1980's bass boat project

gm280

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
Messages
14,605
Bravo Jordan Bravo. Lift off has been accomplished. And the usual crap inside like so many other boat projects on these forums. I knew you could do it... :thumb: I know it looks like a huge problem presently but honestly once you get the rotted junk out and grind the glass in prep for new work to start you will be on the road to a nice project. It is a lot of work, but I think you can handle it with help on here... Good job!
 

Jordanchastin

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 3, 2015
Messages
40
We'll guys, did some more measuring and drawing out some diagrams of the boat and did some sanding here and there. Did a good bit sf sanding yesterday. At work today until tomorrow. I have some pics but not any good ones of what I have sanded I'll try to get some taken tomorrow. Not sure if I'll be able to work on it any tomorrow cause of pop up plans that were made. Hopefully I'll be able to do some more sanding on it Sunday.
 

Jordanchastin

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 3, 2015
Messages
40
Here's another, I have about 75-80% sand up to where the old fiberglass is. Where that carpet and foam is all that and the fiberglass on the hull has been ripped off and sanded for the most part. Thats my top over on my trailer beside it.
 

Jordanchastin

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 3, 2015
Messages
40
Did they lay wood down vertically on the bottom of the hull and glass over it? I'll post a pic of what I'm talking about. You can see in the background all the dust where I've sanded. After i took this pic I vacuumed out all that paper thin wood and sanded it down

 

gm280

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
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14,605
It still amazes me that every boat project on here seems to have the exact same rotted everything when initially starting. I see yours is no exception either. In fact you could swap those pictures around and it wouldn't even be noticeable. However, once you get all that crappy rot out and grind the surfaces down in prep for the new work to start, it get exciting again! You stated that you did some initial sanding, but you didn't say what you are using to do that sanding. Most everybody uses flapper disks in the 36, 40, 60, 80 grit or something there about in the grit range to accomplish that effort using an angle grinder. And a lot of folks use the cheapo Harbor Freight units as well. So if you don't have an angle grinder, I would certainly invest in one now. Even a pawn shop could yield something worthy. Also make sure you use a coverall type suit to protect your body from much itch and irritation AND certainly a quality respirator to protect your lungs....you may need then later in life! Places like Lowes and such carry 3M respirators and well worth their prices too. Just get the proper filters for the job. I use the vapor type knowing it is much better then mere dust types. I am watching your project because I like bass boat projects... Good effort thus far. :thumb:
 

fmjnax

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 21, 2011
Messages
457
I love seeing the old bass boat restores! Keep it up!

Agreed with gm. Just "sanding" will be a pain in your rear end! I invested in a decent (I think it was $30 or $40) Ryobi 4.5" grinder from HD. The 36 grit flappers make very quick work of it, saving you a lot of trouble and back pain. Ditto again on a suit and respirator. Absolute best investment you can make while doing this work. Less than $100 will save you thousands in potential medical bills (or worse, death).

The demo and grinding always seems to be the most time consuming part of the project. Once you're over that hump, it's nearly all downhill from there.
 

poppop51

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Feb 18, 2013
Messages
131
Great to see another bass boat project. I'll be following along. I also had the same rotted strips of wood in the hull. You can see them in my pics (77 skeeter wrangler restoration) I ground them out and replaced them, PB'D in and glassed over. For grinding I picked up a disk at HF for my 4in. grinder, it is metal and diamond impregnated. Does a great job quickly and ground out the entire boat with one disk. Once you get past the demo phase and into the build up phase its a lot of fun and satisfaction. keep up the good work and ask questions, there's a lot of valuable knowledge on this site.

poppop
 

Jordanchastin

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 3, 2015
Messages
40
Thanks guys for the kind words and tips and tricks. I am using my hitachi angle grinder on a 40-60? Grit flap. It is working great! I was able to work on it today but I was able to snap a pic of it today from the work I did on it Thursday! Thanks guys!!

 

gm280

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
Messages
14,605
WOW Jordan, you don't waste any time. Nice work on the grinding issues. I don't think anybody can offer any better advice seeing you know exactly how to grind... Great work...
 

gm280

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jun 26, 2011
Messages
14,605
You are moving right along quickly. I know when I grinded my hull, everything in a 50 yard radius, was covered in white dust. It took a few rains to make it all disappear. Great job on your project boat!
 

fmjnax

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 21, 2011
Messages
457
Good stuff! Be glad you get to grind outside! I was stuck with having to work in the garage. Even with the boat encapsulated in a plastic room, I still ended up with dust all over EVERYTHING. The wife isn't too happy about that one, but it all washes. :)
 
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