Another Aquasport 246 Rebuild
 

I have been looking around for a few years for an older hull to rebuild. I stumbled across a 1980 Aquasport 246FF on Facebook market place that was only a few hours away for a great price of FREE. I did lots of research and was inspired by what others have done. I started following rvariverboat's rebuild and got some ideas and decided to pull the trigger. The boat looked rough but the hull was sound. Was planning to redoing the inside and transom, so I was really only looking for was the shell.
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Took a few hours to load it up and on the road home we went. Got it home and spent a few weekends getting it set up to gut and started the deconstruction of the interior.
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My plans for the boat are to turn it into a center console for offshore fishing. It's hull is about 4' bigger than the Cobia that I currently have and I am planning to take a few year on the build, so not in a hurry. I am planning to build a bracket (based off of what has been done many times before on here). For power, I am planning either twin 150's or 200's when the time comes.

I have some experience doing miscellaneous fiberglass projects, but this is going to be the largest. I am planning to use vinyl ester resin as I can get it pretty close to home at Advanced Plastics and will not have to pay shipping.

I have started prepping a few projects before I start any major work. The nice thing about this boat is the stringer system. The port side is looking good but I will need to fix a hole on the starboard side stringer.I am a middle school teacher so I am planning to make this a project during my off time. So far, I have patched the hole in the front, I have no Idea why they cut the bow eye out, and started prepping to start the transom. Similar to what rvariverboat did, I cut most of the transom because it curved and I want a flat surface.
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I am planning to build a 48" wide x 30" deep bracket. I am thinking about extending the existing stringers through the transom to the clamping board like KP06 did and then add a center knee from the clamping board to the keel. The outside of the stringers sit at the outside of the bracket and will cover to about 12" in. I am planning to build a full mold for the bracket and transom to glass it all together.
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Any thought or feedback before I go any further. It will probably be around a month or more before I start building anything.

Needs a new rub rail. Man, I have respect for you guys who take on these major rebuilds. My next project will probably end up being like that though.

Sweeeet gotta love a blank canvas. I will be following along. If you haven’t got one already a full face respirator would be the first thing on my list.

Sweet project, looking forward to watching this progress.
Thanks for saving another classic Aquasport from the landfill. :thumbsup:

Nice project hull, I look forward to seeing what you do with it.

I would suggest building a euro transom rather than a bracket.

Just curious why you think a euro is better? Open to suggestions

Yes, that I why I have not done any grinding yet

A euro transom will leave the weight of the engines and the running surface the way it was from the factory. For a restoration project and the typical DIYer I think its good piece of mind knowing its going to perform well when its completed.

I have thought about that, and I keep going back and forth in my mind. I want a little more space than the hull currently gives and I have seen others do a bracket on this hull.

A bracket does give more space in the boat, I agree with you there. I dont think you would have any trouble with a bracket if you go that route.

I vote bracket. Cool project

I thought about a euro transom but like the idea of adding 2.5ft not deleting it haha

Oh man, this is like bad deja vu!!

Looks like the hull is good and solid! And as a huge bonus, it looks like you don't have to deal with bottom paint.

Looking forward to keeping up with your progress.

Other than the front eye being cut out, hull is pretty good.

Are you planning to reinforce the side? I was thinking about either a few layers of 1708 or a layer of carbon core then 1708.

Yes. Probably 2 layers of 1700, and I'm planning on a foam stiffening rib that will run parallel to the deck spaced midway between deck and cap. The deck will be tied into the sides, and our "cap" will be pretty sturdy, so I think it'll be more than enough.

246 aqua
 

I owned a 246 in the 90,s.great riding hull.

I have similar plans. Still thinking about the cap. It is still in place but once I get the bracket on, I am going to put it in the water with weight to see how it floats. I will use this to decide if I need to raise the floor or not and then make a cap decision then.

I didn't float test or anything like that, but just kind of arbitrarily decided to raise the stringers 2", and I'm using 1.5 carbon core for the floor,, so it's a good bit higher than original.

We're doing away with the factory cap stuff. Hull sides are going up a pretty good bit then building new flat cap

I have similar plans. I am looking forward to seeing what you do. Any updates on your build?

What's your plan for redoing the stringers?

I am prepared to cut the tops off and refoam if needed. I know I will have to repair a section on the starboard side.

I was hoping that was the plan. Good luck!

I am working to get some materials before I start doing to much work. I am thinking about using an aluminum bracket but, the few of the bolts will be in the space where the transom occupies. I can use a little wider bracket, but there will be around 12" without a mounting bolt on each side.

Any opinion on these 2 options; using a lag bolt that is epoxied in, bolt it in place with the nut inside of the stringer, or glass a stainless flat bar in that is tapped so I can unbolt it if ever needed.

I started grinding the transom area in preperation to start glassing soon. Before I start this and the bracket build, I am planning for where thru hull drains will go for the livewell, fish box, and possibly floor. Thinking about having the bracket high enough to mount them under it.

Any thoughts for or against?

That’s how most do it from what I’ve seen. My livewell drains are at the very bottom of the transom. The floor drains will come straight off the now-enclosed transom and exit just under the swim deck on my bracket. Can angle them if needed but I haven’t gotten there yet.

That I how I am hoping my floor drains will work, but I will float test it before I cut holes

nice wide aquasport. big job big rewards!

I have the last 24" of the boat ground and I noticed that the corner where the transom and sides meet are pretty cracked up. Looked like voids that were patched. Since there is only about a 4" lip remaining of the old transom I was thinking about completely cutting off the old skin. What would be the best way to tie the new transom to the existing hull?