Alumacraft 14′

[fisherman6]

Buc,
OKHmmmmm… I don’t see it. Is that a funny I didn’t get? 😳 Should I be laughing? 😆 Does that mean something?
-Ben

OldJohnnyRude on YouTube

[fisherman6]

I took a closer look at the knee brace last night. Upon this closer inspection I can’t even make out the ‘2’ I thought sure was spotted earlier. I do not see any clear evidence of any stamping ever being there on this casting. The finish is consistent all the way from the splash well to near the bottom of the boat where there are some dents in it from something banging around back there. Possibly a fuel tank. The brace appears to be original to the boat but I suppose it could have been replaced long ago. There are no other numbers on this boat anywhere that I can find. The only numbers I have are my registration numbers on the bow. Oh well, I guess I’ll eventually figure out exactly what it is. Until then I’ll run it a little this year and start repairing the transom.

It kind of looks like the transom wood was replaced before. It looks like maybe the transom cap and corner castings were pulled last time but maybe not. I don’t think that is the right way to do it. It seems like the rivers will need to come out of the upper braces in the splash well to replace the inner board. If anyone has done this on one of these Aqueduct transoms, I’d like to know the correct way to do it. It has a bend in the Port gunwale that I am going to try to straighten as well. I think I have that planned out though.
-Ben

OldJohnnyRude on YouTube

[flathead]

Ben, I can tell you how I’ve done the transom. I’m not claiming it’s the right way, just how I do it. Drill the rivets out of the brackets in the aquaduct. I’ve found a 90 degree drill works best for me on some of them. I try to be as careful as possible to not drill the bracket itself. Remove brackets, then tap transom board down, then out. Use that as a pattern for your new board. I believe they are white oak. 5/4". I may have forgotten something, it’s been a while since I’ve done one, and I’ve only done a couple of them. I’ll try to take a look tomorrow and see if I remember anything else about the process.

[fisherman6]

Thanks Flathead,
That’s pretty much how I saw the transom replacement going. I believe you are right on the 5/4 thickness. I will get a couple pieces of white oak when I get into that part of the project.

When you put the brace and back in after replacing the board, do you get new solid aluminium rivets and re rivet those in? I’ve never done a proper rivet job with solid rivets. That seems like the right way to do it though. I’m certainly up for learning to do it. I’ll probably need a few new tools. 😎
-Ben

OldJohnnyRude on YouTube

[flathead]

Nope, I don’t rivet it back together. Stainless steel nuts/bolts/washers. Might as well to both boards at the same time in my opinion. It’s actually pretty fun to do, just take your time and enjoy it. Don’t cut the boat and try to take the transom cap off. The 2 screws that go from the top down are to hold the board, not the cap. Remember, I don’t claim to be an expert. I was hoping someone who has done more of these would chime in here also.

[fisherman6]

Thanks again Flathead,
My first thought was stainless screws nuts amd washers. I’ll probably just do it that way then. I have done a number of transom replacements on aluminum boats, but never one like this. I have always used SS hardware in the past. This boat already has a lot of extra holes.in it from previous owners that I wish it didn’t but I’ll deal with that as time goes on.
-Ben

OldJohnnyRude on YouTube

[Steve A W]

Fisherman6
Have you checked out "Tin boats" web site?
http://www.tinboats.net/

Member of the MOB chapter.
I live in Northwest Indiana

[vintin]

quote Steve A W:

Fisherman6
Have you checked out "Tin boats" web site?
http://www.tinboats.net/

It’s scary what those guys are doing to fine classic aluminum boats.

I check in every once in a while and it’s almost without exception that they are drilling, screwing, sawing etc. on boats that have lasted half a century or more. From what I see the next step after all of the wood that has been added to these boats has rotted away they are going to end up being recycled. It’s really sad in my opinion.

[flathead]

Yep, I agree vintin. Almost without exception the first thing they do is start putting plywood floors and "casting" decks. Drives me nuts. There was a merry M for sale here a while ago. They took all the stuff out of it, put casting decks and flat floors in it. What a shame.

[1948-goodyear]

I always say that if you wait on a good deal you will find one, it looks like you found one. Looks really nice , enjoy.

[Author]

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