1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

[zool]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

Hey man, look n good! If you re able to maintain any sort of heat in there as it is, what about a diesel/kerosene construction heater for the days when outside temps drop too much? Thats what i use/have used and it does work well.. they are something like 97% efficient, so fumes aren't too bad unless you spend whole days in there.. I was out glassing my old boat (cabin floor) last winter in my 'shanty shed', which I'm sure isn't as well sealed as your bubble, and it worked well.. outside temps were around 15-20F and I was down in the cabin wearing a t shirt.. took about 3 hours to GET to a good temp in there, but hey.. better than not being able to do anything at all, except wait for warmer weather.. :laugh: ya right, in the middle of February..

I have one of those propane construction torpedos. I just have to fill the tanks...I best get at it, its snowing right now!

 

[zool]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

This thread is so inspiring! I can't wait to graduate to big boats. Awesome work Zool.

Thanks JC, and welcome aboard!!

Be careful of 2footitus..its uncurable..

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

Good ole' greenhouse effect. Gotta Love it!!!! It was in the 30's in Okieville today!!!

 

[archbuilder]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

Looks like the bubble is paying off! One note on the torpedo heater, you will add some humidity with it. Water is a by-product of propane if I remember correctly.

 

[zool]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

Looks like the bubble is paying off! One note on the torpedo heater, you will add some humidity with it. Water is a by-product of propane if I remember correctly.

I think it does raise humidity, but extending the heat thru the cure period would be worth it....

Woke up today to a major wind storm...its been blowing non stop all morning.....and my bubble burst! ......I loved that thing hehe

looks like I may be reconfiguring it, or prepping parts all winter in the shop:blue:

 

[archbuilder]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

That really sucks. I wonder if you ran duct tape from side to side over the plastic on the outside if it would help? maybe tie the duct tape in at the base somewhere? Or maybe a reinforced plastic like this.

Translucent and Black Reinforced Sheeting | U.S. Plastic Corp.

kind of pricey, but might hold up a lot better. I'm assuming it was the plastic that failed, but I guess it could have been the pvc. Can you tell what gave way?

 

[zool]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

From what i can tell, Arch, it burst a seam on the wind side, then just blew up like a balloon, forcing the sides to expand, thus pulling the pvc apart.

The wind is still crazy right now off the field, it even took some standing seam roof off a barn.. im betting 60mph gusts with 40 sustained..I can fix it i think, but for now I may just take some of the hoops and make a small shelter just over the cockpit/helm area, and use the rod holder holes on the gunnels to mount a sill plate...there enough plastic intact to stretch over that area...then I still get the heat and can atleast glass the bilge.

Ive been using gorilla tape exterior to patch it, that stuff works great!

 

[Trooper82]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

Oh that is a bummer!

Been windy here since yesterday...

When I built my shelter the second time around I used two joints instead of one...this pick in this post explains it better..

Here

To be clear, the second option is stronger...

 

[zool]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

Oh that is a bummer!

Been windy here since yesterday...

When I built my shelter the second time around I used two joints instead of one...this pick in this post explains it better..

Here

To be clear, the second option is stronger...

Troop, your second method is how i did this one, in fact, I stole the idea from you ...the joints werent the problem, it was the top of the knee walls that collapsed outward on one side, splitting the pvc joints...just too much wind pressure funneling into a large hole with no where to exit....Im just gonna have to brace the outer side of the knee walls when I put it back together. Like bracing for a concrete slab

 

[Trooper82]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

ok, it was hard to tell from the pic with the damage...With the ends enclosed I can see there would be quite a bit of pressure built up...the cover I have on the CarAqua did not fair much better I'm afraid..

 

[saginawbayboater]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

Zool my heart sank when I saw your greenhouse!:dread: I know how hard you are working and to see that just hurts!!!

We are pulling for you brother!!

Your boat building is supurb by the way!!!:encouragement:

 

[bigdirty]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

Oh damn... :blue: that really sucks man... hope you can get it back together soon! Winter just officially 'hit' my area yesterday, and hasn't really stopped snowing and blowing yet.. (dam lake effect!) Might get a little pricy, but what about the white shrink wrap material? It's pretty tough/resilient stuff once its 'shrink-ed' to a boat/structure/framework.. might better withstand high winds?

 

[zool]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

Yea, its a bummer BD and sag, ..but i knew it could happen. I can put it back together, just have to resquare the base and brace it....then reconnect all the piping.....in the mean time, im just gonna frame a gable roof cap out of wood for the rear half of the boat, and put the plastic over that..to keep the weather out and heat in. Then ill have standing room in the bilges, and access to the cabin and helm area. good thing its a long weekend coming!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

Frickin Frackin Windjammin No Good whatchamacallina ding dang doggone dang gum no account Wind Storm!!!!! Sorry for your misfortune. Hope you get back under cover soon!

 

[zool]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

Frickin Frackin Windjammin No Good whatchamacallina ding dang doggone dang gum no account Wind Storm!!!!! Sorry for your misfortune. Hope you get back under cover soon!

haha woody....it could be worse, i could have just painted the hull

Ill start on it tomorrow..

 

[mr300z87]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

I have been quietly following along and have been impressed with your progress. I too live in NJ and was thinking about how your shelter held up in yesterday's winds. That really stinks, and another couple of windy days are in the forecast after the nor'easter on weds blah!!!!!

My project is pretty much on hold for the winter.

Mike

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

UGH!:facepalm:
just saw this...

What 'Woody' said times 2!
Other than that minor mishap..., progress is looking real good...
Have an awesome Turkey Day!

 

[zool]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

I have been quietly following along and have been impressed with your progress. I too live in NJ and was thinking about how your shelter held up in yesterday's winds. That really stinks, and another couple of windy days are in the forecast after the nor'easter on weds blah!!!!!

My project is pretty much on hold for the winter.

Mike

Yea Mike, that was windy mess, it also knocked over the hoist, which weighs alot...ill have to raise that back up with a comealong. We're expected to get another 50mph storm tomorrow, so I took all the plastic and piping off till friday. I already reframed the base today, and braced it to sustain those kind of winds going forward (hopefully )...good to have you aboard neighbor!

 

[zool]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

Thanks Gus, I wont let it derail me!

Have a wonderful holiday yourself!

 

[zool]

Re: 1988 Imperial 280sf engine swap and restoration (pics)

By the time the storm was over, this is what I found.





It also moved a few feet, so I resquared and added bracing...after this next storm passes,, im gonna add some osb sheathing to the knee and gable walls.