1987 Ski Centurion Tru Trac II - First Time Rebuild - Floor, Engine, Dash, etc.

[ACon977]

And I took yesterday off to make sure the resin was fully cured but got on the starboard side with the 2nd layers of CSM and 10oz mat. It went pretty quickly, took me about 4 - 4.5 hrs with prep and clean up.

pre laying the glass onto the stringers was a huge time saver. It allowed me to get my thought straight and do my cuts for the corners of the engine mounts. Plus with pre wetting the surface with poly I was able to get it to start forming the correct shape. Then just roll the poly on top and even it all out.

only one layer to go on the port side and then finish up the back and we will be making moves!

 

[archbuilder]

sounds like you are getting the technique, its not too bad once you get the hang of it.

 

[ACon977]

sounds like you are getting the technique, its not too bad once you get the hang of it.

Thanks! I think its going much better now. The last tricky part is when I do the full wrap with the Cloth I sometimes will get the cloth to stick to the stringer and to the hull without it wanting to go to the corner (if its been sitting for a while while I was working somewhere else). I was able to somewhat resolve this by laying it down and immediately rolling it into the corner and pulling the cloth before it sets up. By doing this on the entire stringer, then mixing up my resin and rolling it out.

As with most of this process, prep work makes the actual job WAYYYYY easier.

I know that you experienced builders don't need the little tips and tricks, but if/when someone else is reading through for their research and help I'm trying to put in my learned lessons so that they can avoid some of the headaches! Plus if Im doing something thats exceptionally dumb or am overlooking something its better to get called out on it rather than keep banging my head against the same wall :laugh:

Thanks for your guy's help! Its fantastic to bounce ideas off people. Maya (my pup) isn't very helpful when I talk fiber glassing to her :roll:

 

[AShipShow]

Nice, sounds like your getting it figured out. I've gone thru about 30 gallons of resin, and I still get a little better with each layup. You learn lots of little tricks along the way.

I even read through a ton of posts before and I felt really confident I knew the ins and outs, but there really is no substitute for practice makes perfect.

 

[ACon977]

I even read through a ton of posts before and I felt really confident I knew the ins and outs, but there really is no substitute for practice makes perfect.

Couldn't agree more with you there! I felt the same, but as soon as I started putting roller to resin the whole world flipped haha not that I'm too mad about it. Just surprising that I felt less adequate than I was expecting.

 

[ACon977]

Well gents, sorry for the delay on updates. Unfortunately its been a busy beginning of the week and I havent done any real progress aside from buying more Cabosil, Chopped fibers, and Epoxy. The store was out of 5 gal drums (not sure how....) and so they sold me 5x1gal metal cans for the same price per gal. So whatever. But I went through almost 4 gallons on the past few layers, only a little left in my 2nd 5 gal pail. I dont think this is over/under the norm for anyone. From what I've read on here most people use a little under 20gal for a full rebuild like this.

 

[Timr71]

Just hang in there and keep pluggin away. And, keep in mind that the entire mechanism that you're working on is just there to move your ski pylon around the lake.

My RTP came in from Wiley's yesterday...and it was in a cool RADAR box. I'll be riding that ski no later than Sunday of this week. Can't wait!

 

[mickyryan]

id be grinning if id only taken 20 gals on this redo lol

 

[ACon977]

Just hang in there and keep pluggin away. And, keep in mind that the entire mechanism that you're working on is just there to move your ski pylon around the lake.

My RTP came in from Wiley's yesterday...and it was in a cool RADAR box. I'll be riding that ski no later than Sunday of this week. Can't wait!

Not too worried about a few days off. But August is fast approaching and that was my original hopeful splash date (sometime in august... could be the 31st for all I care)

Excited for you to get out on your new ski! Take some pics and post em!

 

[ACon977]

id be grinning if id only taken 20 gals on this redo lol

lol 20 was my original thought based on a few other projects... maybe I need to be more open minded in the event it takes more. Not that I'm going to be skimping anywhere. If it takes 30 gal then thats what it takes!

 

[mickyryan]

I am at 35 however i beefed boat up and redid almost every piece of wood its got a tub so its like double the boat. i do waste some though when i was making hatches i got mad and chucked one or 2 i didn't like

 

[ACon977]

I am at 35 however i beefed boat up and redid almost every piece of wood its got a tub so its like double the boat.

Oh man! 35?!?! You're going to have a floating tank :roll:

do waste some though when i was making hatches i got mad and chucked one or 2 i didn't like

I wasted a bit when I was practicing the glassing, practicing PB, messed up a few batches of PB, plus all the extra that I will toss after it starts to gel up on me. So far my extra gel resin has only been a coffee can, filled 3/4 now. Every time I finish a batch I will just tip my cup over it and let it drain. Then wash it out with a little acetone and be able to reuse the container for the next batch. Its worked out pretty well for me.

 

[mickyryan]

well really i bet this was a 150 gallon original build easily so 35 for all the big areas i cut out and replaced isnt too bad plus my fabrications and my tossed fabrications
remember i had a whole bottom inside and out plus stringers transom then covers for most of that almost like a floor then i have the tub that,s got its own floor sides and roof that i gutted and removed all the wood and replaced or used arjay 6011. most normal rebuilds up to 20 ft id say 20 to 25 gallons

 

[ACon977]

Ah I have been reading through your thread today and see why you used so much. Looks like an amazing project though, you are CRAZY for taking on such a huge rebuild. And the amount of gel coat you used... you're clearly a pro now! What an impressive turn around on that though. Looks better than new.

 

[mickyryan]

yeah shoulda seen me flipping it by my self lol

 

[ACon977]

I cant imagine hahaha Im glad my hull is in good enough shape. Looking at people doing that scares the crap out of me.

 

[TRH299]

I used about 4.5 gallons of epoxy and 1/3 that amount of hardener doing right side stringers bulkheads and right floor plus glassed left deck, ski wells and fuel tank bay. PS: My Radar Theory showed up today. Still waiting on a fin from Radar that the seller had to order for me.

 

[Timr71]

Tim - that thing looks good. My rear toe plate for mine came in a couple of days ago...and yesterday I got a new ACME 541 prop for my boat. Really ready to try both out this weekend. I'll be at the lake Saturday through the following Sunday! Yeah!

 

[ACon977]

Dang TRH299 I guess that's the difference with epoxy! But overall I'm happy with how its turning out using poly. Even if it takes a few more gallons. I dont mind messing up a batch because it's not quite so expensive.

and Timr71 that's so fun to have a new setup under your feet and on the boat. Jealous you're taking a whole week!

​​​​​​​you two will have to let me know how that Theory rides.

 

[ACon977]

And I got out and made a little progress on the boat tonight got the gas tank risers cut and glassed into place. I also filled in the stringers in the rear and set up a nice fillet to glass over.




I also got the engine mounted to my little dolly and started to put some of the components back on it to start playing around and try to get it running this weekend or during next week! Lots to do, but it's starting to come together.