I didn't build a cradle, and I did my restoration on the trailer (bunks...similar to yours). Right after pulling the cap I measured the hull's width every foot and wrote those dimensions down. Throughout the hull restoration, I would check against those dimensions before glassing in the...
I like laying the thinner piece of tabbing first. I have seen people argue it the other way, though.
I have seen someone use a jig for setting the engine height relative to the keyhole, but it looked custom.
Boat is back in the garage. I got the silicone and screws all the way around the cap except for the transom - I'll get them later this week. I also installed the bow cleat and the fuel fill fitting. I used 3M 4200 to seal around these, as well as the four other cleats on the cap.
I...
Today I had some family and friends come help set the cap back on the boat - huge milestone. It dropped right down into place - no fighting with it due to hull splay. The guys that helped are all boat owners, so after capping the boat, I showed them how to lay fiberglass and gelcoat.
Hull...
In my opinion, if this is a first time restoration, having it done in less than 1 year is pretty ambitious, especially if it's a full gut and restore (stringers/transom/deck). Get the drive/transom assembly/and engine out of the boat then get the deck fully pulled up. Drill some core samples...
I got the carpet glued down in the bow storage area today. This is the last task needed before reinstalling the cap. I've got a crew of family and friends coming over to help with that next weekend. Regarding the carpet, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, considering this is the first...
I just butted my two pieces of plywood together. Pre-covered bottom surface with 1 layer of CSM. Resin soaked edges. After installation, top surface got 1 layer of 1708 and 1 layer of CSM. I did locate the joint between the plywood over a bulkhead.
Finished buffing the cap yesterday. It's not perfect, but good enough for a first season. No pictures, as I was racing the thunderstorms.
Hoping to get the carpet laid in the bow storage area this by this weekend the move the cap back onto the hull.
It all depends on how thorough you are, how much material you waste as you learn/progress, and lots of other factors. My boat is 19 ft and I'm guessing I'm in it about 30 gallons of resin, 30 yards of 1708, and 15 yards of CSM...just for transom/stringers/deck. I'm doing mine in a one-car...
Sure, it's likely possible to do it without pulling the cap. Look up the Friscoboater videos on YouTube of his Sea Ray restoration - he didn't pull the cap. Now, it may end up being more work for you by not pulling the cap if you have to cut out some of the fiberglass to get access to all the...
Yeah, I was wondering about the radio and figured I'd have to go to a DIN size. Not a bad idea about laminating. I may have found a guy with a spare dash panel, or as you said, I may just glue it back together, buff it, and worry about remaking it later.
Look at it this way - you've spent about 1/20th to 1/30th the cost of having it finished. If it's the only thing you do in your spare time, I think it can be done in under a year. If life happens, or you are splitting your spare time between boat restoration and something else, plan for 18+...
It's a 2-ply acrylic, 3/16" thick - white for the majority of the thickness, with a black face. The Power Play logo, warning message, and text by the switches/fuses are all engraved through the black surface to reveal the white plastic behind. There were light bulbs behind these areas so that...
Disassembled the dash and drew wiring diagrams, then did more buffing on the cap today. Probably going to re-make the dash since the original is broken.
Yes. Take a 1/4" drill bit and (from the inside) drill a hole through the inner fiberglass layer, into the wood (but not into the outer fiberglass layer). Drill the hole as low on the transom as possible - ideally ~1 or 2 inches up from the bottom of the hull, near the drain plug. What you...
Dig out the foam, cut out the old stringers, transom, bulkheads, deck, and any other wood, replace with new wood and fiberglass, reinstall foam, reupholster, and fix the rest of the issues.
Post some overall pics of the boat.
