72 Thunderbird Formula w/twin 165hp Mercs

[Mark72233]

Cool and thanks. The side windows won't matter because they are up in a channel and out of the way. I will have to cut off the 8 bolts that hold the main 2 pieces in place because they hang down into the cuddy cabin which already doesn't have much head room. I got a 36" piece of 7/8 stainless tubing I ordered for the bow rail because 3 of the rail supports were apparently replaced at some point with aluminum tubes and they of course don't match and were corroded from I guess being in contact with the SS parts. Anyway cut it into 3 pieces and replaced those. Scrounged up all the pieces of teak trim and brushed them clean and once they dry I got teak oil to put on them. I also managed to come up with a way of fixing the broken bifold louvered doors. The base of both side and one at the top where the dovetailed pieces are cracked, broken and pieces missing. I should have taken some before pics. Anyway I had found some teak blocks on eBay that are about 15" x 2" x 3/4". I cut them in half length way so I had 2 pieces 15"x 2" x whatever half of 3/4 is. Glued them to the front bottom covering the broken areas and screwed them from the back and bang. Doors fixed and look good and almost original.


Once everything dries up I will coat it with the teak oil and bring out the beautiful teak wood look.

 

[Mark72233]

Don't know if I mentioned it already. Took the one window with the broken aluminum frame to a local welding shop and they fixed it for $20 in about 20 minutes. Then went to the glass business to have the two pieces of glass replaced and caulked. That will be another $100.

 

[nurseman]

That seems to be what kills the ole budget doesn't it? 20 here 20 there 100 for this...:blah:

 

[WOEISMEIGOTTA470]

That seems to be what kills the ole budget doesn't it? 20 here 20 there 100 for this...:blah:

So true, can't even count how many $40-50 trips to home depot I've made for just random supplies like sandpaper, paint cups, acetone lol.

Teak doors look nice, I also have teak doors for my cuddy. What's the best method to cleaning up teak? I've heard warm saltwater works and a stiff brush? Do I need to bother cleaning teak if I just plan on sanding it too? Can I lightly sand and then oil? I'm confused on the steps I guess. Thanks!

 

[Mark72233]

If my wife knew how much I spend on this project each month in $5-$50 increments, so don't tell her. Woe I am no teak expert but with mine the new pieces were rough sawn and had to be sanded. I used a rotary palm type sander with 220 and it looks great. The old stuff from the boat is rough but a weather worn rough and I like that look and feel so I didn't sand it. As far as cleaning the wood I have always used soap and water with a stiff brush going with the grain and rinse it thoroughly. once it dries real well and couple of coats of teak oil and I am done. Do it about once or twice a year. The cool thing about the teak is it has been sitting untouched for 14 years. Some of it inside the cabin and most out in the elements and most of it survived and looks great.

 

[WOEISMEIGOTTA470]

Mark, someone I know spends easily that much daily on lotto tickets lol. Just as long as I don't play that game, I'm in the clear! :laugh:

Thanks for the teak tip, doesn't seem like there's really much to it. I'll have plenty of experience with it, as soon as I get working on my swim platform.

 

[Mark72233]

Just some quick updates from this weekend. I got a few things done. I will just highlight the main things. I finally got done restoring the old aluminum rub rail and all 56 plus feet of it are back on the boat, and 108 bolts. What a pain doing that by myself it took about 5 hours putting it on.

 

[Mark72233]

I cleaned up most of the teak and put a coat of teak oil on them but the next day I noticed it sucked up the first coat so I will need to recoat a few times.

 

[Mark72233]

Working on it today it was 80* so I thought it was about time for the Bimini top.

 

[Mark72233]

And I have seats again.

 

[nurseman]

Mark, that is one nice looking boat. She looks great!

 

[alldodge]

Sure looking good Mark, great progress

 

[sphelps]

Looking just about ready for some fish guts on the deck ! Nice work !

 

[Mark72233]

Thanks for the kind words and motivation. I did run into a snag today. I ordered the steering system a few months ago and today I was finally running the cable and I think I ordered the wrong one. The one I have is a 20 foot and I should have ordered an 18 foot. I don't know how I manage to screw things up

 

[alldodge]

Hope you can use it, there is some money in them

 

[WOEISMEIGOTTA470]

Mark, she is looking great! Very nice to see it really coming together, hope you get the control cables sorted out...As AllDodge pointed out, worst case you could try and throw em up on ebay or something.

 

[Mark72233]

Ok, starting to look at running wiring. So here comes a stupid question. The correct running lights arrived today so I was going to run a short positive and a short negative (jump wires) from the port light to the starboard light and than run the long wires back to the light switch at the helm or should I run a negative jump wire and 2 positive wires back to the switch at the helm or do I have to run 2 sets of blk and red wires one set from each light back to the switch. As I type this I realize how dumb the ? Is but its typed so I am hitting Post Reply.

 

[Mark72233]

I did get some good news. I looked in the shed at my extra parts storage and realized I have 4 steering cables. One is the original cable and can't be used because the one end doesn't match the new steering gear I bought. 2 were in the donor parts boat and the last one was attached to the donor engine I bought. One of the two from the donor boat was locked up and the other is also not the right style but the last one is the right style and the perfect length and feels smooth and has no visible damage to the casing so BINGO I don't have to buy a cable and can sell one new one and 2 used ones on evilbay.

 

[Mark72233]

Two more electrical questions. My plan was put a negative buss bar in the engine bay which I am guessing would either be grounded to the engine and/or the same battery to that engine. For the negative wires running from the two bilge pumps, the stern light and the bilge blower can I run all 4 negative wires to this buss bar and than run the long power wires up to the respective switches at the helm. How would you run the wires.

 

[alldodge]

I would run battery ground to engine block, then run another wire (10AWG) from the engine block (same post) to the buss bar.