1983 Blue Fin 16’ Resto

[airshot]

An intelligent man works smarter, not harder !

 

[83bluefin]

Oldest passed his NYS Boater Safety class yesterday. Hopefully get back on the project this week…been too cold & rainy to work on it in the driveway.

 

[airshot]

Oldest passed his NYS Boater Safety class yesterday. Hopefully get back on the project this week…been too cold & rainy to work on it in the driveway.

That stinks not having some place indoors to work on your boat, mother nature rarely cooperates.

 

[83bluefin]

It is what it is. Until I hit the lottery and move out into the country. I have 0 space on my city lot to build.

Pretty much on my checklist before I switch gears to getting our main boat ready for the season….

*remove/replace first keel roller on trailer as it’s only partially held on by the shaft atm.
*finish painting trailer
*paint rims
*replace tires
*finish removing all stickers
*Gluvit interior - I sprung for the good stuff
*fill all unnecessary holes with Marine Tex on gunnels
*pull the pitot tube and electric paddle wheel, reseal with ss bolts/5200
*replace rotten piece of trim that supports front bow aluminum
*paint boat
*install “new” windshield

Then tarp it for the summer and work on it as time/$$$$ allows.

Won’t make it to the water this year. Next year looks doable.

Still will need full floors, trim panels, both dashes, front casting deck w/storage, rear seat build, all pedestal seats installed, complete wiring package, kids want a bluetooth stereo, and Seadek/Hydroturf/Amazon special decking. Ohh and a modern 4 stroke…gotta do some evals on the Yammie, Honda, and Suzuki. Merc is out…I just don’t want one.

 

[83bluefin]

Started the tedious task of breaking down the “new” front windshield for paint. Got a couple answers to my previous questions…

My oldest was 100% correct in that there was foam weatherstripping between the front and side panels where the (3) philips head screws joined the parts. Looked to be maybe 1/16 to 1/8 thick? Will source something. Might even go the inner tube route…hmm……

Also, where the channel is attached to the hull there is a thin rubber gasket. Bicycle innertube will work for this. Some spray adhesive to adhere it to the channel and a very sharp X-acto knife to trim the excess.

Beyond that…not happy how the wire wheel cleaned up the flaking paint. I set the one front panel section in etching primer and I can tell where bare metal was vs layers of paint. Nuts. Going to have to see about an electric DA sander and some 220 grit sandpaper. This is going to set me back a touch…

 

[Bugzilla46310]

View attachment 416065

Beyond that…not happy how the wire wheel cleaned up the flaking paint. I set the one front panel section in etching primer and I can tell where bare metal was vs layers of paint. Nuts. Going to have to see about an electric DA sander and some 220 grit sandpaper. This is going to set me back a touch…

View attachment 416066

I put a 6” wire brush on a 4” angle grinder. It’ll take the paint off no problem. But wear leather gloves as it works well in knuckles too. It also works the grinder so I don’t overdo it. I also have a larger angle grinder with an 8” wire brush, but that’s a bit overkill for what you are doing. The smaller wire brushes used in the drill like your picture don’t have the grunt for what you are doing.

 

[83bluefin]

It got alot of the loose stuff off. You know the stuff a 3yr old finger painted on? Yeah that stuff. There were a few spots though that were actually adhered and that’s what is causing the issue.

I was trying to go gentle so as to not scratch up the aluminum channel too much. Apparently I need to get a bit more aggressive.

I have an air powered DA but my compressor has issues keeping up with the demand. Turns out my HF sander is a DA so I’ll just restock on sandpaper and buzz through the frames.

May go down the rabbit hole of spraying epoxy primer using my hvlp gun. In for a penny, in for a pound…

Would need a very nice weekend with no wind. That’s rare these days.