Old pram I'd like to fix up

[ercobb]

Hello, I have an old pram I'd like to fix up. I don't know who made it. I have the fiberglass hull but not much else. I need to be pointed (more like kicked) in the right direction. I want to use it either for a rowboat or put a small motor of some kind on it. I don't have boat building experience,but this looks like something that I can tackle. any useful info I can get would be great.

Thanks in advance.....

[Frank Hagan]

Is the hull sound? With fiberglass, it can look pretty poor and still be structurally sound (and repairs are not too much of a problem either).

I would start by cleaning it up then looking to see what you want to do with it. If you want to put a rowing seat in it, some of the guys here can tell you how to calculate where it goes (I would put it in the water with a seat I could move forward and aft until I could find the right balance, but that's because I'm math challenged!)

[ercobb]

The hull dosen't have any obvious holes. What else do I check for when verifing hull soundness ? What do I need to do to clean it up ? Although I did mention changing this to a rowboat I really want to put on a small motor on the transom so the moving seat option may be best. How would I set that up ?

Also, is my hull just a shell and needs to have a deck and sides or can I just put in a seat ?

[ken connors]

er, I don't know man, but that looks in rough shape. the bottom looks like a mess and the sides look pretty racked from the pic. Does this have some sort of sentimental value? If not I think you may want to start researching the billions of easy to build plans of similar craft. I applaud your newfound interest in boats/boatbuilding, and I think it might be easier and more satisfying to start from scratch than to try to perform CPR on the one you have posted.

[lewisboats]

er' date=' I don't know man, but that looks in rough shape. the bottom looks like a mess and the sides look pretty racked from the pic. Does this have some sort of sentimental value? If not I think you may want to start researching the billions of easy to build plans of similar craft. I applaud your newfound interest in boats/boatbuilding, and I think it might be easier and more satisfying to start from scratch than to try to perform CPR on the one you have posted.[/quote']

I would tend to agree...although...if you are determined...first thing I would do is run a tape from the opposing corners to see if it was even remotely square. If it is close then I would take a grinder or sander and remove all the gelcoat inside and out...looking for delaminating. look for any wood reinforcing that is rotten...it would have to be replaced. Take an awl and start systematically poking inside and out looking for blisters and delam. Try to twist the boat back and forth...looking for cracks and general structural breakdown.

If everyting checks out you can start restoring it. As for the seating...I would personally run a plank from transom to transom and straddle it. good for rowing and keeping things on an even keel. Make a couple of cross frames for support (of the seat and the sides)...one just forward of your rowing position and one just aft of where you want to sit while controlling your motor. Make it (the seat) high enough in front of you to slip your fuel tank underneath.

edited to explain:...make the seat high enough to stuff the tank between the seat and the lowest part of the hull.

Steve

[ercobb]

OK. That gives me something to start with. I'm sure more questions will follow.