1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

[TheCamel]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

Trying to determine which to use, glass or epoxy at this point. The fun part is going to be removing the cap I think, as the Bow on this is ALL fiberglass from the cabin forward. I was working on removing the carpet that I could see from inside the front 2 wells, when I realized the factory installed the carpet under the cap as well... I will not be doing the same, that is for sure.

Going to have to clean out the garage too, as I am sure the city is not going to like an eyesore like this outside much longer.

Another thought I was tossing around, When I was stationed in Okinawa we were having a heck of a time keeping any type of wood on stake bed trucks, or in flat bed trailers. Due to the large amount of salt air, even 1/8 diamond plate was rusting through in less than 2 years. So they ordered in Plastic lumber. Now I am still researching this, but about the only drawback I can see would be is the weight of it. But it would also eliminate the need to glass it all in, as the lumber is not subject to rot like the wood is. This idea is for the stringers only, as a full sheet of 4x8 is over the $200.00 mark so the deck would not be worth the cost. But you would never have to worry about the stringers again.

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

Hey camel im in Magnolia DE. If you want to know of a good place to secure some fresh poly resin that the people get in 55 gal drums, PM me and we can talk boats! You can scroll through my photos too but i know of some good poly resin thats around us. If your interested.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

If nothing else, it don't cost nothing to tear it apart now. Even if you don't finish it off, it'll be less work after you get moved into Tampa...
- Scott

 

[TheCamel]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

Drewmitch44, I just might hit you up on that poly. I need to get it torn down and see what I am working with prior to buying any replacement goodies.

Another question for you guys...

Once a major reconstruction is done like this, do I need to take the boat for an inspection prior to putting the floor back in? I see in some of the posts that the coast guard mandates that you put foam in after a certain year. Not sure if once I get the stringers all in, if I need to take it somewhere to have it blessed before I put the deck over all the work. I do not have a yellow plate on the boat saying so many passengers, or the weight limit either, do I need it?

 

[fixb52s]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

No Coast Guard inspection is required. I would take a lot of photos and have them in an album. I am getting mine inspected by the Tampa Power Squadron soon and plan to show them the photos of mine.

For the plate, I don't know if you will be able to find one for that boat, but there is a guy on ebay who has some OEM plates. Check with him (search ebay) and see what he has.​

 

[TheCamel]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

First roadblock was hit today. I do not think there is Marine grade plywood available in this state.

The minimum wage guy at Home Depot wanted to tell me that pressure treated plywood was the same thing. I am looking at the layers on it, and laughing. Tried to explain to the young man that it was more like a cabinet grade, with a waterproof glue, he decided to tell me I was wrong, and that his pressure treated stuff was what I needed. I am sure at 19yrs old, he has plenty of construction experience, let alone boat skills.

Off to 84 Lumber, These guys do not even have more than 3 sizes, and all are interior grade stuff. They pull a phone number from a rolodex, wipe the dust off it and tell me there used to be a guy in Baltimore (about 2 hrs from here) that carried the stuff, but not even sure if he is in business.

Lowes does not carry the stuff in a tri-state area (NJ, DE, Eastern PA) in an area less than 2 hrs from here.

Looking at the price to freight in 6-8 sheets is not worth the cost either.

Suggestions?

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

I've used AB exterior in mine.... Works fine in areas not in direct contact with the water.
- Scott

 

[TheCamel]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

Started on the cap rail removal today. My daughters (13 & 14) decided they wanted to work on the boat too. My son (5) just wants to know when he can use his sponge bob fishing pole on the boat. Ah to be young and only worry about when you can go fishing again.

Anyhow on to the updated pics for today:

Once all the screws were out, I was able to lift the back corner of the cap up . So now I know there is not a sealant holding it down. Now to figure out how to get it lifted up high enough to get the boat out from under neath it

Good news came in a phone call today as well. As you all saw in the first few pictures I had no real interior in this boat, nor did I know how the side panels were setup. But a quick call to Landau boats and they patched me through to Stan in the historical section. He is going to email me some pictures and stuff from when the boats were new. So that brought a smile to my face. I will post them here when I get them.

Work had to stop early again tonight due to a major thunderstorm, no sooner did we get the tools cleaned up and the sky opened up

 

[EricR]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

YARRRRR!!!! To work ye little wenches, while cap'n makes important phone callls!

 

[TheCamel]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

LOL, that is not me, that is my friend, he is here more than my kids it seems. He is like my brother. Pics of me will come later I am sure.

 

[TheCamel]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

I swear the weatherman has it in for me, the weather has not been cooperating one bit for all of this. Once you have a major outside project that has to be done, the storms roll in. Had to drain nearly 5 inches of water out of the boat again today, and more thunderstorms are expected this evening.

Trying to figure a way to get this cap off. I have come to the conclusion its gonna take an A frame. Problem is, I am not sure how I am going to setup the mounting of the lifting slings to the cap. I am sure the cleats are not strong enough to support the weight and more than likely would pull through. And the thing that worries me the most is the weight of the bow section compared to the rear, thats definitely and imbalance. Now if I had the ability to work on it in my Air Force shop, this would be a 20 minute job due to the 3 ton overhead cranes we have there, and 50 ft+ ceilings, but out here on your own, this is not the easiest thing to work with.

 

[oscar80]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

Could you do it using the car lift at the Auto Hobby shop. I guess depends on the management there if they would let you.

Dave

 

[tysonnathan]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

Ah, Boat Angel.... I am working on one of their boats that I bought in early May as well. I think I got a pretty good deal, even with the rot that I found . I have been looking into stringer repair too. I have been told by a few fiberglass guys that the resin will not adhere well to poly materials... or treated wood for that matter. They have all said that if the job is done right with regular ply materials, it will outlast the rest of the boat. I was considering doing the work myself, but after thinking it over, I will probably take it somewhere to have it done. I was quoted $2500 for stringer, deck, and transom repair with a guarentee that it will outlast the rest of the boat. With the materials for the job est. @ $1200 and the time that I would have to put into the project, I would rather let someone else do it. You might want to look into whether or not your transom is rotted... I was told that if you have stringer rot there is a 90% chance you will need some transom work too.
For my boat, I am going with a roll-on rubberized coating for the interior deck. All of my deck rot was in places where the carpet would not dry. The rubberized coating will be waterproof too so it will serve as another barrier to keep water from where I dont want it.
Good luck with your boat! This is my first major project boat so I am learning as I go.

 

[TheCamel]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

Could you do it using the car lift at the Auto Hobby shop. I guess depends on the management there if they would let you.

Dave

Thats a thought, if I did not have the 3 foot underneath the windshield. The front section will not go high enough to get the boat out from underneath it that way.

 

[Coors]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

Ah, Boat Angel.... I am working on one of their boats that I bought in early May as well. I think I got a pretty good deal, even with the rot that I found . I have been looking into stringer repair too. I have been told by a few fiberglass guys that the resin will not adhere well to poly materials... or treated wood for that matter. They have all said that if the job is done right with regular ply materials, it will outlast the rest of the boat. I was considering doing the work myself, but after thinking it over, I will probably take it somewhere to have it done. I was quoted $2500 for stringer, deck, and transom repair with a guarentee that it will outlast the rest of the boat. With the materials for the job est. @ $1200 and the time that I would have to put into the project, I would rather let someone else do it. You might want to look into whether or not your transom is rotted... I was told that if you have stringer rot there is a 90% chance you will need some transom work too.
For my boat, I am going with a roll-on rubberized coating for the interior deck. All of my deck rot was in places where the carpet would not dry. The rubberized coating will be waterproof too so it will serve as another barrier to keep water from where I dont want it.
Good luck with your boat! This is my first major project boat so I am learning as I go.

Have them put that in writing, and notarized.

 

[Coors]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

2 backhoes? Or a boom truck, with a 4-way spreader bar?

 

[oscar80]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

You dont think you could get it high enough to get over the console?

Dave

 

[tysonnathan]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

Have them put that in writing, and notarized.

I actually got that same quote from two different fiberglass shops. The one who guaranteed that it would outlast the rest of the boat has been at it for 42 years now. He actually redid my grandfathers 1972 18' Cobia in the early 80s. We still have the boat and have never had another problem with rot.

I guess my point is, there are people out there who can do a really good job with fiberglass. And, if done correctly, the job will likely last much longer than the manufacturers work.... Oddly enough, manufacturers woodwork usually lasts about a year longer than the warranty.

But, your right.... Something in writing would be nice..

 

[TheCamel]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

Well I think we finally have it figured out on how to get the top off. Looking through Oop's thread again I found what he used, and did a quick inventory of the scrap wood in the basement and found that I will be doing something similar.

I have plenty of wood, and will be heading to Lowes for the rigging. Plan is to lift the cap high enough to place 2x4's underneath it, and place eye bolts into the ends as spreader bars. The using a 1/4 in steel cable similar to the boat winch to run through some type of pulley system on each end. Going to head to Lowes to see what I can get cheap for the pulleys, and cable attachments. Construction is due to start about 8am tomorrow (Saturday Jun 7th) and I will take plenty of pictures to show how we did it all.

Thanks for the ideas though guys, but hiring in outside help at this point is just not in the budget. I also would have had to hire them again to put this back on. So that would have been a double expense.

 

[fixb52s]

Re: 1986 Landau Bowrider restoration

Instead of constructing that huge crane thing, try this:​

I built 2 large sawhorses to support the cap on the Supra I was working on a few years ago. I made them out of a 2X8 top and 2X6 legs with a few cross braces. I made them tall enough to allow the hull to be rolled out from under it. I have a photo on another computer and will post them when I can find them. I had about 5 airmen over to lift the front of the cap, and one put the sawhorse undet it. Then we did the same thing to the rear. When the cap was sitting above the hull on the sawhorses, I hooked up the lawn tractor and rolled the hull out. Then we lifted the cap off the sawhorses and put it on the ground, supported with a few jackstands.​

It worked great, but the damn tree decided to drop a 4 inch dia. limb on it during a storm, breaking it in two. That sucked.

As for hired help, Airmen are cheap . Pizza and beer works better than cash.​