Update...not so bright...
 

Well, I dragged the hull to a fiberglass shop and was heartbroken. Instead of giving me a dollar estimate to replace the stringers, bulkheads and transom they said it would be cheaper to buy a new boat... While I think that may be a little over exaggerated, it leads me to believe that no pro is going to give me a price I'd be comfortable with. So, I'm at a crossroad. Do I continue on with this "adventure" that has cost me more in materials just to build things to take the boat apart, or is it time to cut my losses? I'm leaning towards continuing on, but that means having to build a cradle (to be dubbed "operation drydock" ;D ) to support the hull to keep it from twisting once the old stringers are removed. Right now I kinda wonder how out of shape it might already be with some of the bulkheads already seperated...

So I'll put it to a vote. What do yall think? Keep going, or throw in the towel?

If I continue, do I have any local volunteers to help (or heckle)?

Kajun, I haven't forgotten your offer and I might be calling in the near future.

Update...not so bright...
 

Well, I dragged the hull to a fiberglass shop and was heartbroken. Instead of giving me a dollar estimate to replace the stringers, bulkheads and transom they said it would be cheaper to buy a new boat... While I think that may be a little over exaggerated, it leads me to believe that no pro is going to give me a price I'd be comfortable with. So, I'm at a crossroad. Do I continue on with this "adventure" that has cost me more in materials just to build things to take the boat apart, or is it time to cut my losses? I'm leaning towards continuing on, but that means having to build a cradle (to be dubbed "operation drydock" ;D ) to support the hull to keep it from twisting once the old stringers are removed. Right now I kinda wonder how out of shape it might already be with some of the bulkheads already seperated...

So I'll put it to a vote. What do yall think? Keep going, or throw in the towel?

If I continue, do I have any local volunteers to help (or heckle)?

Kajun, I haven't forgotten your offer and I might be calling in the near future.

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

keep on truckin brother ..............

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

keep on truckin brother ..............

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

If it were me, and your not me, I'd be tempted to cut and run. Do you want to build a boat this summer, or fish from one. For what you are going to spend putting her back together, I'd be tempted to look for a V in structurally good shape and go from there. You can do a lot of work on a boat and still fish it. Yours is no where near fishing right now.

THat said, you could spend this summer building a boat and have a completely awesome craft for the fall run.

That said, dollars and cents wise, I don't know what I'd do.

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

If it were me, and your not me, I'd be tempted to cut and run. Do you want to build a boat this summer, or fish from one. For what you are going to spend putting her back together, I'd be tempted to look for a V in structurally good shape and go from there. You can do a lot of work on a boat and still fish it. Yours is no where near fishing right now.

THat said, you could spend this summer building a boat and have a completely awesome craft for the fall run.

That said, dollars and cents wise, I don't know what I'd do.

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Well being a poor man and always having to do my own stuff I keep going!!

You have done the hard part!! the rest isn't all that hard, I have not done it, but with the talent that we have here on the board, you have all the help you need!!

They sell a ton of stuff for this!! You can even buy new glass stringers and just glass them in, They also sell Seacast, Just cut the tops off mix and fill glass over the top, Or the old wood fill.

You can do it!!

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Well being a poor man and always having to do my own stuff I keep going!!

You have done the hard part!! the rest isn't all that hard, I have not done it, but with the talent that we have here on the board, you have all the help you need!!

They sell a ton of stuff for this!! You can even buy new glass stringers and just glass them in, They also sell Seacast, Just cut the tops off mix and fill glass over the top, Or the old wood fill.

You can do it!!

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Buy Blue Runners for a lot less than you would spend fixing that one, hang a motor, get on the water, show everyone the pics of your boat in two and say "this was my boat then" then say "and here's my boat now".


It will all be good. ;D

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Buy Blue Runners for a lot less than you would spend fixing that one, hang a motor, get on the water, show everyone the pics of your boat in two and say "this was my boat then" then say "and here's my boat now".


It will all be good. ;D

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Jeff, This is what I think; You need a little skiff or something simple to get out on the water while you restore the V. Don't let the professional shop discourage you, If you walked in there with a classic Mako or Seacraft they probably would have been all over it. I think with most people who attempt projects on the scale of what your doing experience some setbcks and get discouraged. I did and I took mine to the dump ;D but just think of the day when that V splashes and it was all because of your blood sweat and tears went into her. MJ's right the hard parts done. Its all open and ready for repair, it doesnt have to be cosmetic who the hell will ever see it.

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Jeff, This is what I think; You need a little skiff or something simple to get out on the water while you restore the V. Don't let the professional shop discourage you, If you walked in there with a classic Mako or Seacraft they probably would have been all over it. I think with most people who attempt projects on the scale of what your doing experience some setbcks and get discouraged. I did and I took mine to the dump ;D but just think of the day when that V splashes and it was all because of your blood sweat and tears went into her. MJ's right the hard parts done. Its all open and ready for repair, it doesnt have to be cosmetic who the hell will ever see it.

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Jeff, all these guys make good points. To me it all comes down to....fish or build boat? It'll be an experience you'd never forget. I've got a second boat, so I could still fish. Don't know what to tell ya.

Larry the Cable Guy would say to "Git er' Done"

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Jeff, all these guys make good points. To me it all comes down to....fish or build boat? It'll be an experience you'd never forget. I've got a second boat, so I could still fish. Don't know what to tell ya.

Larry the Cable Guy would say to "Git er' Done"

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

If you look at some of the projects done on Classsic Seacraft / Mako sites, yours don't look to bad ;D

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

If you look at some of the projects done on Classsic Seacraft / Mako sites, yours don't look to bad ;D

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Well I dont have the time to do what you need to get done. I pesonally would buy BR's and hang a motor on it. But if you are willing all of us here will offer all the knowlege we have ;)

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Well I dont have the time to do what you need to get done. I pesonally would buy BR's and hang a motor on it. But if you are willing all of us here will offer all the knowlege we have ;)

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

i think the name of the company is Compsys, they sell premade foam and fiberglass stringers, you just measure your baot, tell them what you want, give them the measurements and the ship you foam stringers with teh glass allready in place, all you have to do is install and add resin. Saw it on some do it yourself boat show, looked like a good system, a lot stronger and easier than makethem from scratch. Probably will be expensive though. If your planning on finishing the boat, do it so you will never have to redo it again

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

i think the name of the company is Compsys, they sell premade foam and fiberglass stringers, you just measure your baot, tell them what you want, give them the measurements and the ship you foam stringers with teh glass allready in place, all you have to do is install and add resin. Saw it on some do it yourself boat show, looked like a good system, a lot stronger and easier than makethem from scratch. Probably will be expensive though. If your planning on finishing the boat, do it so you will never have to redo it again

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Jeff it comes down to this, what do you want out of the boat. The experience of building something, a project like many have done to these boats, old trucks or cars. Guys that do that do it as much for love of a project and developing their craftmanship. Many turn around and sell them when they are done for a pittance compared to the time and money they have invested. The project is the reward.
Others take a practical perspective and see the age of the boat, the value when done, their ability, how much time they have to devote to such work and the facility's they may need to do it. Some see it as their perfect boat when done and that again is it's own reward. God knows we are men, and that by our very nature we will not always do what is practical. We just do what we do, neither right or wrong.
We can not vote the project up or down in all reality. You have to answer the questions poised above and determine your own answers.
Either way here you will have supporters for whatever you decide.

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Jeff it comes down to this, what do you want out of the boat. The experience of building something, a project like many have done to these boats, old trucks or cars. Guys that do that do it as much for love of a project and developing their craftmanship. Many turn around and sell them when they are done for a pittance compared to the time and money they have invested. The project is the reward.
Others take a practical perspective and see the age of the boat, the value when done, their ability, how much time they have to devote to such work and the facility's they may need to do it. Some see it as their perfect boat when done and that again is it's own reward. God knows we are men, and that by our very nature we will not always do what is practical. We just do what we do, neither right or wrong.
We can not vote the project up or down in all reality. You have to answer the questions poised above and determine your own answers.
Either way here you will have supporters for whatever you decide.

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

honestly..from the pics i seen..i think the liner is kinda butchered and that will be the hardest part of the whole thing...the stringers and transom shouldnt be that hard to do.....

i guess it all comes down to time and money and will to do it......and its a decision only you can make....everyone here just wants pics lol

my offer still stands(it did say no sanding lol )...i don't mind learning/experimenting on someone elses boat before i do mine lol just gimme a holler if ya need me.

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

honestly..from the pics i seen..i think the liner is kinda butchered and that will be the hardest part of the whole thing...the stringers and transom shouldnt be that hard to do.....

i guess it all comes down to time and money and will to do it......and its a decision only you can make....everyone here just wants pics lol

my offer still stands(it did say no sanding lol )...i don't mind learning/experimenting on someone elses boat before i do mine lol just gimme a holler if ya need me.

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Jeff, You have done a great job. Not sure if you got the taxes back from the tax man, but, if ya did, you could grab Blues boat, toss a motor on and be in the water. BLUES boat is nice. And if ya got the room in the yard, keep the project V and keep going with her. Ive always wanted to tear a v apart and put her back together. You accomplished alot more then I ever had. Wish you were closer, love to spend a day laying some glass with ya. ;) If you decide to Go for it, guys are here to walk you through each step of the way. It's abit funny now, but when I bought my V, I seens chunks and gouges out of the hull and one guy said teh transom was bad because the back of the transon wasnt flat all the way acoss. Well, it shows how much they knew. My transom is fine and I did the hull repairs myself and I'm actually quite happy with my V. Let us know what ya decide.
I personally say GO FOR it, but that me. *;)

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Jeff, You have done a great job. Not sure if you got the taxes back from the tax man, but, if ya did, you could grab Blues boat, toss a motor on and be in the water. BLUES boat is nice. And if ya got the room in the yard, keep the project V and keep going with her. Ive always wanted to tear a v apart and put her back together. You accomplished alot more then I ever had. Wish you were closer, love to spend a day laying some glass with ya. ;) If you decide to Go for it, guys are here to walk you through each step of the way. It's abit funny now, but when I bought my V, I seens chunks and gouges out of the hull and one guy said teh transom was bad because the back of the transon wasnt flat all the way acoss. Well, it shows how much they knew. My transom is fine and I did the hull repairs myself and I'm actually quite happy with my V. Let us know what ya decide.
I personally say GO FOR it, but that me. *;)

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Well I think the best advice is to write down your best guesses of what it will cost you to do the total hull rebuild. Buy your resin in bulk for the total job (about 30 gals.) and cloth (150 lb. roll). If you us wood and polyester resin it may be worth it? If you really enjoy building a boat but I think it is bound to take about twice as long as might be thought. On the other hand you can find many a hull in better shape that need a home and it will keep you busy enough just getting it all together and running! My .02cents

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Well I think the best advice is to write down your best guesses of what it will cost you to do the total hull rebuild. Buy your resin in bulk for the total job (about 30 gals.) and cloth (150 lb. roll). If you us wood and polyester resin it may be worth it? If you really enjoy building a boat but I think it is bound to take about twice as long as might be thought. On the other hand you can find many a hull in better shape that need a home and it will keep you busy enough just getting it all together and running! My .02cents

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

My 2 cents,

keep going, I have a house that was built in 1810,
every month there is something to fix,
I have called contractors to do some work for me,
they give me estimates, build up their work,
tell me yeah I can do that, but when it comes time to show up,
I never hear from them again.
I end up doing it myself and there is nothing like the
satisfaction of kicking back and admiring
a job done better than a contractor by yourself.
The reason it is better is because you can spend a little extra to get quality supplies,
no corner cutting.

Remember, it is a labor of love and not a labor for money. ;)

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

My 2 cents,

keep going, I have a house that was built in 1810,
every month there is something to fix,
I have called contractors to do some work for me,
they give me estimates, build up their work,
tell me yeah I can do that, but when it comes time to show up,
I never hear from them again.
I end up doing it myself and there is nothing like the
satisfaction of kicking back and admiring
a job done better than a contractor by yourself.
The reason it is better is because you can spend a little extra to get quality supplies,
no corner cutting.

Remember, it is a labor of love and not a labor for money. ;)

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Man, your house is old, I have a nice newer one built in 1879. ;D

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Man, your house is old, I have a nice newer one built in 1879. ;D

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Have you posted pics of what you have done and what it now looks like?

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Have you posted pics of what you have done and what it now looks like?

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

pic here, http://www.wellcraftv20.com/cgi-bin/...33;start=15#15

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

pic here, http://www.wellcraftv20.com/cgi-bin/...33;start=15#15

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Stillrunning, yeah, I posted them in this thread: http://www.wellcraftv20.com/cgi-bin/...74033;start=15

At the moment I think I'm going to push forward with the V. My main concern is properly replacing the stringers and bulkheads without introducing a twist into the hull, figuring out the best material to use for the stringer core and figuring out the best way to make a properly sized stringer. I sent an e-mail to the wellcraft contact Reel posted in the "links" section yesterday asking if they might have replacement stringers (long shot, I know) or more realistally templates to make replacement stringers from and heard nothing back so far. Everything I've read suggests a host of materials to use, but I have yet to find a place to buy any core materials (other than Coosa Board).

As for fishing, I have the keys to a Wellcraft 23Excel that's usually in a slip so no woories there. I can still fish while the V is laid up.

Kajun, if you'd like to swing by and see first hand what I've got send me a PM and we'll work something out. I'll even throw in a few beers if ya want ;D

Now that I think about it maybe one evening I'll have to throw a V cookout together for all the local (Hampton Roads) guys....and anyone else willing to make the trip....Hmmm.

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Stillrunning, yeah, I posted them in this thread: http://www.wellcraftv20.com/cgi-bin/...74033;start=15

At the moment I think I'm going to push forward with the V. My main concern is properly replacing the stringers and bulkheads without introducing a twist into the hull, figuring out the best material to use for the stringer core and figuring out the best way to make a properly sized stringer. I sent an e-mail to the wellcraft contact Reel posted in the "links" section yesterday asking if they might have replacement stringers (long shot, I know) or more realistally templates to make replacement stringers from and heard nothing back so far. Everything I've read suggests a host of materials to use, but I have yet to find a place to buy any core materials (other than Coosa Board).

As for fishing, I have the keys to a Wellcraft 23Excel that's usually in a slip so no woories there. I can still fish while the V is laid up.

Kajun, if you'd like to swing by and see first hand what I've got send me a PM and we'll work something out. I'll even throw in a few beers if ya want ;D

Now that I think about it maybe one evening I'll have to throw a V cookout together for all the local (Hampton Roads) guys....and anyone else willing to make the trip....Hmmm.

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Well you already have the stringers there if you want to rebuild them.
You need to cut the tops off dig all the old wood out then replace and re-glass.

But before you do that, go around with a drill and drill some 1/4 holes and see were there is no stringer left, it might not be as bad as you think??

drill hole if you get dirt, its Junk, black wood is wet wood, is you get clean looking wood you good to go.

center bulk heads have been moved to make room for bigger gas tanks. You need no measurements from wellcraft you have all right there ;)

Re: Update...not so bright...
 

Well you already have the stringers there if you want to rebuild them.
You need to cut the tops off dig all the old wood out then replace and re-glass.

But before you do that, go around with a drill and drill some 1/4 holes and see were there is no stringer left, it might not be as bad as you think??

drill hole if you get dirt, its Junk, black wood is wet wood, is you get clean looking wood you good to go.

center bulk heads have been moved to make room for bigger gas tanks. You need no measurements from wellcraft you have all right there ;)