First attempt at boat repair

[Railcar]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

I admit I cheat on the music. I have sirius in my blazer, so I park it right next to the garage so I can pick it up on the inside..

 

[Railcar]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

Any tips on how to remove the steering? I am having issues getting the steering out of the console so I can get the entire panel off. Got a guy ready to waterjet the dash panel out of Aluminum, and Rinoliner finish for both sides.

 

[Railcar]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

Just got done drilling stringers, and removing a few caps to make sure I was reading the cores right. Stringers are all shot. I was thinking about something tho. Remove the stringers to the bulkheqd where the cap meets the floor. Glass in all but a foot or so of the stringers, and floor what I can , then pull the cap, and do the front end, when there is some structure and support for the hull. I will have to lay it in so that it overlaps I know, but it might help me to hold the shape without the cap on. any Ideas on this?

 

[Railcar]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

Unfortunately the orders from on high have come down, and the family budget just does not have the room to accomodate plywood for a few weeks. Christmas for the kiddos (I have 4 11, 9, 7 and 5) and my annual trip to Chicago are eating my boat funds. I could skip gifts for the kids, but I doubt they would understand the true value of boat repair supplies, in leau of toys. And the idea skipping out on a week in Chicago went over like a lead baloon. So I varnished some trim, and looked longingly at the stringers. Hopefully the budget opens up soon. I need a sawzall (only been asking for one of those for a decade) and plywood, and some PL, and I will be rolling on the demo and rebuild. Gives me time to focus on the other reapirs and updates. Upholstry, electronics, and the like.



And yes that is an old radiator on sawhorses for a painting table. Cheap, flat and I dont care if it gets coated in Spar Varnish. One Up Side, the wife got me 2 oscillating tool kits from Menards, Now have 15 half moon blades for the saw, and I am willing to bet I will use them all.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

Welcome to the holding 'work pending' area of the dry dock.... It gets chilly when the sun goes down, just keep her covered, and the water out. Then check on her every now and again....

Late winter, early spring is also a great boat building season

And sounds like the Admiral is still on board. Just on a later departure time........

 

[Trooper82]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

Ya I had a month or so waiting on funds for supplies...there was plenty of things to keep me busy, I'm sure you will find plenty to keep you going....

 

[Railcar]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

Oh No, the schedule can not change. I just have to work miracles in a condensed time line. Part of the agreement on finances was that the boat had to be on the water By May 31. Ni Ifs Ands or Buts, If she isnt pulling a tube by the splash deadline, I am in trouble.

 

[Railcar]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

second coat of Spar Varnish on the teak, and looking real good. I figure 8 coats on the trim to make it beautiful. I still have more to coat, but I want to keep going forward with out ply so any progress is a step in the right direction. Still trying to figure houw to pull the steering out so I can fix the mount.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

There should be a center cap on the steering wheel somewhere. Under that cap should be a large nut holding the steering wheel on to the steering shaft.

There may be a metal key in a key way along the shaft, it fits into a slot in the steering wheel..... Or at least there should be, acts as a tab so when the steering wheel is turned it actually turns the shaft, instead of just free spinning on the shaft.

Once you get the steering wheel off, there is probably a trim ring/collar behind it screwed to the dash, to act as trim covering the steering hub mounting screws. Remove the trim collar.

Take the hub mounting screws out & the hub should come free. And be dropped out from behind.

Once you get the wheel off, and the trim collar, it shouldn't be too difficult, even if my details don't really match your setup...

On your 2 spoke wheel, the center cap may be held on by friction clips, or small screws from the backside of the wheel......

 

[Railcar]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

I tried that JB. Took the center nut off the wheel, removed 3 bolts, and pulled the wheel off. there is a "hub" that I can not manage to persuade off (not even with a hammer and a pry bar) I have destroyed the Nylok that was on the shaft, and quit before I did any more damages.Wondering if I am going to have to cut the steering mechanism off and replace it.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

Post the best pix you can of the steering shaft from head on, the side & best you can from behind...

Did the steering wheel operate & turn the motor before you started taking it apart. If so, it may just be fighting you. My Jet's wheel did take some time to break it free. There may be screws from behind the dash, that may be hard to find, that are keeping the shaft assembly from coming out of the hub.

 

[Railcar]

Re: First attempt at boat repair



these are the only shots I have. The Hub does not have a set screw or anything. It took a 24 OZ hammer and did not budge a but, but the Nylok I put on to protect the threads was obliterated

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

A basic 3 or 4 prong gear puller will do the trick. That's a tapered shaft and prolly has a key as well. Gear Puller and propane torch to heat her up and she'll come right off.

 

[Railcar]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

I will have to give that a try when I get home on the 24th. Thank you for the help. I had real issues with the wheel, it wobbled, and the marina put a thin wood shim in to reinforce it. Needless to say it broke right after launch, and the wheel moves over 2 inches in every direction, and bows the dash.

 

[Trooper82]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

I don't recall how I pulled mine...I'll look at it tomorrow and let you know

 

[Railcar]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

i am going through boat withdrawl. Haven't seen my hull in 6 days. I hope to get a sawzall this weekend and start removal of my stringers. My schedule is going to get crazy pretty soon, and I fear boat work will suffer from it. I work Oct 28-Nov 2, then a week at the home office, another week on the res, then my annual trip to chicago. After that who knows, I have heard I will be reassigned. Hoping for TN, or KY, but if I do go there, I am hosed on the boat, I will only be home 4 days a month.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

Just think about how beautiful and nice your boat is going to be when you're finished.

It'll also bring you a huge amount of satisfaction when you have the family in it out on the lake.

 

[Railcar]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

Ok now for some technical questions. I am squirreling away supplies now. I want to fill some holes in the cap from button snaps and the like. I will not be gelling the cap or hull this year. How should I fill these holes and not having it look like a dalmation. And also how do you gel a floor? I want to gel the floor but can't find a good step by step how to. Wax or no wax coverage, ect. And what should I add to keep the deck from being slick. I was thinking sand, but does anyone know where I can get sand for the floor? Don't want stuff from the sandbox.

Too much time away from the boat has my mind running ragged through everything I have to get done.

 

[glenn property of pam]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

if you realy want to use sand then you need to go to a builders yard and ask for sandblasting sand as thats dryed and uniform. if the steering wheel hub is still stuck then either buy or borrow a steering wheel puller from a auto parts store (has a jack bolt in middle and 3 slots that you put threaded rods in then screw them into the hub) tighten the puller as tight as you can with out breaking anything then put a wet rag/leather over anything you want to keep and apply a little heat and it will pop free

 

[Railcar]

Re: First attempt at boat repair

I wish we had a local boat builder. I am going to give it a go on the puller (I think I still have one I made back in my welding days) when I get home.