1999 Crestliner Project

navipro · Sep 13, 2024

Hi Guys, here is new to me 1999 FishHawk. Floor is rotten (po started changing the floor but stoped, hence the new plywood in the bow), transom is soft. Engine is unknown, but it was sold by the marina who serviced it and they said the engine was a runner before the boat was put away couple years ago (yes, famous words)

Planning a complete gut and rebuild.
Also thinking about changing the colour scheme to grey/black for it to look modern. Maybe will leave the bottom in beige but paint rubrail and internals in grayish. My wife says that beige rubrail will contrast with grey interior....

navipro · Sep 13, 2024

So the biggest PITA was removal of the carpet from the sides. The glue was still soft, paint thinner was super slow taking it off, same as acetone and goooff, gas was a bit better. Lots of elbow grease. Closer to the end (of course) I tied spatula with heat gun. That helped a lot, as it would take off thick pieces. But still required cleanup with gas.

navipro · Sep 13, 2024

So the floor is out. Foam is in great shape, considering how bad the plywood is.
I will do the vinyl flooring all around on all horizontals. It think the carpet is a joke in a fishing boat.

navipro · Sep 13, 2024

Built an engine stand out of scrap wood. Pulled the engine.
Transom is out....in 2 pieces.
Interesting pattern of where is failed. If it was not in those 2 corners, it would have been fine(er)

Stand Up · Sep 13, 2024

navipro said:
Hi Guys, here is new to me 1999 FishHawk. Floor is rotten (po started changing the floor but stoped, hence the new plywood in the bow), transom is soft. Engine is unknown, but it was sold by the marina who serviced it and they said the engine was a runner before the boat was put away couple years ago (yes, famous words)

Planning a complete gut and rebuild.
Also thinking about changing the colour scheme to grey/black for it to look modern. Maybe will leave the bottom in beige but paint rubrail and internals in grayish. My wife says that beige rubrail will contrast with grey interior....

That's a nice boat. This should turn out nice I'll bet. Have you tested the outboard yet?
What lake will you be fishing with this boat? Just curios.

navipro · Sep 13, 2024

Stand Up said:
That's a nice boat. This should turn out nice I'll bet. Have you tested the outboard yet?
What lake will you be fishing with this boat? Just curios.

Yes, the outboard fired up on choke, but would not run without it. I think the carbs need a cleanup. Compression is good and even.
The only problem that it has is the corrosion that ate the bottom of the vertical pivot shaft. I will run it as is and if it will be a good motor, then will replace that part (800 dollars.....)
I would like to take it to lake Simcoe in Ontario and some of smaller cottage lake.
It will have downriggers on it as well as setup for bass. Dreams, Dreams

Still Afloat · Sep 14, 2024

I have a similar Crestliner. It’s a1997 1750 Tournament Pro. If I decide to keep her it will need the same deck treatment. The transom seems Ok though.

I’ll be watching with interest.

LDUBS · Sep 14, 2024

That is a very nice rig, congrats! I really like the steering console set-up, especially that flip up cover. I look forward to watching this come together.

thill · Sep 14, 2024

That Crestliner is the exact boat I am looking for. I really like their construction, ride and comfort on the water.

SO much easier to work on than my current Spectrum. To get the transom out required an angle grinder, a sawzall and an aluminum welder to put it back. It was interesting, but your boat is way better. Congrats, and nice progress already!

navipro · Sep 14, 2024

LDUBS said:
That is a very nice rig, congrats! I really like the steering console set-up, especially that flip up cover. I look forward to watching this come together.

Thanks, I like the setup as well. It is a bit dated, but with some new materials it will be perfect.
That flip up cover covered the old stereo. The new ones are round. I want to see if I can repurpose it for something else.

navipro · Sep 14, 2024

thill said:
That Crestliner is the exact boat I am looking for. I really like their construction, ride and comfort on the water.

SO much easier to work on than my current Spectrum. To get the transom out required an angle grinder, a sawzall and an aluminum welder to put it back. It was interesting, but your boat is way better. Congrats, and nice progress already!

I love the width (90 inches) and the fact that it is wide all the way through. Some boats get narrow towards the back. There is lots of real estate to work with.
To get the transom out I had to cut the transom cover as well. I will need to find somebody with the welder to attach it back. I do not think it is structural, but still needs to put back.

navipro · Sep 15, 2024

Started peeling the stickers off. The special wheel from Princess auto (like your Harbour freight) works very well, but ends quite fast.
Back to heatgun

navipro · Sep 18, 2024

Hi Guys and Gals. Today is the transom day. I think I am out of clamps..... will save this picture for the next time wifey asks why am I buying more clamps.
The plan is to let this dry for a day and then start soaking it in Old timers Formula.

airshot · Sep 18, 2024

Nice looking boat and your doing a great job. I am quite syprrised however that your boat has a wood transom. Thought by 1999 everyone went to all aluminum transom where the motors bolt on. I know many of the small tonnes where clamp on motors are used are still wood. The reason I mention this, is my 92 Sylvan is all aluminum in the transom. Floor and decking, yes plywood, just like yours.

navipro · Sep 18, 2024

airshot said:
Nice looking boat and your doing a great job. I am quite syprrised however that your boat has a wood transom. Thought by 1999 everyone went to all aluminum transom where the motors bolt on. I know many of the small tonnes where clamp on motors are used are still wood. The reason I mention this, is my 92 Sylvan is all aluminum in the transom. Floor and decking, yes plywood, just like yours.

I think my 2008 sylvan 16 footer dual console also had wood transom. Maybe it is a size thing.

navipro · Sep 18, 2024

Here is an interesting part.... the original transom is not glued together!!!
it is just stapled in a bunch of places. And here I am going crazy over the fact that I put a very skinny glue layer (because I ran out).
I think I will add few exterior grade screws just to be sure and will call it a day.

navipro · Sep 18, 2024

I have couple questions for you guys.
I have decided to replace all through hull fittings and some plastic connectors just to be sure. The bilge pump connector fell apart in my hands.

Question 1: would you replace these hoses (bilge and livewells)? They are in a good shape, flexible without cracks? The new ones seem to be made of ribbed plastic, these ones are rubber.

Question 2:
How would you deal with these cracks on welds? Weld them? Rivet them? Put couple ss bolts through?

airshot · Sep 18, 2024

Riveted or welded aluminum hulls have been an argument for decades. If you have a good aluminium welder in your area, I would weld, but, you could fab a strap to cover the crack and rivet it in place, that would work as well.

Still Afloat · Sep 19, 2024

navipro said:
I have couple questions for you guys.
I have decided to replace all through hull fittings and some plastic connectors just to be sure. The bilge pump connector fell apart in my hands.

Question 1: would you replace these hoses (bilge and livewells)? They are in a good shape, flexible without cracks? The new ones seem to be made of ribbed plastic, these ones are rubber.

Question 2:
How would you deal with these cracks on welds? Weld them? Rivet them? Put couple ss bolts through?

I wouldn’t hesitate to weld them but, I have the equipment to do so.

I actually need to do some welding on my North River Mariner to repair damage from some poor rigging by the previous owner. The fuel tank is coming out of this boat first but, it’s easy to remove.

I’m not sure what it would involve to remove the tank from the Crestliner or if you need to do so. I didn’t see a gas tank in your photos. My 1997 Crestliner 29 gallon plastic tank. If I needed to do welding on this boat I’d remove it.

navipro · Sep 19, 2024

Still Afloat said:
I wouldn’t hesitate to weld them but, I have the equipment to do so.

I actually need to do some welding on my North River Mariner to repair damage from some poor rigging by the previous owner. The fuel tank is coming out of this boat first but, it’s easy to remove.

I’m not sure what it would involve to remove the tank from the Crestliner or if you need to do so. I didn’t see a gas tank in your photos. My 1997 Crestliner 29 gallon plastic tank. If I needed to do welding on this boat I’d remove it.

Thanks. I do not weld aluminum, nor know anyone who can can do odd jobs like that. I will have to find someone to weld the transom cover anyways, as it had to be cut for it to come out. So it all depends on the sequence of steps. If I will be able to do this all at the same time, I will do it.
Few of the cracks are right next to foam, it think I will bolt those up to prevent fire.

1999 Crestliner Project

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