The bench seat in the back was missing with only a cushion and the frame still intact. I removed those screws also with the same result, "rising water". Underneath the splashwell there are two raised areas made of plywood on each side of the boat, I assume one for the battery and one for the oil tank; they would also need to be removed as rot had taken its toll there to. Being molded right into the balsa core they would have to wait until removal of the core began. Next I removed the old bilge pump that looked like it had a hard life. The wiring going to it was frayed and half missing and never made it to the front of the boat. Because there were no gauges, engine, throttle or electrical devices left, the wiring was easy to remove, what was left of it anyway. I couldn’t wait anymore to get the windshield off, and with a buddies help it was done in a short time. All the bolts holding the frame on were completely rusted and the use of a sawzall was needed. Once removed I jumped out of the boat to take a look. I was amazed how the Ventura now appeared, the boat took on a whole new appearance, lower and more sleek. The lines of the boat were more defined now and I knew it would be good for a few more mph. For easier access under the deck I decided to remove the steering wheel next. I also noticed with the removal of the windshield that the steering wheel sat too high above the dash, a look that I’m not particularly fond of, and that it would need to be moved down into the cockpit more. Vintage HydroStream steering wheels never did the boats any justice, and it’s amazing to me that a lot of people redo their Streams with new interiors for a modern look, but yet never change the steering wheel. With more room I would now work on getting the 18 gallon fuel cell out from under the deck. With two rusted wood screws holding it down on each corner I was surprised that it never pulled itself out. I removed the screws to notice the small area of sub-floor under the deck was dry and like new. After a careful diagnosis I was happy to see that the whole area under the deck was in great shape and would not have to be replaced, a definite plus on my back. I removed the old wiring and the tube that went to the filler cap located on the top of the deck. When I got the fuel cell out I looked in it with a flashlight, there was about a gallon of fuel left that was badly tarnished and the insides of the tank were coated with rust. The tank looked like it was taken from a WW1 Willy’s Jeep. It was thick in construction and heavy in weight; a sight for sore eyes, it now spends it’s days in a junkyard.