1957 Alumacraft “Deep C” Restoration

[Piomarine]

Finally got the motor off and on a stand! My plan is not to use this UGLY ‘73 50hp but rather the ‘56 Evinrude Lark 30hp I am rebuilding in another thread. Next project will be getting the transom boards pulled off because that wood is shot. I do need some advice though.

The 50hp motor the PO had on it was mounted with 4 3/8” steel bolts through the transom and sealed with kitchen silicone. I will not be hard mounting the new motor so what will be the best way to fill those holes? I’ve been considering using those aluminum “welding” rods and several other tin boat guys have confirmed that they work great with good surface prep. Does anyone have other thoughts or am I good to use those rods?

 

[LDUBS]

After the new transom wood is installed I would be inclined to seal the outside holes in the aluminum with stainless through bolts bedded in a suitable sealant, like 5200. But, I have never used those aluminum rods and have little welding/brazing experience, so that drives how I would approach things.

 

[sonny1]

Brazing aluminum boats on youtube was a big deal awhile back. People claiming all kinds of good stuff. Using on a transom would not work. The vibration will crack it. Find a good Tig welder. Another method I used is in the post New Guy. 650k a couple of thin aluminum patches and a few rivets.

 

[Piomarine]

I got all of the surface hardware removed from the hull this past weekend. What I am finding is that incorrect hardware was throughout this boat as I’m finding steel fasteners left and right all of which are heavily corroded. I will be removing the seat back as well to replace the hardware in them and to make it easier to strip and repaint the floor and inner hull.



Question for the group…what will be the best way to secure the boat inverted while I work to get the old paint stripped off?

 

[Stand Up]

If you use a sawhorse bracket and cut the 2 x 4's to the length you need to keep the boat the correct height, you'll be fine.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Husky-5...zed-Sawhorse-Brackets-2-Pack-SH107C/314461710

 

[sonny1]

I got all of the surface hardware removed from the hull this past weekend. What I am finding is that incorrect hardware was throughout this boat as I’m finding steel fasteners left and right all of which are heavily corroded. I will be removing the seat back as well to replace the hardware in them and to make it easier to strip and repaint the floor and inner hull.
View attachment 117742

View attachment 117743
Question for the group…what will be the best way to secure the boat inverted while I work to get the old paint stripped off?

Build something like this Saw horses are a pain in the rear. Boat is in the air for 650k to flow into seam.

 

[Piomarine]

It’s been a good night! Got the back transom wood off of my ‘57 Deep C in one piece! Followed immediately by watching our Texas Rangers win their first World Series!!!

Follow on question…what is the best way to drill out the rivets square to remove the braces in the splash well? I need to get the inner transom wood out really bad!

 

[Piomarine]

It took a lot of drilling and rivet punching but I finally got my inner transom wood pulled off! to my surprise it actually had the cork backer still on it 100% intact! The wood came off in one piece as well so both of these will be really good for templates! I had 2 of my kids out “helping” me as well and my daughter used my #3 slotted screwdriver as a hose and when we finished the boat we pretended to clean her bike. Good times we’re had by all!

 

[Wayne Roberts]

It took a lot of drilling and rivet punching but I finally got my inner transom wood pulled off! to my surprise it actually had the cork backer still on it 100% intact! The wood came off in one piece as well so both of these will be really good for templates! I had 2 of my kids out “helping” me as well and my daughter used my #3 slotted screwdriver as a hose and when we finished the boat we pretended to clean her bike. Good times we’re had by all!

That wood looks pretty good really. I would attempt to restore it first to keep the boat as original as possible but that's me. Sanding it down lightly, gouging out any rotten wood then treating it with wood hardener followed up by a brown or cream colored exterior wood filler will repair it back to strong usable shape. I restored the inner transom wood on my 1950 year model Alumacraft this way and after 3 topcoats of Marine Spar Varnish it turned out really beautiful........even re-attached the original data plates. Give it a try...........you may really like the results.........by the way.......really precious kids you got there...........miss my little helpers..........they are all grown up now and gone on their way in life. Enjoy every moment of yours while you have them..........they are a beautiful gift of God to us my friend.

 

[Piomarine]

That wood looks pretty good really. I would attempt to restore it first to keep the boat as original as possible but that's me. Sanding it down lightly, gouging out any rotten wood then treating it with wood hardener followed up by a brown or cream colored exterior wood filler will repair it back to strong usable shape. I restored the inner transom wood on my 1950 year model Alumacraft this way and after 3 topcoats of Marine Spar Varnish it turned out really beautiful........even re-attached the original data plates. Give it a try...........you may really like the results.........by the way.......really precious kids you got there...........miss my little helpers..........they are all grown up now and gone on their way in life. Enjoy every moment of yours while you have them..........they are a beautiful gift of God to us my friend.

Thank you! I love bringing my daughter out to work with me. She’s at the perfect age where she just wants help with everything!!!

As for the transom, that is the backside of the wood the outer face side is completely gone. I considered restoring it but I was pulling 1 1/4” screw out without unscrewing them. It would’ve been more bondo than wood lol.

 

[Wayne Roberts]

Thank you! I love bringing my daughter out to work with me. She’s at the perfect age where she just wants help with everything!!!

As for the transom, that is the backside of the wood the outer face side is completely gone. I considered restoring it but I was pulling 1 1/4” screw out without unscrewing them. It would’ve been more bondo than wood lol.

Understand completely.................well at any rate you got the best part........."a good helper".............treasure your time together with her as time passes so fast and raise her to have a love for Jesus Christ...........it will be her anchor in the storms of life. The times and days are getting darker and more evil.............."For God so loved the world (you, me and everyone) that he gave (he made the way for us) his only begotten son that WHOSOEVER believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16. God Bless you and your family my friend

 

[Piomarine]

Understand completely.................well at any rate you got the best part........."a good helper".............treasure your time together with her as time passes so fast and raise her to have a love for Jesus Christ...........it will be her anchor in the storms of life. The times and days are getting darker and more evil.............."For God so loved the world (you, me and everyone) that he gave (he made the way for us) his only begotten son that WHOSOEVER believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life" John 3:16. God Bless you and your family my friend

You’ll be happy to know that we are raising all of our kids up in the love of Christ!

 

[Wayne Roberts]

You’ll be happy to know that we are raising all of our kids up in the love of Christ!

Amen my friend...............that's the BEST NEWS OF ALL..........!

 

[Piomarine]

I finally got the seat backs removed. The plan is to put them back in as they’re still in great shape, but they desperately needed a hardware change. Plus having them out will make it easier to strip the flaking paint off of the floor. Onward and upward

 

[Abu Josh]

Anyone else out there in internet land that has a similar Alumacraft or another similar runabout could you post some pictures of your restorations? Especially photos of your interior. I am trying to figure out what I want to do and I’m looking for some ideas to steal…I mean get inspiration from…

Thanks in advance

I scrubbed, pressure washed, and wiped the bottom of my '57 Deep C with acetone to make sure it was absolutely clean. Then I hit it with self etching primer, which is vital if you really want the top coat to stick. The finish hull coat is Rust Oleum Ford Tractor Blue.

 

[Piomarine]

I scrubbed, pressure washed, and wiped the bottom of my '57 Deep C with acetone to make sure it was absolutely clean. Then I hit it with self etching primer, which is vital if you really want the top coat to stick. The finish hull coat is Rust Oleum Ford Tractor Blue.

Very nice indeed!!! Was it a specific rust oleum paint you used for your top coat? Or just the basic rust oleum you can buy by the gallon?

 

[Abu Josh]

Very nice indeed!!! Was it a specific rust oleum paint you used for your top coat? Or just the basic rust oleum you can buy by the gallon?

This is what I used. The self-etching primer is from O' Reilley's and the paint is from Tractor Supply. No time for West Marine !
My Shark Boat got the same treatment; scrub, pressure wash, acetone wipe down, self-etching primer, then Rust Oleum Gloss Smoke Grey. I painted that boat in June 2015 and the paint is still looking good, except for some fading topside. SEMPER FIDELIS