1974 Ebbtide Restoration - SPLASHED

[Woodonglass]

That looks like a Classic installation to me!!!

 

[mercurymang]

That looks like a Classic installation to me!!!

Thanks Wood. I got the center stringer installed tonight and it came out quite nice I think. I have give my awesome wife alot of credit. She was invaluable as it was near 90 and I was working fast and was stressed out. She helped me set it in place and then was my gofer while I got it sqaured away.
A couple of items of note. For the first time, I didn't waste any resin, I used all 1.5 Liters that I had mixed. Also on the funny note. The bugs are getting crazy around here, especially with the shoplight in my work area. There are a few that are now permanently part of my hull down where I filled a void at the base of my stringer. Maybe someone will get a laugh out of it some day.

I'll post up some pics shortly.

 

[jbcurt00]

Like the dinosaur DNA 'frozen' in skeeters found in amber..... :watermelon: Where's Spielberg when we need him to make a movie.......

 

[mercurymang]

Ok, said i would post pics but I was having technical issues which have been resolved. Here ya go.

 

[Woodonglass]

Nice job on your Stringer Jigs. For future reference.. If you just use One screw so they can swivel then you can just use Pony Clamps to hold em in place. Kinda makes things a bit easier!

 

[mercurymang]

Thanks Wood. In regards to a pony clamp, not sure exactly what that is.

 

[Decker83]

Your doing a fantastic job.. Like the stringer setup..
Yep it's starting to get hot here in Texas.. Many more days to come..:facepalm:

Keep up your great work.. Have a great rest of the week..

 

[mercurymang]

Thanks Decker. I got the starboard stringer in last night. It didn't go quite as smoothly as I had hoped but I got it done nonetheless. I'm going to have to hit the filet with a grinder a little bit before I start the tabbing. Didn't end up quite as smooth as i had hoped but I'll get it worked out.

Something I am doing on the stringers that I haven't seen anyone mention or perhaps I missed it. About 30 minutes before I bed the stringer, I mix up a small batch of resin and coat the bottom of the stringer as well at the area of the hull were I plan to bed just to encourage a better mechanical bond with the hull. Not sure how effective it is but it's makes me feel better.

Also, I am mixing the resin at around 1% and am having decent working times even with the relatively high temps.

 

[mercurymang]

I got the port stringer bedded last night so now all the stringers are bedded. I'm going to have to break out the grinder on some spots before I get the filets completed because I had some rough spots here and there, mainly where my jigs were.

On a side note, I burned up my third HF grinder yesterday and I had bought it the day before. They really cant take the heat. I went down to Lowes and picked a $50 name branch job and got a 1 year warrenty on it for $5. It is a much better grinder. Hopefully it wont give me any issues but we shall see.

 

[Woodonglass]

This is what I call a Pony Clamp...

Yup in the heat 1% MEKP is the way to go. Lot's of guys put their PB in a zip lock bag and cut a corner off and use it like a pastry bag to squeeze out a "Bead" of it to bed their stringers in. Also works well for filleting.

 

[tpenfield]

"

This is what I call a Pony Clamp...

"
I have about 6 "ponies" in my garage

 

[mercurymang]

This is what I call a Pony Clamp...

Yup in the heat 1% MEKP is the way to go. Lot's of guys put their PB in a zip lock bag and cut a corner off and use it like a pastry bag to squeeze out a "Bead" of it to bed their stringers in. Also works well for filleting.

Ok, ya, I always called them squeeze clamps. I have several of them and have now found yet another use for them.

I did not think to try the bag trick for the filets on the stringers which is what I'm doing now. Not as easy as it seems but after a few i figured out a technique. I'm using a metal tablespoon that i swiped from the kitchen drawer.

 

[mercurymang]

This is the wife...thanks for the shout out on the help. I just want you to get finished. ;-) Oh, and stop taking my silverware.

 

[mercurymang]

I finished tabbing in the stringers and need to cap them off and seal up the ends. Also need to re-create the bilge area. After that, I'm ready to move on to the floors.
I have a whole lot of CSM left but am almost out of my 1708. Can I do most of the flooring with CSM and just use some 1708 for the initial tab?

 

[Woodonglass]

I recommend doing the floor/deck with CSM. It mainly needs to be waterproofed and that's where CSM shines. It provides very little structural strength. Main purpose is to meld the resin into one homologous structure so it's not brittle and cracks open. One layer of CSM on bottom side and two on the top and you deck will last for decades as long as you always predrill any holes and coat them and the hardware with a good quality marine sealant.

 

[Woodonglass]

I recommend doing the floor/deck with CSM. It mainly needs to be waterproofed and that's where CSM shines. It provides very little structural strength. Main purpose is to meld the resin into one homologous structure so it's not brittle and cracks open. One layer of CSM on bottom side and two on the top and you deck will last for decades as long as you always predrill any holes and coat them and the hardware with a good quality marine sealant. Make sure to precoat the wood with resin first and really soak the edges well. The edges are the first place water will try to attack the wood!

 

[mercurymang]

Ok, thanks WOG. Good to know I don't need to go buy more 1708.

 

[mercurymang]

I'm ready to purchase the wood for my flooring. I had planned to use 5/8" marine grade plywood. 5/8" is $72 and 1/2" is $55. The reasons I wanted to use the 5/8" instead of the 1/2" that came out is that it would be stronger and my stringers are about 1/4" lower than the original.

What would iboats rebuilders recommend? I'm willing to pony up the extra $$$ but I'm curious as to whether or not it's really worth it.

 

[hawk200282]

Strength wise, I don't see it making much difference. I used 1/2" on mine and with both sides fiber glassed, there is no flex and plenty strong. Ill let others chime in.

 

[tpenfield]

Not much of a price difference and your floor would be a bit stiffer. So, go for it.