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  1. drewpster

    Portable Gantry Crane Plans

    I wrote in an earlier post that I wanted to build a gantry to remove the engine from my old tug. Well I contacted a former boss of mine and he ended up pulling it for me. But the gantry stayed on my mind :cool: I found an engineering Website that had some plans you can buy to build your own...
  2. drewpster

    Stringer core material?

    What is the best core material to use to re-core my stringers? They are fairly large. They are about 2"x6"x8'. The original core is rotting and I have no idea what kind of wood it is. Can I get what I need at home depot, or is there a special supply house? Can marine ply be glued together and...
  3. drewpster

    Building a Swim Platform

    I was toying with the idea of adding a full width swim platform to my old tug while I am not doing the other 100 or so projects I have planned. I have looked at buying one and may I just say "gimmi a break". They are a bit out of my price range. Anybody got any ideas on how to proceed? Wood...
  4. drewpster

    Lexan windows?

    The cabin top of my old tug needs new windows. Currently they are made of Plexiglas. It is scratched and looks bad. Has anyone used lexan? Is there another material to use without going with safety glass?
  5. drewpster

    Question for a good Chrysler guy

    I am in the process of restoring my old boat. (2 years so far) The engine in the boat has an original ID tag on the bellhousing marking M273. Does anyone here know what and where the casting numbers are so that I can positively identify this Chrysler Marine V8? I find hard to believe that no one...
  6. drewpster

    Working with Resins in Cooler Temps

    Well the major glass work on my old tug is beginning and I am quickly running out of warm days. I was hoping one of you glass guys could give me some advise on working with resins in cooler temps. In the later winter months the daily temps will be in the 40's. I am anticipating the prep getting...
  7. drewpster

    A message to Ship Shape TV and John G.

    Please stop. We used to watch your show because it was interesting and informative. You did real boat repair and restoration stuff. Now you sell high end toys and show off your yacht. The people who liked your show work on their own boats. You think if I could afford and 57' Monterey I would...
  8. drewpster

    Planing Stringers

    I was wondering if anyone had tried using an electric hand planer to trim the fiberglass off the top of stringers for re-coring?
  9. drewpster

    Supporting De-stringered Hull

    I am just about ready to begin inspection, and the probable removal, of the main stringers of my old tug. The boat has an inboard V8 with a velvet drive transmission. The boat has a main bulkhead amidships that separates the step down cabin from the bilge. The bilge is open from the bulkhead all...
  10. drewpster

    Howma gonna dude dis?

    The options I have as I see them are these: the least desirable, the most expensive or the most work. I need to get the engine and transmission out of my tug. It is a 1969 version of a weekend sportfishing boat. It has a deep hull and weighs around 4k to 6k pounds, complete boat. (i'm guessing)...
  11. drewpster

    Movie review "The Kingdom"

    This past weekend my wife and I went to a movie. We decided to watch "The Kingdom" starring Jamie Fox and several other actors you will recognize. I would not describe the film as an action movie, however it does contain allot of it. The trouble I have with "action movies" is most of them are...
  12. drewpster

    Homemade Boat dollies

    Anybody got a good simple design for some boat dollies? I need to set mine on the ground and move it around a little. (no trailer, 24' cruiser maybe 5k lbs?)
  13. drewpster

    Yet another Stringer thread...Help?

    I been avoiding it like the plague but I started a little investigation on my stringers today. You guessed it, they are wet. I have been doing a little research and I have seen several methods for replacing them. I am not very keen on using seacast for this considering the length of the...
  14. drewpster

    Fabricating Stainless Handrails

    I am hoping to find someone out there that has done some bending on S.S tubing. I need to make a new handrail for the bow of my Tub. I will have to use a 20' stick so that's a challenge itself. I have done some bending using a mandrel press bender on some steel pipe, but not stainless. You...
  15. drewpster

    DO I need to repower?

    I am currently restoring my old tug. The plan this winter is pull the engine and trans and do some resealing. I am a professional mechanic and I have experience with gas V8s. But I am no marine guy, especially 'vintage' marine engines. I have a 1969 Chrysler 273m according to the tag on the...
  16. drewpster

    Using epoxy to build out a plywood edge w/ pic

    Ok so I have got the first coat of finish paint on the hull. It has been sanded and is ready to take the next one. Before I move ahead I need to do some work on the plywood edge of the deck where the rubrail attaches. When the boat was originally built it had a rigid aluminum rubrail. I guess...
  17. drewpster

    Bending Handrail Tubing

    The forward handrail on my boat needs to be replaced. The original aluminum one is intact but it is badly chalked and corroded. I was thinking of bending a new stainless one. Does anyone know where I can find 20 foot lengths of 7/8 stainless handrail tubing? Most of all the marine outlets I have...
  18. drewpster

    First Coat of Perfection Pics.

    I literally just finished the first coat of Interlux's Perfection paint on my old tug. The color is fighting lady yellow. I began this morning just as the dew burned off and it took about an hour and a half to finish the first coat. I had no problems. I used a phenolic core closed cell roller...
  19. drewpster

    Refinishing Mahogany

    I need some advice on what would be the best way to refinish the bulkhead in this photo. I was told it is mahogany. The original varnish (?) is coming off and the light patch is where I hit it with a sander. Can I sand this down and simply re-varnish it? Or is there a better way to go?
  20. drewpster

    Gantry Crane

    I have a co-worker who has a gantry he built to remove semi-truck engines at his home. I have not seen it yet but he said it is made of I-beam and is set in the ground with concrete. He has it for sale. I was thinking of buying it and welding lower supports and casters to it to use around here...
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