1965 Sunchief project

[waytoohard]

OK gantry is up, have windshield, hatch, instrument cluster that I won't be using. PM me

 

[Watermann]

Also picked up plywood for sides. Need to buy epoxy soon. I live in a port area on Puget Sound so can get most things local. Rivets ??? 3/4" ply wood on deck any one know what pop rivet I'll need?

Yes I do, large flange blind rivets all aluminum for 3/4" decking 3/16" dia, grip range .876 - 1.00. For the side panels in 1/2" grip range .625 - .875.

 

[waytoohard]

Thank you Watermann

 

[waytoohard]

No Title

Well cleaned out and gantry ready The floor boards have on coat on them.

 

[Watermann]

Nice forward progress! Looks like an acre of deck space to me.

 

[NorthwestChap]

Wow!! 51 years old and not looking the worse for wear. I mean once you got all the disposables out. I gotta say you tin guys, with Watermann to the head of the class, sure have some cool boats. Looking forward to this one on the water.

 

[waytoohard]

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the two red tanks were in my boat, the red rectangle one is in poor condition. Iam thinking of using the bow tank and maybe the belly tank out of the donor boat, it's 28 gallon metal tank that looks good. Any thoughts and what needs to be considered weight distribution wise ? The tank will fit between stringers.

 

[jbcurt00]

If those 2 tanks are steel and in perfect condition, maybe consider re-using them, but they'd have to be perfect if steel. Buried below the deck I dont think I'd want to use recycled steel tanks. Similar for aluminum below decks, but I'd consider it way before I would a steel tank...

Will the yellow one fit between the SCs stringers? May be too wide to fit stock location of stringers, but some (Watermann for 1) have successfully moved the stringers outbound to fit a wider belly tank.

Sont know how big the bow tank is, but looks like about a 19-20gal. W 28gals in the belly, and another 20 in the bow, might be a lot of weight forward compared to original.

Really depends on all the other weight distribution.....

 

[Watermann]

The very best place for fuel tank weight balance is mid ship. The stern and bow are the last places I would decide to place tanks if I had the choice. With all the corn juice fuel now water is a problem inside the tank so I wouldn't use a steel tank unless it was above deck and like new condition. Poly tanks are the best, no worries at all come to mind when using them. Aluminum was and is used widely and does not have a problem of corroding from the inside out like steel, rather the outside in so it's easy to see if you have a problem. Clean the AL tanks spotless, examine it closely and if good, prime and paint it before installation. That 28 gallon belly tank will run that 4cyl for days on end. My poly belly tank is 34 gallons and after being on the water 8 or 10 hours the needle is barley off full with a way more thirsty 4bbl V6.

 

[waytoohard]

Ok just checked the belly tank is aluminium and will fit between the stringers 28 gallon so maybe i'll just use the one tank

 

[Watermann]

Once you go shopping for new USCG approved fuel lines, vent, feed, filler and switch manifold I can see you wiping the sweat off your brow while saying "whew" knowing that you don't need to buy enough for 2 tanks. :lol:

 

[waytoohard]

The way the hoses come off this tank they have to come up under the engine dog house. the tank(about 58"long) would the end at about mid ship. that puts more weight in the rear. I can place the batteries in the bow to help offset it some. the tanks 28 gallons. Steering will remain about where it is. i think it may be OK any thoughts? I'll also have more than original structure up front.

 

[waytoohard]

No Title

OK got the tank emptied today and set in the sun. Looks good to me. I'll fit it up tomorrow. Then I have to modify the floor boards some. the dog house and tank are out of the Wellcraft. Weight too far back??? Had the 3.0 running yesterday sounds good,

 

[waytoohard]

No Title

Well I have made some headway. been removing paint and have most of the foam in tank mounted and floor setting in boat to walk on (not in stalled). Everything will have to come out for a final cleaning before I can secure it. i will have trouble getting paint on it before I want to use it, being outside in western Washington. Some days it seems like I male no progress, just in and out of boat, back and forth looking for the right thing or running to the store. My computer went out and had to go to the shop and they lost all my data. MMMmmm!! Here?s a couple of photos. Oh and my serial #s are not listed in the books A422980 stinger, a446133 transom. 1985 alpha 1 series 1

 

[Watermann]

Looking good, forward progress is tough this time of year over on the west side with all the rain. Been raining over here on the eastside too off and on.

You have to add a 0 (zero) at the beginning of your serial #s then both will show up searching for parts at Mercury Marine

 

[waytoohard]

No Title

When I cut the dash in half and the bow sheeting went all andigoglin and the bow supports sagged, I said Oh shoot what have I done now?? i had a sinking sensation in my stomach and my bowls felt loose. But I forge forward and patterned and cut a nice bulkhead, installed it (temp) and felt so much better. Unfortunately I fail to capture the scene with photos, So it will be some time before it is back in place to pose. It is now disassembled and getting glued and screwed and epoxy coated for permanent placement.

 

[oldhaven]

I just added a very cool word to my vocabulary. Thanks

 

[Watermann]

[an-ti-god-lin]

1. lopsided or at an angle; out of alignment.
2. diagonal or cater-cornered.

Oh yeah

 

[waytoohard]

yeah that too

 

[waytoohard]

No Title

Opened up the bow today. This is just a rough cut. I?ve got epoxy curing on the bulkhead that goes in to replace Dash. I?ll clean it up andput the rest of foam in bow area and fasten that deck down next so I can build the structure into the bow.
The motorcycle is a 1985 Suzuki Madura 4 it was my last project.