Thread: Cool little project..

My Grandfather passed away last month and left his boat to me. Its a 1966 IMP Aztec V. He bought the boat in 1970 when he moved back to the states from chasing oil in the jungles of Sumatra, Indonesia. He saved his money while he was there so he could buy the family's first runabout. He named it "Banjak Uang" which in Indonesian means "Lots of Money". I guess that was a common saying around the oil camps there anytime someone asked how much it was to purchase anything American made.

Everyone in my family, grandkids included, learned how to ski behind this boat and I intend to see to it that my Grandfathers great grandkids get that same opportunity. My plans are to have it finished by next winter but I'm not attaching a schedule to it so that I don't get rushed. I want to take my time and put it together the way it should have been. In 2007 he put a new interior in and a new motor. But he fell sick shortly after and never recovered. The hull sat on a hoist at the marina and slowly deteriorated to nothing. At one point, the bunk on the hoist broke and the boat sat down on the steel support, puncturing the hull and filling the boat full of water.

The floor, stringers, transom and top deck are all rotten. The engine has been underwater. The only thing still good is its hull (except for the hole and almost 50 years of dock/beach/stump/trailer rash), dash and interior parts.

Ive had it about a month so far. I've managed to get the floor, engine, drive, interior, carpet, deck, and subfloor out of it. Its hard work. Some days I'll make huge progress because everything will be rotten and comes out in handfuls. Then the next day I'll hit some hard glass thats 50 years old and dry. Nothing short of a sledge hammer, a circular saw and a chisel will get through it.

Here's a few pics of the rebuild though, for those that like the older boats. Its my first truly vintage build, I usually go after the high-HP stuff but this one is a tribute to class and elegance, and that's how she is being put back together.

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The day we floated it, plugged the hole and wrestled it onto the trailer

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Her new home for the next year or so..

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Under the hartop, the interior is still in great shape as it was blocked from all the elements. I'm putting this same interior back in with a few minor repairs because its what my Grandfather picked out.

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The sure don't build 'em like this anymore...

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Buildin some tables to have a place to document and store all the parts.

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The interior all pulled out with no tools, thats how rotted the floor was. All the lagbolts came out by hand..

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The inline 6. 165hp Mercruiser. It still has the "Mercruiser by Keikhaffer" valve cover logos.. (sorry, these are iphone pics, left the camera at home)

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Very basic setup. Just glad to find out the tank wasn't built into the floor..

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Copper flakes added to the gelcoat. They don't do this anymore because of the expense of copper. I'm trying to salvage as much of these area as possible to keep the look the same. Its hard though because you have to grind out so much of the old glass and gel to get new stuff to stick.

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Floor is comin out now. Its so wet that the saw binds every few inches..

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Just as I figured. Standing water, mold, gas, oil, etc..

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Gotta get the bearings and hubs pulled and replaced on the trailer so we can move the boat in and out of the shop for washing between sandings. 3 of the 4 bearings are spun and rusted because of water intrusion. Ill be upgrading to disk brakes on the forward axle.

http://www.eddelozier.com/.a/6a0148c...850df48970c-pi
Slowly but surely (big pic so follow the link)

I have more pics, but keep getting an "invalid url" when I try to put it in. So far the floor, deck, sole, pan and engine are out. Now its just grinding out all the old tabbing and getting ready to start putting it all back together.

Hard work, that's for sure, but the really nice part about a fiberglass restoration, is, you will always have a better boat than when you started, and it will last another 50 years!

Good job keeping it in the family!

BD

I may know of a place to get you some NOS gauges and parts when you're ready.

Thanks, I've actually found what I'm looking for. I'm using the Airguide vintage gauges. They are a tad older than the rest of the boat, but I think it speaks to that era of boatbuilding. They have the arrow style needles and all are glycerin filled. A little overkill, but I think its those kind of details that will really make the boat pop. I spent all night on it last night, back and arms are killing me..

And you're right, it will definitely be built a lot better than factory. My order through US composites will come on two pallets. Thats a lot of glass and resin! I'll probably lose 2-3mph, but I'm going for ride quality and not speed.. But with the new engine, I might make up the speed a tad.

Awesome!

That is very cool and a great tribute to your grandfather! Going to follow this build thread.
I am Indonesian, love the name

Thanks Guys! Hopefully my stuff will arrive today and can start building her back up.

Awesome project!

A friend has a homebuilt wooden boat his father modified back in the '60s that had a similar cabin. I love that look.

Awesome project. My father and I redid a Tanzer 16, a great little sailboat but this is something of a much larger magnitude. Can't wait to see your progress, I'm in for pics.