Well… somehow I convinced myself that buying a 1988 Kencraft Challenger 21.5. It was listed on the Wilmington Craigslist for $500. Hull only with a “small soft spot”. What could go wrong?
I was looking to move up into a little larger boat so I thought this would be a nice blank canvas to start with. I borrowed a friends trailer and made the trip from Charleston to Wilmington and back. This thing is BIG for a 21.5! On the drive back I thought the load felt a little heavy for just a hull. No worries though.
I had to return the trailer the next day so it was time to put it on stands. I built a stand out of 2x6s for the stern and I grabbed two boat stands off of Craigslist earlier in the week. Moving it to stands is easier said then done… 4 hours later!
Here is the bad news - The soft spot is about 3 feet long and there are 2 spots. I continued looking around in the hull and the harder I looked the worse it got. I could see where the leaning post, T-Top and console were all mounted to the deck with out any regard to water intrusion. (Leaning post and T-Top didn’t come with the hull). The deck was a sponge. Oh and lets not forget the water logged foam.
Fixing the deck isn’t going to be a big deal to me, but the stringers are anot
I found some time this evening to start cutting away at the deck. The console looks like it has been on and off this boat many times. Lots of holes.
I was told the fuel tank was “new”. It is newer for sure and a disappointment. The original boats came with 90 gallon fuel tanks and this is only a 52 gallon. Any one have a larger tank laying around??
There is part of the problem… A cut up stringer with no glass.
I decided to not take the cap off. It would be nice, but I really don’t have the means. So instead I started cutting right in the middle of the boat. Because why not. This is mainly me exploring the damage at this point. I will be able to cut back more rot after I get some additional supports in place. I don’t want to wrap the hull.
Luckily my blade was a little deeper than I wanted, and I cut into part of the stringers. Looks like there could be some good wood in there!
Try an electric chain saw on the big stuff and finish it up with a wire brush on a side grinder, be sure to ware a mask. Good looking hull, I’m with you on closeing in the transom. Good luck!
I have a brand new 91 gallon Sunshine Marine Tank already coated. I will get dimensions of it Monday. I ordered the wrong size for a customers boat (didn’t see the slight taper when measuring) and have it sitting at the shop. I paid $1250 with shipping, and will let it go pretty cheep. Its coated
I have a brand new 91 gallon Sunshine Marine Tank already coated. I will get dimensions of it Monday. I ordered the wrong size for a customers boat (didn’t see the slight taper when measuring) and have it sitting at the shop. I paid $1250 with shipping, and will let it go pretty cheep. Its coated
Tall Sail Marine
Loopervet let me know. I have some wiggle room for the size.
I wasn’t able to get much accomplished today, besides speeding lots of money at Harbor Freight. That place is dangerous…
Anyway I picked up a 10’x20’ carport tent. I needed something to keep the boat dry. Hopefully this will do that job and will allow me to work even if it is raining. I was able to get the fuel tank out. I cleaned it up and posted it for sale.
Next steps: Get the console out. (its awkward and too heavy to do alone.)
I need to build additional supports for the hull. Then continue cutting out the deck.
I just cut the deck and foam out of a boat o got for free off Craigslist that had a cracked haul and a water logged front deck. I figured for free was a great price for a mini project. I cut the foam out of the frontt deck and it was easy but I was surprised how much it came out to when cut out. I used a reciprocating saw and a pry bar and then cleaned it up some with a grinder and sander. I made the cuts i could and then used the pry bar to bust them loose.
Pressure washer works real well on that foam. Makes a mess, but not like you don’t already have one. Go look at Essenbay Marine in Summerville. They had some tanks in there from Tidewater.
I wasn’t able to get the hull supports built today like I wanted. It was pouring rain. Hopefully I can get them done during the week.
I decided to try and be productive, so I started taking the foam out of the section I have already uncovered. Using a reciprocating saw and a pry bar worked okay, but is very physical work. I gave up on that rather quickly.
Instead I slapped a 4" knotted cup brush on my grinder and went to town. It cuts through the foam like a hot knife through butter, but it has a one major drawback. It makes a terrible mess. Turns it into dust.
My little 3 gal shop vac was having trouble keeping up so I took a break and made some modifications. It went from a 3 gal to 44 gal vacuum with some help from the ole handy duct tape! It works great and bags itself!
Don’t have a feel for how much structure/strength you may end up removing from the hull, but, as you remove structure/strength the hull will droop. I’d go ahead and get the hull fully supported to maintain its shape. I’m no expert, but, I’d put plenty of vertical supports right down the center to maintain the line of the keel. Then, add support around the outer perimeter to keep the sides from drooping outward. This may be over kill. But, it would be simple to do and would eliminate any possibility of losing your hull shape as you work on the boat.
17’ Henry O Hornet w/ Johnson 88 spl
26’ Palmer Scott project hull
14’ Bentz-Craft w/ Yamaha 25
I wasn’t able to get the hull supports built today like I wanted. It was pouring rain. Hopefully I can get them done during the week.
I decided to try and be productive, so I started taking the foam out of the section I have already uncovered. Using a reciprocating saw and a pry bar worked okay, but is very physical work. I gave up on that rather quickly.
Instead I slapped a 4" knotted cup brush on my grinder and went to town. It cuts through the foam like a hot knife through butter, but it has a one major drawback. It makes a terrible mess. Turns it into dust.
My little 3 gal shop vac was having trouble keeping up so I took a break and made some modifications. It went from a 3 gal to 44 gal vacuum with some help from the ole handy duct tape! It works great and bags itself!
