93 Crownline 250; she 'was' dirty, but now shes clean and SPLASHED!!

[zool]

oh, and to this zool, its also got a 275lb rating,. Which generally is WELL over the girls I want to try and get on my boat anyway, so it should work just fine.. :laugh:

Good insurance, you never know if you'll run into the Omega Moos....:laugh:

 

[bigdirty]

Omega Moos

wow.. I almost fell off my chair when I read that :roll: :laugh:

anyway....

Got out of work a bit early today, but had to go to my moms and help her and my stepfather with some things.. got dinner for my efforts thought Got home around 7pm and had a few ideas, so I went with it.. First though, I'm a little ashamed..... but I may be the winner of the most messed up shop award right now..

It's definatly time for the big clean up :lol:

Thats tomorrows plan, as its about to get very dusty in here and I should really put tools and things away, and maybe hang some poly up/over things.. there is much sanding and routering to do;

?@
I think I need to add a few small braces and ribs to the underside, mostely at the outer edges. The main ribs are doubled up, and I guess it might be overbuilt, but why the heck not right? :laugh:

Also going to double up the mounting areas, using the cut outs from the venting holes.. Its ended up being about 1.5 sheets of 3/4 ply to make this.. but I can still lift it and move it around on my own.. sort of :lol: think I'm gona hang it from the boat shed rafters by ratchet straps to install...

The ladder cover is a bit hodgpoge, but once covered in glass and gel it should work fine, and be solid to walk over with the ladder out, or stowed. I am worried about the back edge of the platform scooping/grabbing water when trying to get on plane, but I have a plan involving some 1/4" plastic uhmw sheet (you can see it in the background leaning against the wall) to be added in after glass/gel and install on the boat.
If all goes as I hope, I will be dropping it off to the glass guy friday. I may end up doing the gel and non skid myself, depending on cost and timing.. but there is so much 'other' work to get done to prepare for the upcoming season I definatly wont be bored waiting a week or two for the platform to be glassed..

 

[Mikeopsycho]

Yup, your shop is pretty messed up alright, I think I'd be very comfortable there , except I didn't spot the fridge in the pix :lol:. I know it'd be tough to do, but are you gonna try fitting it in place on the boat before you get it all glassed up?

 

[bigdirty]

No worries, the fridge is in there :lol: just off to the left beside the work bench. Ya, I'd like to do some kind of 'dry fit' if I can, it depends on what kind of help I can get Friday afternoon.. May have to bribe a few friends with some cold beverages..

 

[muskyfins]

I think it took me more time to read this thread and catch up than it took you to do the build. :lol: Great job.

Enjoying the show.op2:

 

[muskyfins]

How did your gimbal ring repair work out? Did she ever loosen up again? Any stress cracks in the aluminum? Any handling problems?

 

[bigdirty]

Hey muskyfins, thanks Yes, I had forgotten about that little 'fix' I did.. :lol: but all is well with it, never had any issues while running and I just went out to the boat shed to check.. shes still quite solid, with no signs of cracking or anything wrong with the gimbal ring. Was always very responsive, even at low speeds. You have to keep in mind though, I learned to drive a 'bigger' boat like this on/in a 1981 253 chris craft.. OMC stringer drive, and it was VERY worn out.. fast forward a few years, and the first time I backed up to my dock (last year) with the crownline, a passenger on board told me "wow.. you've done this before haven't you.." um... no actually... :laugh:

 

[bigdirty]

Cleaning up got annoying.. so I decided "its my boat, and my shop, I'll do what I like." :lol: Got the platform all routed and sanded up, as best I can. Added some additional supports and pieces to the underside, so I can attach my plastic 'trim tab like deflector pieces' after the glass work. Sort of coming up on a deadline, as I want this to be out of here Friday, and THEN the big cleanup will start.

A friend stopped by tonite, and two guys can easily lift it. Gona be a bit heavier after all the glass and gel coat, ladder and stainless backer plates.. but I think it will work good.

Still need to pull the outdrive out of the back (yes, its buried at the back of the shop behind things, of course..) and change the oil, new waste holding tank should be done Friday so on the off chance it warms up this weekend I'll be throwing that in.. It was SNOWING here tonite, so I'm not holding my breath.. sheesh... and I still have to pull the battery charger and some other 'stuff' off the inside of the transom to make way for drilling holes to mount the platform when the time comes. Oh, and fix the one engine hatch and original boarding ladder cover piece.. I'm hoping for a june splash, but we'll see..
I just realised it is almost one year to the day that I started this project.. wow, guess I've come a long way in a relativly short time frame.. No doubt in part to the great people on this site (and those behind the scenes as well, keeping it going) and the wealth of information and great advice here. Just wanted to say thanks

 

[Mikeopsycho]

Congrats on your one year Crownline 250 anniversary! :clap2: arty: :very_drunk: :whoo:And I agree, it's your shop and you can clean it up when you want to.....that's exactly what I tell the admiral about our garage . You need the platform ready by Friday? Looks to me like you'll have an extra day at the rate you get things done.

 

[bigdirty]

Ya, I wana do a bit more sanding tonite, and try a mock up on the transom. Supposed to drop it off to the glass guy tomorrow afternoon

 

[Mark72233]

I will have a beer tonight to celebrate your one year Dirty. Maybe a Brava if I can find those in Florida. I can't believe your still dealing with snow, I am having to deal with almost 90* days with heavy rain and thunderstorms most of the time. Wish I had you as a neighbor Dirty that would be fun.

 

[bigdirty]

cheers Mark.... Ya, I think it would be a good time for sure.. might upset the rest or the neighborhood though arty: :roll:
Was a fairly light night for me, got a few bits sanded how I like and added two extra braces to stop a bit of flex on one side. Then a friend stopped by, so seeing as I had the manpower on hand.. :lol: did a quick test fit...

My buddy Mike is a good guy.. looks a little 'stressed' in this pic, but a good friend either way.. :laugh: Fit was good, angle looks right, evrything clears and I think I'll be happy with it... sorry for the blurry pic, mike was getting tired, and I had to steady the platform as I took the pic..

It will end up about 1/2" higher when mounted, but this was a good visual of where it will sit...

I'm flying by the seat of my pants here, but I'm thinking with the added weight on the back of the boat, plus a person or two on it, I should be about 4-6" off the water.. and judging from the scum/water line (more cleaning.. ugh..) that will be a nice hight at the back of the platform. If anything, it may end up pitched aft more than I want, so initialy I will only install with through bolts/backer plates at the top edge of the trasnom mounting surface. After launch, if need be I can extend or move my stainless support bars, loosen the mounting bolts and stick some plastic wedge pieces in from thebottom edge of the platform to change the angle, and simply screw through/into them and re tighten/seal the upper bolts. The main bolts will be so far above water line I'm not too worried, as long as they have a good amount of sealent on them passing through the transom. Oh, and I was getting worried cause I called to confirm about tomorrow, but his voicemail box was full....but then my glass guy called me back around 8pm, and its all good.. guess hes getting busy now.. anyway, I'm dropping this beast off tomorrow afternoon.. then if spring ever gets here, I'll busy myself with 'other' things on the boat.. (snowed almost all day.. yuck.. didnt stay, but still.. boooo...)

 

[Mark72233]

That is looking really good can't wait to see it all glassed up.

 

[redneck joe]

The ladder lid looks good and flush but will it still be as you add thr glass?

 

[bigdirty]

Thanks guys . And ya Joe, it might get a bit thicker, I don't mind if its a little proud in the end though, 1/8" won't be a trip hazard, and it will be all rounded edges. I've left 1/4 all around the peimeter of the cover as well, hopefully it won't be too tight after glassing...

 

[Mikeopsycho]

Looking good! Good thing your buddy showed up and helped do the dry fit. I kinda knew with your skills it'd fit just fine, but it's nice to see it in place before the glassing just in case, and this way Mike earned himself a cold beverage.

 

[bigdirty]

Yup, except my buddy doesn't usualy drink.. so an afternoon cruise with a few girls is his reward.. :lol: but that's including him helping me do the final install after glass/gel coat. Took it over to my glass guy, who conveniently is renting work space at the back of my marinas main shop. So here's the glass guy, his helper/,and the guy who owns/runs my marina standing in the parking lot looking at it after pulling out of my truck. "Holy crap man... when you build something..." ..." Jeeze.. you could drive a tank on that thing!"... "well that's never gona break.." :laugh:

The owner of the marina told me afterwards that if I wanted to, I could likely make a few $$$ on the side doing cores and wood work for them, cause I obviously have a knack for it.. I don't feel too bad about it now..

 

[bigdirty]

Taking a break from general shop clean up, thought id make a mini update here.. Just so the guys down south appreciate their warm weather, here is what I woke up to yesterday morning... uugghhhh..

Its gone now, but still too cold outside to do much. lousy smartch weather... I did get a fair amount done in the shop today, and its starting to look a bit better in here..

Found all my canvas and bars.. :lol: a few pieces need attention/repair, but mainly just a dusting off is all I need to do. Hung up the little sign my mom and step dad brough back from florida, right in the middle of the shop on a support beam.

Oh, and I found something at a local liquidator/dicount store yesterday.. Seen these for around $200, SO for $75, I couldnt pass it up :laugh: Stainless hinges, good solid handle, and decent rubber wheels.... although its a bit ..um... large...

Has some scuff marks on the top, but no worse than I'm gona do to it.. and it says it will keep ice for 6 days, 110qt capacity.. (168 cans.. whooohoooo!)

I think that is where it might end up, at least while running. Gona build a little hinged out carpeted piece to support it there, so if I'm only doing a day trip and dont need the big bertha cooler, the deck room is there, and also to access the engine bay if needed.

 

[Mark72233]

Nice shoo, dirty. Yes the weather here in Panama City today was 85* with high humidity. I couldn't stop sweating. That cooler is nice and compared to the price of one of those Yeti coolers that's a deal.

 

[bigdirty]

Another day, another project or two.. My truck blew a brake line yesterday, but lucky me it was backing out of my parking spot at work.. so it sits there stranded until the weekend. Have to get it towed to a friends, who has a hoist in his shop. I've got my car so at least I'm mobile.. anywhoo..
Got into the boat last night and pulled the charger, blower fans, etc off the transom in prep for drilling holes to mount the platform... greatings from the engine bay! :lol:

Not a lot of room down there with the big ol 454 in the way.. and that little battery charger weighs more than you would think..

Then I somehow crawled back out and went to town on the port side engine hatch/deck.. wow she was soaked right through.. I pulled the entire back section off with a screwdriver gently prying on it..

Chip away, smash bang rip tear...

getting there..

the ol rotten wood pile.. most came out as one piece, more or less.. a few stubborn pieces i had to chisel off tho, and smash my thumb of course...

so much for a clean shop..

?

ahh.. ready for a grind.. had to get a little itchy this season right? :laugh:
As you can see, it was built from various small squares of wood, and I'm not sure if it was done on purpose (strength?), or just to use up the otherwise 'waste' off cuts at the factory..
And the factory also put an aditional brace on the bottom, so even they must have thought "hmm.. this is a big panel, and 5/8" ply with one layer of glass likely isnt going to be strong enough." And keep in mind, most of the weight of the passengers on the rear/side seat will be on this panel.
My question now, is this; Do I replace with one solid piece of 3/4" ply (which I have on hand) OR make a grid/rib pattern of sorts, out of the 3/4" ply, (say 2" wide strips, spaced out 5-6" apart..) and glass over it all with some chop mat and wovenrov that I have left over from the original stringer/bulkhead job last spring? Thoughts and opinions welcome...
?
My thoughts, are the grid or rib patern would still offer strength, but be a bit lighter in the end. The starboard side is somehow in better shape, and much lighter than this soggy rotten one. Its still a bit heavy though, they are 30"x40" pieces after all... but if I keep the boat after this season, I'd like to reengineer the rear deck anyway, and make 3 new panels for easier access and storage while removed. I make it a point every time before I fire the motor to open the hatch, have a look around, sniff for fuel (or.. uh, other things leaking..) and check the bilge area, and these big panels are a bit annoying to be honest..