Hello This is my first Trawler

[Hog Wild]

Hello everyone. I just sold my 41 foot SeaWolf and bought a
Marine Trader 34 1976.
I am going to need a lot of advice. The aft ribs are rotted the aft deck is staging. I would like advice on how to remove the water tanks?
I think I have to fix the ribs first?

 

[CharlieO.]

Hello everyone. I just sold my 41 foot SeaWolf and bought a
Marine Trader 34 1976.
I am going to need a lot of advice. The aft ribs are rotted the aft deck is staging. I would like advice on how to remove the water tanks?
I think I have to fix the ribs first?

I have the same boat. I removed have removed my water tanks twice. Once for swim platform maintenance and once because one started leaking. I was lucky enough that my tanks fit up through the hatch, I have heard from some that their tanks were slightly larger than the hatch.

The first time I removed them my boat was shrink wrapped so I used a ratchet strap from the shrink wrap framing to pull them up, the second time I just used a couple saw horses across the opening with a board between and a ratchet strap.

For my boat this required dismantling the steering, removing the rudder and rudder shaft.

I have pictures of this and some of my other maintenance/repair projects on my Instagram - mv-luna-c

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Welcome aboard. Where are the water tanks? Can they be removed in conjunction with your aft deck beam repairs?

 

[Comodave]

Welcome aboard. I would probably remove the tanks and then repair the rotten wood. Having the tanks out may give you more room and better access to the area.

 

[Hog Wild]

Thank you very much for responding. Since I've been down there milling around. I've discovered that my fiberglass deck is just as rotten as my wood deck. So I believe I'm going to take the entire deck off rebuild the structure underneath.
Because that whole structure is all rotten as well. I hope to leave the rudder in place. I am going to try to rig it so I don't have to take it out. But the steering cable and mechanism are going to have to go.

 

[Hog Wild]

I hope so that's what I believe. I'm going to try to do.

 

[Hog Wild]

I agree completely. It's probably what I'm going to do.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. HW. Not to rain on your enthusiasm but such an extensive repair may well cost you 2X to 5X what you estimate in $$ and take you 2X to 5X+ in time. In any case, feel free to ask questions and best of success.

 

[Hog Wild]

Thank you very much for your comments. I realize that it's quite an undertaking. And I probably will be asking for advice for sure. Although I have no budget for time or money Mostly that I just want to get it done, correct. I am doing all the work myself , hopefully buying the material As I go might ease the pain a little.

 

[Action]

Welcome to the TF!

 

[Hog Wild]

Thanks