Moosifer's 12ft Mod-V Project

Moosifer · Jun 6, 2016

Hey Guys, finally got started working on my first aluminum boat over this weekend. There was no identification plate when I bought it so I'm not really sure what make it is. Best I can determine is it's a Sterling, but I could only find a few pictures of boats that look very similar with Sterling decals on them. I can't seem to find any info on Sterling boats either. Here are the pictures I kept from the Kijiji ad when I bought it. Note, the trailer in the pics was not included.

Anyway, the plan is for a very basic build to make it more fisherman friendly. I will be adding a flat floor and a small deck from the front bench to the bow to create a storage space. I'll also be making a set of transom wheels to aid in moving the boat to the water. I'll be transporting the boat using my 2-place open-bed snowmobile trailer which I will add removable bunks. It's only 10ft long so I will have a little overhang on the front and rear but should work. It won't be going in the water hence the transom wheels. Anyway, here goes nothing!!

Moosifer · Jun 6, 2016

I started working on this project on Saturday but didn't get a chance to post so I'm playing catch up. I got the grime cleaned off hull, flipped it over, and removed the rotted transom wood and subsequently found a small crack on the top of the transom which I welded with aluminum welding/brazing rod. I filled the boat with water to do a leak test no leaks!!

Moosifer · Jun 6, 2016

So after doing the first leak test, I noticed a previous owner had run a bead of sealant in the keel from the bow down to the first bench. I picked at it and it came up fairly easily so I pulled it all off. After removing the sealant I noticed there was some sort of hard caulking? type material filling the keel where the aluminum hull was cut to form the bow. I've never noticed anything in this area on my friend's boat so I'm not sure about it. Any info of what this material could/should be and whether or not it should be there? I've chipped most of it away and did another leak test. Immediately I started getting drips from a hole that had been drilled into the keel under the front bench. I'm pretty sure this hole is not supposed to be there as it wasn't even centered in the keel. I used the aluminum brazing rod to seal the hole. There are holes in the keel and each strake at the transom I'm guessing for drainage. However I'm guessing either there should be some sort of sealant in the crevice of the keel at the bow. I'm thinking of filling with epoxy resin or 5200 but not sure which would be best. Any advice would is definitely appreciated. You can sort of see the hard caulking type material that was used in the picture below.

Moosifer · Jun 6, 2016

Ok, now that I'm caught up, now for today's update:

It rained overnight, so I had to vacuum the boat out, I tipped the bow up and found I had water coming out of the drain holes at the back of the strakes and the keel. I was expecting water to come out of the keel but not the strakes. I cannot think of any reason for water to be there, should I be concerned? I didn't see any water dripping from anywhere else (other than mentioned in my earlier posts) so I don't know what to think?

I got all the flooring, bench and bow covers cut out and got the replacement transom wood cut also. Nothing's attached that will be another day. I plan to coat everything in epoxy then cover with grey Tremclad Rust Paint (Rustoleum for you U.S. folk).

I work evenings so can't do much outside until my day's off so probably won't have another update until Wednesday. I have a bunch of related indoor projects that need to be done so I'll post those as they get done also. Anyway, pic time!!