The beginning of the restoration.

This is my restoration of my 1981 Glastron SX-190. I did the restoration in the winter of 2009 and 2010, and this blog is a copy of my thread at iboats.com. The boat is complete and has been sold to a happy new owner. I think this blog can help would be boat builders in their first attempt at restoring a boat. This is my first boat restoration, and I learned as a I went. Please feel free to leave comments, or questions on any post, and I will answer them.

So here begins the thread from iboats.

So it is time that i start my great project for the winter. I just got back from vacation in New York and just replaced the ailing water heater this morning. So I started my project this afternoon. 

Let me give you a little history. I bought this boat in June of this year for a song and a dance knowing it needed a little work. I patched her up and she has given the family a wonderful fun filled summer... but now it is time to fix her up right. 

So here is the list of things that I am shooting for to get done.

1. Remove the engine and repower with a slightly breathed on 350.
2. Replace the rotten transom
3. Remove the carpet and replace with some type of non skid paint.

Now there are a couple of things that I found when tearing out the carpet

1. The owner had the deck replaced last year, but I have come to find out (see pictures ) that they just patched it. 
2. They did not remove all the old adhesive or carpet residue properly and the new Fiberglass did not stick properly and was peeling up (once again see the pictures.

I know tons about engines and wood working and I have been reading alot on this forum and I am ready for this project and cannot wait to really get started. 

So here we go!!!!!! 

Please guys give me advise as I go.


Last day on the Lake



















My Little Helpers







First Step, remove the outdrive





The previous owner said they replaced the deck. Not entirely true. They just replaced the section over the fuel tank.












This is my homemade Drive stand. It actually was my old tool chest stand, but I got a new one, and this fit the bill.








When the PO had the deck resurfaced, the shop that did the work just flopped the resin up in spots. You cannot do this, or it will crack. Plus they did not grind it at all, and the resin did not stick.







It just peeled up with little force.















This is one big glob of resin.