I saw this boat on craigslist and it really was exactly what I was looking for.





I already had a 1985 Fisher bass with a 35 hp merc that was a great little fishing tool.




.. However there were three problems with it. The first being that is was only marginal for 2.5 people. I really needed and wanted to be able to take up to 4 or even 5 people. The second problem was the beating this boat gave you in the wind and waves. I'm talking wet, "WHAM, POW Holy break the hull batman" rough ride! In smooth water it was great but still the 3rd problem loomed. It was slow... It only went about 22 mph. That take a long time even in smooth water to do what I needed to do... find bait then fish.

Ok so I see this Sea Nymph on craigslist. Certified for 8 people, aluminum, Deep V, 90 HP motor, Deep side wells, CC HECK YES!

I talk with the guy and let him know I was interested.. His asking price was 3900 but I heard he would take 3200. Meantime I had already listed my boat as a turnkey deal for 2800. I planned to sell my boat and then buy his. In talking with this guy I got the Idea that he wanted to fish but this boat wasn't quite ready (To me it was nowhere NEAR ready). He had traded a friend his truck for the boat. I ran the idea of a trade by him and he agreed! YIPPEE!

I go out and make the swap and ring home the sukker! I decide that I need to do this right and not just do the bare minimum... I am sitting on what can be a REALLY nice boat! Its 19' long with a 90 HP merc and Center console. The hull is in great shape and the CC was crack free.

Now I knew there was some issues with rats getting int he boat.. I was warned... however I would soon find out how bad it really was! I stripped this thing and when I took up the floors I nearly puked. It looked like a swarm of rats had eaten tunnels and filled the bottom with about 2+ inches of rat poo. There were Bugs eating it, spiders eating the bugs and a stench so foul it would gag a maggot! I probably should have been wearing a HAZ-MAT suite but I went at that stuff and cleaned it up! The pictures don't quite do the disgusting fair justice, jsut trust me.. its was gnarly!










Now after a good cleaning out of the poo and old foam, I hosed it out really well and then power washed it all out nice and clean.. what a good feeling!



I pulled out the fuel tank and in a completely unnecessary act painted it red... For some reason my brain just says anything that holds gas needs to be red!



Now to replace the foam... I was going to pour in some new expanding foam but we came up with a better idea found on an internet forum.. Pink Insulation foam. There are a few benefits to this. The best is that if for some reason I need to weld the bottom of the boat (yes I can weld aluminum) I can remove the foam easily. The other is that it is cheap!

(FoAM PICS TOMORROW)

I will continue to post pics as we go... if you don't see them now you will see them soon. Please any suggestions would be great!

Tomorrow we are going to finish the foam installation and cut the new floors. We plan on sealing the floors with Thompson s water seal on the bottom and using spray in ruck bed liner for the top.

Look forward to seeing the finished product. Looks like it is going to be nice.

use fiberglass resin to seal the wood, thompsons is not very good for that app.

even with Marine grade Plywood ?

Did you replace that damaged transom support?

What exactly are you referring to?

Looks like the starboard most transom support beam is detached from the cross member in the third photo of your interior.

good lookin rig

yes even with marine grade plywood do not use the thompsons, seal it with fiberglass resin, coat it till it has a "layer" of resin on it. thompsons will not last but about 2 yrs. at best and marine will rot if left wet, the resin stops this.
also make sure to seal any holes you put in the wood, marine Goop works good for this and academy has it.

this is plumbing goop it will work too.

Yes, that is all re attached now... That is actually the front of the boat...I don't know how those rivits becamne detached... they may have never been put in!

Boy you had me scared and thinking I missed something! ( which is a certainty!)

thank you sir... I will pick up the resin tomorrow... All but 3 small removable parts of the floor have been cut and are ready to be sealed and installed.

No expert,here but I don't think I would want home insulation under my flooring. I think an expandable marine foam would best strengthen and insulate your hull.

Make sure the foam or insulation you use is closed cell and WILL NOT absorb water.

+1 on the closed cell foam and on the resin coating for the floor. You will be sorry in a couple of years if you don't.

Great job bringing her back to life. Keep up the great work!

Thanks All... well MOST.. To the guy that called this a POS.. well, to each his own I suppose.

I looked up some info on the foam I used as per advice found on another boating forum, from the manufacturers site...

Foamular150 Product Shot FOAMULAR� 150 rigid foam insulation for exterior walls contains hundreds of millions of densely packed air cells to provide exceptional thermal performance. It�s also virtually impervious to moisture, preventing loss of...""

I do not believe this foam will get water logged... It is installed in a way that ensures it stays dry unless the boat gets swamped.

ANywho... here are the pics... The foam all cut and installed. I did it in a way to ensure water can drain freely out if it gets in. I have so far used about 4 sheets, each being about 120 lbs of flotation. There are other areas full of foam. I am pretty confident that I have put more foam INTO these areas than was in there before. The foam originally used did not fill the space very well and it blocked flow of water exiting the hull.



And the floor temporarily in place. It will be riveted down and then all edges will get sealed with a stout caulk and then will come the spray liner which will go up the walls a bit to keep gunk from getting down into those compartments.

But first I have to resin them!