1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Don't blame the rivets for being hard to drill out. It's the snow blocking the target. It does look like Gluvit is gonna be delayed. :smow:

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

The drilling wasn't the hard part, it was the keeping the bit centered on the mushroom'd end..... The exterior thru hull rivets drilled out easy....

I actually need to get some more of the interloping roots removed from some of the ribs/bench seat supports @ the interior hull :facepalm: before any sealing work can be considered...........

I may give that a go if I can get the bench seat top out tomorrow.........

I was thinking I might ought to send the hull south for a month or 2. Maybe down south, it'd be warm enough for Gluvit to be applied...........

 

[sphelps]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Making great progress ! Is that snow or did ya get one of those shave ice machines ..
The epoxy did make a little mess . Hope it don't stick to the table .

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

No worries, it's plasticized paper & the transom is up on blocks. The mixing cups may not fair as well though...................

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

I was thinking I might ought to send the hull south for a month or 2. Maybe down south, it'd be warm enough for Gluvit to be applied...........

Put the hull on a Greyhound bus and send it down. It may warm up enough to cure by Spring. :facepalm: We're in a cold snap too. No snow, but plenty cold for here.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

GA: Thanks for the offer, but I was thinking further south....

GT1M is working on a guy from work's boat, wiring & such, I was thinking his joint could stand to get a short term infusion of some tin

^^^Hint hint^^^ nudge nudge ^^^ All I want for Christmas is 40acres, a mule & a stinkin' pole barn w/ a roof & some heat :watermelon:

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Maybe you wanna winter down there. too. :joyous:

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Ah, ^^^ the evil genius of my plan has been exposed.......

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Well the bus idea was iffy. Personal delivery is best! :evil:

 

[59 Fatty]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Hey JB,
How did you take off the engine?

 

[m casey stock]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Wow!! I am so glad that I didn't have to do all that to mine. Water drains fine from front to rear and there are no signs of roots or other debris jutting out from under the seats. I have wondered about the floatation but not enough to remove the bench caps. I did think at one time about cutting hatch doors in them for storage, but decided for what I will be using the boat for (just cruising around) I didn't need the storage. My other thought was to maybe just drill some holes just under the top cap lip where it wouldn't be noticed and spraying expanding foam in the cavity. I wasn't sure how well the foam would hold up and didn't want it braking apart and causing drainage issues. Anyway, my hats off to you for diving in. As for the coming down south part, its a nice brisk 26 deg. here this morning, but no snow :whoo: You are welcome to come use the project corner of my shop, it's heated and well lit and the lake is just minutes away if you want to brave the wind and cold for a test run.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Hey JB, How did you take off the engine?

Grab & grunt w/ a buddy :facepalm:. We did lift the tongue until the motor skeg was just a couple inches off the ground to make it less strenuous.....

Grabbed it....
Just lifted it until it cleared the transom & set it down.... Carp, FAT50 is right....
Then set it on a 4wheel dolly, and rolled it into winter storage...... Been there since.....

I need to get it & the spare parts motor in the same location, w/ the 3rd cowl & get to tearing in to them. I've got a few new parts & pieces, but haven't done ANYTHING to either motor, except to ensure they aren't locked up....

I just need to have 2 people load the spare motor at the house, then bring it over to the boat shed* and put them both on engine stands that I built 2weeks ago......

*the boat shed would be a building we are SLOOOWLY remodeling into a training facility for our workers to be trained in food service & earn their food handler's permit. It's almost 4000SqFt per floor and has a nice big & flat parking lot littered w/ a few of my project boats.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Wow!! I am so glad that I didn't have to do all that to mine. Water drains fine from front to rear and there are no signs of roots or other debris jutting out from under the seats. I have wondered about the floatation but not enough to remove the bench caps. I did think at one time about cutting hatch doors in them for storage, but decided for what I will be using the boat for (just cruising around) I didn't need the storage. My other thought was to maybe just drill some holes just under the top cap lip where it wouldn't be noticed and spraying expanding foam in the cavity. I wasn't sure how well the foam would hold up and didn't want it braking apart and causing drainage issues. Anyway, my hats off to you for diving in. As for the coming down south part, its a nice brisk 26 deg. here this morning, but no snow.
You are welcome to come use the project corner of my shop, it's heated and well lit and the lake is just minutes away if you want to brave the wind and cold for a test run.

Thanks, I had some concerns early on about all the rivets I'd likely to be removing, but am over that, for the most part. If I pull the front bench top today, I'll have to put it back on. My jerry-rigged support isn't a good long term design...

Thanks for the offer of the corner space. I'd LOVE to have an enclosed space to store & work on a project. I've got nearly 30days of vacation & personal time currently, and I know I SHOULD use them, but I usually don't. I will be re-evaluating my work situation at the 1st of the year to address USING my EARNED vacation time.

Life is to unpredictable & I owe my Admiral significantly more of my time & attention. 21yrs together yesterday. Slipped right by me :facepalm: Of course I remembered our wedding anniversary, was off all day & spent it w/ her, so I did get some leeway for our 1st date 'anniversary'......... 1 of the 'made up' Hallmark occasions...

Thanks again for the offer, if it was significantly less then 2+ states away, I'd be right over

 

[bear_69cuda]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Brutha JB,

Just found your new project... Love the vintage Duracraft! Great lines! I'll be following along now, takin notes and learning more about tin boats....

 

[lokonn]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

JB just found your thread and got caught up. Great looking boat with cool motor. Can't wait to see this one come together.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Thanks Bear & Lokonn, nice to have you aboard........ It'll be a journey.

But rest asured there will be NO bow-ectomy nor any 'taking the top' off round these parts.

Checked in on the transom & epoxy, seems to be curing, mostly :facepalm: Re-check at lunch....

 

[59 Fatty]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

My engine weighs approximately 225 pounds! I found a chain fall on CL for 15 bucks, so I'm gonna get that and reinforce the trusses by jacking them with vertical 2x4's. I will post that escapade! LOL, I will have to do it by myself. All my friends are too old to help. :-( Mine is a 1/4 ton but looks similar

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

My engine weighs approximately 225 pounds! I found a chain fall on CL for 15 bucks, so I'm gonna get that and reinforce the trusses by jacking them with vertical 2x4's. I will post that escapade! LOL, I will have to do it by myself. All my friends are too old to help. :-(

Yep, at LEAST 225lbs......


I have a few motors that need to be moved around, what I really need is an engine hoist that I can roll in & out of my make shift shop.....

View attachment 217407 Mine is a 1/4 ton but looks similar

What we really need to work on these beasts is the forklift in that ^^^ pix

BTW: Have you noticed the Johnson bronze & white Fat50 on flea-bay lately? It's in Fl somewhere............

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

Thanks Bear & Lokonn, nice to have you aboard........ It'll be a journey.

But rest asured there will be NO bow-ectomy nor any 'taking the top' off round these parts.

Checked in on the transom & epoxy, seems to be curing, mostly :facepalm: Re-check at lunch....

DOH. Unexpected 3.5hr road trip 1way for work just after lunch........... And back after dinner...........

Stopped at the shop on the way home & did a quick re-check of the transom. Additional areas have cured, but man, some is still fairly tacky.... Setup a supplemental heat source, so I'll have to check again 1st thing in the am..........

Not sure how fond I am about this whole epoxy taking days to dry situation when applied indoors & well above 60*...:watermelon:

And then a few more to fully cure.....

US Comp fast cure may be on the very near horizon.............

 

[zool]

Re: 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom

DOH. Unexpected 3.5hr road trip 1way for work just after lunch........... And back after dinner...........

Stopped at the shop on the way home & did a quick re-check of the transom. Additional areas have cured, but man, some is still fairly tacky.... Setup a supplemental heat source, so I'll have to check again 1st thing in the am..........

Not sure how fond I am about this whole epoxy taking days to dry situation when applied indoors & well above 60*...:watermelon:

And then a few more to fully cure.....

US Comp fast cure may be on the very near horizon.............

Im experiencing that too..During the summer, it would kick under 4 hrs..that was generally 80's and moderate humidity..this fall, coated wood isnt workable til the next day at best...gonna try the fast cure too, but wondering if USC chemistry is a bit "off"...so far its cured fine and the price is right.