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    Replacing mercruiser 485

    It wasn't too bad on my boat. Start by removing the rub rail and seeing how the cap is held on...screws, rivets, etc. Also, look inside the boat and identify what is attached to the cap and what is attached to the hull, and figure out how you're gong to separate those. My rear bench seat is...
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    Advice on transom , stringers and floor rebuild

    I did 2 layers of 1708 on the face of the transom that you can see from inside the boat. 2 layers of 1708 tabbing on transom/stringers/bulkheads. 1 layer 1708 to cap the stringers and bulkheads. Seems plenty stout now that it's all done.
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    Transom replacement- need glassing advice (caution - fun inside)

    I'm guessing staples were used originally as it's a quick way to fasten together a boat. My deck was stapled together and a TON of the staples had missed the stringer completely. Mine did not have any adhesive holding the deck to the stringers, though. I rebuilt mine with PB between the...
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    1987 Power Play XLT-185 - floors, stringers, and upholstery

    :ROFLMAO:
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    Advice on transom , stringers and floor rebuild

    I used mahogany for my mounts. I'm no expert, but I think as long as it is somewhat dense (won't crush under the weight of the engine) and will take a lag bolt, you're probably ok.
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    '93 Pursuit 2150 - Fuel tank questions

    This link has the regulations for building your fuel system: https://www.uscgboating.org/assets/PDF/downloads/FUELSYSTEM.pdf
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    Beginning of 1979 Cobia Sportster 18vbr Restoration

    Love the assortment of clamps. Your glass work looks really nice. I did/am doing my full gut/restore on my trailer. I thought stringers and bulkheads would be enough to keep the hull from splaying, but I ended up having to put ratchet straps across it to pull it back into shape (about 5/8")...
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    1987 Power Play XLT-185 - floors, stringers, and upholstery

    Finally...after 3 months, back to working on the hull. Today I manned-up and drilled the holes in my transom for mounting my transom assembly. I center punched, used a small (5/64") bit for a pilot, then stepped from 1/4" up to 1/2" all the way through. I used a small block of ash with a hole...
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    Rebuilding the transom on a 1976 14' Gamefisher

    I also recommend US Composites. If you have somewhere you can have it delivered with a loading dock and if you order enough stuff to justify it, having it shipped via freight could save you some money.
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    Rebuilding the transom on a 1976 14' Gamefisher

    You can use either polyester or epoxy (or vinylester) for resin - lots of pros and cons for each. Just don't get swindled into thinking that epoxy is the only way to "do it right". I recommend fumed silica (aka cabosil) for thickening. You'll also need some milled fibers for adding strength...
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    Beginning of 1979 Cobia Sportster 18vbr Restoration

    I used Arauco on my rebuild too...agree that it is very nice wood. I wouldn't worry about adding layers to the transom skin unless you got it really thin is some areas. If you make your PB with milled fibers and you use enough of it, that should make up for any low spots. Probably nothing...
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    Glassing Stringers - First Time

    My method for tabbing is as follows. First you must cut out your pieces of 1708 and dry fit them. Make sure they aren't too long or you run into issues where you're trying to force a long piece into a short area and you risk it buckling like you experienced. Trim the dry cloth as required...
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    Carbon chopped strands?

    The chopped strand fibers are not really what thickens the resin - it's the cabosil. The chopped strand gives the thickened resin strength. I'm not an expert, but I would probably use it if that's all I had at the time.
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    Glassing Stringers - First Time

    An acetone wipe should wake it right back up and make it sticky again. If it doesn't, then you probably need to sand some.
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    73 Sea Ray restoration

    My transom measured about 1.875" before I tore it out. I built mine about to the same thickness. I'm planning to see how the transom assembly bolts up after drilling the holes, then adding layers of 1708 if needed.
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    Beginning of 1979 Cobia Sportster 18vbr Restoration

    I just ground out the delaminated stuff on mine.
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    Super stuck gimbal bearing in Mercruiser Pre-Alpha -- is there a clip?

    I'm betting it will. Slow, steady force vs. quick bursts of impact force.
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    Steering Pin Seals MC-1 Alpha 1

    Here is where I bought the seals for the lower pin on my Alpha One Gen 1. #3 on the exploded view. They changed from a needle bearing with seals to a nylon bushing at some point, but that was after my drive was built, and I was told you cannot put the nylon bushing in a gimbal ring made to...
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    Glassing Stringers - First Time

    Agree - 1/4" router bit worked well for me. It will still take some time and patience to get the 1708 to do a full 180 degree bend. I found a chip brush with the bristles cut to ~1" long worked the best for me. Mix your resin on the slow side and work in short (~24") strips at first until you...
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    Riddle me this about mixing polyester resin with catalyst using weight or volume.

    Don't over-think it. The more you work with it, you'll figure out what works for you, and it doesn't have to be super exact. Here's the chart I made which I have hanging up over my mixing station. I use the little clear medicine cups that come with the catalyst from US Composites. In the...
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