My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

Well, it seemed a good day so we talked it over, practiced and just did it. Only problem we had was Joyce (my extra hands, ruined a shirt). I guess that makes it a positive day over all. It went really smoothly. We used 4 qts total as I poured the 4th down the winged out parts on each side (you will see what I mean in the photos). It gushed out of all the right areas so I think we are good. I will still need to put some more around the edges and bottom for fillets but I think that gets done in the next step (I hope) as I tab it in.

My thought at this time (I need to review some other threads to confirm) is tomorrow I can take the clamps off after 24 hrs. I can wait 48 or longer if that is better. Once the clamps are off, I will grind down the edges and clean it up good and prepare to tab it in. Things I need to figure out for sure:

Am I doing 1 or 2 tabs? I think 2 (one about 6" wide and 1 about 10" wide) and let it dry.

Next step, grind it down again, clean, then cover the entire transom with a sheet of cloth & glass. Since I am using epoxy resin (and have 10 oz and 1700 biax no mat) will I fully cover the transom with 10oz or 1700 or both? Also, will this cloth extend out past the 10" tabbing or just over transom itself?

I am going to post another message so I can add a few other photos and ask some questions related to the stringers and ribs.


Ok, so here come the photos of the work progress today. Yet another "rite of passage"!

As always guys, Thanks so, so much!

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

Looks good from here!!!! Your next steps will be to use the a 12" strip of the 10 oz and tab the edges in after alll the filleting is done. 6" on the transom, 6" on the hull. Then a full Layer of 1700 biax that will extend 3" past the tabbing. Follow up with a final layer of 10z that will extend 3" past the 1700. Done!!!! It will be a Tank!!!! Use scissors to cut the glass at the corners

 

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!



I started to post these other photos and questions earlier, but I got distracted.

Then I wanted to run these 2 other problems past you guys and see what your thoughts are. This all has to do with the stringers and ribs.

The boat is designed so that the hull arches are higher in the back, than they are toward the front. I realize that probably has something to do with how it rides in the water or something. The point where the hull arches go downward is indicated by RED arrows in photo 1 below.

The problem is the water use to pool in the areas indicated by the BLUE arrow. Even when the jack is at its highest point, water in that area will not all drain out. So my thought is that this is a great time to resolve that if I can. I am proposing to put a slight incline on the front and sides (in affected areas) of the floor so that it will drain more toward the center and then aft part of boat. Seems like I have read about Wood, and someone else who have slight elevations in their floors to assist in the water draining toward the bilge area.



What are your thoughts on that? I do plan to keep the boat covered, hopefully in a garage or shed, but at least covered. Am I worrying about something I could possibly even fix with a little extra glass in those areas? Should I just get a block of wood to put the jack on and leave it on a steeper incline?

The next issue has to do with the placement of the stringers and ribs. In the previous photo I show the stringers as they were in red, with the ribs as they were in black. The big thing that seems odd to me is that the center stringer - did NOT touch the floor. It did not come up high enough to support the floor at all. Is that normal or odd? The other part I found slightly odd was the ribs feathered out at the highest point of the hull arches. I thought the ribs would go from side to side, but they did not.

See the next photo: I have put red lines where I would plan to put stringers, and black lines where I would put ribs. All stringers and ribs would be mounted to the hull of boat with EPOXY PB and go high enough to allow the ribs to go all the way to each side (vs stopping at the top of hull arch).



I put a photo of how it use to be in for you to consult. (I will look thru video if you need a better one as this was the best I could find of still photos). In this photo the center stringer is seen just under the yellow strap in the middle of the photo. With the ribs it is easy to see how they feather out at the top of the arches. Keep in mind the stern is to the bottom of the photo, the bow to the upper part of the photo.

ok, found a few others that will help show what I am trying to say. Will post them next.

 

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!



These pictures show the height of the floor as well as how much lower the center stringer was.

So what are your thoughts? Make the stringers and ribs the same as before, or change them? Changing them would raise the floor by no more than 1 inch. The only problem I see with that is the piece of the cap that you step over to go to the front of the boat will need to be shortened. I do not see any other area that will be affected by it.



Thanks guys.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

Refresh my Old OKIE brain. Was there foam in this boat?

 

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!



Yes there was foam in the boat. Here is a picture with the foam. It was foam that was placed in there as opposed to the pour type. I plan on putting in new foam, although I have not decided yet on which kind.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

IF you decide to use the pour in foam, it will support the deck and the configuration of the stringers and the bulkeads will not be as important. If you decide to go with the slab foam and cut it to fit then they will nee to be more precisely fit. What kind of Woodworking tools do you have?

 

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

The tools I have handy are jig saw, drill, and chisel set. Unfortunately my router, circular saw and table saw are in storage right now. If I need something else, more than likely I will just go buy it, I am sure I will use it again.

I can go with whichever foam you think is best for the situation. I will post a picture of the cap in case that helps with your thoughts.

 

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

Ok, been thinking about it for several hours.

The front floor area of that cap has spider cracking all over it. So I had initially thought use pour foam to help support it. So pour foaming the entire boat is not a problem.

Then thinking - this will be used more for fishing or just cruising around with another couple. I am torn between leaving the boat as is design wise, or raising the floor in that forward area to the height of those built in seats. I also wondered about putting a live well, storage area, or gas tank in there. The person before me bolted wood (untreated in any way) to those glass seats and mounted fishing seats on that. Not a bad idea but that floor will not support the weight of just anyone.

When I got the boat the gas tank was already gone and working on a portable tank that sits on top of the floor near the motor. Not sure where the real tank was except for possibly under the bulkhead by the motor (I think that is what it is called ). I do have a portable (cooler) live well now.

I would love to hear your thoughts on these possible changes to the front. Otherwise I will plan on poured foam so I don't have to fret over precise cuts with a jig saw. Oh, and I also have a saws all but that is still not the answer to precise cuts.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

I haven't abandoned ya, I'm thinkin!!!! I'll get back atcha in a bit.

 

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

No problem Wood, Going to remove clamps tomorrow and tab it in then cover the whole transom again as per your instructions. Take your time. I really appreciate you guidance.

 

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

Well today was not as productive as I had hoped. I went out, ground down the transom and mixed the PB for fillets, and even got it on. Then while I was trying to tab it in some of the fillets had hardened and some had not. Basically it went to crap from there. :facepalm: I decided to cut my losses and figured it would be easier to grind down just the fillets tomorrow. I removed the cloth, cleaned up and called it a day. Now that I think about it, I think I needed to wet the area out, then mix PB and create fillets, let it sit for a bit and as that starts to harden then add the 12" wide cloth and finish with wetting that out. I clearly did not think things through enough today. So tomorrow I will try again. It's not called learning if you don't make mistakes!

Wood, I also found a table saw I can use. That will make cutting the stringers much nicer. I went to HF today to get a longer level and a few other little items but they only had 3 - 4' levels and all of them were bent. Hmmm, defeats the purpose. Picked one up at HD, and got more masks. I do like the boat project, it is a great reason to get some of the tools I normally do not have a reason to buy.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

OH YEAH!!!! Excuses to Buy TOOLS!!!! My FAVORITES!!!!!
Fillets should be about 1 to 1 1/2 inches concave. Smooth em out with a plastic spoon and let met set up. Then use masking tape and tape the tabbing up on the sides and smooth it all in place and wet it out. when it sets up either apply more resin to the edges after removing the tape or cut off the taped edges.

 

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

Come on Wood, it is the perfect time to expand on my collection. I am half way through the project, can you imagine anyone telling me no at this point? Look at the money I already have in it, what are a few more dollars? HEHEHEHE!!

You should love this one too. So my other half is home this am and got up and walked the dogs after feeding them, then made breakfast. She actually made one of my favorites (PB and Jelly on toast). She waited until after Robin Meade on Headline News gave the all clear on the PB she bought (from the salmonella scare), before she got up and made her little banana and PB mix. WTF??? I guess my life insurance is paid in full too.

Hmmm, future tools to get: 4"plate joiner, 2.2 gallon wet/dry vac/blower and accessories, 10" sliding compound miter, variety of clamps, and I am still thinking of more. LOL

 

[Trooper82]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

.... I am half way through the project, can you imagine anyone telling me no at this point? Look at the money I already have in it, what are a few more dollars? HEHEHEHE!!

........

I tried that excuse....has not got me very far yet...but i do still ,manage to sneak something new in the arsenal once in awhile....



Been following your thread for sometime, just haven't posted..excellent work you are doing!

 

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

Hey Trooper, Thanks for the compliment and for following the thread. I totally know what you mean as I read many too but don't always post. It is really cool reading them and getting the feeling that we are all out in the shop together telling war stories and carrying on. I have not gotten too far on yours yet. I do have to admit when I saw how deep your boat is I had a sinking feeling in my gut thinking about all that sanding and grinding. I truly feel for you, but then I don't know how much of that you really have to sand out.

I will be reading and the rest of yours and catching up over then next week or so. I am getting ready to take a trip and see the in laws and look at some houses. So I will have to live vicariously through you all for a week or so. Today, I ground down the mess I made yesterday trying to tab in my transom. :facepalm: When I get back I will clean it up and start tabbing in the transom again.

Well, thanks for checking in, feel free to come back and leave hints, suggestions, or comments.

Aj.

 

[Trooper82]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

I think I have or will touch every surface on my boat with a sanding pad or sanding paper...atleast once...maybe twice or more
Enjoy your trip and good luck finding the house you want.

 

[Deleted member 340796]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

Well I am finally home. That has got to be the longest trip ever. We visited inlaws, happy to say mother in law is feeling better and cancer free - YAH! I think I have the best inlaws ever and hope to keep the all forever. Then it was on to TX where we started our house hunting. We picked 1 house, did an inspection with the best ever inspector. I am 100% sure that guy did not miss a thing and he did an 8 hour inspection vs the standard 2-4 hour. We walked away from the first house, then found a second out we loved, did inspection but the pool needed serious help and they were not willing to give any. We were not going to pay $229,900 for a house and pool that are not perfect. So we walked from that one too. We have no regrets over leaving either. So the house hunt continues, but I came home to make progress on the boat. Can't wait to start again. Check back soon.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

Patience is a virtue. Hang in there. The right house will find you, and it's still a buyers market, so there are some good deals to be had. Just make sure there's a little room in the back for the boat projects

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: My first boat restoration, I need some guidance - PLEASE HELP!

Welcome back.