The big project

How long did the original floor last? How long do you plan on keeping the boat? The plywood boat manufactures use is not marine grade. Marine grade plywood is a good choice, but very costly and special order at most lumber yards. Exterior grade plywood is plenty good for the job. If you want it to last longer than the original floor, seal it with some type of sealer. Coating in fiberglass is overkill, but it will last a lifetime. All that resin and fiberglass will add extra weight to the front deck where your batteries are, just something else to think about. Totally encapsulating the wood in a resin is a good idea until it cracks and water enters through the cracks and will not evaporate and rot out faster than raw wood that can dry out. Just for stihs and giggles call the manufacturer and see if you can buy the flooring pre cut from them, and compare that to the cost of buying marine grade plywood, carpet and the time you save, and it is cut right. All you have to do is screw it down.

Here at the bottom you can see the old gal has good bones. Welded support beams. I also like the fully welded frame. I am gonna send the boards out for upholstery after I cut and prep them. This should save time and is something I prefer not to do. I then can concentrate on freshening the hoses, lines, pumps, gauges, and wiring. Its coming together

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Major strides this week. Cut and varnished all the floor boards. Some say they like the smell of napalm in the morning. Well I like the smell of varnish at night chased with a beer!

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You’re almost there! Looking great.
DT

You’ve already done a great job! Good luck with your project!

bigpike, I have the same year boat as yours just have the boat no windshield and a tiller in 1650. I see my boat paint and outside looks like yours. I think the paint that year was not holding up very well, as mine, was, is easily scuffed. My floor also went soft and I also did the work myself, I went with the vinyl floor instead of carpet. Good luck with your project. Mike

Michael Michelau wrote:

bigpike, I have the same year boat as yours just have the boat no windshield and a tiller in 1650. I see my boat paint and outside looks like yours. I think the paint that year was not holding up very well, as mine, was, is easily scuffed. My floor also went soft and I also did the work myself, I went with the vinyl floor instead of carpet. Good luck with your project. Mike

Thanks! One more reason why I wont go new. My boat does not look like that because of faulty paint – more like I use the snot out of it. Camping trips on the Mississippi, Turtle Flambeau, Rainy, Nipigon etc. If I am by rough shoreline and need to get and stretch / bathroom break. I dont want to freak over the new boat. It makes a good wood hauler! Its more of a work boat. There’s always something bigger, better and more expensive out there…..

Main floor deck pieces are in, also put back in the gas tank, rear storage shelves. New tubes / fittings on the livewell and baitwell. Replaced the hydrofoil, winch. Ran out of carpeting for the rest of the deck, had to order another 13 linear feet. My top deck will be getting put in next week!

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top deck is starting to come together

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Looking good! We should test it soon…

Looks great Bigpike!
Great job of documenting the project! Look forward to the final “photo shoot”

I just finished a project on my Alumacraft last spring. I found the Marine Plywood available at menards. For marine carpet there was a deal on e-bay. It was a lot heavier weight and made the covers hard to open and close. I also had better luck installing the carpet when it was warm from being in the sun. I used stainless staples to attach it (And carpet glue)

For rivets, I bought a pneumatic rivet gun, *this was a life saver.

Good luck with your project!

This is the end result I had in my 1996 Alumacraft.

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Very nice! Here I custom made new face plates for my gauges. Aluminum, cut machined and painted. Did a little hydraulic jacking to bend the contours.

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Compare

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reverend wrote:

Looking good! We should test it soon…

Reverend Jim we will have to break the old gal in on Nokomis for some early season crappies, walleye .etc

Thanks for posting, this is fun to watch the progress.

Sure is shaping up nicely, those gauges are top notch.

Not sure if you may already have some or are interested, but cargo netting under the gunwales up front has given some neat storage for all kinds of use for myself. Have held up extremely well and comes with everything ya need. Just an idea.
http://www.organizedobie.com/categories/239/netting-organization

Thanks! I do gave cargo netting on the passenger side next to the rod locker. Works great for crankbait boxes and plastic boxes! If I had more space I would add more!!

Kept every screw, nut and washer on the tear down. Now the jig saw of putting them back together. Sorted them all out by size, type and length. Piecing this back together is the fun part of the project. Carpenter Jim did a great job on all the upholstery and was cheap at $180 bucks. Thanks Jim

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Btw carpenter Jim said he would never do another boat again if your thinking of asking…..

The snow is pilling up, ice is back in the bay and I am working on the boat like a hebrew slave working on a pyramid. Perfect weather in my book

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A finished product

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I want to thank everyone for the advice and information. I used this thread as motivation and a tool to properly complete a huge project. As my boat sits on the dock ready for use I know it will serve me many more years. The information shared here at IDO is priceless

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Sorry about the upside down pictures. I cant explain

Last 1

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Great job!!! Your final touch with your Lab lounging on the front deck is the best of all.

Your helper seems happy. Great job. Hope the fish respect all your work and volunteer to swim in your live well.

She loves the plush carpet. No smells or licks yet for her but soon enough!

bigpike wrote:

She loves the plush carpet. No smells or licks yet for her but soon enough!

There’s my girl! She looks warmer than last time I saw her…How’s she doing?

Boat re-do looks awesome, great job!

Looks great!