My 84 4winns horizon 195 project.

[Pmt133]

Yeah, this boat and the reason dad actually ended up with it was the previous owner left it in storage at his shop. the shrink wrap failed and it filled and sat with water in it for 2 years. Guy no longer wanted it, so he bought it built a drive and that was that. I suspect if that didn't happen, it would've been fine. The foam was drier at the hull and the stringers were rotten only at the top third. I had originally thought the bottoms were rotten but they were spaced half inch off the hull or so. I started noticing a soft spot about 10 years ago right where you step in the boat. So it was bad before that, but that's when it became noticeable. Boat never felt like it was coming apart at any point but I think most of that was because the stringers never delaminated and the foam while wet was still solid.

My storage spot for the boat is mostly shade which sucks but you have to do what you have to do sometimes...

 

[todhunter]

FYI I didn't gelcoat my deck where the carpet went down.

I'm happy with my carpet here in my 3rd season. It's cool on the feet. I have walked in friends boats with EVA and snap-in weave/mat of a sililar light-grey color and both were much hotter on the feet.

I do keep my boat parked under an aluminum carport and covered with a tarp when not in use, so it doesn't get rained in. After a trip where the carpet gets wet, we park it under the carport without the top a day or 2 to let it dry.

I glassed down mahogany blocks for my seat bases and everywhere else something had to screw into the deck, so realistically there are no penetrations. You have to make sure your screws are shorter than your blocks though!

I can see that maybe around season 10 I'll have some wear in the high-traffic areas of my carpet, but if it gets bad enough, I'll pull it and replace it. I used a light application of spray-grade Weldwood contact cement to install my carpet.

 

[Pmt133]

While I have you all here... my false floor up by the cabin. I cut it tight to the hull to the point I had to tap it to fit in place... will this cause any issues with hard spots and cracking or should I just send it?

 

[todhunter]

Send it. The hull is probably so thick up there, I doubt you're adding any significant stress.

 

[Pmt133]

I picked up my fuel tank.... again... but the vent is properly located. And I ran the boat today.

 

[Pmt133]

Didn't do a ton but was able to grind the deck clean and glass in some of the plugs. I'm off next on Monday so I'll hopefully get some more done then. There does seem to be a light nearing the end of the tunnel though.

 

[Pmt133]

Had a busy day but got a lot of bs done. Strips on tank per how the manufacturer wants it done, gimbal ring installed, deck ground flat. I noticed on a couple plugs I have some pin holes. I plan today to mix up a loose batch of peanut butter to fill those voids before glassing.

 

[Pmt133]

My loose skim coat which was mainly resin with a little cabosil. Since the main bonding agent had milled fibers in it I'm fine with just using a little cabosil thickened resin to plug the holes.

 

[todhunter]

Nice. You should have done that right before you laid glass so you could do wet-on-wet and avoid having to sand any. No biggie though, it's progress!

 

[Pmt133]

Nice. You should have done that right before you laid glass so you could do wet-on-wet and avoid having to sand any. No biggie though, it's progress!

It was just a skim to bring it back to deck level and fill the pin holes... still tacky when I stated glassing so all good. I've got some glass on the deck but I'm sitting in the a/c... its 106 in the garage and the fumes are killing me at the moment.

 

[Pmt133]

Today's progress... while it doesn't look like a lot... it's a lot. I put in nearly 12 hours along with the miscellaneous bull crap that pops up during the day. I'm hot. I'm tired. I gotta be up in 6 hours for work so I'm going to bed now.

So I was talking to a few people and came up with my game plan for the deck. I didn't have it in me to do anymore layups but... its 1 continuous layer of 1708 first from the middle up to the deck and then up the side. Then a second larger tabbing was laid over that (seen on the port side) and then finally, the next time I can work on it, it will get a layer or two of CSM from the center to the sides to hide all the imperfections.

I notice in the photo it looks like it has air voids... I don't know what they are. They're wet out, rolled and fin rolled and wouldn't go away. I'm not sure if they're material defects or issues with the resin but everything seems rock solid... and less voided than what I removed. The deck is almost table top flat... I'm genuinely impressed with how acceptable it looks. There is a slight pitch toward the outer edges in the bow but that works in my favor as at the transom it pitches slightly to the bilge so all deck water is routed as best as possible away from the fuel tank....

I also moUnited the swim platform railings. I'll polish them up one night I just want something to do. I filled the hole and coated the bolt and rail and washers with 5200 and tightened everything down.... thats as water proof as I can think to make a transom hole...

Also, the swim platform seems to be water logged too... should I cut the wood out and glass in a new one or not worry about it since it still seems pretty strong... I can't see how to do it nicely so I am up in the air on that one.

I think this is pretty overkill but how's it looking so far. I have to keep reminding people who stop by that I have no clue what I'm doing... but they seem to think otherwise...

 

[TripleJGraffis]

Lookin good!!!! Can't wait to get to this point!!

 

[Pmt133]

Lookin good!!!! Can't wait to get to this point!!

It's been a project. Sucks I lost the month I couldn't glass because I'd probably be floating right now but oh well. It goes quick even when you don't think it is.

And thank you!

 

[TripleJGraffis]

It's been a project. Sucks I lost the month I couldn't glass because I'd probably be floating right now but oh well. It goes quick even when you don't think it is.

And thank you!

Hey, if you would be floating now, then you are not far from actually making that a reality!!! Do it right, get it done, and enjoy whatever you can get on the water out of this year yet if you can! I have a hectic schedule and probably won't be able to see my boat in the water until next year at the earliest. The heat is a killer and no little air flow in my portable garage tent, even with a fan going, is unbearable. So I do what I can, when I can, for as long as I can.....as long as the money holds out LOL.

As long as you are doing that, you're still progressing. Hoping the progress goes fast for you so you can enjoy her soon!

 

[Pmt133]

Hey, if you would be floating now, then you are not far from actually making that a reality!!! Do it right, get it done, and enjoy whatever you can get on the water out of this year yet if you can! I have a hectic schedule and probably won't be able to see my boat in the water until next year at the earliest. The heat is a killer and no little air flow in my portable garage tent, even with a fan going, is unbearable. So I do what I can, when I can, for as long as I can.....as long as the money holds out LOL.

As long as you are doing that, you're still progressing. Hoping the progress goes fast for you so you can enjoy her soon!

I've been following along your thread too. You're not doing too bad yourself!

And yeah the heat is killer. It's not as bad up here as other parts of the country but 100-102 F in the garage is no joke no matter what. Couple that with the asthma and I look like a mess at all times lol. My schedule is crazy as well but... it's set. So unless something bad happens I know what days I am off and what I can get done. Luckily I set the money aside last year and so far I am just within budget. There was obviously some mission creep so I will be spending a little more than budgeted but... I budgeted for that too. And by that I mean the cabin won't be getting upholstered this year.

I'm just going 1 day at a time. I'll get there eventually. When other things come up I take care of them. The boat will be there another day. Though I feel bad it's not my garage to keep it in.

 

[TripleJGraffis]

I've been following along your thread too. You're not doing too bad yourself!

And yeah the heat is killer. It's not as bad up here as other parts of the country but 100-102 F in the garage is no joke no matter what. Couple that with the asthma and I look like a mess at all times lol. My schedule is crazy as well but... it's set. So unless something bad happens I know what days I am off and what I can get done. Luckily I set the money aside last year and so far I am just within budget. There was obviously some mission creep so I will be spending a little more than budgeted but... I budgeted for that too. And by that I mean the cabin won't be getting upholstered this year.

I'm just going 1 day at a time. I'll get there eventually. When other things come up I take care of them. The boat will be there another day. Though I feel bad it's not my garage to keep it in.

Appreciate it!
Meh.....Old upholstery gives a cabin that rustic vintage look! Gives it character!
And you're right. Boat will always be there.

 

[Pmt133]

Appreciate it!
Meh.....Old upholstery gives a cabin that rustic vintage look! Gives it character!
And you're right. Boat will always be there.

No upholstery lol. Just leaving it all gelcoat for now.

 

[todhunter]

When restoring a boat, the only thing hot days are good for is pouring 2-part foam. You'll get ALL the expansion out of it on these 95+ degree days, lol.

 

[Pmt133]

Makes the lay ups go faster too!

 

[Pmt133]

Yesterday was one of those days I spent all day there, however didn't feel like I accomplished much... Basically I test fit the transom assembly and finished clearanceing for the steering arm, measured for the mounts and glassed them in and finished the deck tabbing. I also chased the rest of the transom holes with a pipe cleaner and resin. The engine mounts are paper mache but I think they're good. Has 2 complete wraps of 1708 overall with 4 layers of tabbing.... As far as the engine installation tool, it was based off Rick Stephens suggestion in this thread and it was bang on when I built the original mounts...

Today I plan on getting the fuel tank pad glassed and the bulk heads in. Don't have a ton of working time so whatever I get I get. I also keep noticing the mounts aren't centered to the transom assembly... From all the pictures I've seen of my engine before I pulled it it seemed to be the case as well. But I know I set the stringers in the same location lol.... We'll cross that bridge when we get there.