My 1986 Alumacraft Classic Deluxe project

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murphy67

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Location
Milwaukee, WI
A few years back I was given/handed down my dad's 1986 Alumacraft Classic Deluxe w/ a '88 Johnson 70 VRO. My dad bought a new boat back in 2007, and basically had I chose not to restore this boat, it would probably be rotting away up north. Motor was running good last time we used it, boat was solid, no leaks, all electrical worked...only major issue was the rear flooring was getting soft in a few spots, the flooring inside the rod box has rotted away and the carpet was pretty rough in quite a few places and it was just showing signs of being a 30 yr old boat in many other areas...but other than that...it was still a working boat :) (and free to boot!!)

After sitting in my moms garage for almost 3 years...I finally pulled the boat out of my moms garage this Memorial day, and the engine fired up after a few turns and then it was time to tuck her away into my garage and start the work.

After a few months of work, things are starting to come together nicely on my boat project so I thought it was time to share some photo's and such with the community who I have learned so much from over the past few years lurking around here.

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As you can see the console wood and switch panel had seen better days...

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Rear carpet removed..

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View of the console and front of boat..

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Rear floor piece removed..

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Middle floor piece before removal..

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After removal..

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Last piece of flooring before the casting deck/bow piece..

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Removed...

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Casting deck removed..

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Due to the 10 attachment limit, I will have to post a few threads most likely with all the pics I have... as I took quite a few.
 
Part 2 :)

After getting all the flooring out, took a shop vac to the foam and bottom of the boat to clean it up just a bit..

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Next I moved onto the console...

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Wheel, switch panel and trim gauge removed..

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For the new console I ended up using a piece of King Starboard, really happy with my choice. Here shows the new gauges and switch panel, and steering wheel prior to mounting back on console..

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Next it was time to add a fresh coat on the console as it was a bit beaten up over the last 30 yrs.

Before:

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After:

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I did a bit of routing to the Starboard and then mounted it. Some of the routing did not come out as smooth as I would have wanted...but hey, I am not a professional and was very happy with the overall outcome of the console and such.

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Remounted the old locator back to the console, I figure in a year or so I can get something a bit newer...but minus color and GPS and all those bells and whistles..it does what it needs to..and again, was free.

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Next up is/was doing a complete re-wiring.

Went with a single Perko main switch and went with 2 bus bars to ensure enough connections for everything i want to wire up. Also re-used a scrap piece of Starboard to mount the bus bars onto.

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Well, that will do it for tonight...I have to still load more pics from my Google drive and then I will get a few more pics up tomorrow/this weekend....
 
Part 3.

New Bilge installed..

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Start of the wiring progress..

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New side console light installed and wired..

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View from the Bow..

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New remote control mount, made from a Poly board..

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Remote control re-mounted..

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So far that is the majority of the progress I have made.

Next up is to remove old livewell pump, and install new one. I already have it wired, just need remove old and fit new one through hull and seal it with some 5200. I then have a few extras to install and wire up, such as some LED strips for the Bow, and my new stereo and speakers...but that is going to be done after the floor is in.

I received my carpet adhesive yesterday and my new carpet (went with a 20oz marine carpet) is supposed to arrive today from Overton's, so that will allow me to begin cutting floor templates and sealing them, then lay the carpet and start the floor. I will be taking more pictures along the way.

My hope is to have the floor done by Labor day, as I want to take the boat up north for her maiden voyage as it will allow me a few days in the water to really ensure no major leaks, and to really get a good idea just how good the motor runs. It starts, but not sure if it runs.
 
Didn't really get alot of time this weekend on the boat, due to kids and such...but did get a few things done so figured I would share:


Remote steering cable was pretty rough at transom:

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So I covered it with some self fusing silicone tape:

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Next I finished routing the speedometer pilot tube through siderail, and installed the pilot and connected it:

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and finally installed the much needed beverage holder to finish the console:

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Outside of that, I vacuumed the siderails and splash guard area in prep for flooring...amazing what a little cleaning can do, especially after many years without.

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I also was able to get a battery connected to test all of my new wiring finally, and the only issue was that my voltmeter was not working...but after reading about it a bit online today...seems many had the same issue as me with the same one....and turns out the poles in the back are opposite of what they should be...as in, copper pole connector being negative, and silver being positive, where as the USB ports i installed were reversed. Anyways...pretty happy most everything worked right out of the gates.

Hoping to get my wood this week!
 
Looks great! Free = good, huh???

My only critical complaint, meant as a suggestion or improvement, is to add 1/2" or thicker piece of Starboard where you affixed the items to the hull, then mount them to that piece. Seal/fill in those holes, make the hull water-tight!

You MUST also zinc-chromate/prime aluminum before bedding anything to it, or the tin underneath WILL errode/corrode over time.
 
Dale,
Thanks for the reply and advice...I was going to use a extra piece of Starboard for the Speedometer pilot and such...but in the short term...I figured since the existing transducer and speed gauge for the locator have been installed and sealed for many years..that it would be ok to just add those additional holes for the new speedometer pilot then seal it with silicone(or maybe 3M 4200/Marine Goop).

After I get the floor in and confirm the boat/motor run well (hopefully over labor day)....I plan to actually remove and replace the all locator/transducers/speedometer pilot and fill all holes with 5200..and at that point would go starboard piece and make sure all is nice and sealed.

Question:

I have 1/2" and 3/4" extra Starboard...and had planned to go with the 3/4". I was going to dovetail the back and then scuff the hull a bit where I would mount the board and affix it with 5200, but wasnt sure if I should also maybe also put a screw in each corner of the board, thru hull and then seal very well with 5200? Thoughts?

Thanks
 
I still believe in mechanical attachment w/ Starboard. I made a counterbore where the rivet (from inside) filled up the c'bore, which was then filled w/ 5200. Always 'roughen' up 5200 so there's gouges & stuff for the glue to mechanicly fasten to.
 
Thanks for the reply again, much appreciated! I will definitely take all of this info into account when its time to pull all transducers and such from the hull/transom and do it right.
 
Made some more progress:

Speaker installed:

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Nav/Anchor lights working:

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New Horn installed:

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Ended up picking up some wood last week, and started making cuts and test fitting them.... then just sealed with Waterseal (2 coats and gave them 48hours to dry...althought technically longer as I have yet to start the carpet)....also gave the Rod box and Front box a fresh coat of paint.

Only have 1 more piece of the floor to cut, then can begin carpet hopefully tomorrow...or into next week.

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Got my last piece of flooring cut out and sealed, and started my carpet....lots more to do this week...as I have less than 2 weeks before the maiden voyage (hopefully.. :) )

Made a template using building paper

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Pre cutting of carpet

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Smaller pieces wrapped

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Bow piece done

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Well as of last night I have all the wood covered with carpet which is great as now I know for sure I have enough carpet.

I have not put the adhesive down yet, as I am assuming that due to the 20oz carpet being much thicker than the previous stuff from 30 years ago I will need to make a few adjustment cuts before fully fitting things back into the boat. Once I fit the wood w/ carpet I will remove the carpet from each piece and drill out the hole for the seat post base. Then its adhesive time and relaying the floor.

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Got 2 of the 4 floor pieces in, and confirmed they fit. Other 2 back pieces needed to be trimmed more, and I hope to get those re-fitted tonight. Then just need to drill the seat base holes, and get the adhesive on to finish the carpeting process.

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I ended up getting the front 2 pieces re-laid with carpet and adhesive. (forgot to take pics during the adhesive part as I was in the zone..lol)

I am using Overton's outdoor/marine carpet adhesive for this, and had read mostly positive reviews on it, with one exception being that people said it was a little thinner than they had expected. I agree this stuff is not as thick as I thought it would be, however I don't really have anything else to compare it to and after a bit of time to thicken, it was ok.

Basically after I spread all the adhesive, I gave it about 20 mins to get a bit tacky, and every few mins would re-work the trowel to test how thick it was getting. Then I had my pre-cut carpet laid on the ground face down, and carefully laid the wood onto the carpet. I then secured 2 of the 4 sides with heavy duty staples on the backside, and then flipped the boards and ran a 2x4 across to make sure I had no ripples/bubbles/etc. Then flip it back over and completed securing the other 2 sides. So far so good.

Hoping to finish the floor tonight and then can let the boards sit/cure over the weekend, and try to actually get them in and bolted down early next week.

I assume when people replace flooring, they are not trying to re-use the same holes in the aluminum ribs....so my thought was to get some 1 3/4" - 2" self tapping SS screws and thus be able to drive those through the carpet, wood, and into the aluminum in 1 pass, without pre-drilling holes and then putting the screws in.

Any thoughts/quick suggestions would be appreciated. :)
 
Got all the carpet glued down and stapled and ready to be installed last night so figured I would share some of that progress :)

I also gave the seat bases a quick fresh coat:

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Made some more progress last night.

- Got my transom saver installed and fitted (forgot to take a pic, but went with an Attwood Transom Saver)

- Also got my bow "nose" piece finally fitted in, after a few additional cuts were required. The open part is where I will be mounting my 2nd speaker...but do not plan to do that until after labor day weekend.

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Then I attached the 2x wood pieces for the Livewell cover:

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...and finally got my spare tire cut off the trailer which had not been removed since 1986, thus required and angle grinder and a sawzall to get off. Took that in this morning for a new tire to be put on so at least I will be ready for taking it on the road with a fresh spare.

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Tonight I plan to get the seat bases installed and bolted down, and get the rod box back in.
 
More progress made, and almost ready for the water...almost :)

Got my new spare tire for the trailer, and put that back on the trailer. (exciting, i know :p)

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Got all floor boards bolted down to the ribs last night, got the seat bases in as well as my new captain chair :)

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Tonight I am installing my hitch on the van, then need to tidy up all the wiring, reconnect the engine remote controls and put the rod box back in.

Last thing to do will be to change the spark plugs and start the engine to ensure it starts before hauling it 250 miles north this weekend.
 
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