How is everyone's spring projects going?

[ZK]

Mine is going... Nowhere... Quickly...

Everytime I get one thing done, I go "Well, I've got it here, I might as well do this..." And the list gets bigger. And bigger.

What was "Hey I'mma buy a GPS/Fishfinder and install it..."

Turned into removing decals, replacing rotted wood (that needed to be done anyways), replacing trailer lights, replacing wheel bearings, new tires, new spark plugs and wires (when the old ones are just fine), installing a new hydrofoil...

The list goes on and on...

Damn GPS.

 

[boat1010]

Re: How is everyone's spring projects going?

Crap!!! It's SPRING????? Every time I think about going out and doing something with the boat it snows!!! Stupid Nebraska weather. It waited till spring to snow. It almost seems like we had more snow now that spring has sprung than when it was winter.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: How is everyone's spring projects going?

I'm currently laid off, so I have all the time in the world for the projects Ive had planned for a while.

But now I dont have the money to do them.....

 

[seaman campbell]

Re: How is everyone's spring projects going?

my projects came and went. still have one lingering issue that is driving me crazy! did have a chance to use the boat prior to projects in February.


TC

 

[arks]

Re: How is everyone's spring projects going?

Sorry to hear about that Shizzy- I'm still employed but took a 15% salary cut....sucks, that's for sure.
Anyway, this year I've decided to strip all the bottom paint from my 34 footer and add a new epoxy barrier coat, then new antifouling paint. The original plan was to pay the yard to blast it off, but the economy changed that idea- I'm doing it myself.

Boat's 25 years old and I don't think it was ever done. At LEAST 6 layers of paint came off. I started with "Peel-Away" chemical stripper but it took 2 rounds to get a section clean, and at $66/ gallon it was just too expensive.

After trying different approaches, I found the fastest and easiest way was to use a razor scraper---yeah I know "NEVER use a metal blade on fiberglass!!" but I discovered a dull blade with medium pressure will literally pulverize the old paint into little chips. I was careful to keep the razor away from anyplace that wasn't flat to avoid gouging. A small. worn-out 1" putty knife worked well in tight areas and didn't damage the gelcoat.
It took me 7 consecutive days working 8-10 hours to get it clean, but I finally finished yesterday. That's GOT to be one of the WORST jobs in boating!

Now I've got to sand the bottom to prepare for the barrier coat. Maybe 'll start NEXT weekend- my muscles are still way too sore!

 

[Shizzy]

Re: How is everyone's spring projects going?

Im not all that upset over it. I get a nice vacation just as the weather is getting nicer.

I have found Im doing more projects that take only time, Much like your bottom paint project.

all the loose or broken drawers and cabinet doors have been fixed, all the loose chairs have been retightend, every horizontal surface is dust free etc...

 

[ZK]

Re: How is everyone's spring projects going?

Everytime I get set with one project on the boat... My plans change.

The other day I stopped at a local West Marine, and I had a 24" anchor light, but it's just too short. So I got a 36 or 39" one, and I splurged, and got the LED one...

I sat in my garage with the doors closed and lights off for like an hour switching between incandescent and LED... The old one will light up my boat, no problem. The new one lights up my garage.

So now I'm changing the bow light to LED, to conserve battery power, as well as adding indirect LED lighting for moving around the boat. It seems I use my boat more at night than anything else.

I just placed an order with iBoats for new fenders, new fuel lines, new bow lights, and a new trailer winch.

So now the list is like this...

Boat
- Eliminate old and unused wires
- Rewire entire boat, new fuse box (from glass to circuit breakers)
- Install fishfinder/GPS
- Cut new wood for open bow seats, reinstall
- All new fuel lines
- Tune up motor

Trailer
- New trailer lights and wiring
- New races, bearings, tires
- New winch

If I Have Time - But Not Too Important
- Mount and install VHF radio
- Mount and install FM/CD radio

I know it doesn't sound like much, but hopefully I'll get to use the boat this summer.

 

[ScottRogers]

Re: How is everyone's spring projects going?

Getting busy, thank the good Lord. I can't believe how many gimbal bearing jobs I've been getting this spring. But then again with marinas charging 100 - 110 per hour, I prosper. I hope all of you folks that lost their jobs get better ones soon. Here in CT. it's getting worse by the week.

 

[mphy98]

Re: How is everyone's spring projects going?

new seats in, hummingbird 797si installed, had the v sprayed with our reflex bedliner material(for shore lunch on the rocks in Canada) side window curtains had the yellow plastic windows replaced, live well installed, fire extinguishers installed,marine radio installed, auto bilge pump installed. all that is left is the tires have to be replaced on the trailer, then June 1st it will be in Canada on eagle lake!!!


I used the reflex material as opposed to the keel guard because it is very flexible and if it does i can always have it resprayed. the keel guard would only last 2 to 4 years up there i have been told. we will see how this works out.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: How is everyone's spring projects going?

i've been wanting to install my cmc power trim unit but it's staying cold. it's 21F this a.m. i unwrapped my boat last weekend because it was nice but turned colder after. i've got cabin fever.

 

[81 beachcomber]

Re: How is everyone's spring projects going?

Sorry to hear about that Shizzy- I'm still employed but took a 15% salary cut....sucks, that's for sure.
Anyway, this year I've decided to strip all the bottom paint from my 34 footer and add a new epoxy barrier coat, then new antifouling paint. The original plan was to pay the yard to blast it off, but the economy changed that idea- I'm doing it myself.

Boat's 25 years old and I don't think it was ever done. At LEAST 6 layers of paint came off. I started with "Peel-Away" chemical stripper but it took 2 rounds to get a section clean, and at $66/ gallon it was just too expensive.

After trying different approaches, I found the fastest and easiest way was to use a razor scraper---yeah I know "NEVER use a metal blade on fiberglass!!" but I discovered a dull blade with medium pressure will literally pulverize the old paint into little chips. I was careful to keep the razor away from anyplace that wasn't flat to avoid gouging. A small. worn-out 1" putty knife worked well in tight areas and didn't damage the gelcoat.
It took me 7 consecutive days working 8-10 hours to get it clean, but I finally finished yesterday. That's GOT to be one of the WORST jobs in boating!

Now I've got to sand the bottom to prepare for the barrier coat. Maybe 'll start NEXT weekend- my muscles are still way too sore!

this is the same way we did my old mans sailboat a couple years back. its amazing the amount of paint that came off! pretty s***y job. you'll be covered in paint dust for days. lol good luck on the rest of the project. it's definetly worth it.

edit: also while your at it if there are any blisters nows the time to drill them out and fill with epoxy, before they get any bigger. we found probably over 20 of them on our hull.

 

[arks]

Re: How is everyone's spring projects going?

this is the same way we did my old mans sailboat a couple years back. its amazing the amount of paint that came off! pretty s***y job. you'll be covered in paint dust for days. lol good luck on the rest of the project. it's definetly worth it.

Yeah, even a week later I'm finding little specks of green paint in my ears....
Hopefully the sanding operation will be a bit more tolerable.

also while your at it if there are any blisters nows the time to drill them out and fill with epoxy, before they get any bigger. we found probably over 20 of them on our hull.

Ya'know, I was kinda surprised to find not even one blister. Silverton's weren't prone to them but after all these years I figured there might be a few small ones.
I do have about 10 chips and dings to fill before painting, but that'll be easy.
Thanks for the encouragement!

 

[lowkee]

Re: How is everyone's spring projects going?

So far so good on my spring resto project. I just put the cap back on tonight in preparation for measuring and cutting the stringers and deck boards. The tear down is officially concluded and I'm on to the rebuilding stage (Hooray!). Even ordered up the resin today, so now I know I'm closer.

 

[ZK]

Re: How is everyone's spring projects going?

Got home from work and all the stuff I ordered from iBoats was at the house...

I got pretty excited, as I do when I get mail, because unless it's a bill, it's not addressed to me...

So after work, I installed the new trailer winch, it's the 1400LBS strap kind, no more dealing with old rope. And the handle is shorter, so it won't hit my hull (tested that right away). And it's got the two way ratchet. Which I've never used, but I figured it can't hurt. Either way, I'm excited I don't have to deal with my old rusty one.

Then I got new bow lights. I got an LED anchor light a couple weeks ago, I was so impressed I decided that, even though LEDs are more expensive, I'm going to all LED in my boat. The draw is minimal on my battery, which I like, and besides, it'll just look cool. I did have to drill two holes in the top of my hull, and it is smaller than my old one, but still covered the existing holes. So that's good.

And then, I ran new fuel lines.

I work for Cat. So the lines inside are all CAT stuff I got for cheap from work. The outside stuff is stuff I ordered from iBoats.

And I couldn't figure out how to syphon out my old fuel, without tasting it. So I took my old fuel line, removed the connector to my motor, and used the primer bulb to empty the tank.

It made me feel like a genius.