Glasspar Project

[1st_timer]

Hello all,

This is my first post on the site **and first boat**. I have found a lot of useful and inspirational information on this site. I was given an old glasspar runabout that i plan on restoring for fishing. At first I thought it was a citation, but now I'm thinking it's a marathon. Either way it's a great looking boat and I can't wait to restore it.

It appears that I will need to replace the floor, stringers and transom. Luckily another member has already restored a very similar boat, which will make the process a little easier. I'm not worried about the woodwork, as I'm a carpenter. I have never worked with fiberglass or epoxy, however, so I'm hoping I can get some advice from this forum. I have a lot of work before I have to fiberglass, but i figured I would start researching now.

I fixed up the trailer this week. Will post pics tomorrow.

Here are the pics.

http://s252.photobucket.com/albums/hh12/OneSh0tki11/Glasspar Citation/

Thanks for looking!

Jay

 

[chargerboy]

Re: Glasspar Project

Welcome to the forums! And congrats on your first boat If you want a really good link to researching fiberglass, there's a "how to" sticky at the top of this forum by Don S. Inside you'll find everything you ever wanted to know about fiberglass.

Let us know how the build goes, show your work off so other people can learn from you as well!

 

[1st_timer]

Re: Glasspar Project

Trailer is done. Just have to put wheel covers back on.

Transom cover is off. Can't believe the motor didn't rip the transom right off the boat. Serious rot.

Almost have the cap off the hull. Then it's time to remove some rotted wood. CAN'T WAIT!

 

[chargerboy]

Re: Glasspar Project

Yikes! Looks like you'll have your work cut out for you, good luck! Can't wait to see the finished product

 

[1st_timer]

Re: Glasspar Project

Thanks charger!


Got the cap off yesterday! Took 3 batteries to drill out all of the rivets.

Took the floor off and found some extremely rotted and wet stringers.

Better look.

I got the rotted stringers and transom out today, just need to clean up the fiberglass. After grinding and sanding I will get some wood and possibly coat it with epoxy? I was looking at using the uscomposites coating hardner. Will this work with pressure treated? If so does the PT need to dry out first? Thanks!

Jay

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Glasspar Project

You can use PT but it will have to dry first. Not sure how long. though....

 

[Wingedwheel]

Re: Glasspar Project

Your better off using a good exterior grade ply(AC/BC) coated with resin. PT is funny about really being dry unless you've had it sitting around for awhile in which case its probably warped by then.

 

[chargerboy]

Re: Glasspar Project

I built a fence last year out of PT lumber. It's been in the sun every day, and still isn't dry enough to accept a coat of stain. Maybe next year? Anyways it's simply not worth taking the chance of wasting time and money building a boat out of PT to get a coating in the wood that simply won't benefit anything on a boat.

 

[1st_timer]

Re: Glasspar Project

Thanks for the advice!!

I decided against the pt and actually found some nice ply lying around the shop.

HOLY HEAT WAVE!!

I attempted to grind and sand the hull this week and didn't make it very far. Yesterday I could only go half hour at a time with the temp in the mid 90's.

I made it about a half hour today and called it quits until it cools down a little. In the meantime i made a template for the transom.

The transom is curved outward.I used a piece of luon, as its easy to bend to take the form of the transom.

First I clamped the piece on the back of the boat and traced the outside.

Then i estimated the thickness of the fiberglass(which isn't very thick) by using my finger as a guide.

Then i fitted and grinded as needed. It wasn't a very pretty cut with the jig saw as you can see in the picture but the grinder made the curve nice and straight(if that makes sense).

It fit nice and snug.

Well i've been doing a lot of reading on this forum for the last week or so. Mainly oop's hull extension because it's soooo long, but fascinting!

Anyway, should i leave a gap around the edges of the ply and fill with peanut buttter or do you just leave a gap between the stringer and hull?

As far as the curve in the transom goes, it is essentially the same boat as andgott's 61 glasspar citation. His solution was to cut the first layer into pieces to get the curve. The thickness of the transom was and 1 1/2". I was thinking of maybe using 3/8" ply for the first layer and maybe put a 2x4 in the center of it and then weigh down each side to try and warp the ply. Then put 2 pieces of 1/2" on top and maybe a few layers of glass to make up the 1/8"? Is this making sense? Any other ideas?

 

[Isaacm1986]

Re: Glasspar Project

That board looks like a really thin transom? what is the thickness?

 

[1st_timer]

Re: Glasspar Project

That's just used for a template. I will trace that onto a 3/8" piece of ply and the 2 pieces of 1/2" on top. Original was 3 pieces of 1/2".

The reason i made a template is because the transom is curved and it's easier to flex and fit that thin board as opposed to 3/8" ply.

 

[andgott]

Re: Glasspar Project

Hey- That's my boat!!

I'm working on a 1960 Citation, that was in about the same shape yours was in when I started-

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=355668

I'm getting CLOSE to completion...

They are great boats, and worth restoring. Do you know what year yours is? Did you find the builders plate with the serial #'s on it? That yellow deck color was called 'Smugglers Gold'... I have seen about a dozen 60-61 citations, but this is the first yellow one I've run across!

Looking forward to seeing this restoration progress...

-Andrew

 

[1st_timer]

Re: Glasspar Project

Hi Andrew,

I didn't see a plate anywhere with serial #'s. Where would that have been? Also I think it may actually be a marathon. On the front side of the boat, half of the name was off. The only part left was thon(missing the first half of the name), which makes me think it's a marathon. I did read through your restoration(that's how i found this site) and thats the closest boat to mine that I have found so far. Thanks for the info! I was curious what color it was, definately keeping that original. Thanks again!

*edit* - Your boat looks GREAT! Hope mine turns out that nice(doubt it)

Jay

 

[andgott]

Re: Glasspar Project

Yup, She's a Marathon. No rear seat, also 14' long, the Citation is 16. Marathons are 'baby citations'- VERY similar in design/appearance.

Probably a 61-62.

The builders plate is (or was) in the main cockpit area, on the passenger side. If you didn't find it, its probably gone, which is a shame because it would have told you when and where it was built, since Glasspar had factories in several cities building the same boat.

They are great little boats.

 

[DsledgeR]

Re: Glasspar Project

Hey, I'm redoing a Marathon too.....'65. Andgott, what's the little hollow tube up around the bow, leading down into the bilge for??? Wiring of some sort?

Also, I posted a question about mounting an engine on the curved transom of the Marathon. Aside from using some sort of Jackplate, what are my options? The original leak came from not really being able to seal around the mounting holes for the bolts. I've used Seacast for the transom re-build, so water isn't a problem, but I want to distribute the load over more of the transom than the flat engine mounting surface will allow.

Any idieas after looking at my "curved transome" thread???

 

[andgott]

Re: Glasspar Project

what's the little hollow tube up around the bow, leading down into the bilge for??? Wiring of some sort?

That provides ventilation to the bilge, but not much of it. It's the only opening that Glasspar provided, though. When they built the boats, they put a greased rubber tube there, then a strip of fiberglass over it, once it was cured they pulled the tube out.

You'll want to provide better access to the bilge if you're redoing her... I left an access/vent in the bow area, and another in the stern under the seat.

Also, I posted a question about mounting an engine on the curved transom of the Marathon. Aside from using some sort of Jackplate, what are my options? The original leak came from not really being able to seal around the mounting holes for the bolts. I've used Seacast for the transom re-build, so water isn't a problem, but I want to distribute the load over more of the transom than the flat engine mounting surface will allow.

Any idieas after looking at my "curved transome" thread???

My Citation has an aluminum plate under the engine mount that makes up for the curve of the transom... You could use something similar, or shims that would make the area of the transom you are mounting to flat.

 

[wsr3]

Re: Glasspar Project

Thats great! I'm also working on a '63 Marathon. It's the model between the two, doesn't have the molded in seat backs, but still has the short transom. I got lucky and the deck, stringers and transom are in good shape. The topside gel coat is spider webbed and faded and the keel is scraped up, but no leaks. it's a bit short on space with no where to put the fuel tank but on the deck so I took out the seats and am building a back to back bench that I can put the tank and have storage under the seat. It is very stable when still and planes easily, but a harsh ride in any chop.
Bill

 

[grehmer]

Re: Glasspar Project

This is my project boat to work on this winter. (66 Avalon)

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: Glasspar Project

Hey 1sttimeer,
I'd laminate 3/8 ply for your transom and use a bracing system like andgott used for his. 3 plys with the peanutbutter between for glue and a final 1708 matt on the inside would probably give you your 1 1/2 inch final transom thickness. Should be real easy to do. You can use your 1/4 inch template and a router to cut out the 3/8 inch pieces in no time. Mix up the butter, rig up your braces and "Git er Dun"

I'm just sayin...

 

[1st_timer]

Re: Glasspar Project

Nice boat grehmer.

I have paused the project until the winter. I began working on a ice shanty/shooting shack that I want to finish for this winter. Can't wait to get back on the project though!