1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Looking good...you do excellent work. Move slowly when you put the windshield back on...they are touchy.

 

[micks110]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Tm- how touchy??? I was thinking about going and getting the lexan this afternoon.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Should'a been clearer...old windshields can be touchy, brittle and easy to mess up. Sounds like you are going to replace yours using some new lexan, right? If so, my comment does not apply. Can't remember where...may have been on this forum...but some time ago I remember seeing a thread/site that showed how a guy fabbed up a new windshield to replace the old wasted one using lexan, some heat guns and some wooden jigs and clamps to get the bend right. I'll see if I can find the link and post it if I can.

 

[andgott]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Looking GREAT!

You've probably seen this article before- It's about the best guide to making a windshield I've seen-

http://www.glen-l.com/weblettr/webletters-5/wl43-windshield1.html

I'm lucky that my Glasspar has a tempered glass windshield that's in great shape, but my other boats need new windshields.... I am lucky to have located a NEW old stock for one, but the other I'm going to have to make... This set of instructions makes it look relatively easy

-Andrew

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Wow, cool link andgott! Bookmarked it. Here's another one similar to the one I mentioned in an earlier post:
http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectTut,p,68,00.html

Course we expect pix of this side project, too. When you're all done with her, you should package the threads, details, pix and vids in a how-to E-book.

TWM

 

[Triton II]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Wow Mick, looks really good. Love the centre fishing pedestal!

TII

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Hey Mick,
The rub rail really looks sweet. Your getting closer all the time.
Great Job.
Bob

 

[micks110]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Thanks guys! TM- yeh I'm going the making a new windshield route. That is my project right know actually.

Triton- I may try fishing from there!

Bob- your deck is looking great too! I said the same thing about my deck- it feels sturdier than the floor in my house!

Andrew and TM- thanks for the links- I am definitely going to read up on them.

I didn't pick the lexan up yet but I did start tonight restoring the finish on the aluminum top and bottom piece for the windshield. I am using 210 sandpaper and then 320 to get it real smooth. I am very happy the way it is turning out- except for all the hole in the frames that i will have to plug with rivets. it's better than paying $500-600 for a new windshield though!

I didn't do a before pick on the bottom piece but here is the after. The frame isn't bolted down yet- I have to try and find the old channel bolts that were in there.

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I sanded one side of the top piece as well. It was a bear to get the frame off the old windshield but I ended up getting it off without the windshield breaking. Hopefully I can use it as a template for the new windshield.

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You can see here the corrosion on the frames that I started with. Even acetone on a scotch pad did nothing to it. So I used 210 and then 320 sandpaper
Before

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After

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I still have to do the other side and then top of this piece then I will start with the lexan.

That's it for tonight! Thanks again guys!

 

[Truefire]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

looks good mick bet your getting amped up about it. bugs have the same mental capacity as a lot of humans. Being that I have worked in construction quite extensivly you can be standing there with a brush/sprayer/roller and people will walk buy and say u painting then proceed to touch what ever it is you are painting. Then some of them will gripe at you for getting paint on them. Just have to look at them and say DA.

about polishing call pettit and ask.


good to see that god blessed you with a perfect head just like me. I am just glad that god gave the rest of them hair.

I couldn't help but laugh with this, my, that is funny stuff. This is so true of people, wow, some are just out there. I mean!

I am a police officer and on so many occasions I have been blocking traffic on a four lane road due to motor vehicle collisions with four - five patrol units with activated blue lights, two -three fire engines with flashing red/clear lights on scene and citizens will drive up and have the audacity to ask,

"Is there a wreck up there?" (no, we are all out here just sitting in the middle of an interstate highway practicing with all of our little fancy bluelights, shewww!)

"Hey, officer can i drive through there?" - (mind you the road ahead looks like the state fair with all of the flashing LED lights and such and my patrol car is practically blocking both lanes at the onset of an off ramp> I am standing there with cone light in hand pointing it towards this off ramp as vehicles approach motioning them to take this alternate route.)

These select individuals which ask stupid questions get "special directions given to them" when inquiring of driving directions of 'how to get to a certain road'

sorry for deviating, just had to ,

please don't respond too heavily as to take the post off of the beaten path

Chris

By the way the 1962 Arkansas Traveler is sweEETT! looKING! I mean bro, you have done an excellent job on this boat. It looks really nice, i like it, seriously.

Great Job!

Chris

 

[archbuilder]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Looks really good Mick. I curious how hard it will be to bend the lexan around the corners. Hopefully it will be cooperative!

 

[mrdjflores]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

bending lexan is pretty easy...use your current windshield to cutout forms for the corners...once you clamp the lexan to one of the forms, use a heat gnu to slowly heat up the lexan and apply pressure to form it over...

just go slowly!!!

i've done that a few times making replacement windows for old airstream camper trailers

 

[micks110]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Arch- I'm curious too I guess I will see soon enough how easy it "works" with me! I'm not a guy with to much patience but I guess I'm going to need it for this

Chris- Rubberneckers too- I can't stand them! I hate when opposing traffic is backed up 2-3 miles and by the time you get to the accident you realize that it's on the other side of the 4 lane highway so why were we backed up!?!? Just drive!!! Good Luck on your paint by the way! With the help of everyone on here you will get it done no problem- the more you read up on stuff the better- just don't let it get to overwhelming. Read reviews on different products, pick one, and then read up on that specific product. That's why I chose easypoxy- price, good reviews, and people who have used it on here with great results.

MrDJ- What do you use to cut the lexan? Anything special I should get to do it?

Thanks Again Guys for the comments

 

[mrdjflores]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

use a very fine toothed jigsaw blade, and go very slowly...stopping every now and then to clean off the buildup on the blade..

also, cover the lexan with masking tape where the base of the jigsaw will rest on it...most lexans come precovered with a thin plastic film/paper...but the masking tape will just give you a little more insurance to keep the base of the jigsaw from scratching the lexan

 

[BobsGlasstream]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Mick,
You did a great job on the rail. Good luck bending your windshield too.
Bob

 

[tinkeringwackyone]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Haven't been on for awhile, boat looks awesome Mick.

 

[micks110]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Thanks Bob and Tink!

I don't have many picks of last night, and it seems like I didn't do much but I painted my first coat of white on the bow, finished up the electrical(minus the gas sender wire which I will add when I put in the tank), got the drain plug for the splash well drilled out and temporarily put in place, got my aluminum cap for the transom put in, got those black circle things by the splash well installed, attached the clamshell on the transom for the fish finder wire and speedo tube, and sanded a little more of the windshield frame.

I also went to my boat place and they still had "T" bolts for my windshield base frame laying around. I was stoked about that because NOBODY has them anywhere. I will post some pics of what they look like soon. While I was there I also ordered my rubrail insert so that should be in by Thursday.

Here are the pics

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The aluminum transom cap, drain plug and black circle things

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[ezmobee]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Were those black grommets reused or were you able to find new ones? I need one for my boat.

 

[micks110]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

New ones from the boat place I go to

 

[archbuilder]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Looks great Mick! She is really starting to come together, I bet you are pumped! Its a great feeling to start putting all the chrome and polished stuff on!

 

[Triton II]

Re: 1962 Arkansas Traveler restoration

Wow Mick, love the white racing strip... very 80s Ford racing!

TII