1992 Skimmer 18' Flat Bottom Skiff Restoration

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Then onto drilling and epoxy bonding the motor fastener holes... There was some splitting of the 1708 when the bit came through. I ground it out and filled it with structural deck putty.







The duct tape across the back was just what the doctor ordered for the way I wanted to do this job. I wanted to leave raised circles on the outside that I could then sand down a little. My goal was to create a larger surface area for the epoxy - so as to keep the water out and away from the drilled holes.

 

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The transom beginning to take shape.

 

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Laying the deck for dry fitting..

 

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Up at the crack of dawn for a very long and tortuous process of pre-drilling all of the holes for the cleats and deck screws and then screwing everything down. I used around 100 stainless, 2" screws to hold down the deck and approx 25, 3" screws for the cleat to stringer fasteners. So - roughly 250 times the motion of putting in the screws - and the deck screws took everything I had to get them in - all 300lbs of me leaning in on them to keep the bit from skipping out and stripping them..

 

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Then for my seal coat on the top of the deck... The Roseberg Resin-Tite A/C Douglas Fir was very thirsty and would take almost anything you could give it on the sanded A-side.

 

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Then onto the filleting with hairy PB - chopped fiber and cabosil mixed.





Then hand shredded CSM over the top of the fillets to smooth them out a bit...

 

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Then onto final deck glass... I decided to go with a layer of 1.5oz CSM topped with a layer of 1708. Staggered seams, 38 inch fabric laid port to starboard...

Hand tearing the CSM helps it blend in better on the side walls..

















Big, nasty mess...

 

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Then - onto re-seating the console - rebuilding it's en-even cut base and raising it about an inch to better match my height... Thickened resin and CSM used for the tabbing and "reconstruction" of what wasn't there any more..

 

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And then my friends - the gel coat... It's never felt so good...















Some heavy rubber to protect from as much water as possible while out and about...





Some electronics for the console...

 

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Load her up - gas her up and slap her on the trailer...



SPLASHED!






And you know I couldn't have done it without you guys, your guidance and encouragement... So thank you all... Anytime you're north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel let me know - and we'll go for a spin...