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After about 45mins of grinding!




Before grinding




The CRACK Its about 5 1/2 inches long,

So here is an update of where we are now and our progress to this point.
We have a couple of questions and would really appreciate your help, if you have a suggestion please don't hesitate to tell us.

We have removed the engine and taken out the rest of the core. We decided that the two beams needed to be removed as well including the core between them. We were not sure about the transom but after we removed the fiberglass we discovered that it was pretty wet and soft as well. In order to get the top part of the transom out we decided to cut the back top part of the fibreglass out which you will see in the attached pictures. We figured once we removed the aluminum motor mount and saw all the deteriorated transom and cracked fibreglass it would be easier to just cut the back to remove the top part of the transom than to cut the top off like a lot of you have done. We finally got all of the rot out and we are looking forward to starting putting in new core.

When we removed the aluminum motor mount it occured to us that the boat had been modified in the past as it looks like the transom originally went straight across which would mean that the motor originally sat higher on the boat. Our question is: Is it better for the motor to sit higher or lower on the boat? Do you move the motor up higher to go faster and lower to make the boat more stable? Please give us your two cents and expertise on this.

Thanks for your help and below are some of the pictures showing our progress and discoveries. We are learning a lot and appreciate your support!

Hey guys, congratulations on the progress! Well it looks like you're gonna get to replace practically all the wood in your boat... probably more work than you expected but you'll know everything is solid when you're done.

Two cents:
The guy that worked on the boat before y'all was a "free thinker. "
When you see extra metal attached to the transom, it's usually to cover up a problem.
I would rebuild the transom back to normal height (that cut down weakens it).
Instead, find a manual jack plate, maybe a 6 inch for the 140 hp. and you'll be able to dial in the best height for your set up.
Because you'll replace the transom and the stringers (beams), you are in a great spot make the boat stronger than it was when new. Look up Chet's 77 Viper project on here. He made a simple one piece knee brace/ stringer on that rebuild.

I second everything above. Looking good keep pushing!

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Took me a few years and TOTALLY worth it so keep at it see comments about core removal on other thread but .....one day your 74 will look like this 74......

agreed you can look at my 79 vector restore i done the knee braces also as i copied from 77viper (chet) and was strong as a ox and still is with 200 mercury pounding away i jumbed waves and all now have sold the boat and 3 years gone bye still strong no doubt keep up the good work on the recore and wood progression willl be a beautiful sight when sitting in the water

Randy lets show then a real nice pic of your boat

That thing just screams 1970's. I love it!!

Hi Russ,
Thanks for adding the pics.....Geez, I wish you had your boat at the CT river! Keep me posted on that Spring trip to NY maybe I can do that. You obviously read about my near miss on the highway home.....yikes.
Randy