Building a '93 Caravelle 1750 Classic Bowrider

[froggy1150]

Also with carpet between pedestal there will be give and crush. When solid things move .... they break. Not good at speed

 

[skuhleman]

I've been thinking about how I want to build the fiberglass engine enclosure. I want to make it slick-finished glass like it came out of a factory mold, but I want to shortcut the process by skipping the plug stage. I just want to build a single-use mold with a smooth-surface material. Something like you would use in a a shower.
Maybe a sheet of powder-coated aluminum like I built my camper out of; I could roll curves into that. That stuff's not cheap, but might be worth $75 to build a nice mold with only one seam around the top.. Now that I think about it, aluminum is probably not much more costly than that shower board, and much easier to curve.

I have a good idea of how to brace it on the outside by using adhesive to attach the bracing to the sheeting.

I think the top could be flat, and I could form smooth fillets with caulk.

Anyway, the wheels are turning and the vision is starting to come to me.

So what engine enclosure are you talking about here? Are you talking about a doghouse that covers the motor? If so that boat came with a bench seat and a full width sundeck to cover the engine.

 

[skuhleman]

I could mark the screw holes on the carpet, and then cut away the carpet where the screws will be so I can pre-drill and apply a small bed of sealant for each screw. I'm picturing a round piece of carpet about a half inch smaller diameter than the pedestal base.

When I did mine I laid the carpet first, then I just marked the screw holes, pre drilled, then coated the hole and the lag bolts with sealant and ran them in tight.

As for the movement on top of the carpet, once its bolted down tight, it crushes the carpet, there is no movement available

 

[Reserector_]

So what engine enclosure are you talking about here? Are you talking about a doghouse that covers the motor? If so that boat came with a bench seat and a full width sundeck to cover the engine.

The 1750 was also offered with a doghouse and a seat on each side. The seats could be folded inside out (for lack of a better term) to fill in and create the sun deck.
Since It will mainly be my arthritic wife and I in this boat, I plan to go with a doghouse that will flare out to cover the mechanicals at the transom. Maybe one big piece
Nothing on the starboard side. That will allow a place to stand and fish, or just to reach the water.
Port side rear will have steps and a grab pole for boarding. Sure, my boys and I can still leap in like Speed racer into his Mach 5, but my wife and her mother...not so much.
I also want to have one seat at the front of the doghouse. Either molded in, or just ahead and removable. Maybe molded-in back with flip-up base.

 

[skuhleman]

The 1750 was also offered with a doghouse and a seat on each side. The seats could be folded inside out (for lack of a better term) to fill in and create the sun deck.
Since It will mainly be my arthritic wife and I in this boat, I plan to go with a doghouse that will flare out to cover the mechanicals at the transom. Maybe one big piece
Nothing on the starboard side. That will allow a place to stand and fish, or just to reach the water.
Port side rear will have steps and a grab pole for boarding. Sure, my boys and I can still leap in like Speed racer into his Mach 5, but my wife and her mother...not so much.
I also want to have one seat at the front of the doghouse. Either molded in, or just ahead and removable. Maybe molded-in back with flip-up base.

Interesting, I have never seen that browsing the caravelle forums. That was what we liked best was the full bench. Which was kinda rare in a boat that size. Most had the doghouse. You might just try to find a doghouse off an existing boat in a salvage yard or something. I believe the one in your picture is probably wood wrapped in vinyl.

 

[Reserector_]

I haven't ruled out wood wrapped in vinyl. Just exploring possibilities while I have time.
I like the doghouse for the sake of engine access. Besides, none of us are sunbathers.

 

[Reserector_]

I cut down one of my seat posts to the correct height, and set the assembly in the boat for a test fit. Or should I say "test SIT"
I wish they could be taller for the sake of getting in and out of them, but I have to be properly positioned to reach the controls and see through the windshield. I accomplished that goal.
I also determined that they will be able to swivel without interference.

Next, I finished connecting the bilge pump, drained the engine block, and used that water to test the pump for the first time. That all went well, also. The pump is 750 GPM, and it got the job done in a hurry. By the time I took a photo of the boat peeing, it was done and shaking off.

 

[Reserector_]

Interesting, I have never seen that browsing the caravelle forums.

They have a new site, in case you are not aware: https://www.caravellefans.com/
I hope it's OK to post that link. It is not a competing vendor. Just a brand-specific site.

 

[Reserector_]

My latest accomplishment was to finish the second seat and get it ready to mount. Photos of all the steps. Found a penny...I think it's a penny. LOL

At least I had supervision on this part of the project.

Pretty much snapped all of the old upholstery off, it was so brittle.
Wood was long gone, including the plywood plate that is used instead of the slider piece. Was like that from the factory, and I saw no need to add a slider. Especially when I saw the cost. This was the test fit. It got primed and painted.

A wire wheel took care of the stubborn foam and glue.

I already had the new foam and upholstery ready, so it was just a matter of gluing on the foam, trimming, wrapping in plastic, and installing the vinyl and inserts.

I added the cut-down post and swivel socket, and set it in place.



The next day, my carpet arrived. Waiting for the glue. That will be next weekend's project.

 

[Reserector_]

I got the main section of carpet cut and glued. Ran out of glue, but I think I will switch to contact cement for the remainder; most of which is smooth fiberglass, or vertical.



The final interior plan is taking shape in my mind. It will all come together visually when the side panels happen.

I just ordered two seats to add to the rear. Might use one. Might use two. We'll see, I guess.

 

[buxmj]

Looking great! Keep the pics coming, good inspiration for those of us who need a little motivation to see projects that are further along than our own.

Buck.

 

[Reserector_]

I have several projects around the house that I have been putting off. I feel like I am getting close to done with the boat, so it is important to me to maintain my momentum with it. I've been on it over a year now. Way longer than past projects.
I'm in what I call the "final push".
A project stalled is a project that is hard to gt back to.

 

[Reserector_]

Materials here or on the way. Four day weekend coming up. Hoping to knock out a bunch of the interior.


I finished up the carpet in the bow, and covered the ski locker lid. I got creative and did some binding on the edge with a strip of red vinyl. It came out good except that the corners want to draw inward. I rolled it out flat as I glued it, but ended up hiding some staples in the stitching just to keep it from pulling back over time. If I were to do this again, I would keep the strip much narrower.
In this photo you can see how much the vinyl wants to gather. But, like most things, it works out when you take a baseball bat to it.


I've been making cardboard templates and working out the color balance in Microsoft Paint.




There will be blue carpet against the upper portion of the kick panels and against the hull in the "blue field". Red carpet against the hull from there back.
Where the red and white panel stops is where the rear enclosure begins.
The board near the floor is PVC. That will mount about two inches above the floor.

 

[Reserector_]

Long holiday weekend allowed for good progress.
I finished carpeting the sides of the hull. I then added carpet with vinyl binding to the kick panel to create a red/white/blue band that would be carried rearward by the PVC planks added to the flotation boxes. The planks create a storage bin and serve as kick panels.








I then translated all of my cardboard patterns into plywood panels, and painted them.
I only had time to upholster the blue front panels. The helm panel could not be padded on the upper portion due to the way that I have it overlapping the shifter mount panel. I did this so I can pop the panels off for maintenance access. It makes for some weird upholstery, but I'm fairly satisfied with it. Form follows function.

 

[Scott Danforth]

If you could get it splashed, we can add you to the SOTY nominations

 

[Reserector_]

I still have the outdrive to go through yet, Scott. I've already decided to finish it through the winter, including bow seating and engine enclosure, and then splash it in early spring. I'm pushing to get it done, but not rushing it.

 

[buxmj]

Looking great and I was thinking the same thing, great possible nominee. It will be a great nominee in 2021 then!

 

[JASinIL2006]

You are making great progress!

 

[bruceb58]

deleted

 

[Reserector_]

It's really starting to look like the picture in my mind. I'm pretty happy with it.