Aluminum 1977 Crestliner Rebuild Finally Underway

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Watermann

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I've not done a wet application of the re-pop decals on my boats or motors, it's been easy enough to apply the decals where they need to be and then work any bubbles out. They may not be perfect but I can't tell and I'm sure nobody else can either. I waxed over after the decals were put on and used the 303 quick wax but it wasn't applied when I took this pic. Guess I could have done more to make the motor look better but my motivation was to just look good while catching fish, not a show piece.

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Patfromny

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I hear you on the showroom finish. I tried but quickly realized I don't have the patience to Polish and wax. I left some faint sanding marks on the cowl and some dings and scratches here and there. Nothing anyone but me will see but I just lost all interest in getting it perfect. I'm usually one of three boats out on the lake at the same time so who's gonna see it anyway. My concern on the dry application is mainly about two chevron shaped decals that follow the bottom profile of the cowl. I'm afraid that if I get them wrong, they will rip when I try to peel them off to reposition. Oh well, I guess I'll find out tomorrow. Do you remember what size bolts you used through the transom and into the splash well? I'm thinking somewhere around 5/16? My boat had solids and I'm not sure if I should put a larger bolt in or if the same size would work.
 

Watermann

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The SW bolts are 1/4" on my SC.

So you know there's no peeling and re-positioning the vinyl decals, a steady hand and on they go.
 

Patfromny

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The SW bolts are 1/4" on my SC.

So you know there's no peeling and re-positioning the vinyl decals, a steady hand and on they go.

Thanks WM. I tried the wet application with no success. I decided to wing it. I could just barely see where the old decals went so I used some soft release tape and marked the old edges on three sides. From there it was peel and stick. This cowl really has no place for the decals to go. They just sort of float out there in the middle and they aren't straight. They angle up slightly. It didn't come out perfect but really good if I do say so myself. Take a look







 

Patfromny

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Thanks also for the bolt size. I meant to write 3/16 because I think that was the rivet size but it was late and I whiffed. I was thinking of using 1/4 just to make it a little beefier. Thanks for the confirmation. That'll happen tomorrow and then the engine goes back on. Pushing for a Friday departure. As usual, I'll be working on her all night for the rest of the week.
 

Watermann

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Oh man that hood looks super nice and you did a great job on the decals too. :thumb:
 

Patfromny

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Thanks, that was a bunch of wet sanding and three different levels of cutting Polish and then wax. I'm a house painter. I always tell my customers that it isn't rocket science but most people don't have the patience for it and that's why I'm in business. I'll tell you. If I could have found someone to Polish the side pieces and cowl, I would have gladly handed that job over. I have zero patience for it. I left some sanding marks and some gouges there but I had had enough really, by the second round of cutting Polish. Lol. Here is a before when I first bought the motor last summer.



this was tonight after the nautical wax I love

 

Patfromny

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Thanks, it was alot more work than I would have liked to do but, as I'm sure is the case with most of us, it became an "in for a penny, in for a pound" situation. I had to change the decals, one side was completely missing and the side shown in the before up there, all the decals were peeling. I found a cheap set of repop decals and went to town. Now onto transom repairs and a rewire with a deadline of Friday evening. We're in the same boat with the crunch time. (Pun intended)
 

Watermann

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Oh yeah that's a great before and after, now when you go to stretch a cover over that cowl and have the wind flap on it. I can almost picture your face :eek:
 

Patfromny

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Enough to a good belly laugh at of me with that one. I'm already freaking about my finger smudges when I move it. I move it, run and get a micro fiber towel and wipe it off. I am totally not like that either. Just a ton of work into that and the side pieces.



gonna attempt to muscle the engine on without them installed and then put it all together. That plus running new positive and ground wires from the battery to the console are tonight's projects. Oh and install a winch. Oh and move the controller back if possible. Oh boy, Friday is coming too soon.
 

Watermann

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Hey there's varying degrees of smudge-itis syndrome, you see that video of me after pulling my SS out of the garage? :lol:
 

Patfromny

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Wow, time to reload my keyboard app. That first line was supposed to read, "You got a good belly laugh out of me with that one." Didn't proof read it like I usually do. I remember the video. Too funny. That last sleeve buff did the trick. I'll have to try that.

well the engine is on and completely together. That was about all I could accomplish tonight. Which was huge.



strike two on my winch. The first one didn't fit my tiny bracket and the second one was a piece of carp. Have to find some time tomorrow to head to the local boating super store to get one that fits and isn't junk so I can tow her up Friday. I also took a good hard look at the wiring. What a total and complete hack job. I can't believe it ever worked much less for 40 plus years. Three wires into one butt connector. I counted ten splices in one wire and at each splice they changed the color of the wire from red to black and then back. Wire nuts galore. Smh. I just didn't have anything left in the tank tonight. Looks like I'll be working super late tomorrow. Fun fun
 

Watermann

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So is that the trailer you're referring to with the wire hack job? If so while at the super store pop on a complete LED light kit with the harness and plug. You won't be sorry.
 

Patfromny

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Unfortunately no. I rewired that last year. I'm referring to my boat. It was all tucked away under the gunnel. I had planned on replacing the positive lead and the ground wire with 10 gauge I bought. I lowered the wires and bam. Complete butcher job. One more thing for tonight after softball of course. Work starts tonight at 11pm. :eek:. The trailer is a whole other story. Escort trailer. The worst thing I have ever bought. Boat doesn't fit right, the bow stop is above the winch, and the winch...can't find a decent one that fits Escorts bolt pattern and tiny bracket. I'm stressing a bit, can you tell?
 

mickyryan

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i just refinished a old mariner used the wet method, worked out perfectly then coated with three coats of clear over them , havent done final polish but i dont want to use it now cause its so purty lol
 

Patfromny

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Hey Mick, thanks for chiming in. I tried the wet method but the evinrude and the etec stickers were on the same wax paper and I couldn't get enough water out from underneath for the decal to stick.
 

Patfromny

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Well, we just got back from the lake after a long holiday weekend. Good news and bad news. Good news, my boat pulls me on one ski. Bad news, I haven't done so in over 20 yrs and It hurts just typing this. Lol. Of course, Noone toke pictures. They all looked at me like I was crazy when I said, "pics or it didn't happen". The boat performed great and I got several compliments from the lake owners who sold the boat to my dad in 78. They just love seeing the progress each year. I'd post some pics but I no longer know how. I also didn't take many. I'll see if I can figure out something. Watermann, how do you post with the Microsoft app? I could only copy the link to the post, not the picture
 

Watermann

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On the selected pic in OD you choose the option to embed and click generate to get the code. Then using the forum advanced editor click the photo upload button and paste the code into there.
 
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