over my head with a 20' thermoglass cuddy!

[hps123]

Well, at least I think I am. I found this boat at an auction. It has a 1.6L OMC seadrive and dinette chairs from a kitchen table. But I love the lines and think it may have hope. It sure looks like it would make a good sea boat. I have few carpentry skills and have never worked with glass. I've read hours of threads and still think this might be too much...or will it! I will start taking some pictures once I figure out how to load them up.

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: over my head with a 20' thermoglass cuddy!

Hey Peter<br /><br />How's it going? Had enough of Alliford Bay?

 

[dmarkvid2]

Re: over my head with a 20' thermoglass cuddy!

Peter, What is it exactly that you have to glass?

 

[hps123]

Re: over my head with a 20' thermoglass cuddy!

I'm not sure where to begin; There are cracks at the joint of the strakes about a foot above the keel, near the bow. They are about a foot long on either side. The boat sat exposed to the weather, and I just assume everything is rotten, although I don't really know how to check. I had it out once, and it planed almost immediately at slow speed with the sea-drive. At half throttle, the speed was 21 knots by gps (the tach was not hooked up). I will be taking lots of pictures in the weeks to come. Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[hps123]

Re: over my head with a 20' thermoglass cuddy!

Originally posted by Mike Robinson:<br /> Hey Peter<br /><br />How's it going? Had enough of Alliford Bay?

 

[hps123]

Re: over my head with a 20' thermoglass cuddy!

No way! Too busy getting married, working on Gabriola. Hi Mike!

 

[dmarkvid2]

Re: over my head with a 20' thermoglass cuddy!

Sounds like you have a wood boat, Is that right?The way to check for rotted wood is to take a screw driver or ice pick to it. If the wood is rotted the tools will sink deep into the wood, and will fall apart. Water will most likely drip out of the wood too. You'll know if you have dry rot.

 

[hps123]

Re: over my head with a 20' thermoglass cuddy!

Originally posted by Mark's Joy:<br /> Sounds like you have a wood boat, Is that right?The way to check for rotted wood is to take a screw driver or ice pick to it. If the wood is rotted the tools will sink deep into the wood, and will fall apart. Water will most likely drip out of the wood too. You'll know if you have dry rot.

 

[hps123]

Re: over my head with a 20' thermoglass cuddy!

Nope, its fiberglass, but I removed the rusted fuel tank from amidships, and at least some rot is evident from where the fuel hose went through the thwart, so I'm assuming that water has reached other places. I've read that pounding on the hull with a plasticv hammer can sound differently on rotten structure. The boat is at a nearby shop having some motor work done.

 

[Kevin70]

Re: over my head with a 20' thermoglass cuddy!

Here's my 2 pennies. Jump in there and start grinding, try not to grind through the gelcoat and try to keep an eye on the finished product, (includung the lack of a boat payment). I have to take a step back, wash off the glass dust, and try to stay focused on some days. You should sign up for the same project sharing site as I did so that you can keep us abreast of your progress.......did I just say "abreast"?

 

[dmarkvid2]

Re: over my head with a 20' thermoglass cuddy!

The only pounding to check for rot is on the transom. I don't believe there is any wood anywhere else on or in the hull. But the deck, stringers, motor mounts, and bulkheads in the bilge area are wooden. And its better, like I said to give it the old pick and screw driver test, and leave the plastic mallet for the transom.

 

[hps123]

Re: over my head with a 20' thermoglass cuddy!

Ok! Thanks guys! I'll keep you posted and try and come up with some kind of picture log. Its a beautiful boat!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: over my head with a 20' thermoglass cuddy!

peter, apparently, you really like the boat. so it will be worth it, to take your time, read the post, and do it right, the first time. there is nothing more fun and gratifying, than to sit at the ramp in a restored beautiful old lady, that starts on the first bump, and idles like a purring kitten. especially while the guys with those big payment sit and grind away trying to start there's.

 

[hps123]

Re: over my head with a 20' thermoglass cuddy!

Thanks for the support! I'll keep you poisted!

 

[Purduebarry]

Re: over my head with a 20' thermoglass cuddy!

Where are those pictures???