Formula LS206 -89 Transom Repair and more
 

Hello to you all,
This is my first boat, I know almost nothing about boats and boating.
I bought this beauty (trying to insert image) a year ago and used it a few days in the archipelago during the season (late april - early october).
The people who have experience from boating all say that my boat drives amazing in the water. Yeey! I wouldn't know :D
Anyway, there is a big problem. The transom is rotten and feels like hollow cardboard on the "passenger side" (I will learn the ling eventually I promise).
I have the boat on a trailer now and have begun the renovation process. So far I have removed the sunbed/motorlid (I'm sure there is a better term for this part).
The manifolds and cooling system and some other minor parts have been removed. The next step will be to remove the drive.
Eventually I will try to manufacture a new transom and get the boat back in shape.
I think it has great potential since there is only one owner before me. An older guy who bought it brand new. I have all documentation including a few booklets and such.
I will post pictures here keep you updated on my progress. And most of all I will be asking a lot of questions.

All the best,
Johan

Here's the boat :)
Had to post 10 times..
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...a8930a7890.jpg

Congrats on the new boat and welcome to the Formula Family! You have come to the right place for insight and advice, these guys have helped me tremendously and know their boats.

Although mine wasn’t rotted, I have been going through a major (to me at least) project.....similar to yours (you have seen it). Reach out if you need anything, I (and others) would be happy to help. I have pics, measurements and notes of all the things of the entire process so far if you need any.

If I can give you one piece of advice, get rid of the ST platform......pretty sure that is the cause of your problem from what I am reading so far.

Good luck on the project!

Thank you Noles1,
I love the ST platform, for me it's one of the best looking features.
If it's possible to improve the platform I could try that, but I don't like the idea of removing it.
We'll see when the time comes for that decision :)

This is some of the "documentation" I got, including the original sales contract etc. :)
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...a7a0a7edfe.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...88c9606f9a.png

A few photos from the day I bought my precious.
Early spring and pretty cold but still a perfect day.
The ride home took 4 hours of cruising in the archipelago. Without my friend, who was captain that day, I would never have made it home :D
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...11cd7d9c00.png

Gotcha, that’s fair. You will need to remove it anyway to see what damage it has done to the outside of transom and platform may be rotted itself.....like mine was. Then you can fix, out new seals on and reinstall.....but you should remove and check every few years after.

I like the look as well, but after removing mine and building the new aluminum platform, it looks so much nicer to me, I can’t wait to see what it will look like painted. Plus I don’t have to have the heavy liability hanging off the back......just my 2 cents.....I’ll leave that alone now.

Wow, I wish I had all that documentation for mine! That is priceless.

Just curious, what was the price tag on her in 89’?

The total price including a custom made (in sweden) canvas with windows and zippers and a Martec cooling system was 285000kr
I estimate that to have been 45000 usd at the time.

I have to little knowledge to understand why it's a liability :)
I saw your project and looking forward to seeing the painted result. Very cool looking so far.

This is the canvas that was made in 1989.
It's almost like new!
Pictures taken after a rainy ride (or do you say trip? My english is not perfect).

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...b53156e25c.jpg

Here are some starting points for products and information

Seacast .www.transomrepair.net - The Home of Seacast™ - www.transomrepair.net - The Home of Seacast™

Coosa Composite Coosa Board | Coosa Composites | Boat Decking Material (boatoutfitters.com)

Congrats on the boat, It looks like a beauty.

Oh thank you two times :)
I will have a look

Are these things lift points? (I removed one before taking the picture).
If not, what are they?
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...e2da22cf78.png

Yes, for the engine only.

thanks

I wonder if I should remove the flywheel cover / bellhousing from the engine block or from the shield (?) when lifting the engine?
What would be easier?

At the rear of the engine/flywheel cover there are 2 bolts holding the flywheel cover to the inner transom mount. Then the engine/flyhousing housing come out as 1 piece. Also 2 mounts, 1 either side of engine about midway connects the motor mounts to the stringers. U-Tube is your friend on this procedure.
Not a big deal after you see what/how you are trying to do.
Good luck.

Thank you GLENAMY,
I found the bolts. Unfortunately I forgot the boat key at home so I could not trim the drive up and down last time I worked on the boat.
I did remove some other parts and I think the drive and engine will be ready for removal next weekend :)

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...66a62c066b.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...b3dd5c77f0.jpg

Mine only needs the battery turned on, no key, to trim outdrive.
Also if the drive seems to be stuck on remove all but 2 nuts on the upper retaining , leave one either side and leave these 2 bolts 3/4 off (this keeps the drive from falling off on your driveway). Remove rams and lift drive and drop it.
The jarring will help loosen it, DON'T pry with tools.

Great time to swap for BBC and Bravo drive!

I'm currently doing a transom and stringers in a 1986 206. The starboard 1/3 of my transom was bad, the rest was rock solid but out it all came. These boats are pushing 40 years old and can need some structural work. I don't like how formula jogged the main stringer where it passes through the rear bulkhead and I will fixing that issue with a continuous stringer. Let me know if you need a pics or have questions

I had to use the key for the drive trim to work, I might have done something wrong idk :)
Thanks for the tip about jarring.
Anyway I didn't have time for the boat this weekend due to my girls cousin was here visiting from California.

That will have to wait. Don't have enough time and money for that and I would rather spend horsepower-money on my car (-1970 Pontiac Firebird Formula 400).
And to be hones I need to learn to drive the boat properly before I "need" more power :D

I will absolutely ask questions :)
My boat seems to be rotten on the opposite side. I have also noticed that the "floor" portside beside the motor is a bit soft and sounds hollow. :(
I don't understand what jogged means. I don't even know where the main stringer is located (guessing it's in the middle below the floor?).
Feel free to share any photos and if you are posting online you can share a link so I can follow :)

Some pictures.
I finally got the shield and sterndrive removed.
Started to disassemble the shield. Tiller fork was superstuck and I had to use a small sledgehammer and a bunch of WD40. The fork doesn't look great. I wonder if I should let a friend work on it with his lathe. Then I would also need custom bushings..
The tilt trim arms(?) are still connected to the shield and the dowel pins have not decided to come out yet. Will try to persuade them later this week. After that I'll start sandblasting a few parts and get them ready for new paint.
The swim platform will be removed during the the weekend or maybe I'll pull the engine first.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...0ccde5f092.jpg

How thick should the outer plastic layer be at the transom?
 

On my way home from the boat I thought about the transom and how thick the outer layer of plastic actually is? It seems like the outer layer of wood is solid and I think it would be easier to keep it and build on top of it. I also think the other side (starboard)? Is still solid. Is it possible to build just one side with fresh wood and keep the other side as is?
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...6d8b76eaa.jpeg

Engine will get some tlc
 

Volvo penta
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...d301150c4.jpeg

More rot 😩
 

I really hope this is the end of the rot…
and I hope there is a way to install a new bulkhead without having to remove the tank or seats…
If anybody have pictures of how the bulkhead and stringers should look like without plastic would be helpful. I’ve searched for blueprints but can’t find any.
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...ddc4fe578.jpeg

Found some water today when cutting the bulkhead along the hull.
 

I hate my life but tomorrow is another day 🤷🏼‍♂️
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...b1ba6a583.jpeg