1988 Glastron GX 199 Restoration

[chconger]

Hi All

As Wood suggested I am starting a thread to compile everything happening with this restoration.

Here is what she looked like before;

I started to repair the battery tray on the port side, then found the transom rotted, So I pulled the engine;

then pulled up all the floor as the foam was soaking, now I am pulling out stringers one at a time. And now, as per my other thread...I think I "have the hog" ; have a hook in my hull on the sb side.

Along the way I tried my hand at upholstery. Here is before;

And after;

When I made some test holes in my engine mounts; this came out;

So they are gone now.

I have more images at home. All this was off my blackberry

More images to come in the next post.

Cheers
Chris

 

[chconger]

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

More images;

Looking forward

Looking aft with my transom template;

I will be using epoxy for everything. All the replacement wood will be certified marine mahogany or white oak. (EDIT: White oak never happened after all)

I have the transom cut and epoxy coated. Hope to have it installed this weekend.

Along the way I found an exhaust flapper left its bearing and lodged into the down tube. May pick up some HP with this resolved.

Who knows what can happen if I get this hog of my back

Later
Chris

 

[chconger]

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Some more images of transom progress


Here is the stamp on the wood I will use for transom, all decking, and inner stringers;

Here is the Transom getting cut - Will be 1.5 inch as was the original;

The key hole, cut 1/4 undersize. Will use router after install;

Clamping the 2 sheets together;

That's some solid stuff;

 

[chconger]

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Continued images and we are up to date;

Transom ready for install

So far removed; short stringers beside engine mounts, the engine mounts, and one long stringer on the outside sb side;

The stringer was black on the outside, wet, but still basically intact. I think it is cedar.

Went sailing last night in stead of working on "The Hog" was awesome as usual;

This weekend I hope to install the transom and cut out my first stringer from white oak.

Later
Chris

 

[chconger]

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Update

Used epoxy mixed with organic "hard" wheat flower to bed the transom;

outside view of clamping;

Then I used PL Premium to inject around the outside and the drain tube;

 

[chconger]

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Cut and epoxy coated the stringers. I only removed the SB stringer and assumed the port stringer will be the same. Could not get white oak. So this is clear western red cedar. I judge the wood from the boat originally to be just as "soft" (cedar or Douglas fur) so I feel OK with the compromise;

The factory stringers did not reach back to the transom. I am planning on making a change there and having them butt up and tab into the transom, but cutting lowers out to allow drainage...curious if anyone knows a reason to keep the original design??

Another change is to remove a cut out that served no purpose; I believe this was to accommodate deck reinforcement for rear seats that did not exist. So that is gone on my stringers;

Finally a close view of the front of the stringers, here dimensions are modified slightly to accommodate actual stock. The large cutout is to accept 3/4 ply additional to the underside of the deck where the helm and shotgun seat are. The smaller cutout will be for a bracing under the ski locker;

 

[chconger]

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Here is what I call the "mini transom" It will sit in the center above the main transom and will hold the bolts for the upper center of the swim platform and the tow hook bolt.

Here is the glue up (all epoxy)

And the side profile of the good stuff;

And finally; here is a better "before" shot'; taken by a camera on a kite;

I think there was a lot of water in that hull......

 

[chconger]

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

So this week I really learned the misery of grinding. Up till now I have been cutting mostly.

I ground all the remaining tabbing on the sb stringer. And ground, sanded the area 5 inches on either side to prepare for new tabbing.

I used PL to place the new stringer in and used the existing 3 stringers are reference for height.

Here is a photo of the stringer in place with PL only right now (sorry its dusty from grinding the port stringer)

One of the mildly frustrating things doing the starboard stringer was the lack of decay in the old wood. I had drilled test holes before removing it and found wet, black shavings. But when I pulled the stinger out it appeared the black was only on the surface and the stringer was wet but otherwise sound.

So I committed to replacing the port side stringer because I already cut out the replacement, but I was prepared to see another perfectly fine piece of wood and then start really questioning if this is this all just madness; replacing good stringers as a hobby?



But I was very happy to see the port stringer in rough shape; it was rotted to the point where it would not come out in one piece;

And there was evidence of carpenter ants sharing the meal with the rot spores;

Another view;

It's an odd state of affairs when you see rot and bugs eating up your boat and it has the effect of cheering you up.


So current status is; Transom and outboard sb stringer installed with PL, waiting for tabbing. Outboard port stringer is out and old tabbing is ground down.

Here is a photo of the big nasty as of today.

Going to Ogdensburg NY to pick op my US composites order of epoxy today. Serious tabbing to come.

Chris

 

[sweet addiction]

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Nice work! Can't wait to see the finished job. I love the camera on a kite photo!! :applause:

 

[chconger]

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Nice work! Can't wait to see the finished job. I love the camera on a kite photo!! :applause:

Thanks for the kind words. Its 32 C here today so I think swimming / sailing are the order of the day.

Since my last post I filleted the sb stringer with epoxy / flour mix, and immediately (while the filet was kicking) tabbed the stringer with 4" strip of 10 oz and then 8" strip of the same cloth. All epoxy, I hope that will do it.

More Picts to follow...

Chris

 

[chconger]

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

So here are some picts of my first glassing attempt;

another;

and the port side of the transom;

All 10 Oz cloth. 4" strip followed immediately by a 8" strip.



My buddy secured me a rather large bag of flower for more filleting to come. Dog for scale;

And yesterday I sanded down around the port outboard stringer, cleaned with methyl hydrate and bedded that stringer with PL;

So now that stringer waits for 3 days to ensure the PL is set....I am sure ill find something to do.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

R U using Epoxy?

 

[chconger]

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

R U using Epoxy?

Yes. This is West with slow hardener. Once that is gone (soon) then I start consuming order of US Composites medium 3 to 1.

 

[chconger]

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Regarding epoxy;

In Ontario, with taxes, I pay $1.01 per ounce for what I can see is the best price on West epoxy and slow hardener.

Compare my 6.5 gallons of US Composites 3:1, with shipping and duty (but I went to NY to pick it up), calculates in at $0.49 per oz.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Yeah, but you get FREE Health Care!!!!!

 

[chconger]

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Was a hot day today so I moved to smaller things in the basement;

Engine Mounts;


Here is a close up of the factory engine mount. I observed no rot. Considering they were trapping water, its triumph of materials over design.

Another;

Notice that the main support (my guess is white oak slab) is only held onto the plywood by the sheer of the nails (staples?)

They must have calculated that the load will be borne by the fiberglass. Certainly I never had alignment issues. Regardless its curious decision for a boat builder to make on a critical component, when it would take the same labor and material costs to have a design that carries load down naturally.


So my design corrects both loading and water issues. I borrowed from lintel framing over a window or door (the top is to the left here);

And I moved the position of the bracing plate to let the entire mount be open underneath (cant hold water);

And I rounded all the edges to anticipate glassing to come.

The old and the new as would be viewed from the oil pan, or center line of the boat;

 

[chconger]

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Re: 1990 Glastron SSV 199 Restoration

Yeah, but you get FREE Health Care!!!!!

Yes, and my calculation included the $39 for HST I paid at the border (I declared everything). I hope they bank that for when I develop the inevitable sensitivity to all this epoxy.

My good friend happened to still have some empty cans of West and new 3:1 pumps for the 207. So everything will run through these tins (filled now)..

Cheers
Chris

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1988 Glastron GX 199 Restoration

Those pumps are great but are prone to "Seepage" so be aware.

 

[chconger]

Re: 1988 Glastron GX 199 Restoration

Those pumps are great but are prone to "Seepage" so be aware.

Good point, thanks. I imagine they can be trusted for a gallon or so and then be deemed suspect. Will verify volume dispensed each time I refill the tins.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1988 Glastron GX 199 Restoration

What I meant by seepage is, after you dispense the resin and then store them, they tend to leak or seep out resin. They are usually very accurate and reliable with the amount of resin being dispensed.