1983 Glastron X17 restoration

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

Nope, Pics are GREAT. Your wife probably has her screen resolutions set at a lower resolution.

 

[SouthTexan]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

Nope, Pics are GREAT. Your wife probably has her screen resolutions set at a lower resolution.

Thanks Wood, her monitor is 1024x768 and I wasn't sure how many people out there are still running older equipment with that kind of res.

I'd certainly be glad to resize if there are folks out there that would get more out of these postings if the pics were smaller. It was kind of a PITA to look at my thread on her computer, what with all the scrolling around.

 

[SouthTexan]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

I've got a little bit of progress to report from the last week or so, still battling this Texas summer heat. Makes for a short work day when the temperature hovers around 100F before noon.

I made a shade cover from 2x4 dimensional lumber because where I am working has no shade at all. I covered it with a tarp and added a few gussets after this picture was taken. Considering the time and money spent, I would suggest just purchasing a canopy rather than going this route :facepalm:. Guess I thought this solution might be a better long-term outdoor storage solution - we will see.

With the judicious use of a cutting blade on the old HF 4.5" angle grinder I took out the remaining sole in short order. To eliminate some grinding in the future, I first made a rough pass, cutting through the fiberglass ~2" away from the hull. After removing all the old wood I was able to make a close cut to remove the excess 'glass very close to the hull.


Here is the end result:

Now to go back and re-read all the excellent posts on how to properly measure and place the stringers in the hull so that the reconstruction goes back to factory specs. I have read many posts with some good info, just want to make sure I understand before I go cutting out any more!


Looks like tomorrow the stringers and transom come out, then the real fun of grinding begins!

 

[Cadwelder]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

That support system should be fine.....the only slight problem is the inside bracing being in the way when you're grinding inside. But to place it safe, I'd just remove one at a time...grind that area...replace the brace and move on....etc, etc.

I like the canopy cover frame....you can modify it when you're done and make a bimini top out of it for your boat....LOL (hope you know I'm kidding, but down here in the south, I've seen worse)

Good Luck

CW

 

[crazy and lazy]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

Hello S.T. looks like ur moving right along. I know this sounds crazy but I too want to remove the cap on my 1987 glastron, where and how did u take the measurements? I'm taking a million pics to refer to later. Have u ran into any major issues yet? I just started my "project" It doesn't seem like ne thing too hard it's just beating this tx. heat. I'm down the road from ya here in Houston. I'm gonna take the top off but worried. JUST DO IT!

Robert

 

[SouthTexan]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

Cadwelder, LOL @ the bimini top idea, not too far off from some of the shenanigans that go on here in Texas!

Crazy, what I did was after removing the cap I took 8 beam-to-beam measurements at the top of the hull, marking the locations with a Sharpie. These were taken before removing any of the old decking. This way, I can measure for hull flex before securing any new decking to the boat. I will also test fit the cap as needed to make sure I am still within the factory specs for deck height and such before glassing everything in. There are many ways to grid out the stringers to make sure they go back in the right places - my main concern is making sure they are the correct height as the cap sits directly on the sole. I plan on marking the old deck height by using a straightedge across both stringers, and touching the hull. By marking this height around the hull I can recreate the proper vertical dimensions. This is pretty much the same idea as using the string grid method I learned about on this board. I don't think the old deck had any crowning (bowing) but it difficult to tell for sure. No major issues thus far just the heat!

 

[crazy and lazy]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

Hey S.T. Thnx gonna try that. I have a spiral notebook w all my notes about anything that has to w that boat. After I read ur thread I told my g.f. what u said about the f.i.l. not liking u or having too much time so u can blame him for all this hard work. "ME", I can't blame ne one for all this hell I'm putting myself threw. haha Like that country song what was i thinking? Ithought I was getting a good deal but all I did was pay him to rem,ove his boat from his back yard.
No I like her. Is ur motor in running condition?
Well keep up the good wk & keep us posted. U can check out my thread & pics I guess just search crazy and lazy.

Robert

 

[SouthTexan]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

Crazy,

Maybe I'm not right in the head but I enjoy this kind of work so far and have been thinking down the line to the next project. Fortunately, the motor and drive are in good shape, so once the boat is back together I hope to get many years out of her. I sure like the lines of your Glastron, sharp looking boat!

 

[SouthTexan]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

Despite reading quite a few threads, I have a question regarding grinding down old tabbing. I am assuming the only way to properly prepare the hull is to grind out all the old tabbing, getting back to the original hull. I want to make sure I am not grinding away more than I need to, and also to make sure the surface I am leaving behind is ready to properly bond new glass after cleaning. Here is what I have done this morning:

Hopefully the picture is good enough to see what is going on. This is the starboard side of the hull, the stringer at the bottom of the picture, the deck tabbing (middle left and right sides) and some additional tabbing at the top of the picture. Where I have ground in the middle, back to what I think is the hull, is the green area in the middle of the image.

I just want to make sure that is the correct - grind off all the old tabbing down to this green, smooth material which I believe is the hull.

I have gotten this far in about 30 minutes with a 36 grit flap disk on a 4.5" angle grinder.... not fun. I am headed out to get a larger grinder - this job will take forever at my current rate.

Any suggestions/opinions/etc. welcome!

P.S. The stringers are coming out, I wanted to mark the deck height by grinding out the old tabbing, then using a straightedge across both stringers to the hull to mark the correct position for the new wood.

 

[crazy and lazy]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

ST your doing it bro! I wish I could give u some input but happy ur at it. I broke down and bought a engine hoist & a stand. Got them both for 150.00 and the kid I bought em from used 1 time. So we'll see what happens. Keep at it we're following ur wk, and hopefully I'll pick up a thing or two as we go. She's gonna be nice! I too like these older glastron bowriders. Their small enough to handle by ur self & yet big enough for the fam to go out in. Have a great weekend!

Robert

 

[SouthTexan]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

So here's a picture of the starboard side of the hull after some grinding, after rereading some older threads and watching frisco's videos on youtube, my main question is about adhering new glass to the hull:

What should I be looking for to make sure the old surface is ready to stick to new glass and resin? I have a better idea of how far to grind down, just want to make sure I'm headed down the right path.

Hope the picture is a little more informative than the last one.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

The "Green" area in your first pic shows GOOD fresh glass that your New Glass layups will adhere to without any issues. this is what you should be looking for throughout your project. I would recommend switching from the flap discs to a back up pad and 24 grit sanding discs. My experience is they work much better and more aggressively. Harbor Freight Sells em

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[SouthTexan]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

Thanks for the heads up Wood, looking at the pics you posted of the back up pad I can see a LOT more surface area for grinding than with the flap discs... Will have to get some before my next grinding session.

I'm not sure either of the pictures really give close enough detail to really see, but there is a lighter colored green glass and some darker colored "dingy" green. Is the darker color acceptable for laying new glass?

Boy let me just say, and you can quote: "Grinding fiberglass SUCKS!"

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

This is the Glass you're looking for.

 

[raymondpickens]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

Cool project. Its nice to see an iboats member thats actually close to me. As far as I have seen there isn't but a few that actually comment. What lake are you planning to frequent? Good luck and stay cool!

 

[SouthTexan]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

Wood, thanks as always for the advice. I will keep at the grinding as the weather permits.

Ray, thanks for checking out the work in progress. The wife and I mostly head north to either Canyon or Medina lake. Once this project is completed we will be glad to be back out on the water!

 

[SouthTexan]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

The "Green" area in your first pic shows GOOD fresh glass that your New Glass layups will adhere to without any issues. this is what you should be looking for throughout your project. I would recommend switching from the flap discs to a back up pad and 24 grit sanding discs. My experience is they work much better and more aggressively. Harbor Freight Sells em

-------------------

Thanks Wood! I spent about three and a half hours grinding with these discs and I was able to get a lot accomplished. MUCH better than the flap discs! I'd post an update picture but there really isn't much of interest. I think about 10-15 more hours of grinding and I will be close to rebuild mode rather than demo. Very itchy right now, I can tell you that! I couldn't get 24 grit at my local HF, only had 36 grit, but they worked nonetheless.

 

[ingalp01]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

Yeah, grinding fiberglass does suck... Just make sure you're wearing an appropriate respirator and I wear tyvek overalls just to keep the dust out of my pores. It's hot here in Georgia as well, so head to toe in overalls and respirator and goggles is no fun...

Overall, it looks like you are moving right along, and yes, I second the use of your fancy equipment... You should see the stuff I had to cobble together to get my engine out... Gheeeshhhh!!!

Nice going so far man, keep up the good work...

 

[SouthTexan]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

Yeah, grinding fiberglass does suck... Just make sure you're wearing an appropriate respirator and I wear tyvek overalls just to keep the dust out of my pores. It's hot here in Georgia as well, so head to toe in overalls and respirator and goggles is no fun...

Overall, it looks like you are moving right along, and yes, I second the use of your fancy equipment... You should see the stuff I had to cobble together to get my engine out... Gheeeshhhh!!!

Nice going so far man, keep up the good work...

Thanks for the kind words! Yes, I wear a half mask respirator with P100 cartridges, goggles, full sleeve shirt, pants, gloves and earplugs. I haven't needed the Tyvek suit thus far. I will just keep on plugging away until it is time to put it all back together. I figure about two to three months and the boat will be ready to test on the water, but we will see....

 

[sqbtr]

Re: 1983 Glastron X17 restoration

For some reason everything takes longer than expected in a boat resto.