Rebuild, Frankenstein it, or scrap it?

[Frans old man]

I have a 22' v hull. I've been a commercial fisherman for years. I got this old hull from a friend. I don't know the make and model of the boat. I'm trying to decide if i should repair/fix the existing hull (it had a broken place in the bow part that had been repairedish) or should i scrap it. I have always thought i could fish a flat bottom dory style boat, but don't know if i could marry the wood frame to any existing fiberglass hull and make it strong enough. From the chine up, the hull is in petty good shape. Any thoughts, ideas, or advice would be appreciated. The work and time is not what worries me. Of course I don't have unlimited resources, but I can't figure out what or how to accomplish fixing/using it. Of course I could always buy a set of plans and build a dory. Just thought I'd use this hull somehow if i can. Thanks ya'll.

 

[JamesG123]

"there's nothing more expensive than a free boat."

Its not clear the construction. wood or fiberglass? pics would assist in the peanut gallerying.

 

[Frans old man]

Lmao. After almost twenty years o fishing, I know , no boat is cheap. Guess i just come from the school of "use what ya got". So, let the peanut gallerying begin. Still lmao.

 

[JamesG123]

there's no markings on the transom?

 

[Frans old man]

I can see where a tag used to be riveted but its been removed.

 

[JamesG123]

Bummer. Unless the hull is soft, it should be useful for a while. Paint the snot out of the bilge, put in a plywood deck as low as you can go and and an outboard out back and it'll make a fair skiff.

 

[fallguy]

Find out if there is a rotten core in the boat.

Rotten stringers?

Rotten transom?

Rotten core is game over.
Rotten rest is repairable.

 

[Frans old man]

The stringers are foam filled fiberglass shapes. The hull itself has very little plywood core pieces. All seem to be ingood shape. Will the glass repairs i need to make make her serviceable for a while then? By far the cheapest option though. Really just want it to be safe. We've had one fatality this year. Lost a crabber 2 weeks ago. Guess I'm getting a little scared in my older age. Next decision is polyester or epoxy for the repairs and the floor?

 

[SamSam]

What is that metal plate edge in the 3rd Photo?
If I hold a straightedge on the 4th photo there looks to be a big depression in the keel.
Is the transom OK with no rot?
There looks to be a lot of the lower part of the interior liner that is missing.
Does it matter how good it looks? If it does, the thing is too far gone I think.

Of course I don't have unlimited resources, but I can't figure out what or how to accomplish fixing/using it.

It would be a lot of work, so if you don't know much about repairing boats, it will make it even more work and much slower. Then you will have all the other expenses and labor for making a console and whatever else you need above the floor. Plus a fuel tank, all the steering, wiring, lights. And a motor. Is it outboard powered?
Of course getting rid of it would also be effort and expense.

 

[SamSam]

I have always thought i could fish a flat bottom dory style boat, but don't know if i could marry the wood frame to any existing fiberglass hull and make it strong enough.

I don't understand what this means...?

 

[Mr Efficiency]

It would be interesting to discover the state of the foam inside the glass stringer system. If it is wet, I think I'd hoist the white flag.

 

[Frans old man]

Yes, Sam, the keel has been broken and somebody "repaired" it. It doesn't look all that sound to me. The metal edge in the photo is the trailer. The other edge is where the fiberglass had been cut through from the removal of the old gas tank. That cut is almost 5' long ( parallel with the keel) and about 18" across the keel in front. In my mind, the keel has been damaged, or cut in two separate places. So in my mind i guess the hull is scrap. That is what started me thinking about my pursuit of a flat bottom skiff. Years ago I had the idea of building a glen l skiff. Bought the plans, did the research, just never built it. Forward ten or so years and here i am with this hull. The Frankenstein part of this threadis this thinking...instead of scraping the whole hull, could i cut the hull just below the chine, lay in the wood framing needed, plywood and glass it over. I have all the ancillary items, steering, fuel tank, 130 hp four stroke honda, etc. The transom is in good shape as best as i can tell, but would like a well mounted engine for gill net fishing in winter. Can the floor framing and all be put into this hull or just cut it up and build a wood skiff. Either way, its about 1500 to build the skiff I'm looking at, I'd guess about 2/3 of that to put the other hull together in a similar fashion.

 

[Mr Efficiency]

So someone cut the bottom open, to extract a fuel tank ? Anyone that is that dopey, certainly would not be likely to rectify the situation, afterward. Or pay someone to do it properly. People do strange things to old glass boats, I tend to the view you don't even want one that has been painted over, many times at least part of the reason for painting, is to hide the proverbial "multitude of sins". In this case, the sins are still in clear view.

 

[Frans old man]

Don't know the reason for removing the entire floor or the gas tank. This is just what i have and been trying to figure out what to do with it. Thats all.

 

[Mr Efficiency]

As you would appreciate, it is difficult to accurately assess anything like this, without being there. Maybe an experienced hand in your vicinity, might offer an opinion.