I picked up what appears to be a 1980 14x43 Eldo-Craft this week. It's big, it's sturdy, it doesn't leak; but it's got a fairly obnoxious camo spray job, some worn paint spots, and a questionable transom. Not to mention some non-stainless hardware that should not have been attached to the boat.
I don't intend to do a deck or big rebuild, I just want to clean it up, give it a new coat of paint, and take the missus out fishing. She likes to row(!) I have a 45-lb MinnKota that moved us right along during our on-the-water, is-there-a-leak Voyage of Discovery, and it will have to do until we get a motor at some time in the distant future. Which brings me to the transom.
It's got some issues, but the center is still very strong and good enough for the electric motor. But it makes sense to replace the wood now, while I'm sanding and painting and replacing all the rusted non-SS bolts holding the wood on. However; I'm not entirely sure I can unbolt the wood and get it out without removing the braces, which are riveted into the floor, and seem very strong.
There seems to be some significant room to drop the wood panel down, and then angle it up and scrape it out from behind the supports. Does that ever work, or am I engaging in wishful thinking? Since I'm not having to replace any rivets at this point elsewhere in the boat, I am trying to avoid putting any new holes in an otherwise good hull.
I don't intend to do a deck or big rebuild, I just want to clean it up, give it a new coat of paint, and take the missus out fishing. She likes to row(!) I have a 45-lb MinnKota that moved us right along during our on-the-water, is-there-a-leak Voyage of Discovery, and it will have to do until we get a motor at some time in the distant future. Which brings me to the transom.
It's got some issues, but the center is still very strong and good enough for the electric motor. But it makes sense to replace the wood now, while I'm sanding and painting and replacing all the rusted non-SS bolts holding the wood on. However; I'm not entirely sure I can unbolt the wood and get it out without removing the braces, which are riveted into the floor, and seem very strong.
There seems to be some significant room to drop the wood panel down, and then angle it up and scrape it out from behind the supports. Does that ever work, or am I engaging in wishful thinking? Since I'm not having to replace any rivets at this point elsewhere in the boat, I am trying to avoid putting any new holes in an otherwise good hull.