1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

[GT1000000]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Neat JB. I was about to say (guess I am saying) you should have put a Starmada logo under the butta, but this is a DuraCraft. :facepalm:

Do you remember who listed a bunch of Starmada member names under his floor epoxy? I'm drawing a blank.

The only one I remembered off hand was "oops!" who wrote the names of all the crew that helped him along the way to his stretch...If I recall it was on the bottom of one of the decks...then again, as was mentioned, that was on a glasser, so it may not carry too much weight around these parts...

I didn't mention it before, but I think Gus was the 1st to post a memorial to iboats. Since it was on a GLASSER, I choose to not mention it:

Props to GT1000000 ^^^

I constantly search, mostly in vain, for my little slice of tin...they are as rare and expensive around these parts as a 20 year old glasser with zero rot...

Anyhow, somehow, someway I had completely lost track of this build until I decided to look through your sig links...that's when I realized that the reason I wasn't getting any email updates was because I had never posted in this thread...I had only posted in the original version...

Hey, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it...

Well then, now that I have gotten all caught up and secured my email notifications on this thread...I can only say that the trials and tribulations experienced with non-curing epoxy and a successful re-application have made it all worthwhile...a definite learning experience for future epoxy appliers...sorry for the hard earned lesson, JC, but thanks for sharing...it may just save a future restorer some heart ache...

Nice score on the vintage bling! Original patina is nice, but fully restored and re-chromed would look absolutely perfect on this tin tub when you get done with it...

Now that you have scored some decent indoor working space...and I have found this thread......I will be fully expecting some serious progress on this really sweet looking Duracraft!

As always, the best to you and yours and may the tin boat gods smile kindly upon your efforts...
GT1M

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Welcome to the 'party' , GT, such that it is.... Happy to have ya.....

Someone's done an extremely thorough half arse job foaming this tankin place:

Glasser fuel tank: 1/2
JB: 0
:grumpy:

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Why is it when you want the tank to stay in place, it won't? And conversely, when you want it pop out, it won't. Is that some subset of Murphy's Law?

Nice work space, JB. Or will be once the donor gives up the tank. :smile:

I think I remember the Starmadian with the tribute - Boatnaut is dingin' the bell.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Nice work space, JB. Or will be once the donor gives up the tank. :smile:

And the 1350Merc w/ T&T

No hurry to move that beast. It's Gi-F'ing-Normus..... Tank 1st so the other donor can get hacked into chunks & thrown into it And it's got a fair amount of teak that can be recycled into a project or 2.

 

[dozerII]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

I feel for ya on foamed in tanks, the one in the 201 was like that. I had to dig all the foam out of the 1"pace around the tank to even get it to wiggle then lift it out.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

You can cut that tank out of that boat with just a piece of string, kinda like this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0GvqLFC32o

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Hmm, once I get the forward or rear uncovered, string I shall try.

For a funky nasty mess, the stringers & bulkheads along all 4 sides of the tank and the 1X1 cleats over the edge of the tank are all in surprisingly great shape, plus hard as kiln dried hardrock maple and to avoid cutting or nicking the tank I'm not in a big hurry using a cutting tool around the it.

 

[sphelps]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

I have used the string trick many times to cut pipe in tight spots . You have to keep it moving or it will cool down and get stuck ..

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Why is it when you want the tank to stay in place, it won't? And conversely, when you want it pop out, it won't. Is that some subset of Murphy's Law?

Nice work space, JB. Or will be once the donor gives up the tank. :smile:

I think I remember the Starmadian with the tribute - Boatnaut is dingin' the bell.

JEEZZZZZ you people make a guy come back from Vacation just to dig through year old pics just to say HEY


If you aren't trying to save the boat, just knock it out with a long handled shovel.


Or a circular saw/ Sawzall around it.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Ok, Sig gets a nod too ^^^

Welcome back. Jeez, relax much on vacation? :laugh:

Hope you had a GREAT trip. Perfect timing too. The coming week won't be remotely similar weather....

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Other than Tuesday had a great time.

This is unfortunately what my Mom came home to.




I hear its suppossed to get nasty this week, the shop is all buttoned up all the Tinnys are covered and safe. Insurance is paid up hopefully all the rain will help fill Douglas Lake she is still sitting kind of Low.


Your donor is rotten fiberglass Push a shovel inbetween the stringer and the tank that stringer will pop right loose. Make sure the tank is empty those suckers a real pain to move when fully loaded.


CONGRATS on the new hangar, much needed. Now lets see you get her splashed.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

I dented one of the welded corners trying to pry out the stringer already. For a rotten mess, the poorly redone tank installation is holding fast.:blue: I'll get some time with it after 6p tonight, so we'll see.

Bummer on the wrecked car.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

I dented one of the welded corners trying to pry out the stringer already. For a rotten mess, the poorly redone tank installation is holding fast.:blue: I'll get some time with it after 6p tonight, so we'll see.

Bummer on the wrecked car.

Use a grinder and cut the stringer out from the back side of the gas tank.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Use a grinder and cut the stringer out from the back side of the gas tank.

But won't that damage the fiberglass? Don't stop at the stringer, cut the glasser in half.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

JC : 1/4
Glasser: 0

:watermelon: It's going the right way now......

Somebody call a priest, I don't think this boat's gonna make it:

:faint2:
I just have to remove everything that's NOT an aluminum fuel tank :facepalm:

Perhaps it'll break free Tues pm.

 

[Watermann]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

I used a skillsaw on my old McRotten to get to the good stuff. Poor ole rot bucket. :heh:

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Hey JB - I've seen plenty of glasser threads about cutting through the bottom like that. The glass experts say it will buff out. :lol:

Now just carry on and continue the cut until you run out of boat.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Truth be told, the grinder & cutting wheel are over there in my space somewhere, in a box. I looked for a bit when I was ready to start cutting. Found the sawzall 1st & got to cutting......

Also started dismantling the rack & pinion steering so I can pull the OB off soon. Gotta get the tilt tube connection loosened.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

I have heard somewhere that when you remove the aluminum from a fiberglass boat, they just become un-glued and fall apart into little pieces...

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

I have heard somewhere that when you remove the aluminum from a fiberglass boat, they just become un-glued and fall apart into little pieces...

It's not a rumor GT, I heard it's TRUE, esp if Jas' is spotted in the neighborhood..........

JB 1
Glasser 0


When you find this under your boat, it's usually a BAD sign:

Well, isn't this interesting, a floor mounted viewing port to see if the trailer is STILL under the boat while under way:

The point of all of this:

Seems to be relatively corrosion free:

On to finish pulling the steering & getting the ToP 1350 BEAST off the back.........

The forum came back online just in time, I was about to start having withdrawl.....