Okay folks, it has been some time since I last posted on here. So I will try to bring everybody up to date on this project.
While I have done some work on the boat, it isn't that easy to see. But I do have pictures anyways. I have basically finished all the magnetic proximity switch installs and the basic wiring to all of them and the LED lights in all the storage and rod boxes. And amazingly what I thought would be an easy wiring effort actually took way over a couple weeks and I had to order more marine grade wire then I originally bought. When you run individual separate circuits, you use up wire very quickly. But it is all finished now. I also installed the top plates over some of the rod box areas and used a router bit to round over the edges to give it a more finished look. All the rod box covers are finished and even the front raised platform installed for final as well.
So with all the preliminary wiring done, it is time to flip the boat for the sanding and primer and color/clear coat efforts. That is where I presently stopped. Today I bought a 2 ton come-along to assist in lifting the front section of the boat while I will use the engine hoist on the rear. I already removed the side supports on the boat cradle to allow me to flip the hull and set it on the moveable cradle for the painting effort. Of course with the summer heat, that isn't going to happen quickly for certain. But I can at least do a little daily now and every little bit helps. Here are a few pictures. Don't expect much because the preliminary wiring is inside the compartments.
I finally got the correct length stick steering assembly, after three tries, and you can see my home made holder I made out of PVC pipe sections to hold that cable. I used some 3/4" (I think) PVC cut lengthwise and then polyestered (PB) them in place. I can open the top of them to allow removal of the cable if need be. I also used these holders to run some of the wiring to the rear compartments. You can see the gray colored polyester in the rod box and the rod box covers laying on the floor. You can also see the LED strips I installed but not wires at this time.
Here is the rear storage area on the port side. As you can see the steer cable is installed and so is the LED strip.
If you look closely, you can see a few wires sticking out from the rod box sides on both sides. Those wires are for the courtesy lights once everything else is installed. And it is hard to see but the tops are installed and rounded over on the sides except the actual covers. The port and starboard front sections are still uninstalled. That is because I have a lot of additional wiring to install and then wire up the control panels. I decided to wait until that was finished before installing them for final.
This is a little close shot of the rear top plates installed and rounded over. You can also see my attempt at making the lips to help keep water out of the storage areas. Certainly not Red Herring's quality, but I will get better....I hope. And you also see the magnetic switch installed. All those switches will allow LED lights to come on IF the storage light switch is turned on from the master control panel AND the cover is opened. That way I can control such lights. And knowing how such things are hard to see when dark, I had to install LEDs in every closable storage and rod box. Also in the live well too. I have to have some way to see the little tiny minnow size fish I catch. I will use a rubber lip cover over the edge of those lips and it will look a ton better.
And this basically bring every thing up to date now. Still hard to see, but those top plates are rounded over using a 1/2" round over bit. Nice and smooth.
So even though I was absent from iboats for a while, I did continue on the boat. Once I do get it flipped, more progress can take place...but slowly with the summer heat!
OH, one thing I didn't say. My neighbor, across the street from me, ask me if I could use these old metal 6 gallon OMC and Johnson metal gas tanks. You can see them in the background. I told him I will be glad to buy them, but he stated that IF I didn't take them they were going to the landfill. Both are in amazing condition with no dings, dents, or scratches and so little rust that a little sanding and some new primer, paint and graphics and these tanks will look new again. Some times things just fall into your lap.
Any ideas or suggestions for something you guys see, let me know. And everybody most certainly have a wonderful day - gm280.
