Boat Porn

[billymoca]

Ok so I know you all enjoy boat porn, and I have learned so much from watching everyone else during their builds, I figured that I would start a build thread and share mine. Please feel free to ask, comment, or opine on what you see. I value advice, as this is the first fiberglass boat I have rebuilt.

A little history:

This boat started in SF somewhere, was put on a new trailer in 04 and sent to oregon. it then sat in a cow pasture till this fall, when my 'friend' sold ti to us for a song and a dance - a great deal he said.

Well every piece of wood is rotten, there was a clolony of pack rats that lived in the boat - i pulled 9 large trashbags of rat poop out of the boat - and the motor was not worth fixing (it had a 200hp black max, 1980).

The Plan:

Our plan is to rebuild, new electrical, foam, gas tank, custom aluminum bracket and a Yamaha 200 HP 4 stroke - or HDPI and a new aluminum T-top

Due to deaths in the family and holidays I started last weekend. here is photos to date:

[billymoca]

First step was to build a structure to lift the motor and cap and to keep rain off during build. This is a temporary structure 10' high, 12 feet wide - 4x8 resting on 4x4. Kinda over built.

That is my oldest - he is super stoked to get this boat in the water.

[GREYWOLF]

Nice shelter , looks like you have the job well under way. Your Son sure looks like hes having fun , the hull glass kooks pretty clean . keep the progress photos coming

[billymoca]

Originally Posted by GREYWOLF

Nice shelter , looks like you have the job well under way. Your Son sure looks like hes having fun , the hull glass kooks pretty clean . keep the progress photos coming

Thx Grey, I will keep the photos up... all the fiberglass is really chalky and does not buff to a nice shine. I am thinking that I will need to re-gel coat or paint..... jury is out on that.

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by billymoca

Thx Grey, I will keep the photos up... all the fiberglass is really chalky and does not buff to a nice shine. I am thinking that I will need to re-gel coat or paint..... jury is out on that.

Some random thoughts in no particular order:

The gel-coat or painting is a minor worry for right now. Worry about the wood, foam, tank and such first.

Set yourself small goals all leading up to the completion of the boat. The completion of one goal is the start of the next. Little bites keep the job fresh and easy to finish. When you try to do too many things at the same time the job can be overwhelming and you lose interest.

Nice looking boat. Good luck with her. She's lucky to have someone willing to restore her. She'll repay you with years of good, faithful service.

I used a pressure washer to carve out the foam on my boat when I re-foamed her. Messy, but it beats the heck out of other ways, and it keeps the dust down. The water will cut right through the foam like a hot knife through butter.

Check out your tank carefully before you replace it. They are expensive, and a pain to remove.

Love your shelter... way nice... Great job on it.

What's the matter with that Merc. engine?

If you are going to replace the transom may I suggest that you raise it up 5 inches and buy a 25" shaft engine instead of the 20" that it looks like you have now. That extra 5" really helps keep the water out of the engine well in a following sea, and if you're redoing the transom anyways it's an easy upgrade.

Keep us posted with your progress. You'll find some very savvy guys here that can help you with any questions or problems you have.

We love boat porn.

[draglink]

That engine is great...it would be worth it to rebuild if block is good!

I have the same layout in my '79, YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOAT!!

[billymoca]

Originally Posted by Destroyer

Some random thoughts in no particular order:

The gel-coat or painting is a minor worry for right now. Worry about the wood, foam, tank and such first.

Set yourself small goals all leading up to the completion of the boat. The completion of one goal is the start of the next. Little bites keep the job fresh and easy to finish. When you try to do too many things at the same time the job can be overwhelming and you lose interest.

Nice looking boat. Good luck with her. She's lucky to have someone willing to restore her. She'll repay you with years of good, faithful service.

I used a pressure washer to carve out the foam on my boat when I re-foamed her. Messy, but it beats the heck out of other ways, and it keeps the dust down. The water will cut right through the foam like a hot knife through butter.

Check out your tank carefully before you replace it. They are expensive, and a pain to remove.

Love your shelter... way nice... Great job on it.

What's the matter with that Merc. engine?

If you are going to replace the transom may I suggest that you raise it up 5 inches and buy a 25" shaft engine instead of the 20" that it looks like you have now. That extra 5" really helps keep the water out of the engine well in a following sea, and if you're redoing the transom anyways it's an easy upgrade.

Keep us posted with your progress. You'll find some very savvy guys here that can help you with any questions or problems you have.

We love boat porn.

Thank you for the input and the compliments....I am looking forward to a good boat.

We are going to a 25-inch motor. I am adding a flotation bracket and filling in the transom. we actually thought about doing a 30-inch - but that decision will be later.

I know that my tank has holes in it. My foam was saturated with 10 year old gas and the tank is nearly empty. oops.

Engine: Want it? We have unfortunately major emission restrictions on all our local freshwater lakes(friggin govm't), that prohibit me from using that motor. We have to have a HPDI Or better or a four stroke. I was told that the motor runs well, and only has a slight rod knock at WOT under load and has a busted tilt/trim motor, but I never tested it. I am probably going to put it on craigslist.

Thanks again for the help.

[billymoca]

Originally Posted by draglink

That engine is great...it would be worth it to rebuild if block is good!

I have the same layout in my '79, YOU WILL LOVE THIS BOAT!!

Thanks drag. I cant wait to finish, but slow and steady and i will.

I wish I could keep the motor, unfortunately the local fresh water lakes have emission restrictions, must be direct injection or four stroke. The motor has a broken tilt trim and i was told that the motor has a rod knock under load at WOT. Because the plan from the beginning was to replace the motor, We did not even bother to try it. I am going to try and sell it....

[jasoncooperpcola]

Destroyer is right on. Accomplish small goals at a time. I almost gave up on my rebuild when I discovered gel coat blisters. But I wont let it get the best of me. Right now I am removing the rest of the bottom paint. Just seeing my hull mostly white for the first time got me motivated. Dont be afraid to spend some time on it! I wanted to get mine up and going asap. I decided to buy a yak and fish it then I can take my time on the rebuild and not worry so much about it! Definitely get a 25" motor. Replace the fuel tank but do not foam it in! Do a google search on aluminum fuel tank instalation. I cant link from my phone but there is a website that shows the best way to installed a fuel tank using 5200 and strips of Starboard.

[randlemanboater]

Time well spent with your boy.

Looks like you are well on your way.