1983 Blue Fin 16’ Resto

[83bluefin]

I thought about it I truly did. Qt of Spar was $30. Tack in everything else and it’d be cheaper to use a runny polyester or epoxy….and that ain’t saving much.

Split the difference…1:1 Mineral Spirits and Rustoleum Oil Based. I have 3 very liberal coats on it right now. Letting that all soak in for a bit and I’ll hit it again with more.

I used full strength Deck Enamel back on another wreck of a boat my family owned and it held up for a good dozen years on the exposed floor. Boat gave up before the floor did.

At some point I’m going to have to let it fully cure so I can sand it smooth before more applications of paint.

Not too worried about a couple of voids as I have a plan. Since it’s such a small boat storage will be a premium. Settled on a Scotty 452 which I can screw/bolt into the bow support.

Saw a review of one and the pedestal comes off. If it doesn’t…well, I have a dremel.

Going to get a USB charger port for next to it as the caddy allows for a charging cord through the bottom of the cell phone slot. Kinda snazzy.

This is the one time where I wish I had sprung for the Creality K2 Plus so I could 3D print in ABS. That’s going to be a Christmas present to the family this year…our K1 SE lacks this functionality.

 

[83bluefin]

Call it coat 4…Just trying to use up the paint mix I have. I honestly didn’t mix that much up as I had a feeling I was going to be in this exact spot…too much paint, too little to paint.

Thinking I stop here for the day, let it sit and then sand to knock down the grain.

 

[83bluefin]

Researched the sku on the mystery white plastic flooring. PVC sheet from Home Depot. 1/2” thick at nearly $100 a sheet.

Yeah that’s coming out next. Whenever it stops raining…just had a thunderstorm roll through.

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

It fits! First cut.

Hmmmm, must be doing something wrong. It's supposed to be in and out about 30 times for trimming and swearing at, and then have a big gap on one side...

 

[83bluefin]

Measured 3x, templated 2x, and cut once. It helped I had the very ends for the profile.

Don’t worry…I have the floors, casting platform, face both consoles, both inside consoles, side beauty panels, and rear bench all to build. Lots of opportunities to expand my vocabulary

Anyone got a good online source for sheet aluminum? I’m finding 4x8 sheets at Ryerson (I have a warehouse local to me) but it’s upwards of $500.

 

[redneck joe]

when i was searching for aluminum i was disappointed. Where are you and do you have a loading dock anywhere you could use or at lease a big parking lot

 

[83bluefin]

Near Buffalo NY.

I may have to do this in small pieces. Those I can find online somewhat reasonable.

 

[redneck joe]

Man you should have a few locals to order in. Im in small town tb and i have two companies

 

[83bluefin]

Yeah Ryerson is the biggy.

Onlinemetals looks promising too. Smaller sheets would be ok but the longer angles may be an issue. May have to resort to Home Depot for those.

 

[83bluefin]

Tried out a couple different pedestal heights at Sportsman’s Warehouse. Settled on 13” fixed height. Also tested seats. High backs are good for the cockpit and mid are good for the rear bench that will pull out and convert the bow and stern to casting seats….much like modern fish & ski boats do.

Bow piece is hopefully dry, didn’t check this morning. If not it should be dry by end of day - supposed to be up near 90F.

Picked up a replacement winch rope - nylon. Needed the smaller hook as the one on the strap, which dates back to at least 2000, is just too big to release between the roller supports. Can’t get a bow tie down in there as it sits so something had to give.

 

[redneck joe]

you got bow cleats?

 

[83bluefin]

Yeah. They’re being replaced with flip-up cleats. Retro-mod to use the car scene lingo.

Bow eye is old school small. Still attached and functional, just small. So modern big hooks eat up realestate quickly. Need to purchase a bow safety strap to use…chain is old/rusted and the spring hook is stuck open. It’s time for the chain to be retired.

 

[redneck joe]

Yeah. They’re being replaced with flip-up cleats. Retro-mod to use the car scene lingo.

Bow eye is old school small. Still attached and functional, just small. So modern big hooks eat up realestate quickly. Need to purchase a bow safety strap to use…chain is old/rusted and the spring hook is stuck open. It’s time for the chain to be retired.

when i was a kid we used the bow cleats and rope, looped under the tongue. Then about half way up do some cince knots at the v, working your way back up. That tightens it all up.

I did that until a few boats ago when i thought about using a small truck strap.

 

[83bluefin]

While I could do that, my goal is to have this as easy to launch and retrieve as possible for my sons. It’s the main reason there’s a set of Boat Buckles waiting to go on the trailer.

My thought process is as my sons get older and want to go camping on their own…and drag a boat with them…that they take this one.

Got the bow support dry, did a quick sand on it, then tossed a coat of full strength Rustoleum on it. I’m not so sure I’m going to get it as smooth as I want so I may pivot as to the final finish on that piece a touch.