My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

[john51277]

I was wanting to find a small boat for a flats boat for the back water in FL. I have a 18' Key Largo and love it, but I love getting into the skinny water for the reds and stuff. I came across this hull on the street with a free sign on it. It is in great shape. Well the hull at least. So, now I have a project on my hands. I am handy with wood and have some old school body work experience. My dad owned a body shop. It is what I am looking for and I am wanting to put a large deck covering just about the whole thing except the middle "cockpit". I will be putting a small O/B on it, maybe a 10-25HP. It needs to be sturdy and strong for getting through the shallows. Here is what I have started with. (does anyone know WHAT this is???)

 

[john51277]

Re: My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

Here it is after the first day of work on it. (actually about 30 mins)
I got home from work and decided to remove the big chunks left inside this shell of a good boat. I got out the circular saw and started cutting away and now my arms itch like crazy. I did forget to put on the long sleeves and I will be paying for it tonight. I managed to get almost all of the hull cleaned up except for some of the smaller stuff. I did however find out that i was disturbing a large family of huge red ants and termites and a few other random bugs which were living in the rotten wood under the seat in the back. Here is what I have left of the hull now. I will continue the work after all of the bugs die from the bug killer I sprayed and once the moisture dries up in there, so it will be a little easier to work with. The hull is in perfect shape under all of the rotten stuff. No holes or patch work found on it and no large dings or scrapes either. Here is where I am at so far!!

 

[john51277]

Re: My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

I have been lurking here for a while now. I have read alot about the restoration of stringers, floors, hulls. What should I use, Epoxy, or Glass. I am used to and know glass. What is the main difference in the epoxy???

 

[Ezrider_92356]

Re: My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

looks like a cool boat. i have no idea what it is though. from my understanding the differance between poly and epoxy resin is that epoxy bonds better and is stronger and cost a substantial amount more. im using poly on my project for the following reasons, 1 its cheaper, 2 its what boats are originally constructed out of so it cant be to bad, 3 if i need to make any repairs in the future i can use eather poly or epoxy rather than having to use epoxy. poly requires a little more prep to insure a good bond but at the price differance ill stick with polly

 

[john51277]

Re: My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

Ok. It has been a while since I posted some of the work done. I have about 1/4 of the hull sanded on the outside. I did get the transom secured in now and have it clamped in place with PL construction poly adhesive to keep it tightly bonded to the outside skin of the transom. I will be laying the fillets tonight once I pick up some wood flour. I used 2 layers of 1/2" marine plywood for the transom with a layer of 7oz glass between them. I then grinded the back transom skin down and cleaned it with acetone a few times. After laying the fillets in there I will start glassing the transom in and start on the stringers and floor. I am still working on the final design, but have some time to decide just what to do. I did aquire a 41lb saltwater trolling moter for being stealthy in the flats. I will post more pics as I complete more work! :toast:

 

[john51277]

Re: My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

Can anyone tell me how long I need to let the PL adhesive dry before glassing it in fully???? Also, I have searched over and over, but cannot find how to finish the top of the transom with glass. If I keep laying the glass over the transom, it will build on the outside of the transom and be uneven. How can I do it with strength and look good?

 

[john51277]

Re: My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

Well here it is again. I have done some grinding, poly here, epoxy there, glass everywhere and more to come!!! I have made a small amount of progress. I have had the time to cut out the front floor area. I will be doing alot more grinding and glassing. I have 10 yards of 50" 1708 coming in this week. Got some nice epoxy from US. I have gotten used to the itching now and am ready to rock on. I will be using PL to adhere the ribs and floor down after I enclose them in glass. What is the easiest way to glass them in? biax, or something in a very thin weave? I guess I will be going with the staple and coat method I have seen before on here. I will be using the front of bow to store anchor, line and cast nets. Behind there will be an area which will have access from the front of the cockpit. Both sides of the hatch will have 2-3 recessed rod tip storage like on the flats boats. Between those will be speakers, VHF, and CD/AM/FM. It will have a huge casting area up front. It is finally getting some structure going back in! I am still trying to figure out the whole wiring, draining, foam, no foam bilge area things. I hope I am going about this the right way. Here are some more updated pics.

 

[vandy21]

Re: My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

wow that looks like an awesome project. I would build a small center console on it if I were you. keep us updated!

 

[john51277]

Re: My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

I was thinking about a small CC but I think I will go with a 15-25HP tiller with an extension handle. Maybe a 6" offset jackplate and some seats close to the back which will be a 4' wide cooler with cushion. I really want to put a poling platform outback and a nice 21' carbon fiber pushpole. It will be a while before it is DONE DONE, but it will be worth it when I am finished.

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

Your project looks very clean and organized like you have put a lot of thought into what you want and how to get it that way. I have tried to do the same in my restoration project with my 14' runabout. Hope all continues to go well. Make sure you take pictures and post when she gets in the water.​

 

[john51277]

Re: My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

I traded a friend a few rods and reels for hit almost new saltwater trolling motor. 12V 41lb thrust. It is set up for transom mount. I need to find a bow mount for it though. I can't wait to start getting the floor installed.

 

[john51277]

Re: My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

I came up with a few questions. Should I foam the bow under the anchor storage? or foam at all for that matter?? And should I put a layer of 1708 over the whole inside of the hull before putting the ribs and floor down?? Another question is about the wiring. Should I lay it under the floor or under the side of the deck?? I am trying to use the best method for all of these problems. You guys have probably done them all first hand and can guide me the right way!

 

[vandy21]

Re: My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

I would probably put a little bit of foam in the boat, but I don't know if it is necessary. If it won't be enough to keep the boat from sinking then there would be no point of putting any foam in there. As for the 1708, it would probably add some good strength to the hull, but it would probably be expensive and again probably not necessary. (I don't know very much about fiberglass though so, don't just take my advice). For the wiring, I probably wouldn't put it under the deck unless you want to rip up the deck again. If you don't want the wiring to get in your way you could maybe build some sort of channel along the edges of the hull or something, but I wouldn't put the wiring under the deck.

 

[john51277]

Re: My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

I am wanting to have a 8-10" side deck connecting the front deck to the rear deck, under which I have decided to run a 1" PVC pipe under to get the wiring upfront for the nav lights and maybe a 12V outlet for a Q-beam. As far as foam goes, I have talked myself out of that idea. I am still wondering if I should put the layer of glass down on the entire hull, or just build from what is there!!! I am getting ready to put down the ribs and need to figure this out soon! Please help!

 

[vandy21]

Re: My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

Maybe Oops can help you, he seems to be a fiberglassing guru. If a little while goes by without him or someone else helpful seeing this, I would try to send him a private message. The PVC running the wire is a good idea, that's what a lot of people do, I forgot to mention the idea when I last posted.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

Don't bother with the extra glass, the hull held up for many years even with rotten wood and you said there was no damage to, so what will it do but add unwanted weight. You can use PVC to run the wires through, but go bigger than you think might be needed, you'll never have enough room for all the stuff you want to run through it.

 

[john51277]

Re: My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

Well I relaxed alot this weekend and went fishing in the Gulf Friday, went on the local lakes on Sunday, and on Saturday I worked on the boat for a little bit. I laid a few layers of biax on the transom, I got some transom "knees" set in with PL. I got the sawhorses cut down another 12" so i can work on it better. I came up with the color scheme also. I want everything to be white! With a very light pale yellow down each side, which will be set just smaller by about 2-3" around the edge. I have the bow storage floor being set and tabbed in probably tomorrow night. I have been using Epoxy for the project for the last few layers, and I am impressed with the strength. I did notice some bubbles in the glass on the top area of the transom. Do I need to grind them out and start fresh? It seems like it is very very strong with the epoxy. It has 2 layers of 1708 and 2 layers of CSM 6oz. It also has 2 layers of tabs on the sides and bottom areas. I will be fairing the knees in with the wood flour/epoxy, then add a layer or two of glass. I will be working on the ribs like I have in the pictures below. I will have about 8ft of floor. I was thinking about 6 ribs total under it. Maybe less if you think 1/2" marine ply with about 2 layers of 1708 on top and CSM under.

Unlucky Bug!!!!!!!

 

[john51277]

Relaxing on Sunday

Relaxing on Sunday

Relaxing with the wife and 20month old boy! We hit the local chain of lakes and went through three of them. Dead river, and Dora canal were the links from lake to lake. It is beautiful with all of the cypress and wildlife.


This will be his boat!

 

[ondarvr]

Re: My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

Looks good, once you get all the bugs worked out things should go smoothly.

Don't over do the 1708, it's very strong and you don't need much in boat that size, one layer on the top side of the floor is far more than enough. Use a layer of cloth both on the top and bottom and that will be plenty strong, weigh many pounds less and take at least $100.00 out of the project. Since your using epoxy, there's no need for mat, it will just suck up more epoxy, costing you more.

 

[john51277]

Re: My mystery hull project!!! 14" Something??

Can I use wood flour in the epoxy or do I need to use cabosil or fumed silica? I have plenty of wood flour and glass bubbles. I will be fairing the transom knees up tonight. I guess I will be using the lighter CSm on the knees to glass em in there. I need to cut out a few more ribs tonight also.