1957 Larson Thunderhawk Jr. restore

[lundungurl]

Hi everyone,
I have been reading this forum for several days now since purchasing this boat. I bought a 1957 Larson Thunderhawk with motor and trailer for $400 off craigslist about a month ago. He also threw in a trolling motor and the guy drove about 30 miles to deliver it to me... sweet! Anyway, I have never owned a boat and don't know the first thing about them. Basically I got it so I can go fishing and pull the kids around on a tube. The motor is a Johnson super seahorse 35hp and I think it is close to the original motor that came with the boat. The guy said he put it on a friends 18' boat and they pulled the kids on a tube with it. It used to be in salt water and he had several things replaced on it (don't know what though).

It obviously needs some work, but it looks like the floor has already been removed for me (am I right in saying the stringers are fiberglass?) and the transom looks to be in good shape along with the hull. I think with some sanding and painting, the body will look great. I really love the fins and the "classic Chevy" look to this boat. I am posting pics of it, so if anyone has any suggestions or links that might help me, shoot me a message. Thanks! I will be posting pics of my progress as well. I can't wait to get started on this! Ok, what should I do 1st???

 

[Driven1]

Re: 1957 Larson Thunderhawk Jr. restore

You might wanna try cleaning and buffing out the original finish before going the paint route. You'd be surprised at how some of the older boats will clean up.

 

[lundungurl]

Re: 1957 Larson Thunderhawk Jr. restore

Thanks for the comment driven, I actually thought about doing that but when I was looking at closley, you can see that above the black paint on the side, some one had previously tried to paint it black and it is showing through the white. My idea was to sand it and fill in any crack or stress cracks (it has a few) and then prime and paint it mostly white but paint dark blue where the black is now and maybe some grey striping to hide any imperfections in the paint lines. how does that sound? Then of course the interior will be white/ dr. blue/ grey.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1957 Larson Thunderhawk Jr. restore

use an off shade of white. it really glares, and reflects the sun, and blinds your.

 

[lundungurl]

Re: 1957 Larson Thunderhawk Jr. restore

ok, will do with the off white... I was looking at the us composites website for some things that I will need to start out with. Does this sound good?

us composites order:
1 qrt fairing compound $4.25
1/2 gal medium epoxy w/ hardener $34.25
20 yds 4" fiberglass tape $20.00
10 yds 50" 4lb fiberglass cloth $49.50
2lb density foam - 16lb kit $62.00

Am I moving in the right direction? Say, has anyone looked at the pics of the inside of the hull yet, and does it look like the stringers are fiberglass with no wood? Thanks for all the help so far.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1957 Larson Thunderhawk Jr. restore

from what i can see in the picture, they probably have wood in them, but look to be ok.

 

[lundungurl]

Re: 1957 Larson Thunderhawk Jr. restore

Had a couple questions... Is there any way to paint a rub rail that has seen better days and if so what type of paint? Also, I have no windshield and was wondering if anyone has tried making one with Plexiglas? I know it should be cut by a professional because it can splinter, but I was wondering is it a possibility to make a template and then buy the Plexiglas and have it cut? any opinions? Thanks so much for all the help so far.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1957 Larson Thunderhawk Jr. restore

i prefer lexan, as it is almost unbreakable. yes it is possible.

 

[lundungurl]

Re: 1957 Larson Thunderhawk Jr. restore

Got quite a bit done so far. I have swept and cleaned out all the leaves and debris from the inside of the boat and started on the sanding of the body. My roommate used the dremel and started in on the stress cracks. He gauged them out so the filler will have a place to stick to. I have been using 60 grit sandpaper on the body and so far so good. I do have a question... There is a spot where the fin is (and holds a flag pole I think) that is damaged. I have included pictures below. Can anyone tell me the best way to repair this? Thank you

 

[oops!]

Re: 1957 Larson Thunderhawk Jr. restore

ok, will do with the off white... I was looking at the us composites website for some things that I will need to start out with. Does this sound good?

us composites order:
1 qrt fairing compound $4.25
1/2 gal medium epoxy w/ hardener $34.25
20 yds 4" fiberglass tape $20.00
10 yds 50" 4lb fiberglass cloth $49.50
2lb density foam - 16lb kit $62.00

Am I moving in the right direction? Say, has anyone looked at the pics of the inside of the hull yet, and does it look like the stringers are fiberglass with no wood? Thanks for all the help so far.

those are frames and td is prob correct....glass over wood...drill into them with a small bit and see if there is wet or rotted wood in the shavings.

and youll need a lot more epoxy

as far as the rub rail....a good rubber cleaner/restorer or replace it.

I do have a question... There is a spot where the fin is (and holds a flag pole I think) that is damaged. I have included pictures below. Can anyone tell me the best way to repair this? Thank you

that one is ugly.....i would glass the whole area from underneath.....fair it out and paint

 

[lundungurl]

Re: 1957 Larson Thunderhawk Jr. restore

update on progress so far:
I've been doing more sanding, and more sanding, and more sanding, but today I got tired of looking at the worst blemish on the boat which is the messed up fin that is half gone. I decided it would be a good time to try to repair it. I wanted to leave the opening for the light pole so I wouldn't have to drill it out later so I made a cardboard tube and covered it with painters tape until it was super snug and stuck it in where the light pole would be. Then I used more blue painter's tape to follow the lines of the curved part (because I had no idea how to fair that without getting resin all over), and I left a lip of about 1/8 inch so the resin wouldn't spill over and run down the side of the boat. Since I had sanded down the entire fin area I mixed up enough resin to do the stress cracks too. I had to make 2 batches because by the time I was done with the stress cracks, the resin I mixed up was too hard to apply. Maybe it's because it's almost 90 degrees here, I don't know. Anyway, I mixed up another batch and simply poured it into the "fin trough" I had made with painter's tape. Viola! it's curing right now and I will try and sand it later when it cools off. I fully expect the resin to stick to the painter's tape, but I'll just sand it off. I have much sanding to do on the stress cracks where I applied resin too as you can see in the pictures. It was too runny to use a spreader, but there was only like a 1 second time frame that I could've used one before it was too thick. I'm posting before pictures of the damaged fin as well as after the resin was poured.

 

[oops!]

Re: 1957 Larson Thunderhawk Jr. restore

it looks like your working hard on it....good for you

what kind of resin are you using......is it polyester?.......did you add any filler in the area you built up around the light?

if you are using poly....just resin by it self......the repair might not last too long....resin without glass is brittle.....it can shatter.

 

[lundungurl]

Re: 1957 Larson Thunderhawk Jr. restore

hi oops, I used this kind of resin. I think it's polyester. I couldn't see anywhere on the package though. It says for marine use too. I put baby powder in the resin as filler

 

[lundungurl]

Re: 1957 Larson Thunderhawk Jr. restore

Am I able to use Interlux and Pettit products together? Specifically, I am getting Pettit paint (electric blue and sunflower yellow) and I want to be able to use the Interlux brushing liquid with it. Does anyone see a problem with this? Also, I am getting marine tex because it seems like it will be a better filler for some stress cracks I have. Resin just flows all over and makes a mess. What is the working time for marine tex and does it have the consistancy of putty? Sorry about all the questions. Thanks

 

[oops!]

Re: 1957 Larson Thunderhawk Jr. restore

i dont know about the paint.......someone here might.....

as far as the marine tex and the resin.....

resin....yup its poly....i would imagine a waxed product...not a laminating product.........soooo....that means....when you glass an area....if you want to add another layer in a day or two....you have to grind off the wax before you add the next layer.....2 layers can be done consectively...(when the resin is wet)


marine tex....yes its like a putty

hot tip 4 u...!

there is a stuff we make called peanut butter....it sands easy and will work for your repair.....(the ugly area.....just mix it thicker...and add the milled fibers...(lots)

read the thread that is up right now....called peanut butter