I have returned... with a Starcraft this time!

[BWR1953]

The boy and I went out this evening after dinner and worked on reassembling the bow brace. We had heavy t-storms here today along with some tornado warnings and couldn't do anything outside during the day.

Ran into a couple snags with getting everything back together with the new backer piece and then ran out of time too. The boy got pretty frustrated because it looks like we'll have to disassemble some or all of the brace and do some trimming, but It'll all get done. And once it's done, it's done. No more taking that thing apart! Ever.

 

[baldwibr]

Personally, I like the top one. I feel it fits the size of your boat nicely.

 

[BWR1953]

Personally, I like the top one. I feel it fits the size of your boat nicely.

Yeahhh... I went back and forth on that one.

But the bottom line is that even though my KF is from 1976, the top logo reminded me too much of the "Bold, new graphics" of 1970s cars. I want something subtler and classier than those bad old days. :lol:

Remember these? :facepalm:uke:

 

[Renderwurx]

I like forstner bits...

 

[BWR1953]

I like forstner bits...

Thanks! I'd completely forgotten about those. I'll be getting a set. :nod:

 

[BWR1953]

The boy was home from school today and we spent several hours working on that bow brace again. Mind you, a lot of that time is the learning process for the boy. And I mean a lot!! A competent, experienced worker in good health would have had this whole project done a year ago! :lol:

We did make progress, albeit not really pic-worthy. So I only have a few again tonight.

I will definitely be going with this logo set when the time comes. They'll have to be custom made.

 

[nrf414]

Logo looking great. Good call on forstner bits. Super clean rig man!! Your investments in your future will turn exponential dividends with the boy and the boat

 

[BWR1953]

Thinking... experimenting... adjusting to reality and whatnot.

There is simply no way to get a rivet gun into the space around the brackets, so I went with 1/4-20 stainless bolts with lock nuts for final installation... when the time comes.

Holes drilled larger and bolts test fit today.

 

[BWR1953]

Beaten but not defeated... yet. :mad-new:

The boy and I went out this evening after dinner to attack that bow brace yet again. And once more it thwarted our efforts. But tomorrow is another day.

Counter boring done.


Stainless washers test fitted.

 

[nrf414]

BWR1953 hey man it's some progress nonetheless. Just an idea that might help you in clearance issues is taking off the bow cap. You have the rub rails out already take out a few of the rub rail channel screws and skin on top and you will have better access. I removed it without but decided to replace that brace by taking out the skin on top. Dont have to but could be easier.

 

[BWR1953]

BWR1953 hey man it's some progress nonetheless. Just an idea that might help you in clearance issues is taking off the bow cap. You have the rub rails out already take out a few of the rub rail channel screws and skin on top and you will have better access. I removed it without but decided to replace that brace by taking out the skin on top. Dont have to but could be easier.

Yah, removing the bow cap was suggested months ago when we first started on the bow brace. But I knew that doing so would have added a full year to the project. Seriously. So I decided to leave the cap in place.

 

[BWR1953]

Got the bow brace INSTALLED today!

Only a month after being removed! :lol:


Large flange rivets in place! Yeah, we scratched up the paint a bit during handling, etc. but it's going to be color painted anyway so we'll re-prime then.



This is how it looked with the alignment screws holding everything in place before rivet installation.



We're still awaiting delivery of the shorter rivets for the thru-hull section of the brace. But installing those will be a very simple task. Remove one bolt at a time and replace with a rivet. No worries.

 

[baldwibr]

Glad to hear you finally got it figured out!! :clap2:

 

[Watermann]

Good times, your "Arch nemesis" has been vanquished. :lol:

Wait until you see how tough that Chief's arch is stuck in there.

 

[BWR1953]

Good times, your "Arch nemesis" has been vanquished. :lol:

Wait until you see how tough that Chief's arch is stuck in there.

"Arch" nemesis is right! LMAO! :lol:

It's been awhile, but the last time I checked the Chief, the wood under the bow was all still good. Looked like beautiful mahogany or something.

 

[Watermann]

"Arch" nemesis is right! LMAO! :lol:

It's been awhile, but the last time I checked the Chief, the wood under the bow was all still good. Looked like beautiful mahogany or something.

Yeah but it has to come out, be sanded and then sealed in spar.

 

[BWR1953]

Yeah but it has to come out, be sanded and then sealed in spar.

:wacko: :wacko: :wacko: :wacko:

:Cry: :Cry: :Cry: :Cry:

layful: :lol:

 

[BWR1953]

Received the short grip rivets for the thru-hull bracket connections this afternoon. Popped those babies into place in just a couple minutes. That's all I did today other than rest my left leg.

 

[BWR1953]

My morning and early afternoon were shot today. Had breakfast with my buddy then we ran the roads taking care of errands.

Got some "smalls" work done today though. I went out early this afternoon (by myself and was admonished by my wife for it ) and took a look at all the holes in the KF gunnel topsides that needed to be filled. Or not. I just wasn't sure and did other stuff while I thought about it some more.

So I scrounged around and found some nav and anchor lights and one base. Missing some stuff. The KF didn't have everything when purchased, nor did the donor boat. Did some testing and cleanup on what I did find though. If I was going to have holes in the boat, I figured I'd be ready to make bigger holes too.

When I came back into the house I did some research on a variety of rod holders. Most of the holes on the port side gunnel (about a dozen of them) were evenly spaced and had circles around the holes. Obviously from some type of rod holder put there by a PO. My wife likes pan fishing so I thought that I might get away with not filling those holes. But after thinking about it for awhile and doing some research, I decided to fill the holes anyway.

A bit corroded.

 

[nrf414]

BWR1953 that's how I filled my gunwale holes also. It's pretty easy material to work with just a little stinky :lol:

looking good!