Privateer 18 - Retriever Rebuild
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Privateer 18 - Retriever Rebuild
Hi, I am working on the rebuild of a Privateer Retriever. It is an 18' 6" CC built in NC. They are still made by the same family in Belhaven, though the 18' seems to be no longer in the lineup. There are a few rebuilds ranging from 16' to 24' out there you can find with a google search. Shine has helped others with this exact hull - so here I am. This boat has a bit of a cult following among watermen in NC and (somehow) NY as well. Some opinions from THT about the manufacturer: https://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/289284-privateer-boats-nc-anyone-heard-them.html. Like all boats - some folks love em, some think there are better choices...
She is a 1983. Purchased with trailer in pretty good shape, and an older 90 Merc that I sold to a guy that got it running in short order. Plan is to rebuild with new stringers and sole, and a simple setup with a CC. Still working out the desire to have a livewell and the boat being rather small. I had been looking for a cheap 18-20' Privateer for a long time, and jumped on this when it showed up. Unfortunately, I had a full bathroom renovation, and an outbuilding to construct before I could really get to this. All that is done, and I'm digging in a bit now.
Here she is upon delivery, my crew (and especially SWMBO) is a bit unsure of this decision. To be honest, the boat was pretty dang solid. One soft spot near the bow, but felt good otherwise:
She is a 1983. Purchased with trailer in pretty good shape, and an older 90 Merc that I sold to a guy that got it running in short order. Plan is to rebuild with new stringers and sole, and a simple setup with a CC. Still working out the desire to have a livewell and the boat being rather small. I had been looking for a cheap 18-20' Privateer for a long time, and jumped on this when it showed up. Unfortunately, I had a full bathroom renovation, and an outbuilding to construct before I could really get to this. All that is done, and I'm digging in a bit now.
Here she is upon delivery, my crew (and especially SWMBO) is a bit unsure of this decision. To be honest, the boat was pretty dang solid. One soft spot near the bow, but felt good otherwise:
BogueSounder- Posts : 15
Join date : 2017-05-26
Re: Privateer 18 - Retriever Rebuild
A few more pics of the boat upon arrival, bonus - she came with properly aged spare tires
Starting the tear down:
Original CC measurements:
Starting the tear down:
Original CC measurements:
BogueSounder- Posts : 15
Join date : 2017-05-26
Re: Privateer 18 - Retriever Rebuild
Pulled all the hardware. I was curious about the floor and stringers. The boat is 35 years old and spent its life outside...figured it would be total mush. So, started pulling up the floor. It wasn't as bad as I had expected. In hindsight, I prob could have properly plugged holes, painted, and pushed on for a few years. But I convinced myself to keep going.
BogueSounder- Posts : 15
Join date : 2017-05-26
Re: Privateer 18 - Retriever Rebuild
Pulled the floor up and started working on the foam. Floor came up easy. Old Privateers had the sole nailed down over wetted out glass. So not bonded quite like a thickened epoxy would. You can see the nails in the pic, and spots where the plywood lamination stuck on the glass that was draped over the stringer as a cap. The sides of the stringers were glassed nearly to the tops.
Foam removal was hard work by myself. 3 guys could probably make fairly quick work of it.
I had to put the boat up for a bit after foam removal to work on my other projects. It seemed like a good place to pause. The boat was cleaned up but the structure was still inside supporting the hull. So, I moved it offsite and kept under cover and dry until recently. The 25 hp yamaha goes on my jon boat - just put there during an impeller change.
Foam removal was hard work by myself. 3 guys could probably make fairly quick work of it.
I had to put the boat up for a bit after foam removal to work on my other projects. It seemed like a good place to pause. The boat was cleaned up but the structure was still inside supporting the hull. So, I moved it offsite and kept under cover and dry until recently. The 25 hp yamaha goes on my jon boat - just put there during an impeller change.
BogueSounder- Posts : 15
Join date : 2017-05-26
Re: Privateer 18 - Retriever Rebuild
Blocked the boat up and pulled the trailer out in order to start cutting the stringers out. Making efforts to support the chine and keel.
BogueSounder- Posts : 15
Join date : 2017-05-26
Re: Privateer 18 - Retriever Rebuild
Took the stringers out. Multi tool let me get them all out in one piece so I can use them as templates. I am planning to raise the stringers 2" as this hull is known for having the scuppers below the water line even with a 2 stroke.
Joel, I was thinking I could just add 2" to the top of the stringers - using the old stringers as the template. In other words, trace the template and snap a line 2" above on the new wood. Am I on the right track with that thinking - or am I missing something?
Multi-tool - made for this job. Use a carbide blade so it holds up. No dust compared to grinder.
First Stringer out:
Tool did not cut the bottom of stringers as they were properly floated off the hull 1/8 -1/4" to avoid hardspots.
Joel, I was thinking I could just add 2" to the top of the stringers - using the old stringers as the template. In other words, trace the template and snap a line 2" above on the new wood. Am I on the right track with that thinking - or am I missing something?
Multi-tool - made for this job. Use a carbide blade so it holds up. No dust compared to grinder.
First Stringer out:
Tool did not cut the bottom of stringers as they were properly floated off the hull 1/8 -1/4" to avoid hardspots.
BogueSounder- Posts : 15
Join date : 2017-05-26
Re: Privateer 18 - Retriever Rebuild
Removing the remaining stringers:
Photo of the bow / center stringer / anchor locker - front deck detail. Some rot here. Previous owner drilled a hole in anchor locker straight into bilge. Butt block holding what amounts to a center stringer extension.
Photo of the bow / center stringer / anchor locker - front deck detail. Some rot here. Previous owner drilled a hole in anchor locker straight into bilge. Butt block holding what amounts to a center stringer extension.
BogueSounder- Posts : 15
Join date : 2017-05-26
Re: Privateer 18 - Retriever Rebuild
Removing the center stringer / keel. This was a bit tricky. The center stringer extended about a 1.5" into the keel. It was tabbed to the hull and had some dead air space below the actual stringer. Not totally sure how to redo this. I have seen others put a foam filler in the keel, glass over that, and then tab the new stringer in place. Any input?
BogueSounder- Posts : 15
Join date : 2017-05-26
Re: Privateer 18 - Retriever Rebuild
Since stringer removal I have just been grinding...and grinding...and grinding. Removing all the old tabbing and cleaning up the hull. I did buy a dust deputy - very cool tool addition for my shopvac.
Detail of ground area.
Detail of ground area.
BogueSounder- Posts : 15
Join date : 2017-05-26
Re: Privateer 18 - Retriever Rebuild
wow, Ive done that a couple times. All I can say is its a terrible job that can only be worse when done in the summer
Re: Privateer 18 - Retriever Rebuild
Yeah, I'm trying to time this so I'm done with major demo during the cold and ready to start glassing about the time spring allows for decent temps. We shall see! I have most of the hull cleaned up now. I probably have one or two more grinding sessions cleaning up a bit and focusing on where the sole will tab to hull.
Edit - the eye of that swordfish really freaks my kids out when they come in the room and see it. ha.
Edit - the eye of that swordfish really freaks my kids out when they come in the room and see it. ha.
BogueSounder- Posts : 15
Join date : 2017-05-26
Re: Privateer 18 - Retriever Rebuild
BogueSounder wrote:Yeah, I'm trying to time this so I'm done with major demo during the cold and ready to start glassing about the time spring allows for decent temps. We shall see! I have most of the hull cleaned up now. I probably have one or two more grinding sessions cleaning up a bit and focusing on where the sole will tab to hull.
Edit - the eye of that swordfish really freaks my kids out when they come in the room and see it. ha.
good idea, it looks to me like you have most of the tabbing removed.
I used to take pictures of fish eyes: triple tail, dogtooth snapper, trigger fish, swordfish, dolphin
Re: Privateer 18 - Retriever Rebuild
Joel,
I am nearing the end of grinding. A quick question:
1. Do you think it wise to foam fill the keel then sand the foam flush, and glass over with 1708 (?) prior to installing center stringer? Original construction had the center stringer inserted about 1" into the keel but floating and tabbed to hull. I saw you did the foam / glass / then stringer tabbed method on the aquasport rebuild.
Thanks for any insight.
I am nearing the end of grinding. A quick question:
1. Do you think it wise to foam fill the keel then sand the foam flush, and glass over with 1708 (?) prior to installing center stringer? Original construction had the center stringer inserted about 1" into the keel but floating and tabbed to hull. I saw you did the foam / glass / then stringer tabbed method on the aquasport rebuild.
Thanks for any insight.
BogueSounder- Posts : 15
Join date : 2017-05-26
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