Good Idea/Bad Idea??

[bradexley]

Hi everyone NEWBE here.I would like to clean the bilge of our 1947 17 CC runabout before I roll It over and put a 5200 bottom on.Question is can I use a citris type cleaner and lite duty pressure washer and then drain and vacuum the water out.??
Thanks for your help.Brad (O by the way anyone in the local area wants to come by and give me your advice,it would greatly appreciated)

[Bob Cleek]

Yes, but putting a "5200 bottom on," or a "5200" anything, is probably pretty dumb.

[switters]

good discussion here on bilge cleaning

http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86567

welcome aboard

[Larks]

good discussion here on bilge cleaning

http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=86567

welcome aboard

an entertaining one as well

[Thorne]

Citrus cleaner = good idea (wear gloves and other skin protection against degreasers)

5200 on bottom = bad idea. (can you explain?)

[bradexley]

HI All
A 5200 bottom,inner plank is sealed with cpes then using a 3/16 trowel apply 5200 on top of inner planks,then attach bottom planks. By Danenberg "How to restore your wooden runabout"

[Larks]

I've seen this before as well, but didn't know there was any problem with it? Here's where I've seen it:

http://www.antiqueboatshop.com/5200whatis/

[Thorne]

Ah --5200 between layers! We thought you were applying it directly to the bottom of the boat...

[boylesboats]

OOOW! 5200 as what? That stuff is expensive...
Might as well use tar, or bitumastic...

[Brian Palmer]

Welcome.

The link shows 5200 being used as a flexible adhesive between the layers of a completely new bottom, not as a coating on an existing, leaky bottom. Seems like a reasonable way to go.

Brian

[michigangeorge]

You need to remove those inner planks to properly inspect the chines and frames so you can fix what you cannot see now. You WILL have broken fastenings to replace and likely find some other things that need work before you even begin to replank that bottom. Those old inner planks are brittle and oil soaked and it would be very foolish to save them, at least those under the engine. DO save those little round head screws which were driven from the inner planks to the outer so you can put them back for an authentic look even with the new bottom. Remember that there is 60 years worth of oily grunge between each of those inner planks and every frame, keel and chine piece and that grunge will not get removed even with a pressure washer. You are embarking on a big project that is not as easy as the books would have you believe. Take your time, do it right and document every step for the future owners.

[Rich VanValkenburg]

There will be a time when you'll have reason to replace a bottom plank from damage of any kind. I would think that using an adhesive like 5200 would make the project unbearable. That stuff just doesn't give way, not for a chisel, not for a sanding disk, nothing but maybe a chemical, and that's the problem with it. I'd use it only as a bedding compound on an FG boat.

[Tom Robb]

Where to start?
As Cleek said, 5200...dumb.
Why another bottom to begin with? Is something wrong with the one she's got? If so it needs fixed, not covered over.
And a pressure washer will probably chew holes in the wood - another bad idea.
What, exactly, is going on with the boat? Wood boats don't fare well with neglect or thoughtless maintenance.

[bradexley]

Hi Tom
The 5200 goes between the inner and outter layers of planks,IF you need to replace an outter plank,use a router set to depth of plank +5200.As far as the bottom it seems ok,however i do not know the condition of the frames.I'am a newbe at this wood boat stuff and just want to restore it right.

[Larks]

Hi mate,

looks like most people are ignoring your actual question, I've been watching this post as I'm interested in finding out how to clean out mine as well. The link above does have some useful stuff, however if you do find any other ideas outside of the forum could you post them here. At this stage it sounds like the citrus cleaner and light guerney or steam clean are the way to go though.
Meanwhile, best of luck and be sure to posy some pics

cheers
Greg

[Dale Genther]

Your method of cleaning the bottom should be OK. It really doesn't matter since to put the 5200 bottom on it you will be tearing the bottom off anyway.

I have redone bottoms on Chris Crasft runabouts via the 5200 mthod as recommended by Dannenburg. It was very messy and more difficult than it sounded in he book, although it worked out fine. The next one I did I put an cold molded bottom on. Three layers of 6 mm Okume plywood, set in epoxy, held with monel staples and bronze ring nails. This, in spite of the large amounts of epoxy used, was much easier, and result in what I believe to be a longer lasting, more easily repairable bottom. Dannenburg recommends the 5200 method over this because his method results in a "softer" bottom with less chance of damaging floors/frames when running in a chop. On the boat with the cold molded bottom I doubled most all of the floors partially for this reason. but also because the boat had a 275 hp engine in it instead of the 130 hp it originally had. The thing would do 45 knots !!