180 SS New to the Forums.

[DirtyHarry83]

Here I remembered that I needed a rough idea where the holes lined up on the deck. I epoxied T-nuts in to the deck before installation to allow bolts to be used for seat mounting. I'll use some 4200 as a lock tight and to seal under the seat pedestals.

Here is a test fit. The seats do flex under me and it's a little uncomfortable from a strength standpoint. I need to add some plywood below these seats. I'll seal the plywood pieces with epoxy, prime and paint them black. I have some dislike to the eye-line provided from the seats to the windshield in a mock fit. I may be raising my windshield. I have some frame ideas made of plywood and again sealed with epoxy. I will carpet the booster frame to go with the consoles.

 

[Watermann]

Hey looking good, nice progress! :thumb:

Did you put a backer piece of plywood on the underside of the decking where the seats mount? If you have some left over vinyl deck covering you could just wrap the support pads under the seats and that would blend right in.

 

[DirtyHarry83]

Watermann,

To answer your first question. The undersides of my deck are doubled up where the pedestal seats are located, plus my stringers run right under there as well. I had to notch out the decking blocks to accept the stringers.


I unfortunately do not have enough left over material for wrapping the under seat plywood. I do like that idea though for the next guy that goes with vinyl floors NOTE that and buy maybe extra 3 running foot to cover extra items. That vinyl would have made the under seat areas look sharp.

 

[DirtyHarry83]

Change of plans. I decided that a bow rider bench deck doesn't suit my needs as much as a complete casting deck. I went ahead and shifted my deck layout to be one piece and with a 3 hatch setup. One hatch at the bow end for a deep cycle battery box and two side storage boxes for life jackets/throwables/towels/foul weather gear and other stuff.

Here I've just butt jointed for fit check and added reference lines for center and replacement

Planning for deck mount for a removal pedestal seat

It was fun sitting on this deck planning out the lines. It made me feel like a kid drawing on a driveway.

For support of these decks I think I'm going to add a second sheet that will serve as a catch for the hatches to keep them from falling through and as stiffness to the deck. It will also add weight to the bow for a potentially better ride.

 

[DirtyHarry83]

I'll be busy tonight so more to come tomorrow.

 

[Watermann]

Nice plan, I did the same in the bow of my SS, casting deck with 2 gp 27 batteries below for the bow mount TM with a pedestal seat, way better layout for fishing than seats. :thumb:

 

[DirtyHarry83]

Nice Watermann!

Yeah, I decided that I'll be fishing for a majority of the time that I am on the boat. I might as well build her for fishing.

I cut out some hatches. The port and starboard hatches are for storage and the bow hatch is for my Deep cycle battery.

I did get a good coat of epoxy on the deck, this will be the penetrating coat and the second I'll leave a little thicker for a boundary.

My anchor locker deck. I put some blocks under it for an air barrier. I did not seal the bottom yet as I am doing 1 side at a time and the edges will receive extra coats in the process.

Here is the power that will pull her a long. My Dad gave me a Minn Kota 55lb thrust bow mount motor.

 

[DirtyHarry83]

I am doubling the deck support. This will also provide hatch support.

Here are the cut outs.

I sealed these pieces with epoxy.

This lead me to an issue with providing adequate spacing to allow for edge tucking the carpet. If I didn't allow for space to tuck the carpet or when I wrap the hatches they will be a little thicker with carpet wrapped around the edges.

So I grabbed some hardboard, cut it wider than the hatch openings by almost an inch.

Here I sandwiched everything together carefully.

I epoxied the face down side of the back plate to seal that end, and once this bond is complete everything else will be sealed with epoxy. I started using epoxy as the bonding agent but that hardboard was soaking up the epoxy like a sponge. I went to plan B and used gorilla int/ext glue. It's a very strong glue so I won't lose strength. I'll save a lot of $$ this way. I know I need to buy more clamps :facepalm:. I ended up using drywall screws as temporary clamps. It puts holes in through all of the middle layers. When this bond is set, and I start applying sealing layers of epoxy it will give more surface area between each piece for a bigger bond. :laugh: At least that's what I told myself. The important thing is this deck is definitely not going to come apart. I also started the build of a center post that will support where the removable pedestal bow seat will be located.

 

[Watermann]

Another option to carpet wrapping is trimming the hatches and deck opening with angle AL. It also gives a nice finished look but of course adds expense to the build.

 

[crankbait cowboy]

looking good DH, and nice progress

 

[DirtyHarry83]

Another option to carpet wrapping is trimming the hatches and deck opening with angle AL. It also gives a nice finished look but of course adds expense to the build.

I like the look and the idea. The only reason I won't do it is because the aluminum would potentially make for a hot surface. I have a feeling my little ones will want to sit up there when at a slow cruise. Otherwise I like the idea.

 

[DirtyHarry83]

Here I've done some layout work for the bow hatch.

I added some coats of epoxy to seal the plywood.

I added some carpet to the hull walls for the hatch area below.

I bonded the support portion of the deck and hatch.

 

[DirtyHarry83]

I've got some interesting ideas to build my bow deck for motor support. There was a tiny tear that started from the old electric motor. I'll use JB weld (love that stuff) to repair damage from the old motor, also I'll add JB to fill each hole from the old motor and the old bow light at the tip of the bow.

 

[DirtyHarry83]

I got a lot of work done. Time well spent.

I did a few test fits the deck does not move at all under me but I decided to add a center post anyway for a future bow seat.

I added carpet for a softer surface in storage areas. The post is sealed with epoxy, I plan on wrapping this with carpet as well. I bolted the aluminum angle on where it meets the post and used screws to the deck. Hand tightened to avoid slippage.

Here is a test fit before mounting.

I added some glue every surface is sealed with epoxy. I also have a wall that supports the lip to the battery box under the main deck, it's added support and a divide between storage and battery. I used 1/4 inch aluminum angle. The same is used to mount the center post to the deck. I'll get a picture up tomorrow.

Here is my idea for the bow deck support. I am going to make 3 sheets of underlayment into a 23/32 (3/4) inch sheet of plywood.

I am going to seal each layer separately, and then bond each with more glue. I'll add rivets from the aluminum skin on top. This will make a strong sandwich. I won't be walking on this deck but it will definitely hold a bow mount motor.

 

[Watermann]

There must be a sweet smell inside your garage with everything going on, I already miss those aromas of boat rebuilding success. Nice work!

 

[coostv]

I like your idea for the bow. I did mine as two layers of 3/4" plywood.I will be adding a piece similar to what you did with the opening, but it will be removable and still provide support.

Keep at it, it is coming along nicely!

 

[DirtyHarry83]

There must be a sweet smell inside your garage with everything going on, I already miss those aromas of boat rebuilding success. Nice work!

You aren't kidding on the smells. haha. I'll be sad when I don't have the nightly project. I mean I'll find stuff to do but I know the first time feeling is fleeting. haha

I like your idea for the bow. I did mine as two layers of 3/4" plywood.I will be adding a piece similar to what you did with the opening, but it will be removable and still provide support.

Keep at it, it is coming along nicely!

Thanks!. Nice idea on the bow access.
It's amazing how much strength is added from a doubling of the plywood.

 

[DirtyHarry83]

Here is the back wall to the battery box,

This also shows the added rivet support. It's not going to come apart. Haha

This installation was by far the most tedious work.

I added carpet over the vinyl floor in the hatch spaces again as a noise dampener.

The plastic putty knife is what I used to press the overlapping carpet into the gaps I made with the spacers.

I sealed the underlayment Monday night, I added the glue to each layer. I also added rivets through the wood to compound the bond. I also used rivets to anchor the wood to the ledges.

I added this as a test fit, and to get a feel for how the layout will look initially.

I added through rivets, to compound the decking to the outer skin.

How I compensated for the deck hatches to the gas tank hose lines.

More to come guys, I am grinding to the home stretch.

 

[DirtyHarry83]

gear shift. I put off painting three things that I need to paint!

One OB Cowl.

I tried using a heat gun but for some reason it activated the glue. I stopped and proceeded to peel off the label with a razor. I think having flashbacks to shaving the glue off of the gunnels.

It went so well, I was starting to shave the old paint. Yikes.

After that kind of work, I wanted to take a little breather. (yes an "Airplane" joke.)

I did some test fits of how I would attach the bow mount motor.

I am thinking a bit more toward the gunnel than this shot.

And now back to our regularly scheduled paint job.

Primer.

We'll wait to paint this cowl and start the work when I can open the door. Enough fumes in here to make me :der: er

 

[Watermann]

You're doing what I did on my Chief towards the finish line, frantic pecking all over from one end to the other :lol:

Coming together nicely :thumb: