1987 Ski Centurion Tru Trac II - First Time Rebuild - Floor, Engine, Dash, etc.

[kcassells]

That's some nice heater there Arch. And your spot on in regards to moisture. Let air in to flow.
Good advice there AC.

 

[ACon977]

I have used the forced air ones a lot before I put an overhead unit heater in. I would heat things up, layup the glass, let if fire off and open the doors afterwords to vent out all the glass fumes. I would then repeat, those put off a lot of heat quickly.

Thanks! I like the venting idea, I really only ever do one or two layers at a time so I'm not too worried about keeping the area warm for a while.

I liked venting things out so that I could work without a respirator between layups....cutting out glass, getting things ready. I also used some halogen work lights here and there to get the glass to fire off. The key is to make sure your resin and the boat hull are nice and warm.

I have a set of halogen lights for when the power went out in the garage and I was running this rebuild on extension cords from the house. these put out a bit of heat, but I wasnt sure if it would actually warm the hull enough, or if it would just warm the surface.

Also great note about the resin. I did an epoxy lamp project and didnt always warm my epoxy up enough and it was a messssss to work with.

By the way if the heater is getting enough oxygen, the byproducts of running it are carbon dioxide and water. You only get carbon monoxide when it is burning too rich. One other reason I liked to vent things, get rid of some of the humidity.

This is the information that I really appreciate. Full understanding of what is happening, although its not actually all that complicated, knowing things to look out for is key.

I upgraded to one of these and love it, vents outside, and turns on and off via a thermostat. I'm putting another one in my other shop this fall.

These look fantastic, but expensive, and unfortunately probably out of the scope for right now. BUT now I have the link for the future! Thanks a TON Arch!!!

 

[archbuilder]

By the way a carbon monoxide detector is still a good ideas! You never know that it is getting high until it is too late!

 

[ACon977]

By the way a carbon monoxide detector is still a good ideas! You never know that it is getting high until it is too late!

I will get one on order! Thats certainly not what I want to figure out the hard way!

 

[ACon977]

Hey yall, sorry I havent updated in a while. I did get the CO detector in, and the heater as well! This thing is looking schweeetttt! I plan on firing it up today and seeing how long it takes to heat the garage.

 

[ACon977]

And on Friday it was warm enough for me to glass and so I got the front section, and starboard side of the floor glassed to the hull. I used Woodonglass 's idea to cut a thin 1x1 board and fit it into my gap. then I sanded down the corners so it would fit against the shape of the hull a little better. And clipped off one corner as well to help keep the glassing angles smaller. All in all, the gap is filled in and I'm happy.

. .

The one thing I am a little bummed out with is that the resin flowed out of the cloth at the top as it cured, I was already late to go to a dinner and didnt have time to baby sit it while it kicked off. I think I have enough adhesion... but I'm not a pro.



Is this something I should worry about? can I roll some more on and cure it better? Or do I have to grind it out and put in a new piece?
I've been happy with my glassing so far on this project, but this was definitely something that I am not proud of, and is not up to par with the rest of the boat.

 

[kcassells]

Nice....that's what I have but under my tarp vs. the size of your garage. Knowing you .... you have it right on the money.
This might be my last reply..........This conversation will self destruct in 5 minutes if you choose tho take this mission.

 

[kcassells]

That glassing will be fine. I don't see any bubbles.

 

[ACon977]

Nice....that's what I have but under my tarp vs. the size of your garage. Knowing you .... you have it right on the money.
This might be my last reply..........This conversation will self destruct in 5 minutes if you choose tho take this mission.

haha well it will take some playing to see what temps I actually get to.

And Im hoping to keep your stuff on here, seems so dumb they've been taking your comments down.

 

[ACon977]

That glassing will be fine. I don't see any bubbles.

yea... right... I see imperfection, but I see the same thing when I look in the mirror too......

Im just curious if it is actually a big deal, or if it would just be cosmetic to fix it. Looking at the amount of adhesion I have, I think its fine, but it doesnt look pretty to me.

 

[AShipShow]

Looks fine to me... I'd just feather the dry stuff out just so there isn't and edge to catch stuff and pull a runner out of the cloth.

 

[ACon977]

Looks fine to me... I'd just feather the dry stuff out just so there isn't and edge to catch stuff and pull a runner out of the cloth.

Sounds good! Thanks for the advise

 

[ACon977]

and yesterday I got the heater hooked up and it fired right up. It was definitely impressive how much heat it put out, even on the lowest setting! Unfortunately, I had to work on the Jeep last night instead of the boat, but Im thinking we should be good on warmth to get the last bit of this glassing done.

Thanks for the recommendation guys! Im very excited to have a year round work space

 

[ACon977]

Well thanks again for the recommendation kcassells ! This heater is amazing. I had it outside the boat but blowing under the tarp and I had a little sauna going on during my glassing of the port side.



I had more time to baby it but I did leave it once I had it all covered and starting to kick off. This morning she still looked almost the same as the starboard side. Not too worried about it. But wishing that it ended up the same as the stringers.

 

[ACon977]

I got the glass cut out for the rest of the floor and got it all fitted. and that led to me realizing that the floor is overhanging a little bit around the engine mounts.

although I knew this already, when I was ready to put resin to glass I got nervous that I would accidentally get resin and glass all over the mounts.

these pictures arent great, but it shows the overhang I want to cut back.







I was thinking of using my jigsaw, but the blade would go too deep. Then I was thinking of grinding with a flap disk. But that would make a mess, and take forever. So maybe my oscillating tool? Although I need new bits.

thoughts from the peanut gallery?

 

[ACon977]

Well, I guess its just me talking to myself then.

I went out this morning and got new bits for my oscillating tool. Trimming the glass tore up my old ones. And I got the overhang rough cut and an angle roughed out as well.

 

[oldrem]

Just started using an oscillating tool a year ago and don't know now how I ever worked without one. One of my best investments ever. That and a good electric scissors which sure made cutting fiberglass, vinyl and carpet a whole lot easier.

 

[sopwithcamel74]

Very nice work. Still lurking, watching your progress, living vicariously through you as you document your journey. Keep it coming!

 

[froggy1150]

Skill saw/mini skill saw....

 

[froggy1150]

Nevermind.....