Beginning my 1987 Fisherman 20 Restoration

[brisboats]

I just read this thread from the start. Impressed with your skills , passion and ingenuity! I cannot wait to you start this again in the Spring you will have a new boat when done and one that will endure longer than the original.
Brian

[nymack66]

Wow amazing project, looking at your tools and your setup, and style no doubt you are a PRO, no shop I know can produce this kind of craftsmanship and quality, my hat off to you my friend..Thanks for sharing.

[Sangster]

Any new progress on this restoration?

[Myfathersson]

Slow progress this season. Between the impact of the pandemic and a couple medical issues I've gotta devote resources to I don't anticipate getting much done in 2020. I did decide that the engine is not worth attempting to rebuild. The salt infiltration was too excessive. I've spent the last several days dissembling to throw the good bits on eBay and recycle the castings. I finally got the heater core replaced in my truck (started in January but got side burnered due to health) so I can hook up and uncover her this weekend then pull the cap back off to finish up some odds and ends glass work in the hull. If funding can be pulled together I'll get foam to refill the side bays and finish marrying the two halves together. Gas tank will wait till next season. I've got paint on hand to paint the hull and sole so that will be the goal for this season if I can get the foaming accomplished.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by Myfathersson

Slow progress this season. Between the impact of the pandemic and a couple medical issues I've gotta devote resources to I don't anticipate getting much done in 2020. I did decide that the engine is not worth attempting to rebuild. The salt infiltration was too excessive. I've spent the last several days dissembling to throw the good bits on eBay and recycle the castings. I finally got the heater core replaced in my truck (started in January but got side burnered due to health) so I can hook up and uncover her this weekend then pull the cap back off to finish up some odds and ends glass work in the hull. If funding can be pulled together I'll get foam to refill the side bays and finish marrying the two halves together. Gas tank will wait till next season. I've got paint on hand to paint the hull and sole so that will be the goal for this season if I can get the foaming accomplished.

You might want to consider using pool noodles for foam. You can get them for a buck each at the Dollar store(s). Cut them to the length you need for each void. Nice thing is that you can buy them as you need them as the work progresses and as funds permit.

[RABBITFISH]

Definitely enjoying the pictures and progress. I have the same model and it is great to be able to see what is under the deck. Just curious have you an estimate as to what you have spent so far for the rebuild? It is getting to be a question these days of rebuilding or buying another one..

[Myfathersson]

Time to catch this thread up. I opened her back up the beginning of July. Pulled out the mothballs and pulled the cap back off:








Started off piloting the holes where the foredeck hardware would be mounting so that I didn't lose the locations while fairing the area. Dixie was an eager helper:




Spent some time polishing the oxidation off the hardware I was reusing. Here is a side by side of the bow chocks before and after spending some time on the buffing wheel:



Man...I need to wet sand and buff my shop table...but I digress.


Decided the replace the original cleats with something a little more modern looking (and which are less likely to impale me):




Worked on patching the holes and other scars on the foredeck:




And while I was working with glass I worked on the myriad of holes at the back of the cap - speakers, rod holders, poorly located holes for controls, etc.:








And fabricated and glassed in a new anchor shelf:




Guess I didn't save any of the pics of fairing, and sanding, and fairing, and sanding, and more sanding and oh my lord am I restoring a boat or converting epoxy and glass to dust... I did note that the green color of TotalFair is a dead ringer for the Seafoam Green of the 1970's Cruisers Inc tri-hull my family had during my childhood years. Kind of poetic.


With the fairing completed I primed the foredeck, anchor tray, battery trays and the bilge:







More to follow! - Greg