91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

[Woodonglass]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

According to what I have learned from my research on the product, Gelcoat is Polyester based but has a different molecular formulation and thus makes it a "Stand Alone" product. It does have a "Porosity" to it but still more than adequate for waterproofing your hull or deck. When people talk about Poly absorbing water they usually fail to state that this water absorption would take decades to occur and would be miniscule at best.

One side note. Using your grinding waste as filler material for your PB has been discussed on the forum many times. Generally it has been stated to not be a good idea due to contaminates in the mix and that the dust would contain particulates of MEKP from the previous resin which could effect the new chemical mix. Just a FYI as to what has been bantered about on previous discussions here. In a "Pinch" we all use what's available.

You did some nice restoration work on this boat. She should last a long time and offer years of enjoyment for you and your family.

 

[jnbhendrix]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

Wood, what kind of signs would the defected PB show? Would it be something I would notice right away or is it something that degrades slowly. I did use cabosil for most of my glueing applications and just used my grindings for fillets. Thanks for the input I didn't even bother researching the use of old fiberglass grindings.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

You prolly would have noticed it right away mostly. If the MEKP particulates would have caused it to KICK off quicker or made a HOTTER mix which would cause it to be more brittle. Or if to many contaminates were present it would not have set up properly. If it Kicked and set up OK then you're gunna be fine. Lot's of people have done it, just saying that some of the PRO's here on the forum have advised against it for the reasons stated and I was passing it along. As I said, I've done it in a Pinch as have many others. I just wouldn't do it as a common practice.

 

[jnbhendrix]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

What would be the best way for me to attach items to my transom. Previously they just appeared to be screwed in. I have done some research and I have come up with either drilling pilots and coating the screws in 5200 or oversizing the hole then filling with epoxy then drilling pilots. What I was thinking was for the small screws that just hold wires is to drill pilots and coating with 5200 and for larger holes I would oversize and fill with epoxy then redrill pilot. I have a few issues running through my head, one being I don't have epoxy, can I use PB? The second is that I want to gelcoat everything before I get the engine back in. So, my transom will be looking all pretty and then I will have to drill out oversized holes, can I touch them up with gelcoat after?

 

[Okieboatguy]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

Good looking work, Subscribed.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

If you Pre-Drill everything and then carefully coat the holes and hardware with 4200 I see no issues. I'd finish the transom and give it 2-3 coats of Gelcoat and then start installing everything. Touch up after installation is complete. I used to be a fan of overdrilling and filling with epoxy but not so much now. I think it's mostly all about the proper care and maintenance of the boat after it's finished that makes the difference.That's how I'd do it. Others may have different opinions.

 

[jnbhendrix]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

My boat workshop




This normally keeps the rain out my boat

 

[jnbhendrix]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

1 and a 1/3 layers on deck. From the fuel tank access to the transom is finished, besides gelcoating.






It?s amazing what CSM will conform to once wetted out. This area is done, just needs a little sanding and gelcoat.

 

[jnbhendrix]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

Thanks Wood. I highly regard your opinions and that's how its gonna get done.

 

[jnbhendrix]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

When gel coating my deck will I need a non slip additive or will just rolling it out with a 1/4" nap roller be enough? Also, I ordered pure white gel coat, do you think that will be too bright? I also ordered some halyard white pigment from uscomposites to tone it down if need be.

 

[jnbhendrix]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

Well, I gelcoated my deck today and it's kind of bittersweet. I had lightly sanded my deck with 40 grit to try and make the deck somewhat flat and I was hoping the gelcoat would have filled in the itsy bitsy craters between the fibers of the csm. It doesn't fill many gaps and looks as though it would need tons of hours to get the deck to look perfect. I just don't have time for that. The gel coat shows every flaw. I followed the instructions from uscomposites and thinned about 7% with styrene and hardener at 2%. I'm guessing it was close to 85 degrees today and the gel coat kicked after like 5 minutes ruining more than half the 1 quart I started with. I then catalyzed at 1.5% and it gave me a tiny bit longer and I ended up wasting another 300-400mL. I finally got a decent working time catalyzing at just a hair over 1%. I only have 2 coats down as I am going to have order more gelcoat. Before I do, I was thinking of just rolling rust oleum topside over all of it and calling it done. I have not waxed any of the gelcoat yet. Would I be able to do that and would the gelcoat fully harden after that? Is that not a very smart thing to do because I know the gelcoat is a superior coating. Would one more coat and then a final coat with wax be too much? Should I just do one last coat waxed?

 

[jnbhendrix]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

Here's what I got so far. That is 2 coats of gel coat. Since I wasted a 1-1.5qts I have to order more gel coat to do the last layer with wax. The interior sides of the boat and ski locker will be painted white with Rustoleum topside. After all the interior pieces are in you probably won't see any of the sides its just the ocd in me.I now wish I would have painted all the stringers with the topside.

 

[jnbhendrix]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

While waiting on the gelcoat I have been prepping the gimbal and pivot housing to be painted. The housing had a few spots with some battery acid looking corrosion, luckily none of the metal is pitted so ive sanded that down to bare metal and an lightly sanding the whole deal for paint. This job is of course not without its issues. My trim/tilt lines will not come loose I damn near rounded each one even with a flare nut wrench. I'm just going to tape them off and paint around it as much as I can. The lines alone would set me back $300 and I already have way too much money in the boat.

 

[jnbhendrix]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

The other day I decided to go to my cousin's and look the engine over. I knew I had a small leak of water which was usually just a few runs of water down the engine block by the exhaust manifold. I thought it was just the manifold gasket so I ordered a new one. When I got to his house and pulled the manifold I wanted to die. The *****hole who sold me this boat really has some bad karma coming to him. After doing research, come to find out this is a common thing on the 3.0l and many have had success with JB Weld. So, my plan is to either JB weld it or my cousin has anarray of welding equipment in his garage where my engine sits on the floor. He has plenty experience welding but only has welded cast iron once. I'm worried about welding that close to the cylinder head deck surface. I would like to buy 2-3 years so I can locate and find a good deal on a used re power. Since I now have a new boat structurally I would like to have a mercruiser 3.0l setup. Everything OMC is like 2x the price for parts. Any one have any thoughts if I should have my cousin weld the block or just JB weld it and see how long that will get me by.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

Dang, wish I woulda known you were gellin. 1% catalyst with the temps the way they were was plenty, especially when you're rollin it. But you learned. Shame you had to waste the gel. Gel is like paint, it shows what ever is under the surface. It's all about the prep!!!! I think one more coat with wax will do you fine. It's lookin Good!!!! I'd just use plain old Rustoleum Pro Oil based paint for the rest and put the Acrylic Enamel Hardener in it. It'll wear like iron. I'm no welder so don't know what to say about the motor. Hope you get it worked out.

 

[matt167]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

Welding can open a big can of worms because to be done 'properly' it has to be disassembled, preheated, welded, then cooled in an oven over a period of time.. That said, If your cousin preheats, welds with a high nickel rod and then cools it kinda slow, it should be ok or at the very least give you a smaller crack to JB weld.. Plenty of farm tractor engines welded up on the tractor out in the open by the right person who knew what to do.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

You can use a method that I know of as "stitching"
It is often used in machine shops to salvage cracked, hard to obtain head and blocks...

Here are a couple of links to see what I am talking about...

Cast Iron Cylinder Head Repair - Cold Stitch Crack Repair - Mopar Muscle Magazine

Cylinder Head & Casting Repair

LOCK-N-STITCH Inc. homepage: Cast iron crack repair, cast iron welding, thread repair inserts

Good Luck!
GT1M

 

[jnbhendrix]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

I rolled the last coat of gel coat with wax and a non slip additive and it looks much better. Pics to come later.

With the engine I think I'm going to jb weld it and if it holds and no water in the oil over the winter I will order one of those metal stitching kits. I think it will hold it ran all last year like that. Thanks for the info guys.

 

[jnbhendrix]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

As far as build and construction go I am finished. Just need to finish painting the outdrive and then install everything. Hopefully I can splash it this Labor Day weekend.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 91 Conquest 1700 Ski boat Transom Deck and Stringer restoration.

You did an amazing job rebuilding this boat. Better than factor. Bummer about the motor. That hull is well worthy of an eventual Mercruiser repower though.