1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

To replace the rubrail, smooth aluminum (no rubber), I need to grind the interior fiberglass seam at the cap & hull joint under the gunnel. I had thought I needed to pull the cap, but I may spot grind at the rubrail bolts that are covered & forgo removing the cap.... With the bulbous fins extending past the transom in the back, I think 'glassing them from the inside since 'glass is fairly thin throughout, would be much easier to do w/out the cap installed. Now that I am less then 2 states away from the boat, I plan to spend some time with a grinder on her. She & I are neither 1 looking forward to it. But that was why I bought the 36grit....

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Turns out the trailer has an adjustable length tongue. Shortened it up @ 24", relocated the winch, and got it tucked into the garage. Looks like life & work will get in the way of any notable progress until after Xmas. I have to go out of town until 24hrs before I take a 6day break to have early xmas in Louisville. Then it's a hectic work week until Xmas. The good news is I only have to work on Wed between Xmas & New Years, so maybe if the weather will hold out. The warden has already expressed a dislike of the grinder in front of the garage door, so I may need to push it out of the garage to do more cutting & grinding.

I did get the original seat bases & the control 'box' and some of the deck edge 'glass cutout & ground smooth before starting the trailer work to get her in the garage. Also got the motor stand together for the OB.

Thanks for all the great threads, I'll keep up to date on others threads as best I can, and make some progress & post updates on my project when I can. Great time to collect info, ideas, parts & pieces. Hope to fall into a deal on that 2nd motor!

 

[archbuilder]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Nice little hull you have there, I can't wait to follow your build. On the crazing, I think you really need to grind that down to the glass and fair it out. What you have is pretty bad, and if you don't grind it down I think it will telegraph through.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Thanks Arch, incredible watching you work through the 'toon planning! And Miss Morgan is fantastic! Really nice work & project threads.

I watched a video on using multiple layers of small torn pcs of CSM (small 1st, then each additional layer a little bit bigger) to fill in the lows after grinding out the cracks. Once it's close, fairing w/ course filler, topped with 'finishing' filler. Not sure that's the correct term, but you get the idea. The feather edges of the torn CSM sand & fair better.

I need to shoot some photos of the interior 'glass finished look. It is really course roving texture with the factory splatter paint. I like the look of the splatter, but HATE the waffle texture. I had intended to finish the deck with duraback anti slip, and the interior sides w the smooth duraback. The waffle texture's impedance to the durabeck sticking & staying stuck. I'll shoot photos soon.

Thanks

 

[archbuilder]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

One thing you might want to think about with the duraback, is that you loose the sound deading qualities of the carpet. Some people are ok with that, personally I like carpet.....its easy on the feet! Have you thought about snap in carpet and the duraback? Just a thought, it might not work out with your seating / deck layout.

 

[andgott]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

I need to shoot some photos of the interior 'glass finished look. It is really course roving texture with the factory splatter paint. I like the look of the splatter, but HATE the waffle texture. I had intended to finish the deck with duraback anti slip, and the interior sides w the smooth duraback. The waffle texture's impedance to the durabeck sticking & staying stuck. I'll shoot photos soon.

Thats a VERY common finish treatment on older boats- It's called Zolatone. It was a fast and easy way to kind of conceal the 'waffle', which is actually the fiberglass roving... I 'copied' it on my Glasspar-

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=355668&page=4

About 1/2 way down the page... It turned out pretty good. YOu can use the original Zolatone, too- If you can find someone in your area that applies it, or you want to buy the tools

-Andrew

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Arch: I actually really like the rubber backed 'weighted' carpet that friscoboater used. I will have a fairly small area comparatively. But I want to get it water ready, and it may not include carpet initially. If I go light on the duraback anti slip, I'd use it & add carpet later.

Andgott: I couldn't remember 'Zolatone'. Since I'm tabbing & glassing the new deck and redoing the control box mount, I need to blend new work w/ old & hide the waffle. What prep did you do over the existing zolatone before repainting & adding splatter on your Glassport?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Andgott: still looking to see how you prepped the Zolatone to accept a new finish. W/ the rough woven roving texture, is a stripping wheel sufficient??

Wiping it w/ thinner approved for my paint choice? w Primer 1st, then 1 background color, and 1-2 colors of splatter, all in the same paint family: duraback, rustoleum, pettite etc?

Been out of town and running through possibilities & ideas, Hunting parts @ evil-bay, & CL. Again on a hunt for a single 50-75hp motor. Have a good lead, that I can talk the warden into a side trip, I may bring back a 65hp merc w/ all the bells & whistles, except T&T, from our trip to Louisville.

Be well & have a good weekend & 1st half of next week. I'll have little progress, but hope to continue the hunting, planning & keeping up w a few threads I follow......

Keeping the plan moving, small steps.........

 

[andgott]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Andgott: still looking to see how you prepped the Zolatone to accept a new finish. W/ the rough woven roving texture, is a stripping wheel sufficient??

I used a pressure washer first- It removed probably 80% or more of the old zolatone, right down to the 'glass. If you look at some of the earlier posts, you can see how bare the inside of the hull was. The areas that it didn't bring down all the way I used a nylon abrasive brush- One of those that goes on a drill... I think it was made by nyalox. There were some areas that I used a wire wheel on my grinder- just make sure it's a STAINLESS one, or you'll get rust spots later.

After that, I used a self-etching primer on the hull, it adheres well to fiberglass. The top coats are industrial enamel, There are any number of brands out there that are suitable. A good coat of the base went on first, then I mixed up batches of the 'drip' colors, and applied it. One tip- If you are doing greys like I did- Add a tiny amount of the color you intend to paint the boat- but just a TOUCH of it. I added a little tiny bit of red to mine, which made the grey a bit warmer. It is subtle, but it helps it to blend. That's my inner artist speaking

-Andrew

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Thanks andgott!

I picked up some supplies @harbor freight today. Castors for a cradle, 2nd grinder, grinder cutting discs & a 2nd flap wheel. Made a plan to get the boat off the trailer & onto a cradle.
On the way home we're making a short detour to inspect a Mercury 650 Thunderbolt. 100%, controls, tank, steering, new CDI, new props.

 

[andgott]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Nice... What year motor is it?? I repowerd my Glasspar with a Merc 850- It is much newer than the boat, but I put an older cowl and faceplate on it (which also happens to be a matching color!), and it looks great on there-

Best of all, it runs exceptionally well, and is very easy to get parts for, unlike some of the vintage motors.

I also replaced the old pulley and cable steering with a rotary helm- From the same donor boat. It is MUCH safer!

-Andrew

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Its a 1971, I had the same thought about changing to a different cowl, but was worried about fitment. But I've been looking @ evil-bay. Its a long LU so I need to change it or raise transom. Started a mercury thread.







I just noticed the Hixson, Tn: I spent many summers in Jasper & Chattanooga growing up. Nickajack Dam was a frequent fishing spot. Been a long time, but I remember it fondly.

Have a great week all, I'm 'working' on mine vicariously through your progress, so thanks for the boost.

John

 

[Trooper82]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

JBC

This is going to be an intersting thread to watch. Cool looking boat!

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Thanks Trooper82! Got a Catahoula? The warden & I are on our 2nd. First 1 was great, 14+yrs of Blue/Brindle w Blue eyes. This 1's better & he's deaf, White w/ gray spots. Been diabetic 1.5yrs, & now loosing his sight. Been fantastic! And both were great w/ our other dogs (pound mutts!)

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Well, dragged a 1971 650 Merc home & hung it temporarily on the transom. Need a 2nd motor stand. I must say, getting this beast out of the trunk of the Chrysler 200 rental & hung on the transom solo was the worst decision I've made & hands down the worst thing period I've done in months. Oh yeah, without an engine hoist or an overhead gantry. Man, am I whooped. Good news, no oil or bumper/taillight damage to the rental!!

Came w/: controls, steering (pulleys, but may save wheel), key, new CDI box, good looking tin. Means I need to raise the transom, been working on that plan. Also still looking for the short leg version. I may edit my 650 thunderbolt conversion thread to include adding T&T, seems like I read a thread tonight that had a few details off adding T&T.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Nice score on the motor JB, as usual pics for proof are required...Or is that it in Post#52???
Maybe be on the lookout for a short leg version with a blown powerhead?...
And I hope you didn't throw out your back too badly...

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Yep thats the som-b!t@h that whooped me right there in post #52. That's exactly what I'm doing, hunting a short leg & use this a s donor motor. I really like Andrews advice to re-cowl this 1 to look early 60's. Spent some time looking through that ny-guys site & like the early 650 badging on the 1964's, I think 1st or 2nd year the 650 was offered. could even use the gold metal turning vinyl that goes along the stern sides under the glastron script to replicate the look of the original embossed gold sticker border.

Thanks

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

I really like Andrews advice to re-cowl this 1 to look early 60's. Spent some time looking through that ny-guys site & like the early 650 badging on the 1964's, I think 1st or 2nd year the 650 was offered. could even use the gold metal turning vinyl that goes along the stern sides under the glastron script to replicate the look of the original embossed gold sticker border.

That is definitely a great idea, sure would make the engine look like it came with the boat, Nice!

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Yep, the gold turned metal vinyl looks really great behind the script GLASTRON logo on the boat I saw it on. I think it would replicate the 64/65yrs+/- 650 Thunderbolt motors front cover decals really well also.

The motor got me a tad lower & out front getting it over the trunk lip. Once it was upright & on the ground, it wasn't too bad.... And I don't want to do it again EVER! What a moron, the warden was less then thrilled....

I did track down a manual!

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: 1960 Glastron FireFlite has a new home!

Congrats on the new motor... When are going to start tearing that boat apart? We'll get cruel pleasure out of seeing people wrapped up in hazmat suits with respirators rolling around in fiberglass dust.