Re: Poor Man's Skiboat...Restore?
Swim platform is on and done...kind of. I am still painting it. I made the swim platform out of 3/4" ply and sealed it with glass. There are a couple of strips of 1708 on the bottom and one on the top. I figured the 1708 on the top would give me a rough texture and I wouldn't have to put in traction compound. So far I have been right. The platform is not at all slick when in the water. The outside of the platform is RIGHT at water level and it should make boat entry much easier on the happiest German Shepherd Dog in the whole wide world (and other German Shepherds as I plan to start fostering again once the interior is done).
I am providing a link to the picture of the swim platform. The black paint is something my friend did and I like it. I will probably cut templates for the black markings and add them later. Right now the platform is 100% white and has two coats of Pettit Undercoater. I will top coat with easypoxy or rusteolum...something cheap that is easy to recoat.
Too big to embed, here is the link:
http://overlandtrucks.com/system-f/boat/rebuild/swim_platform_edit.jpg
Went out again last week and this weekend I plan on towing her to Austin. I had some water in the bilge (about 4" square and a dime deep) which really scared me as I had just done the transom mounts for the swim platform. Turns out that I had 4 guys on one side of my boat trying to tie up a 26ft cruiser and the bilge drain probably picked up a little water. I need to run that hose up higher. I have NOT been able to find any signs of water on the transom. In a week or two I will pull the drive to triple check that the bellows are sealed.
The boat seems to be doing great on gas, but I still don't think 18 gallons is enough. I really want to add a 5-7 gallon tank to the aft port side of the engine. I have tons of room back there and the through hulls will be easy.
Did I mention I love this straight 6? Let me rephrase that: I LOVE THIS STRAIGHT 6.
Starts RIGHT UP when cold
Starts Right up when I turn the ignition switch on and hit the starter
Runs all day long and does pretty good on gas
Tons of torque, on plane at 2k RPM, cruise at 2.3k rpm (yes yes yes, this has more to do with my prop, but the engine doesn't have a problem spinning this 23P highly cupped prop and pulls skiers just fine with it)
Everyone keeps pestering me to throw a quadrajet on her. I might, but I really live the phrase: "If it ain't broke...." Though the 2bbl on there is getting old and I think she had her last rebuild.....I don't know. I think I will just keep her as is for now...play with a quadrajet on my next project which will hopefully be a Chevy Truck.
I had planned on ordering my black Bimini this weekend, but the transmission in my daily driver Honda is making some FUNKY noise and in need of replacement... the bimini will have to wait.
Next phase: interior...
I almost forgot to mention:
I LOVE Easypoxy and Easypoxy undercoater. I cannot stress enough that unless you have baby's-butt smooth fiberglass please use the undercoater...so much nicer and does an awesome job at filling in gaps, even on my ROUGH swim platform.
If you have to ask what color something in my boat is going to be such as the interior...just look at what color everything else is and that is your answer. (the top will be black) I might paint the sides tonight...back to work. So many incoherent thoughts going on in this post.
