1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

[esimmons92]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

All grinding is done!!!!!! And actually not too itchy!

Now the pressure is on to save up for fiberglass and resin

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

I actually just ordered some foam for my boat, for some sections I am planning on throwing in some small chunks of the sheet foam to take up some space. How I was thinking I would do it is basically calculated the volume of the section of the boat i am filling up, minus the volume of the sheet foam that I will use, then I would mix up the expanding foam and pour in half so that the foam can adhere to the hull then play my pink foam chunks on top and finally top off with the other half of the expanding foam. This must be done quick however since the foam begins expanding quickly.

It starts to expand VERY fast, likely too fast, unless you have someone else adding the pieces of sheet foam.... And even then maybe too fast.

Are you pouring the foam before (usually not) or after ('normally') the deck goes down?

I doubt there will be enough time to add pieces of sheet foam thru a hole that's been cut in the deck, no matter how many people you have helping. Before the deck goes down also has other complications that make it the less often used method to add pour in flotation foam............

 

[jgarciajim]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

Agreed, this was just an idea of mine. You are right, the foam does expand extremely fast, but if you want to use the foam as a binding agent and to fill voids along with the pink foam you would have to do it before the deck is put on, if the foam expands too much you will have to trim or it might even just push out the pink foam you put in, that why calculations have to be correct. Either way, it was just an idea I had that I was sharing. I did some calculations and I should have plenty of foam for mine so I plan on filling once the deck is down.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

To use sheet and expanding foam together:

Install the sheet foam pieces in the deepest part of the foam pour, allow 2" between the top of the foam and the bottom of the decking for coverage of the sheet and 3 or 4" between each piece of sheet foam.

Bond the sheet foam to the hull with a foam compatible adhesive like this:
PL300 10 fl. oz. Foamboard VOC Adhesive-1421941 at The Home Depot

... or mix up very small batches of expanding foam, pour and place sheet on top of expanding and hold in place until expansion stops and then move to the next piece.

To foam your boat without drilling holes in your nice new decking:

Use a sacrificial sheet of plywood (an old beat up piece you can get for cheap or free if you can). Drill pour holes 16" o.c., lay on top of stringers and fasten or weight down well. Pour foam and wait for expansion to stop and foam to cure a little, remove sheet and place on another section of the boat and pour again until all foam is poured.

You'll pour your boat in sections (probably 2-4), start at the stern and pour forward since this will require less cutting of the sheet of plywood to fit the hull at the beginning. Trim the sheet of plywood to fit the hull as you move forward.

You'll notice there will be voids (craters) in the foam like this:

These can be poured with expanding foam making sure the foam rises above the flat foam and cut off flush with the flat foam with a carpenters handsaw.

This will give you a nice flat void free foam job that you can cover with nice new decking without holes in it.

You can paint or seal the top of your foam with epoxy resin for additional waterproofing before installing your decking.

Safety tip:
Expanding foam can be dangerous:
The do's and don'ts of expanding foam - YouTube

Be careful!

 

[esimmons92]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

I ordered all of my fiber glass material today this is what I got

25 yards of 1708 6 in wide
25 yards of 1708 12 in wide
17 yards of 1.5 oz chop strand mat 50 in wide
4 lbs of .25 in chop strand
4 gallons of cabosil
16 oz of mekp

I will buy the resin locally for $138 per 5 gallons

What do you think about my order? Think it will be enough?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

If it isn't enough it'll be a darn good start!

 

[esimmons92]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

I got all of the fiberglass today now all I have to do is buy the wood for the transom and the stringers

I know that there are many different opinions on this but I am planning to make the stringers out of 2x's instead of the ply wood that came out of the boat.

Also something I need an opinion on. I grinded the boat about 3 weeks ago and it has unfortunately been exposed to the elements since, snow leaves and rain. My questions what should I do before I fiberglass? Should I just wipe down with acetone and move on or should I do some sanding/grinding then acetone then glass?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

Exposed to UV and wet, I'd probably scuff it to make absolutely sure you've got good glass to adhere too.......

Only way to know if the acetone alone is enough, is when it isn't & a layup doesn't adhere well.....

 

[esimmons92]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

yes, that is what i was thinking also, i may take a DA sander and rough it up a bit.

any opinion on the best way to make a template for my transom? i am thinking about putting cardboard on the outside transom , marking theoutline of the boat, then cutting about 1 inch inside the line

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

Do you have a warm place to work on your boat for glassing?

The cardboard template sounds good, but I'd just cut 1/2" inside the line on the sides and bottom... you can always trim it later if need be. You want about 1/4" gap between the wood and each side and the bottom.

 

[esimmons92]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

Do you have a warm place to work on your boat for glassing?

The cardboard template sounds good, but I'd just cut 1/2" inside the line on the sides and bottom... you can always trim it later if need be. You want about 1/4" gap between the wood and each side and the bottom.

No warm place for fiber glassing, I will have to wait for a warm day, I could probably get access to a garage but since it is at my friends house, I do not want to stink up their house with resin. They also have a barn but it is so dusty I feel like it would cause problems with adhering.

I have plans to make a tent for the boat with PVC and a tarp, just haven't gotten around to it yet

 

[esimmons92]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

I am contemplating buying another 6 yards or so of 3/4 mat for the underside of the deck. I feel like 1.5 is bait over kill of just water proofing. Thoughts?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

Doesn't 3/4oz CSM 'take' 1/2 the amount of poly resin that 1.5oz CSM does to fully wet out, right?

The poly resin needs the CSM to not be brittle & crack, but it's the resin doing the waterproofing, right?

1/2 the resin on the same area....................

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

Doesn't your decking attach to the underside of your cap on this boat?

 

[esimmons92]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

Doesn't your decking attach to the underside of your cap on this boat?

Yes, the cap comes all the way down to the floor.

 

[esimmons92]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

All the grinding is finished

 

[esimmons92]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

Doesn't your decking attach to the underside of your cap on this boat?

yes, my cap attaches to the deck, does that play a factor in if i should do 3/4 CSM on the bottom side of the deck?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

You're going to need to install that decking like you'd do a transom, bond/glue the plywood to the cap and then glass it in like you would the deck on a regular boat with 3 layers of 1.5 oz. CSM for waterproofing and strength.

Like this, but upside down:

 

[esimmons92]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

so, you are suggesting that bed/glass the cap on to the floor instead of just screwing it back down? i like the idea of not putting the wholes in the deck, but im pretty much screwed if i need to pop the cap ever again.

You're going to need to install that decking like you'd do a transom, bond/glue the plywood to the cap and then glass it in like you would the deck on a regular boat with 3 layers of 1.5 oz. CSM for waterproofing and strength.

Like this, but upside down:

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1973 Chrysler Fin & Fun Rebuild

Do NOT glue the bottom sections of the cap to the Deck. Put it back exactly the way you found it so you CAN remove it later. I would recommend the 1.5oz csm for all wood in your boat for good Waterproofing.