1986 Campion bowrider restoration

[Jimmy H.]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

I was thinking of using PL this time. Perhaps next project I'll try thickened resin which seems to be the favorite and then I can compare the two myself.

 

[rickryder]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

Well if your going to use PL you can leave gaps where the sticks are,remove them when it sets and fill the gaps with more PL. Use a metal spoon dipped in acetone to make a fillet (cove) once you set the stringers. This will help the glass form better when it transfers from stringer to the hull. Glass doesn't like to bend 90 degrees

 

[Jimmy H.]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

Got my first look at the transom layers today after rough cutting out the keyhole. Also spent all day yesterday cutting and trimming the main stringers. I bedded them in with PL and used small wooden spacers to keep them off the hull. Went pretty well I think, not sure if I could have done it all with thickened resin because of how long it took me to lay them in. I'm staying out of the boat for a week to be sure it's solid and then I'll move on to filet some more edges with peanut butter and start glassing. Here are some pics from today.

 

[rickryder]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

Very nice! You on your way Jimmy

 

[Jimmy H.]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

Rick, something is bothering me here a lot. The stringers I installed come up to the same height as each other so when the deck is layed it should install easy BUT the stringer on the right is between .5 and .75 of an inch shorter than the one on the left. My trailer does have rollers and I never thought of removing it and building a cradle until now duh!!! I did however try and level everything out and support the outer transom corners and mid way up along the chines. Looking at it now it seems like the one side with the shorter stringer was caused by the hull leaning to that side for an extended period without the stringers and has maybe distorted the hull. Not sure what to do. I have this sick feeling Im going to be in the water for the first time and like a car with a bad alignment I'll drift off to one direction because of this. Missing this huge fact after installing the stringers has me more than worried.

 

[rickryder]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

Oh thats not good..... You need to brace the hull....maybe if you get it off the rollers and braced it might go back in spec. You still have the cap on correct?

Sorry I didn't catch that you were on rollers.....that's usually the first question I have.....

 

[Jimmy H.]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

Yeah not good. Yes the cap is on. What's the easiest way to get it off the trailer and onto a brace? Assuming I brace it and things straighten out what would be my plan for the stringers most likely the one on the right (maybe both) sitting too low? I'm hoping some type of shim on top. I really dont want to remove them and make new ones......

 

[rickryder]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

If they are low you can put a strip on top to bring them to height. Your going to have to build like knee walls under the outer chines. some padded 2x6 on the flat with studs about every 24" down to a 2x6 plate flat on the ground. You just need to take the pressure off the rollers. I would think that the original owner removed all the deck and such and as it sat there it flexed the hull upward. I hope it comes back and you don't have to rip anything out.

 

[Jimmy H.]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

Well I'm back from holidays. The hull seems to be in good shape now. It has been sitting on the brace for over three weeks with weight inside on top of the section that was being pushed up by the rollers. I will glass the new transom and stringers in as is and continue on. I decided last week to test out the motor I got with this boat and make sure it ran well before I spend this fall and winter on the total restore. I was very pleased to see it run great without even giving it a tune up yet. Here is a link of me starting it up in the garage.
http://youtu.be/ObV5_hrJWnY
James

 

[Jimmy H.]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

I cut the new transom flush with the keyhole this afternoon. I decided to use two flush cutting router bits for this. The first cut I ran the bearing along the hull and then extended the bit as far as I could go for the 2nd cut. The final cut I used a similar bit with a bottom bearing to ride along the previous cut. Results were nice and clean.

First cut like so...

Last cut from the inside...

Nice clean keyhole now. I can start to tab and glass in the transom and stringers now.

 

[Jimmy H.]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

Had the day off today and so I cut out the two smaller secondary stringers. Lucky with these I had part of the old one so I used them as a template. I used small pieces of double sided tape for spacers and bedded them in with thickened resin. It was at least 90 degrees today so curing time was quick. After I tabbed in the transom with 2oz CSM which was the first real glass application I've done to the project. I practiced on some plywood a few months ago to get a feel for it and seemed to go ok.

two secondary stringers installed today

Tabbed 2oz CSM on transom/hull

 

[Jimmy H.]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

A bit of progress this weekend, I have the transom and all stringers tabbed in with two layers of CSM. I also used some 18oz roven woving for the transom. I ran out of CSM yesterday so I'm on hold for now. I did realize how much easier it was to apply the the tabbing with a small 5" painter roller. I had used small chip brushes up until yesterday and was difficult with the CSM and keeping it intact.

 

[Jimmy H.]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

So I hit a bit of a snag with the keyhole area not being within 1/16" flatness. It has a deep spot as much as 3/16" that I started a thread to look for answers. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=574205
Short story is it wont budge trying to pull and flatten it so off came the gel coat and I will lay glass on the outer hull to flatten and re-gel coat that section. It needed it anyways so probably not the worst thing in the world.

This was an attempt to flatten

Just removed most of the gel coat tonight

oh well, live and learn

 

[Jimmy H.]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

Quick update. It's been such a pain taking the tarp on and off battling the weather and temperature outside. No idea what I was going to do when the snow starts dumping...
I moved out a lot of my wood working tools to the shed plus a few benches and tools I dont need at this time to make room for the boat. My garage is only 18' deep which sucks since my boat is 18.5' long. So I made extra room and took down the cradle I built, backed it in and removed the trailer. I will now make a new cradle and can enjoy the comforts of a garage. We even have a gas furnace in it so should be nice.

NO MORE BOAT OUTSIDE

AHHHHH, MUCH BETTER.

 

[Jimmy H.]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

Does anyone have suggestions on whether the plan I have for bulkheads is enough? Most everything was removed when I got this boat and it didn't have anything in it except for the smaller secondary stringers and the motor mount. I figured there are at least two bulkheads enclosing the fuel tank and have put them in this picture. Is there anything else I need? Do I need an access door for the fuel tank fittings? I will be using floatation foam on both outer sides though I haven't decided on whether to use two part expanding or just purchasing some pink/blue foam boards and cutting strips. I am leaning towards trying the expanding.

THANKS

 

[Jimmy H.]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

Was raining today so went into the garage for about three hours and took off the last remaining cushions at the front bow to make it easier to remove all the old carpet glue. Found even more wasp nests hiding, must have been close to 100 of them since I started.

Quick wipe down after removing old glue.

Time for a shower!

Still (never ends) more glue and old interior gel coat to remove but one more session (doubt it) and I should be ready to start some serious glassing!

 

[Jimmy H.]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

Well it's been almost two months since my last post and to be honest not much has changed until this last week. I kept thinking it was time to start glassing in fresh wood but more old wood kept coming out. It was near freezing outside today so I cranked up the garage furnace and warmed things up to get busy.

Ahhh, nice and warm... time to get working on the boat, spring is around the corner.

I was silly to think I should keep this old wood up front.

Out you go.

That looks better, all the old wood is gone!!

 

[Jimmy H.]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

I have a lot of CSM and Woven Roving left so thats what I'm using.

Cut out pieces for the transom and stringers

Three layers of CSM and two woven roving in between. I added White tint to the last layer of CSM.

 

[Jimmy H.]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

The glassing seems to be going good, feels extremely strong.

I was running low on paint rollers so I couldn't glass in the other stringer but I'll be back on it soon!

 

[Jimmy H.]

Re: 1986 Campion bowrider restoration

Other main stringer is glassed in and I started making the engine mount with six layers of 3/4" ply. Have a four day weekend coming up and am preparing to install the motor mount, bulkheads fuel tank and deck. Hopefully things speed up from here on in!

Both stringers ready and keyhole trimmed clean.

The deck will have a slight dip towards the center hopefully for better drainage into the bildge.

Motor mount in progress...