1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

[micks110]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

I didn't bother at all because it's seacast and all voids are filled with pourable closed cell foam. The only way water is gonna get down there after I get done glassing the top of the deck is if I split the hull in half because I ran into a submerged steel beam or something very hard and pointy

If that happens it will be time for a new boat.

I thought about it, but how do you run a drainage system that doesn't get covered in pourable foam? I heard somewhere on here to put a rope under and then once the foam sets up pull the rope out. With my boat that would have been impossible. So long end of the short of it I went without it

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

The only way to know how heavy she is, is to haul it across a scale when it's roadworthy...a truck scale. Then compare that to whatever the manufacturers hull weight was...maybe you can find an Arkansas Traveler brochure or info on the Web. Fiberglassics used to have that stuff, but haven't checked lately.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Fiberglassics is kicking again...check this out:
http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/Arkansas_traveler
Looks like you might have a Polaris?

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Hey Mick,
I agree with arc. One thing I do know its not going to hurt. Just take a little more sanding. Either way will probably be fine, I would rather be safe then sorry.
Bob

 

[MTribe08]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

I didn't bother at all because it's seacast and all voids are filled with pourable closed cell foam. The only way water is gonna get down there after I get done glassing the top of the deck is if I split the hull in half because I ran into a submerged steel beam or something very hard and pointy

If that happens it will be time for a new boat.

I thought about it, but how do you run a drainage system that doesn't get covered in pourable foam? I heard somewhere on here to put a rope under and then once the foam sets up pull the rope out. With my boat that would have been impossible. So long end of the short of it I went without it

Fair enough, and thanks for the response. I hope when I'm done glassing in my deck there won't be any water under there either. However I added some drainage this time around, but I'm not using seacast and I was able to salvage 90% of the old foam, and I will be leaving a channel near the stringer.

Keep up the good work, the end is near!

 

[micks110]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Fiberglassics is kicking again...check this out:
http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/Arkansas_traveler
Looks like you might have a Polaris?

tmcalavy- I actually have the 15' Skijack. The only thing that I am not sure of is the year. I can't tell from the pictures in the brochure(I got the 1961 brochure like above off ebay) if it is the 61 or 62?

 

[MTribe08]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

I also filled the sides with some more glue and the shiplap joint as well. I'll clean/sand it up tomorrow

Hey Mick, did you use PL to fill in the sides?

 

[micks110]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Yeh, I used pl on the bottom and sides- overkill but I wanted to finish off what I bought.
Just finished glassing the bilge area. Deciding if I want to start the deck tonight or not
the glass I got from my dealer in 38"'s wide so I'm gonna have seems but oh well- supporting the local guy.
I'm putting down two layers of mat so it will be pretty well sealed for a long time.

 

[MTribe08]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Yeh, I used pl on the bottom and sides- overkill but I wanted to finish off what I bought.
Just finished glassing the bilge area. Deciding if I want to start the deck tonight or not
the glass I got from my dealer in 38"'s wide so I'm gonna have seems but oh well- supporting the local guy.
I'm putting down two layers of mat so it will be pretty well sealed for a long time.

Ok thanks! I'll follow your lead and do the same with my deck.

 

[micks110]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Well, I stayed up and did the first layer on glass on the floor. It's a little after 1am now and I am spent! That was hard! I went from back to front with full pieces of glass and I was sweating! I have some bubbles at my second stop because my first mix set up way to quick! I will have to sand them out tomorrow. I was on the sides of the boat, in the boat, out of the boat running to glass the second area before it set up. But I got the mix right the second time around and it didn't set up near as fast. That's a crappy feeling when you start to see it hoping up in the bucket and you still have stuff to do! In total I prob wasted 2 cans so far in this project. I'll take it though for my first time working with this stuff.

I'm pretty happy with how this first layer came out. Like I said I only have to sand out a couple bubbles before finishing up.
I am going to do the second layer from side to side so I will have a little forgiveness in between mixes.

I will post the pics from tonight tomorrow.

 

[micks110]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

OK I lied- I'll post the pics tonight.

The first thing I did was used some 3m bubbles to fill in and level the shiplap joint that I had between my two pieces of ply.

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Then I put two layers of glass in the bilge area and overlapped it on to the deck and up the transom and sanded the filler at the joint.

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Once the bilge area dried I went ahead and cut out my three pieces for my deck

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Then I polied it all in. Like I said earlier- this wasn't fun and I worked up quite a sweat working fast to get it all in before the poly set. Being a newbie at working with resins I still haven't mastered adding more or less hardener for working time. I was happy with the way it came out when all was said and done. I have 3 areas with bubbles that I have to sand down tomorrow before I put my second layer of glass on. Actually they aren't even bubbles- they are high spots because I recognized them while I was working and cut them with a knife a filled them with ploy while I was going.

Here is the finished product

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I have to sand tomorrow, vacuum, and wipe down with acetone. Then I will wrap up the deck project with my final layer of glass!

I guess after that I will move on to making supports to rest the boat on when I flip it to fill knicks on the bottom and then paint!!! Ahhh, I have to fiberglass the knee wall yet too. I've thought about how I was going to go about that. I think I'm going to glass all sides, then drill a hole and use the pourable foam I have left to fill the cavity. Or just buy a can of great stuff (minimal expansion) foam and spray it in.

Goodnight!

 

[archbuilder]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Hey Mick looks really nice! I remember doing the floor, you feel like you are in a marathon or something! I did mine in the summer, so one of the challenges was to keep the sweat pouring off of you from getting into the glass!

 

[obxhawk]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Mick,
This is beautiful work. I can't wait to get going on mine. Reading your thread has really boosted my confidence in knowing that there is so much help out there. Thanks for keeping this thread going.
Bill

 

[micks110]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Thanks guys! Arch- you are right about the marathon thing a d sweat. On top of the sweating you have to deal with gloves ripping, brushes and rollers getting hard, poly splattering on your eyelid because you are rushing, etc.. These all happened to me last night by the way
obx- this site is the best. I wouldn't have been able to do any of this without this forum and the awesome members!

 

[MTribe08]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

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Then I polied it all in. Like I said earlier- this wasn't fun and I worked up quite a sweat working fast to get it all in before the poly set. Being a newbie at working with resins I still haven't mastered adding more or less hardener for working time. I was happy with the way it came out when all was said and done. I have 3 areas with bubbles that I have to sand down tomorrow before I put my second layer of glass on. Actually they aren't even bubbles- they are high spots because I recognized them while I was working and cut them with a knife a filled them with ploy while I was going.

Great Job!..I glassed the bottoms of my deck boards yesterday, and I know what you mean about rushing to get the resin down..

How much resin did you mix up at one time? I've been doing a max of 32oz and having another couple buckets on standby ready for hardener.

What was your working temp in the garage?? How many ML/Hardener per oz/Resin did you use to gain some working time?? I'll be laying the resin in mid 70's weather.

 

[micks110]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

That exactly what I did- 32 ounces at a time with2 on stand by. My first batch I did 17cc of hardner at about 65 in the garage. Set up to fast so the next batch I went 16cc and that was perfect. That gave me enough time to do a little more that half the deck.

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Hey Mick,
The deck really looks good.
You mix about twice what I do. I always seem to have Murphy show up when I'm working so I err to the safe side. Most of the time I only do about 16 oz at a time, On large area's I may go a little more but I would rather mix it as I go.
Just my preference.
Once again, looks good.
Bob

 

[MTribe08]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

That exactly what I did- 32 ounces at a time with2 on stand by. My first batch I did 17cc of hardner at about 65 in the garage. Set up to fast so the next batch I went 16cc and that was perfect. That gave me enough time to do a little more that half the deck.

Ok, I've been using about 18cc. This chart I have says to use 20cc in 70-80 degree weather, but I've backed off. I'll go with 16 or so when I go to glass the deck in.

I need to get some more glass for the top side of the deck. I've been using CSM so far, should I get something else for the top? I saw you put down a cloth of some sort. I will be putting a paint over it and then laying in carpet. I was going to put down 2 layers of mat.

 

[micks110]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Bob- that's probably why I ended up wasting so much poly! Oh well

I don't even know what kind of fiberglass I'm using on the deck- it what my boat guy told me- maybe7 or 12 ounce mat. I still don't understand all the different kinds of fiberglass there is out there. I was going to use the strand stuff but I went with this instead based on his recomendation. I will be painting my deck with a non- skid paint.

 

[MTribe08]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Bob- that's probably why I ended up wasting so much poly! Oh well

I don't even know what kind of fiberglass I'm using on the deck- it what my boat guy told me- maybe7 or 12 ounce mat. I still don't understand all the different kinds of fiberglass there is out there. I was going to use the strand stuff but I went with this instead based on his recomendation. I will be painting my deck with a non- skid paint.

Ok thanks