam areas. I drilled a drain hole under the normal plug hole on the transom, and popped the round cap that sits about a foot from the transom. There was water spewing out of it. I stuffed a towl into it and was attempting to wick some of the water out. Here's my question... Am I to the point that i'd be better off trying to find a good hull to put on this trailer and mount the motor to it?

If that is the case then I have a LOT of 14' mckee parts. The rails, front and back would be for sale, the rub rail (in pretty good condition) would also be for sale, and also the console and bench seat that was in the rear.

Is there a chance of drying this boat out, and then resealing these holes in the top? Thanks guys. Craigan.

bcraigan · #2 02-21-2010, 06:05 PM

If I cannot find a hull for this boat or repair this hull I will have a very good running evinrude 60 for sale.

spareparts · #3 02-21-2010, 08:30 PM

I got my Mckee cheap enough, so I didn't look to hard at it. Some one had allready drilled a hole thru the bottom to let the water out, it had enough holes in the deck that it would have taken me forever to fill and sand each one to get it slick enough for paint. The transom was solid and the floor wasn't spongey, so I decided to go ahead with it. If i had a place out of the weather to have done the work, it would look a whole lot better than it does. I figure I'm going to put a season on it, if it falls apart, I'll find another hull to put the 60 on, if it stays together, I'm going to refresh it next season with another coat of durabak. By them I should have it all figured out. If your floor is solid and the transom is good, why not.

BTW, I'm updating my old thread on the Mckee.

phatdaddy · #4 02-21-2010, 08:37 PM

might have to go this route
http://wilmington.craigslist.org/boa/1568754682.html

is the transom soft? i have heard sealing off all of holes and putting a vacuum pump through the lowest point of the hull and drawing the water out that way.

after drying out, you could always put the dreaded aluminum plate on the transom.

bcraigan · #5 02-22-2010, 11:07 AM

The transom is hard as a rock! The problem is that the rest of the boat is SOAKED... Was there a lot of wood used in these boats? I have considered drying out well and then resealing it...

Blue_Runner · #6 02-22-2010, 11:17 AM

Sorry to hear BC. Hopefully she's salvageable.

If it comes down to it I'll buy the bench seat. I'd like to have one for dad's.

phatdaddy · #7 02-22-2010, 12:39 PM

bc. not that familar with mckee, but on whaler sites you can get plans that show where the wood panels are located in the various hulls. i think on my 13 there are panels in the transom for motor mounting and ones on the side by the console for control mounting and one in the deck for the console to rest on and secure to. the type of pump i saw used was an AC pump for clearing refrigeration lines. wonder if you could get a weight est now and when it was new and see how much water your dealing with?

bradford · #8 02-22-2010, 12:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bcraigan

If I cannot find a hull for this boat or repair this hull I will have a very good running evinrude 60 for sale.

I hope it works out for you, if not I might be interested in the 60 evinrude, and maybe some other parts if you part her out if not the whole rig.

bcraigan · #9 02-22-2010, 01:17 PM

Well here's where it stands. The hardware on the boat was in excellent condition. It has the front rails, and the rear rails, a bench seat, and a rub rail that is in what I would consider 80 percent condition. The motor runs like a top, and right now I don't see having the cash to go after another hull. I have ordered brand new omc controls with an adapter for the electrical. The boat sits on a trailer that is a galvanized trailer, but needs new hubs, wheels, bearings, etc (which I have). It will need new bunks which I do not have. The motor had a new tilt/trim motors put on it by the previous guy with new seals. It also includes the former controls, which are in decent shape. Let me know what parts you'd be interested in on the mckee. I'm not 100 percent sure on selling the motor yet, but i'd def. start parting out the mckee. The rails in the rear are in good shape minus one dent on them. Front rails are in great shape. The console is also in good shape. Still has the steering helm attached.

The front storage cover is in great shape too if anyone needed it.. LEt me know what you want. I actually got the 60 from Savannah just last week.

bcraigan · #10 02-22-2010, 01:20 PM