1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

[Monterey Dreams]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

Thankx cowboy
I'm a little laid up right now but when I get back in the game, I try it.
C-Ya
Dave

 

[Monterey Dreams]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

Hey Guys,
Sorry it’s been so long without a post but with the ankle out, my days have become very painful. Well today I was driven by the fact that it has been almost two weeks without any progress on the boat so I decided since I cannot do any construction, I spent the day down at the good old dmv. What a hassle.:facepalm: But in the end I now have a clean title, up to date registration and a pretty blue sticker with a great big 13 on it! Yup they licensed it for just shy of two years, it expires on New Year Eve 2013. Soooo if I have done an adequate job on rebuilding her I should have a long time to play without any more hassles from the state!
It was last registered in 1997….Wow my daughter was only two then and now she is graduating high school in the same amount of time!
Paying the back fees was a pain too. Fast story, I went in yesterday to do the docs and the line was horrible beyond compare. (I forgot it was end of the month). It took 30 min just to get to the first girl who sends you in the proper direction. Well, by the time I got to her I could see what the day was going to be like so I asked her to check my title and see if it is all done properly. She told me the fees would be 35 bux….cool. Today I went before they opened and beat the crowd. It only took 2 hours! With my 35 bux and docs in hand I go to the window and tell the girl to please transfer, ya-da, ya-da and bam she hits me with a bill for 85 bux (late fees plus penalties). Yup you guessed it. I only had 35 bux in my hand and had to leave with a partially changed registration. I went and got the extra money and I came back to the dmv; to be told I must wait again…ARGH. I told her the long and drawn out story and in the end she gave me an appointment for today at 2. I ran in again at 2 and it all went smooth from then on.
I hope you guys are all well,
Dave

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

Like Wimpy always told Popeye, "I'll gladly Pay you Tuesday, For a Hamburger Today!" I feel your Pain. Took me two months to get a title for a 1956 Evinrude I found in a barn with no nothin on it. Had to run ads in Newspapers lookin for the owner etc... Finally got it and it cost me $8 bucks. Ads Cost me $35.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

Glad to see you back, hope you are healing up quick...

When I bought my tub...between weighing the trailer, gas, time, fees, etc...I got my papers for over two-hundred bucks...and that was just for 8 months...I just renewed the trailer and boat titles for about 100...that's gonna be about the cost every year, until they raise the fees,...again...

Don't you just love the goobermint...:facepalm:

 

[Willyclay]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

Smart move to get the title and registration cleared-up before you sink any time and money into it. Check off another item!

 

[Monterey Dreams]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

Hi Guys,

Woody, I have not forgotten to take photos of the bottom side of the chairs for you. Do you have to register outboards in your state? Thankfully that is one here that the California state Department of Nazis have missed.

Gus; Don't you just love the goobermint... NOT! Thanks for the well wishes my friend. I have missed you all. It is really amazing how much your life changes when you are “injured /sick”. I mean you would think that my fingers are still ok to type; but all I do is shuffle from hobbling around at work to shower and bed in that order.

Bill, I sent you a PM this morning. I keep trying to check “them items” off the list. The weather here today is absolutely beautiful mid to high 70’s. And I am getting extremely antsy to get out on the water.

I was planning on completing complete boat restore before hitting the water but now I keep hearing a little voice in my head telling me to complete deck and seating area motor/ controls etc. and get her out on the water. The cabin interior I am thinking I can complete later as time goes by. Does that sound ok to you guys (she is starting to look real good from the outside at least)? Or should I be a purist and delay launch another month or two while doing cabin as well? I think I can have her in the water in 3 or 4full days of working on her.
Day 1: Finish windshield mod and paint. Plus touch up paint repaired spots. Do some small Fiberglass repairs/sealing along cabin wall port side. Re fiberglass the splash well wall near fuel tank. (Maybe mount throttle box if time permits).
Day 2: Finish mounting motor controls and cable ends to motor and mount to side of boat. Paint interior of boat (white) around deck.
Day 3. Build bench for seating/ hiding fuel tank, and battery,
Day 4. Build seating platforms for chairs. Run wiring for nav lights and anchor light. Fire up motor again make sure she still fires.
Day 5. Splash.
I could be on the water in about a month at the rate I am going. Or should I complete cabin/ head etc.? This would cause a much longer wait to splash.
Dave

 

[Monterey Dreams]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

Oh ya,
Come heck or high water, I am going to hobble my way out to my dry dock and do some work on her tomorrow.
I will post to you in the evening as usual.
Dave

 

[JDA1975]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

Sorry to hear how bad DMV was...I grew up in California and remember DMV and high registrations on cars (think I paid 360 a year) and then moved to Arkansas and I pay 20 bucks a year to renew my registration!

You all make me sad....and then glad I live where I do! Arkansas trailers cost 52$ and get a lifetime plate, unless it is sold then next owner has to pay 52 bucks for a new plate...Boats do not require titles and our 16 dollar registration lasts 6 years...

 

[Willyclay]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

I was planning on completing complete boat restore before hitting the water but now I keep hearing a little voice in my head telling me to complete deck and seating area motor/ controls etc. and get her out on the water.

Dave;

BTDT with my first boat after the motor was mounted and running, controls seemed to work and hopefully all hull holes were plugged, my fiberglass-expert neighbor and I took it to the lake with no exterior paint or interior except two folding lawn chairs. Amazingly, it worked perfectly and nobody seemed to care what it looked like. Keep in mind that was in Georgia. The pretty stuff came later that summer and my family began their boating experience. My only advice is, if you also use folding chairs, tell everybody to hold on tight!

Just take care of that leg so you don't have a bigger set-back. Good luck, Bill

 

[Monterey Dreams]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

Hi Guys;

Bill, after 50 years fooling around with boats, I bet there is not too much you cannot say BTDT to!!!! I hope to have my seats built, I don’t relish the idea of card table chairs on the boat.

Judge, thanks for stopping by it's good to see you about,

Got to go to the boat today….Hurrah. Leg hurts now, but what do they say, it’s just weakness leaving your body!
I worked a long time today and I think I accomplished something at any rate.
For the photos here goes. Woodonglass. Here are your underside cushion photos of the chair cushions as requested. (Sorry the photos aren’t the best; the sun was very bright…but oh was it wonderful today. It was hot. I think I got a little sun burn…In March)!
I have been searching for the parts to connect the motor to the steering cable for months now. I cannot find them so I had to make my own. I am really happy with how my “bracket” turned out. It works great! It might not be the prettiest but it sure makes the motor turn nicely. I had to DIY the bracket and the support to mount the steering cable to. I lost one of the little U-bolts so I need to go get one. That is why I only have one in the photo. I took the electrical panel door (that used to hold the old steering wheel) and I cut it since it is very firm steel. I will paint it later. I did not like the jagged cuts from the sawzall, so I took an old vacuum hose and spilt it down the center and ran it around so that it blunts the steel when the cables rub over it. I will superglue the hose down when the thing gets painted.
Then I was feeling really adventurous so I began building the platform for my chairs. I got the basic platform done and the seats fit well enough. I did a mock up with blocking and painter’s buckets to see how tall off the deck the seats must be to see over the cabin. This is what I came up with. I sat on it with my big booty and I did not even hear a groan so I must have done something right. I think I need to get seat belts for the back seat (who ever sits there is way up in the air). Should be good for casting? Right?
I did not photograph it but I am able to fit a full size cooler under the chairs so I am going to build the supports that allow me to shove the cooler under and lock it down when on a cruise. Two chests, one for soda and one for fish! Lastly I will stain and shellac the wood as usual. I just want to get it together to see what I am working with first!
Lastly the photo of the laminate wood, was a gift from one of my customers last week, when the company ships their laminate flooring they cover them with these end pieces so the freight does not get damaged in transit. They just chuck them so I asked if I could have a slice. This chunck should be enough to do the head/ entry way floor. (light weight and pretty). It looks dirty in photo, it is only dust.
C-ya all,
Dave
Uber sorry about the looooooooooooooooong post. I cant help it. It's a sickness, I just want to talk to you all toooo much.

 

[Monterey Dreams]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

Don't know how the flooring got turn upside down sorry, please be careful when viewing, I don't want any hurt necks around here.
Dave

 

[Willyclay]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

No pix. Did I post in before you had a chance to put them up? Sorry Dave!

EDIT: You have been busy today! I think your plan is coming together very nicely.

 

[Monterey Dreams]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

 

[Monterey Dreams]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

No Prob Bill!

 

[Monterey Dreams]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

 

[Monterey Dreams]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

Bill,
Got your PM, I need to run to work now
As Always my friend,
Thankx
Dave

 

[Monterey Dreams]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

"Bump".
Sorry I was falling off the map (and I got afraid; I don't like to be alone). LOL
Dave

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

Dave

Hi Dave,

Ingenious use of bracketry, but I see a couple of issues...

The water is an unforgiving mistress, when the pressure of the water is on the engine, and you are trying to turn, I have a feeling that the way you have the brackets set up, it is going to want to twist where it is mounted to the engine...

The other thing is strength...remember that the engine doesn't just turn side to side in the water, it tends to move up, down, get jostled, and vibrated...

That imparts a lot of stress on the steering connections...

I recommend a couple of solutions...

1- Not my favorite idea, becusue it still invovles the use of similar brackets, only much thicker [just look at the size and thickness of the spot where the engine is connected to the steering ram, and see how beefy they are]...plus adding a u-bolt to the bracket where it mounts to the engine, to try and prevent the twisting...think clockwise and counter-clockwise...

2- A much better more solid solution...
If the steering ram/cable can be pulled a bit closer to the attaching point of the engine, connect it directly to the engine and mount the ram on a block of wood on top of where it is now, with a couple of u-bolts...

3- the third possible solution I can think of...if the ram can't be moved... is to have a piece welded up to clamp the two parts together...kind of like this...

Hope this helps...


Be Well,
Gus

 

[Willyclay]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

"Bump". Sorry I was falling off the map (and I got afraid; I don't like to be alone). LOL Dave

Don't worry, we have you covered! FYI, got your PM and have been searching through my archives for more info about these steering systems. GT has already posted some good ideas. After I scan some stuff I found, I will try to post it here for everybody to see and comment on. Might be later tonight because of To-Do List this afternoon. Hang in there!

EDIT: Dave, note that the flange shown in the attachment is supposed to be mounted "inside" the motor handle. This position gives you full left-to-right movement of the motor. Other arrangements may work okay but this is how the engineers designed the system. Will post more attachments when I can. Teleflex used to have all this stuff in their online library but I cannot find it now. Geezers don't throw stuff away!

 

[Willyclay]

Re: 1959 Glasscat Catamaran Project Underway.

Here's the Clevis Kit. It is self-explanatory. Note the "shoulder" bolts to prevent binding!