Rebuilding Cuddy Cab

[Burley_Boy]

Congrats for starting this Dan, I'll be watching closely. Love this sort of stuff
...
What is the actual boat hull you're so happy with?
I've got a 16ft cuddy that I've tweaked to suit my fishing but its not the ideal hull for a family boat so as yet its just my boat that gets blood on the carpet. Occasionally consider getting another hull so my ear is to the ground.

[NQCairns]

So far I have ignored the cost, simply bought what I needed for the next busy period, all this talk of cost got me interested so here goes (not deliberately trying to scare you Dan! ).

So far/to go

Resin/flowcoat $1100/$500
Glass $700/$120
Acetone $180/$40
Paint brushes $100/$20
Gloves $70/$10
Cabosil $100/$0
Ply $600/$100
Sanding belts/disks etc $100/$20
MEKP $100/$20
Rags $60/$8
Wood $200/$0
Cutting paste $25/$0
Buffing pad $20/$0
2 part urethane foam $250/$0
Cooler foam $50/$0
Gill bracket $150/$100
Windscreen bit/pieces$0/$200
SS bolts/screws etc $0/$100
Hull extension/floatation pods $0/$600
Cotton trash/flock $40/$0
$3845/$1878 = $5683 tot

MMmmm.. I honestly thought around $3000 would see my boat floating and not fitted out. I also built the trailer at somewhere nearing $2500.

So say $6000 to float the hull and another $2000 for a basic fit out, it certainly adds up even in dribs and drabs.

3 years/ $10500 =$67.31 per week.I think that is why I haven’t really felt the cost, but I an sure I will feel it when the new motor comes along.

Oops forgot the Marine sealant, poly and PVC pipe I bought so far = $80. probably forgot some other stuff also.
cheers nq

[Lucky_Dave76]

Piss it off and get another boat. My experience tells me it's a waste of time and money. If you enjoy the work by all means fix her up, but if it is simply to end up with a good boat...get rid of it! At the end of the day it is an investment....unless it is a recognised "classic" the money you pour into it is a waste of time. To me if it's a average boat it is like doing up a datsun 120Y.

[NQCairns]

Phil I have got an acid sulfate mosquito ridden mangrove swamp opportunity you might be interested in, there are some bridges going begging also
Yeah the risk of losing less is possible with a classic. cheers nq

[billfisher]

It's only worth doing what is in need of repair. Then you might get some return on the investment of time and money. You say you want to strengthen the transom and replace the floor and wooden stringers. Have they gone soft?
An easy way to strengthen a good transom is to add aluminium plate to the inside and outside.

[Black_Jack]

I would look at replacing it to what you want now and start using it,,,,, unless rebuilding boats is a hobby of yours, you sometimes can spend enough time maintaning the boat besides rebuilding it

[metal_mulisha]

G'day Dan and guys,
I'll be watching your progress with great interest as I'm in the process of selling a 5mtr Ally to purchase a 6 plus metre Fibreglass cuddy.
My plan is to get something that requires some finishing work but is 75% complete.
Looking at a V19 or similar.
I love my fishing but have a few considerations I need to take into account with the next boat acquisition. It needs to be fishable, nocturnal and kid friendly ie I'll be heading out to fish Moreton Friday nights, the reefs early Sat morning then back by lunch Saturday to do the Dad thing and the occasional familiy trip to Tanga's.
I want something my little boy (5) can see develope and be part of as he grows.
Good luck with your project, I'll probably be asking you guys for some advice with mine shortly.
Kind Regards
Lee

[tengals123]

i agree and disagree. You cannot find a boat for 10,000 that looks and feels as good as a fully rebuilt boat that you have done yourself. As long as the work has been carried out correctly. What you end up with is a boat that;
1. you know inside out ( coz you built it )
2. You can back your own work, with peice of mind it won't fall apart on you in the middlew of the bay.
3. With correct budgeting can really feel like a new boat.

From restoring/rebuilding boats myself, I can say that the following are more important than any finacial gain.
Firstly, make sure you have the funds to rebuild. Secondly, make sure you have the time to do it. Thirdly, make sure you are going to use and keep the boat for a while.
If these three things are answered positively, then yes rebuilding a boat can be the most rewarding and best thing you could ever do. To say spending 5-10 thousand on a hull is not worth it is rubbish. For 10,000 these days all you get is a smelly 1/2 cab, that prolly has a rotten floor and transom anyway.

No offence is intended, but I just hate people saying 'pumping 5 grand into a boat is not worth it', coz the truth is if that 5 grand is spent properly and your work is done correctly, then it's the best thing you coould ever do to your boat.
IMO

cheers

[Fishin_Dan]

WOW! There's been loads of replies to this in such a short time!!!

Well the story is as follows:-

It's a 4.3m Reef Craft Cuddy Cab (The one pictured in my avatar), and personally I think it is an awesome boat! Ive had me and one other guy leaning over the side pulling in a shark in swell (Not 2ft Nth Qld chop, but still swell.... ), and it didn't even think about getting unsettled.... I've been in 21ft half cabins that you wouldn't dream of doing that in! For what I want, and for the fishing I will do, this boat will be 110% perfect! But what it all comes down to is I just want the boat to be reliable.

I went and spoke to River City Marine (Local Boat shop) on Friday in regards to the motor, and what options I have. I was originally looking to replace the motor with either an E-Tec or a 4-Stroke as I have an inherritance coming to me, however I have since found out that it will be no where near enough to do that.. So rebuild it is... Anyway, after chatting to them for about an hour and telling them everything about the motor (Including it's dodgy past from other boat shops), they are going to go over the motor for me, and come up with a list of things that need fixing along with prices. They will also order this list into "Things to do now", and "Things that can be done over time". And most of this will be done for free!!! Absolute top guys down there! Have helped me out with alot of things many many times!

I also checked the transom yesterday. Lifted the motor and rocked the motor side to side as hard as I could... No flex in the transom at all. Also tapped along it with a metal hammer, and no hollow sounds! So looks I can cross the transom off the "To-Do List".

This is not a classic hull, nor is it a particular spectacular looking hull (Like some of the boats on the Haines Day Out), but what it comes down to is I want to be proud of my boat, and secure in the fact that it will get me to and back from wherever I want to fish in the bay! If I have to spend a bit of money on it, then that's fine! I'd probably just drink the money otherwise, so it's just a favour to my liver really!!! Besides, I like the idea of being on the water in my boat as the suns coming up over the flat bay, while the drag is singing away under the pull of a big fish... And I can look back and think, "I half built this boat. I could only experience this because of the work I did"... I think if we could do that, then it is completely worthwhile!

[Fishin_Dan]

Oh and in answer to the question - The floor is getting a little soft, and have discovered that the genius that owned the boat before me, had bolted and sikaflexed the drain hole for the anchor well (What's the hole in my boat!!! - D*$%Head!). And unfortunately, the anchor well is internal to the cabin! So the floor needs replacing, and the anchor well will be modified (Along with the cabin hatch) to make it external to the cabin. It's actually a really easy job, so not too costly. Should only take one piece of ply, a bit of fibreglass, and a lot of fun with a cutter implement!!!

Most of the mods I want to make are all small easy jobs, but they all piece together to make one big project.

I will try to get some "Before" shots soon. Have been busy ripping apart a bar fridge I scored for free, and fixing up some parts on the trailer, and trying to organise moving, etc, so a bit busy. Will keep this post filled up for a while to come yet though, so please all keep looking.

[NQCairns]

Good to read you are working it all out Dan, I have an old 14 foot tinny that I have had forever, it has seen 2 engines, 3 trailers 2 CCs and many thousands of hours fishing over the years, I don't particularly like it as an allrounder either, sometimes it doesn't get used for the best part of a year but it has yet to fail me and it makes a great trailer for getting stuff to the dump or a sofa home.
Other bigger boats boats have come and gone but my faithfully low maintenance easygoing old girl is still there and ready to go after a clean out and general check over. My point is as long as it is structurally and mechanically sound it will do the job as well as any other boat either new and glossy or rebuilt and glossy and without a lot of the piss and bother to detract from why one owns a boat in the first place.

IMO turn the boat into something that suits you, don't spend too much doing it, keep it well maintained and it should never become a drag that is just too much bother and too costly, it can always be there even if circumstance's change for a year or so and boating is forced to take a back seat. Then when ready again in 2 weeks or less you are on the water like you never left it .

Anyway about your transom, does yours have that aluminum strip that runs over the cutout? If you do pull it of without damaging it and clean/dry underneath between the inner and outer skins. Grind it clean if necessary then glass it inside to completely waterproof from above.
Most older boats rot from under this strip not so very much from bolts/screws/bungs in transom. Saltwater stops rot and freshwater causes it, almost the universal way freshwater gets inside the transom on a saltwater boat and rots it out is UNDER THAT CAPPING they should have been banned 30 years ago!. It could then continue to stay good your lifetime in theory. cheers nq

[lordy]

Most older boats rot from under this strip not so very much from bolts/screws/bungs in transom. Saltwater stops rot and freshwater causes it, almost the universal way freshwater gets inside the transom on a saltwater boat and rots it out is UNDER THAT CAPPING they should have been banned 30 years ago!. It could then continue to stay good your lifetime in theory. cheers nq

That is where ours rotted from. Thorougly stupid idea that aluminium "carpet strip" capping thingy. I can't believe pro-boat builders would do something like that. "Drill holes in boat, place metal strip to catch water and angle it down holes, wonder why transom fills with water...."

It was still solid feeling but full water. Pulled that strip off and had a look and it was crapped out. Water literallly poured out of the bottom when we drilled a test hole in bottom. Very disappointed and cost us a packet. Still, we used it as an excuse to remodel the back and it looks 100% flasher now.

[billfisher]

The drain holes for the outboard well are a common cause of rot. Rainwater sitting in the well can wick into the timber. It is a good idea to remove the plastc drain and coat the wood with epoxy. When you replace the drain you can seal with Sikaflex, but Sikaflex on its own is not enough.