Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

[jcsercsa]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

Look really good there John !!!That 1708 will work great , a little over kill , but you wont have to worrie about it again !! John

 

[waterwezl]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

That's lookin' good there John! How did you get the clean rolls over the tops of the bulkheads? I was going to grind the corners off in order for the glass to lay flat up and over, but I didn't see where you had done that. I have the worst luck making sharp corners with cloth.

BTW where in central FL are ya located? I'm up here in High Springs. NW of Gainesville. GO GATORS!!

Jason

 

[john51277]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

I did grind the tops of the stringers to round them off. I still have a little bubbling around the top, but with the epoxy, it has more than enough strength. I am about 30 mins south of Ocala. I usually fish out of Crystal River area.

 

[john51277]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

I got around to trimming the floor and cleaning all of the ribs and drain areas. I also coated the drain holes with one more coat of epoxy. I will be setting the floor down with lots of PL and SS screws. Then I will mix up some wood flour and epoxy to fill in the gap so that i can tab it in and start the glassing process. Here are some pics of the floor set in place before securing it down. It looks like it will be pretty darned sturdy. I will be anxious to water test it in the next few weeks.

I am still trying to figure out the whole building process from here. I want it to be light and have lots of casting deck for slaying the reds out on the flats and the back water. Here is the bilge/drain area pic. I need to decide on some plumbing also. I want to keep it simple and clean.

A friend and I went out on the grass flats in the Gulf on Tuesday. I took my bay boat. We did pretty well, and , well.........my friend is bugging me to go again already!! That's what Weekends are for!!! Looks like we will be going again!

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

Man nice fish , at least i know there biting some where sure isnt around here !! nice catch !!! John

 

[john51277]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

I have a question for the pros out there. I have used primarily epoxy for the front area, stringers, and botom side of the floor. I want to know if I can use poly on the rest of the floor and top deck. The original hull is poly/glass. The only exposed parts yet are the front section floor, and the transom. I have read alot about the poly over the epoxy, but since the floor is still bare wood, can i use poly and save some mony from here on out, or should I stay with the same epoxy??

 

[john51277]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

Anyone, please?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

Polyester isn't at its best when trying to bond to Epoxy, so if you are going to try and use it over the epoxy it won't work that well. If the new areas are not over the epoxy then there are no issues, it will be fine. In reality it would have made no difference in the end product if you had used polyester from the start, it's more than strong enough to do what you have planned.

 

[john51277]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

A few days have passed since my last update. Work has been picking back up a little. Have been working a little more. I did get the floor glued and screwed down. I also got around to filleting the sides and front, and tabbing the first layer in. I used some CSM for the tabbing and will be staying with the epoxy for the remainder of the project. I am still contemplating whether or not to just put two bench seats in it or going with a front and rear deck with storage hatches. I need some help deciding which way to go. I should be getting the boat out for a water test some time next week. I will post pics when I do it. I also put a coat of epoxy on the plywood for a little more sealing properties. My sons name is Connor, and I will be naming the boat "Connor Craft". I am still in the process of making a design for both sides of the boat too. He is 22 mos now. I hope it lasts long enough for him to get some use out of it. Here are some pics.

Being bored with a sharpie. Trying different logos.

Spray painted a picture frame white! Had to use somewhere flat.

 

[maxum247]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

From what I can see from the quality of the work your doing on the boat, your son should get lots of use out of the boat if it's taken care of over the years.

 

[john51277]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

Question about the inside gunnels. I want them to be flat and straight. Should I use plywood (heavy), or use some of the pink foam with glass over it (light)? The only thing that will be mounted to it will be rod holders, and maybe a cup holder. Any ideas. I am coming close to needing some sort of plan. I also plan on having a 4-6" overhang on the sides of the cockpit. It will act as a step in loading/unloading people, and cover for the stored rods. I need some help from the pros.

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

The glassing pics look great, nice and clear with a close up view for us newbies. Thanks for posting the close ups they are a good visual of what it should look like when done

 

[maxum247]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

I'm useing 5/8 in. plywood for the gunwales on my boat. I'll probably put two coats of fiberglass on.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

Since your plan is to make this boat last for future generations it would be a good idea to put a layer of cloth over the plywood, this will help protect the wood. Epoxy does a much better job of sealing plywood without glass being used than polyester will (polyester is terrible without glass), but it will fail after a while. As the wood expands and contracts the epoxy will eventually crack, plus the beating it will take from foot traffic and dropping stuff on it will let more water get through and compound the problem. The layer of glass will help it last much longer.

 

[john51277]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

Since your plan is to make this boat last for future generations it would be a good idea to put a layer of cloth over the plywood, this will help protect the wood.

I do definately plan on putting a layer of glass down on the floor. I just put a coat of epoxy down so I can do a little sea trial with it, so the ply does not get wet. That way I can glass it in and not have to wait for it to dry. I wa thinking a layer of thicker CSM and then a layer of veil cloth.

I am really stuck now on how to build the insides of the gunwales. I want it to be light and strong.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

Let?s get to the light part, for a small boat its being over built if that's your goal. Skip the CSM on the plywood, you're better off with two layers of cloth and skip CSM in any of the rest of the construction, it adds bulk and sucks up epoxy, but you don't get as much strength for the same weight as when using cloth. This boat is going to have an electric motor or very small OB on it, you're building it to the same spec as if it was going have 100 hp hanging on the back. You're boat is going to be as solid as a rock, so don't worry about it and you're doing a very good job, it will last for a very long time.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

I may not understand, of what value will adding larger gunwales be?

They add weight, but to what benefit?

Rod holders can be mounted easily to what?s there now and so can a cup holder.

With your goal of being light, everything built into it needs to be thought-out carefully so that no unneeded stuff (weight) is added.

 

[maxum247]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

Here's a couple picture's of the first set of washboards I did on my bowrider conversion.

 

[john51277]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

Well. I am just wanting the insides of the gunwale to be nice and smooth. Should I just grind it down and then fair, or put a layer of glass down? I want it to be clean and smooth.

I am also wondering about support for the front and rear decks. Do I just take some 3/4" ply and rip it into 1" wide strips and lay them just under the rub rail on the inside? Then lay the deck on top of that?? Then have a front and rear wall to support it from port to starboard? I will probably have a hatch installed in the front. (if that makes any sense)

I want to know if I need extra support under the decks?

Here is a detailed, well about as detailed as I can make it in 5 minutes using paint! What materials and types of glass should I use??? (kinda cheesy, I know)

Front view!!!

Rear view!!!

 

[JC1933]

Re: Flats boat PROJECT....Updated w/pics!

Yes it will look good