Tracker deck rebuild pt1

[Brad Y]

Ok so im back in the swing of things.

A quick background. I found a couple of holes in my hull. Lifted the deck to find a horrible mess of expandafoam and some steel rivet rods in the bottom of the hull rusting away and making holes in the ally.

So a mate in Perth sorted me out with tig welding the hull back up. We did plenty of that especially from the inside to maintain strength in the plate and keel. Once I got it home, it got a good clean out, then the welding on the inside of the hull has been etch primed and painted to help prevent any further corrosion.

The beams that supported the decks were held on with steel rivets. Off they came and the beams as well as they were showing signs of corrosion. Since they were 60mm by 40mm 3mm thick rectangular tube, I got some more of the same to replace them with. Aluminium rivets this time not steel ones that would start problems again. And I put a heap of them in, just in case I eat too much KFC and get fatter. Just got two more to go so I can change the storage layout.

Basically there will be a 7ft rod locker in front of the console, with a smaller locker for the net and life jackets etc on the other side. In the middle I will have a hatch for tackle that I will also be able to pull the floor on and check the hull- Will be doing pre cut foam blocks for the floatation. The centre and passenger side hatches will remain the same. There is a sheet of 12mm marine ply in the garage that just needs a coat of bondcrete and some carpet on them. Hopefully that wont take too long to sort out and get me back on the water.

Some pics.

[Brad Y]

The back deck or tool storage area

[Brad Y]

A section of the old deck support beam showing corrosion

[Brad Y]

The hound wondering what to chew on next

[Pins]

Hopfully it all goes well mate

[funfisher]

geez that alloy corrosion is a scary thought! but once you get it finished it will be like a new one. And i can relate to the hound comment hahahaha

[smokindrags]

looks like it is getting back on track now after lots of hard work

hopefully finished and back on the water
good job thumbs up

[Mandurah Marine]

Hey Brad, if it isn't too late, make sure you get a tube of duralac and use it wherever there is dissimilar metals (deck screws, hatch hinges etc), even coat the ally rivets.

[brad mcdonald]

x2 on the duralack

i had not removed my front deck for prob 2 years, and the stainless screws came out of the ali frame first try..... very different to the last time (first time) where much swearing and a pair of multigrips were required to shear the screws off....

[afro-man]

omfg... what i would do to have that boat....
good luckwith it mate.

[Brad Y]

A bit late on the ally rivets, but I havent put anything stainless in there yet so thanks for the heads up.

Sewelly also reminded me that bondcrete can be watered down so maybe not a good idea in a wet environment. I might try to find some other form of coating for it- mainly the cut edges.

Here is a pic from tonights work- just put the last two beams in.

[phil jagger]

you gonna put some chickens under the deck?

[Dror]

Don't be silly Flip, the underdeck is a special secret Dugong storage area.

[Richo]

Brad, are you taking the tub to Exmouth?

[Brad Y]

Roger that richo. Im going to chase down a sail on it this year if I get the right day But otherwise will just be chasing the other boys around. My old man and bro arent into the lure chucking much so will probably do some squid soaking with them too.