81 Sport Restoration

[h2o-ski]

Thanks for following up and sorry to derail your thread a bit.

No worries, you reminded me to update this thread for those that maybe interested.

Transom is in fully. I just have to cut out the exhaust holes and it will be complete. Please note that the tabbing on the transom was my horrible first attempt at fiberglassing and since has been corrected.

The main stringers are in and tabbed and cut close to proper height. By chance does anyone know of a good way to verify how far down the cap walls will go down? I am fairly certain I have measured the floor height correctly, but would like another way to validate.

The side stringers are glued in and ready to be tabbed in this weekend.

[Salty87]

...By chance does anyone know of a good way to verify how far down the cap walls will go down? I am fairly certain I have measured the floor height correctly, but would like another way to validate.

If your cap is anything like the later 80s models the inner walls can be trimmed as needed. Whatever they are adding structurally isn't dependent on the height provided you don't cut them so short they don't reach down all the way to the new floor. I remember trimming mine a bit but don't recall how it all happened. The cap must not have fit quite right so out came the grinder. Can't remember if the cap was re-lifted or not. I think I just covered the carpet well and ground it on the spot.

It's great to see people still rebuilding these boats!...and outside too. You go!

[h2o-ski]

Thank you for feedback and the confidence boost. Fiberglassing in the Texas heat really does wear down on ya. I went and confirmed that there is about 1/4" lip that allows for even more leeway. Worse case is I get after the floor with a grinder.

I was on the fence about rebuilding the boat when I picked it up, however finding out it was a first model year boat convinced me that the boat needed to live longer.

[h2o-ski]

Time for an update. This past weekend I rebuilt the gantry cranes and got the repaired cap (she is not going to win any beauty pageants) back up in the air. Boy were my measurements wrong in the transom area. I was off by at least 1/2" . I made some marks where the side walls met the side stringers. I went out and bought a laser level so that I could get a straight line.

A side note, I did get the floor of the new battery compartment tabbed in. As long as the stringers don't get cut down too much the battery will fit nicely up front.