I have returned... with a Starcraft this time!

[BWR1953]

T minus 10 days... and HURTING!

Having another very bad health day here again today. That's twice this week. Dunno what's going on. :blue:

I woke up feeling okay but after a couple hours I started feeling pretty bad. Toughed it out for awhile and the boy and I went out to start the OTF sealing process on the deck sections.

Got the top side of one section done before I had to call it quits and go back in the house. I'd planned on going back out this evening to continue but that idea got nixed by my wife. She said something about not wanting me to "die with a paintbrush in my hand" or something like that. :lol:

We applied the OTF with a 9" roller. Pretty effective and tidy that way.



Took awhile to get the OTF to pool on the surface of the wood. This pic was while we were in process.


This pic is several hours after application.

 

[Candutch]

Decking looks great BWR. I think if you follow your plan to just get it functional you should be ok, as long as your buddy gets the controls fixed. After all, it just needs to float and drive to fish from, everything else is just a bonus.

 

[BWR1953]

QUESTION: Since I'll be painting the deck, do I still need to use the spar varnish after the OTF has dried?

 

[jbcurt00]

I would, its an additional barrier...

 

[Patfromny]

I agree. The varnish is a bunch more durable than any Paint. If you Paint with a latex you will have to sand, oil prime, and paint. Unless the varnish is a shellac. The whole oil and water thing. If shellac, you can paint latex right over it after roughing it up with some 180 or 220.

 

[Watermann]

Just make sure that spar is gassed out before you apply the oil base paint over the top otherwise the paint could start to loose it's grip and peel up.

 

[BWR1953]

T minus 9 days... and countdown terminated.


Another bad health day for me today. So bad that I had to cancel my dental appointment. And clearly no boat work.

I'm just not going to be able to get the KF operational in time to take it on vacation with us. Bummer. :blue:

But I'll keep working on it as best I can before we leave and then finish it up when we return.

Pressure's off.

 

[Candutch]

Sorry to hear that BWR, it's definately not due to a lack of effort, I haven't seen anyone here put so much into it. Enjoy your vacation and time with your family, that is what is most important. The boat will still be there when you get back.

 

[BWR1953]

Feeling better today. Not back to 100% yet, but definitely better.

Received my rivets today. What I really wanted was large flange aluminum with steel shanks. But due to time constraints (prior to countdown termination) I ordered standard flange. And they turned out to be all aluminum, including the shanks.

Should I return them and then order the LF steel versions when I get back from vacation? Not enough time to receive anything before we head up north. And I won't be able to install the deck before leaving unless I use the current rivets.




This evening I went over to HF and picked up a numbered drill set. I know that the 3/16" rivets require a #11 drill. Had to buy a whole set though since individuals aren't available.

 

[jbcurt00]

You dont want steel mandrels, leaves a steel nub behind in the seated rivet. Large flange, all aluminum would be my preference. Since they arent the right ones and you've pushed the deadline, re-order the right rivets.

If you think you'll ever use them (long shanks so maybe not) keep the rivets if it was your error, get a refund and a ore-paid label and send them back.

Then place a new order for large flange aluminum shanks...

Even if their error, simply return them. Else, they may try to send ya the 1s you ordered, but arent, IMO, the 1s you should have ordered. And Inwouldnt want steel mandrels, even for free. I doubt I'd use them.

 

[Watermann]

Who gave you the idea that you wanted to use steel mandrels? Anyway every last one of them steel mandrel rivets in my SC boats were rusted out and loose because there was no mandrel left. Also the stray mandrels left behind caused me to have to eradicate rust stains and pitting too. You definitely want all aluminum in large flange or if you have lots of money get SS ones, I have a handful of them just in case, man they are stout..

 

[Candutch]

Aluminum is the way to go. I did read on another resto where 5200 was used to coat the bottom and top of the rivet with steel mandrels so if you are going to use them that may be an acceptabe alternative.

 

[BWR1953]

I guess I must have been thinking of stainless, not regular carbon steel mandrels. The ol' brain is still a bit foggy. :lol:

I'll return the standard flange rivets and order the LF type instead.

Thanks guys!

 

[BWR1953]

Well, I'm still around! Leaving on vacation the day after tomorrow. Really looking forward to the trip! :joyous: Might be adding quite a bit to the travel portion too. Could be a nice surprise for my wife and the boy. They arrived here 5 years ago tomorrow and haven't been out of Florida except for a couple quick trips to GA for Chieftain stuff. They're fired up!

Last week was pretty much a complete bust for boat work because of the cold/flu thing that I had. Doing better now and am glad it's over prior to the trip.

However, the boy and I did make a little progress a few days ago. Got one deck section sealed with OTF both top and bottom.

And today we started two more sections but ran out of juice! Had to go to HD to buy more OTF ingredients. Will mix up another batch in the morning and press to get all the remaining deck sections sealed top and bottom tomorrow. That way they'll be ready for the spar varnish when I return. Can't afford (time wise) to wait until I get back to seal the sections. The boy returns to school just 2 1/2 weeks after we get back!

Gotta make the best use of the resources at hand before they enter middle school! :lol:

Obligatory pix of OTF drying. :biggrin-new:

 

[BWR1953]

Oh yeah, I did return the standard flange rivets. Will order the LF version when I return from vacation.

 

[Candutch]

With the floor sealed things should fly along when you get back.
Enjoy your vacation and I'll be back around following your progress after my vacation, which is in a week and a half.

 

[Watermann]

Nice to get some work done alright, too bad you can't take the boat along.

I have next week off too but it's a staycation so I guess I'll hold the fort down while you 2 are away. :lol:

 

[BWR1953]

Yeah, it sure would have been nice to bring the KF along on the vacation. Maybe we should take another vacation later this year? :lol:

Good to know that you guys are also getting some time off! Rest is needed, even if it's "resting" while working on old boats! :laugh:

 

[BWR1953]

Made good progress today. Got all the deck sections coated with OTF both top and bottom. Finally! Then we cleaned up and tidied up the shop and made room to put my truck in there. I'll feel a lot better with it locked up in the garage while I'm gone.

Scraping off excess OTF from a deck section.



Finally got to the pointy end of the deck! In this pic, it's almost ready to scrape off the excess OTF.



All snug inside the safety of the garage.

 

[BWR1953]

We're back, baby!




From vacation, that is. Trip went well, details later.

But right now I have to get outside and harvest the wheat... uhh, cut the grass! :lol: