1977 American jet boat

[boatnut74]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

....Any way to relocate that cool jet power plant into your glastron? Just thinking you could combine your 2 go fast boats into one killer ride (that is, if this hull work was going to be a bear to fix). Plus, I like the yellow glastron glasser...

Well the glastron is an OB. It could be done but would be a ton of work with splashwell mods and such. Nevertheless, I like the way you think

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

Oops, this is what I meant:

Some of the wave may relax after you pull the deck & stringer, but it may take until warm (hot) weather returns.

I see what you mean.....getting heat wouldnt be a problem as the woodburner in the garage can keep it 70-80 degrees

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

Well, PMC really got the gears in my head turning. A jet drive in the glastron would be super cool. I am going to dig a little deeper and see what it would take to pull it off.......

 

[ondarvr]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

There are a couple of ways to help fix the depression from the roller. You can warm the area, I say warm because you don't want to get it too hot, a halogen light will work, but don't get it too close. As the area warms up it will become a little softer and with some force can be persuaded to change shape. You won't be able to get it perfect, but it will be closer. After getting it close you then fill and fair it. Or you can just fill and fair it right from the start, either way works.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

There are a couple of ways to help fix the depression from the roller. You can warm the area, I say warm because you don't want to get it too hot, a halogen light will work, but don't get it too close. As the area warms up it will become a little softer and with some force can be persuaded to change shape. You won't be able to get it perfect, but it will be closer. After getting it close you then fill and fair it. Or you can just fill and fair it right from the start, either way works.

Thanks, once I get it gutted I will see what it does in regard to bringing it's shape back. I have a couple heat lamps I can try also if necessary.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

I got a little bit done today. I went to menards to get some lumber to build a better cradle. I think I will build it the same as friscoboater did. The one I have it sitting on now was from the glastron and broke today from all the weight.

I did a little demo. I pulled about 250 pounds on extremely wet, frozen wood and foam. The foam soaked up more water than spongebob after 20 years under the sea.

Tomorrow I plan on working on the cradle and hopefully get the jet drive off.

From the looks of it I shouldn't have to pull the cap off. I hope this is the case because it is glassed on all the way around.

Pic of progress from the day.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

Yum, the rotted wood~waterlogged foam soup, it's my favorite, uke:

Have a great cradle making day tomorrow...

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

Just a short bump ..

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

Well I got a little accomplished today. I started on the cradle which should be super strong. I may need to rethink my casters as they are pnuematics from harbor freight and dont like much weight. I also got the jet drive removed. I still need to remove the intake grate then I will be in rot removal stage.

My daughter helping me on the cradle.

Jet drive removed. It looks pretty similar to a stringer hole

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

Excellent! Looks like she knows her way around a ratchet, nicely done there too!

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

Excellent! Looks like she knows her way around a ratchet, nicely done there too!

She didnt quite have enough strength to pull the ratchet since I was putting lag bolts in. It was fun helping her though. She finally figured out it goes pretty easy backwards and was just spinning it around

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

At least she wasn't using it as a hammer or as a bedazzling project :laugh: and correctly oriented to the fastening task at hand

My nephews will both use anything as a hammer and everything else as an anvil, including each other

:smash:

Thru the drive hole in the transom, that drive system doesn't seem to have a very substantial motor mount stringer system, or it isn't visible in the pix?

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

Ya you cant see the motor mount stringers. If you look down at the intake grate you can maybe make out two holes where the bellhousing bolts down. A little farther out there is an inch and a half thick stringer on each side where the motor mounts bolt. Its actually a pretty solid setup.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

I got some more of the deck and foam out today. I tried to get the intale grate out but it is really glued in place. Ill have to do some research on it since I dont want to risk breaking it.

 

[V153]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

I tried to get the intale grate out but it is really glued in place. Ill have to do some research on it since I dont want to risk breaking it

Yeah they can be a real PITA sometimes. Lotta patience'n a lotta wedges help ...

Fwiw that hull looks an awful lot like a Glastron. Not that it matters much. Just sayin' ...

Keep up the good work.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

I looked a little closer after I posted and the intake grate is already broken. It may be able to be welded back in place if I cant find a replacement.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

Today I started pulling the rubrail. I stated in a previous post that the hull/cap joint was glassed in all the way around on the inside and I now know why. I have never seen a joint like this before. The cap just sits right in top like a butt joint. I'm thinking I will probably pull the cap for simplicities sake. I will have to get a right angle air grinder to cut the fiberglass on the joint.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

This morning I got the windshield pulled off. I think I will probably leave it off as most high performance jet boats don't have one. I still need to cut the glass holding the cap and hull together so I can get it split.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

I havn't work in the boat the last few days. I have been trying to get stuff put away for if and when the snow flies. I need to get a few more supplies to finish the cradle then I can roll it into the garage.

I also need to get caught back up on everyones projects since I was absent for awhile. It seems like there has been alot of great progress lately.

 

[73Chrysler105]

Re: 1977 American jet boat

I vote to leave the windshield. The jacuzzi's were never really fast but they did work well. If you want to do anything mod the windshield and shorten it. I know a lot of Fast Jet boats and they all have windshields albeit short ones. Mine wont be that fast but it will be fun 60mph on the water is fast enough for me right now. TO go faster will be picking up an old Vdrive race hull.