New build crackerbox

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

Your right last mohican I will be changing the distributor,starter, alt and maybe the carb. The block is a new mercruiser and not a standerd truck engine so should be up for the job

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

I sold the shell of the donor boat so did a bit of work rebuilding the trailer with all new bolts, brakes,bearings,cables and two hitch. I'm getting very tight for space now but should be ready to flip the boat soon.

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

I moved the boat forward by putting a few bits of pipe under the building frame and just rolled it out, next I added two 8 foot lengths of 4x2 to the boat to use as handles and to keep it off the ground.

It was a bit tight on one side

Sorry no photo of the turn as my hands were full, but with the help of 3 mates and a few beers we got her on her side then lifted it up from the bottom and over she went.

For the first time she is looking like a boat

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

Thanks woodonglass now go out and buy your first plank of wood.
Two coats of epoxy and two of varnish "boy do I hate sanding between coats" but I might do one more I hope to fit the engine in the next week or so

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

I'm just doing a dry fit to make sure everything lines up.

Don't drop please don't drop

Went in fine and spot on with the shaft, boy it looks big when your sitting behind it The risers are a bit higher than the deck beams that were in the plans so I will have to make up new ones with a bigger curve, I did price some nice low risers but they are silly money.

Vrummmmm Vrummmmmm

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

Some where in this plank is the dash.

Just checking what parts to cut away and what to leave.

Cut out sanded and drilled ready for a few coats of varnish.

First coat on and I just had to put the clocks in and have a look

I will drill out for the switches later when I can sit in the boat and get a feel where to put then.

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

I have been doing a bit on the engine hatch trying to work out the best way to cover up the manifolds and carb.

This is the shape I have come up with, I used my jumper doused in hot water to help bend the ply "very handy tools those jumpers"

To cover in the sides I got an old block of 3"x 8" hardwood not the easiest thing to cut with hand tools.

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

I will leave the final sanding till after I put down the mahogany planks so I can get it the right level I will also be cutting out an air vent in the front of it.

It looks a bit tall but hopefully when it's planked it will blend in a bit and the vent will add to the look. "hopefully"

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

Just a little update but not much to show, I fitted the dash clocks and steering.

I had to get a longer shaft for the rudder to make up for the 1"1/2" of the keel and the 1/2" of ply, when it was on the donor boat it only had to go through 10mm of fiberglass and then into the stuffing box.

I also temporarily connected up the water intake "there is something not right about making holes in a boat" and I have the exhausts roughly in place ready for more holes

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

First test run of the engine in the boat to make sure there are no leaks before I do the planking. She still needs to be tuned in and the timing set but I'm happy enough to carry on with closing her up, the alternator belt could also do with a bit of a tighten:lol:

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

Some photos of the king plank and planking.








The wet spot is my drool :lol:

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

Wow that is looking great SN. Nice work on the skin and the planking is coming a long well, can't wait to see it done. I've looked at Glen L plans, how would you rate them?

Top notch very easy to follow and the forum is also a great help.

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

Simply stunning. How about a bigger pic and a little info on the boat in your avatar?

Check out Malahini | Boatbuilders Site on Glen-L.com 0r the link below "my new build" and the youtube clip.

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

Thanks for your kind comments Yep I'm still using the Malahini, https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XDD4qIq-ETg#! is a little video from May out with a few of the guy's and a photo "This one is photoshopped" :happy:

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

Well thats the planking done except for the engine cover, I bookedmatched the kingplank so the grain will go around the fuel filler cap, I did the same on the bow for the cleat.
I also bought some BLACK caulking and some stain to put on the sides and Kingplank I only get one shot at the staining and it's hard to know what it will look like till the varnish goes on, I did do some test pieces but some of the planks are coming out in different shades so only time will tell.

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

Aa I may have said before I was not happy with the finish on the hull as there were some patches where dampness got into the epoxy overnight that looked a bit cloudy, the fiberglass was easy enough to remove with a heat gun but the resin that was left behind was a real pain to sand down but 50 sanding discs later it's done I hope I don't have to do this again so next time I'm going to go with 207 west system special hardener.





I'm also going to give peel ply a go on the transom first this will protect it from any dirt or dampness in the air and when removed should leave a smooth finish ready for varnish, if it works out I will do the whole boat with it if not I'll take it off and sand it back down

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

3 coats of epoxy and a bit of an idea how it will turn, I'm not happy how it's reacting with the caulking it doesn't seem to want to stick to it so I might have to sand it back down and remove it and try a different one, I should have done a test before hand but as it was sikaflex I thought it would be fine I'm also using 207 special hardener for the first time so that might also have something to do with it I'll see how it looks when it set and try and come up with a plan, all in all I'm happy with the look of it except for the bloody flies that keep sticking to it.

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Fiberglassing round two lets hope this one comes out ok I'm using 4 oz cloth stopping just short of the deck were the rub rail is going.
The right side has it' first coat on for a few hours and this is when I trim the cloth and remove the tape before the next coat of epoxy.



Both sides done and the place is a bit of a mess, no time to stop while epoxying. The next coat is to fill the weave and I'm putting this on good and thick as I will be laying peel ply over it.



I used a squeegee to put another coat over the peel ply forcing it in till it's gone clear and moving any bubbles out to the edge. I finished up at about 11 last night and it started raining this morning so I just hope it had enough time to cure before any dampness got in and the peel ply is doing it's job only time will tell. As I'm using a slow hardener the deck was still a bit soft to sand so I'll leave it a bit longer before I get to work on it.

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

Thanks guys. I wanted the deck to feel flat and smooth and not to be able to feel the caulking, the orange peel is because I put on a very heavy coat as I was going to lay peel ply over it and this would have levelled it out, it was only when the deck was done that I noticed the epoxy pooling on the caulking and I thought if I used the peel ply when I go to pull it off it would lift the resin off the caulking making a bit of a mess so I just left it :facepalm:

Yea I knew about the heat gun trick thanks I just didn't want to spend any more time on it as I had a feeling it would be getting sanded down again to a point and I will be using the peel ply so there shouldn't be any problems, I have also found out that you can get a primer pen that you put on the caulking so the epoxy will stick but I have to look into it a bit more.
I'm going to use interlux schooner gold varnish

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

Last coat of varnish at last I'll leave this set for a week or two before I fine sand and polish.



When the buffing is done you should be able to see the tin a lot clearer.







I wasn't too keen on the red and white steering wheel so I treated the boat to a mahogany half wrap aluminium one that I think will suit her, I didn't budget for this so I had to sell my seagull outboard to pay for it

 

[Sean-Nos]

Re: New build crackerbox

The red paint is toplac by international and I gave it 3 coats it's not an under water paint but at most my boat would only be on the water for a weekend and it seems to have worked fine on my other build so I stuck with it.

On the other boat the brackets are chrome over bronze.



And on this one they are cast aluminium I did think of making a copy of these but the heat needed is a bit much for a back garden DIY job. I got these cheep "under $100" after loosing out on about 20 sets sometimes they go for silly.