1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

[Pmccraney]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

I would definitely grind all of that stuff out... You basically don't want to see any of that spider web looking stuff...
I think you are fine filling in those slightly lower areas with PB. In fact, I would put some pb on them then put the pb on the back of your new transom and sandwich it together...

Looking good... and, yeah, with all that weight on your transom boards (plus the clamps), I would be shocked if you didn't have a killer bond on those transom pieces. Keep at it; you are making good progress.

 

[NorcalChrisCraft]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

Thanks for the input.

Just waiting on the transom to finish drying right now, around 3ish will be 24 hours and my garage is warm so it should be fully cured. My plan is to start soaking it in resin tonight and maybe get CSM on it. This is where I am not sure though, should I do a coat of resin, wait 30min then follow with CSM or do a few coats of resin mixed for a slow cure then CSM in a couple days?

 

[NorcalChrisCraft]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

24 hours later

Made some PB to fill in the screw holes and laid down a coat of resin

 

[NorcalChrisCraft]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

I got the first layer of 1.5oz CSM on the transom last night. Went down nice for my first attempt, no major air pockets or bubbles. There is a learning curve, the main one is the resin sticks to everything lol. I cut the mat larger then needed and was able to wrapped around the edges to the backside. Later today I need to trim the excess, feather down the edge of the mat, then I will cover the backside with a layer of CSM. I am going to skip wrapping the edges is 1708 since I will have 2 overlapping layers of CSM protecting them.

Everything is on track to install the transom this weekend then its onto the stringers.

 

[NorcalChrisCraft]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

Little update. I didn't install the transom last weekend since a few other things came up. I did get it placed in the boat though. I spaced it off the hull using spacers and used 1 clamp to hold it while I adjusted it. Once I had it where it was, I drilled the holes for the brackets the trailer straps hook to.

I figure once the PB is on the transom, I can align it based off those holes and then install the 2x4/all thread to hold it tight. Having the brackets installed also clamps the upper corners of the transom. I may PB this afternoon depending on my schedule, but most likely it will happen next week once I am back from camping.

Cleaned up my work area also

Question - When I apply the PB, should I use a tile trowel like I did with the PL Glue so there are rows or just spread it everywhere and let the clamps push out the excess? My concern is air pockets.

Thanks for reading!

 

[NorcalChrisCraft]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

Transom was installed tonight.

My PB mix didn't turn out as thick as I was expecting, more like mayonnaise. I used all the cabosil I had and most of the 1/4 chop strand. 3 quarts was just enough to cover both surfaces. My method was sand both surfaces with 60 grit, clean with compressed air and acetone, spread PB on each surface and then clamp together.

Tomorrow evening I am going to make a thicker PB and make my fillets. Once they are done and the tabbing and glass are in my plan is to use a flush cut router bit to cut the keyhole.

 

[NorcalChrisCraft]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

Went out this morning before work and undid my clamps to see how things setup overnight. Everything looks awesome, nice and solid.

Going to pick up more cabosil and 1/4" chopped strand today for the fillets.

 

[NorcalChrisCraft]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

 

[Flysfloatsor]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

Your making this stuff look too easy man.

 

[ricohman]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

That transom looks almost to nice to cover up. And its built far better than it was originally.
Great job. And I like the large pics!

 

[NorcalChrisCraft]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

Thanks, taking pictures makes it seem that way. If I was filming I am sure they would be "R" rated for language lol

Picking up more cabosil today. I shouldn't have wasted my time (or money) with the small containers, just grabbing the big bag today which is $45. I have been paying about $10 for the small containers, the bag seemed like overkill when I first started, but as I read on here PB takes a TON of cabosil.

Also going to grab some 8" or 6" wide 1708 tape depending on what they have. I already have some 4" for the first layer of tabbing, I want the 2nd layer to overlap.

 

[NorcalChrisCraft]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

So I was looking at the wrong big bag, the one I needed was about $120 not $45. Lucky TAP Plastics is AWESOME and gives me a contractors discount since I go in every other day it seems...

Yay for 10lbs of cabosil

I also bought the rest of the 6" wide 1708 they had and they ordered me a full roll I can pick up next week. I figure using the tape to tab the stringers/transom will be quicker then cutting everything from the large roll I have.

 

[rhtmarine]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

That 6" tape will look cleaner too! these glass boats look like a lot more work than the old wood ones...keep up the good work!
Bob

 

[markheck1]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

Wow, so that's what mine's supposed to look like, LOL

Since you aren't gonna use the doghouse.....

Looking good man, when you get done it will be an inspiration for mine, it's the exact same year, model, and color. Do you still have the factory Top/Bimini or whatever it's called and the cover that goes over it on those 2 little chrome pieces on the top of the stern?

 

[NorcalChrisCraft]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

Wow, so that's what mine's supposed to look like, LOL

Since you aren't gonna use the doghouse.....

Looking good man, when you get done it will be an inspiration for mine, it's the exact same year, model, and color. Do you still have the factory Top/Bimini or whatever it's called and the cover that goes over it on those 2 little chrome pieces on the top of the stern?

Thanks, if you were in CA you could have the doghouse.

I don't have the factory cover anymore. The windows were not clear and it had mildew on it. I am kicking myself for not making a pattern before I tossed it but to late now. I have removed all the snaps anyways, really cleans up the hull not having them mounted every few inches.

 

[NorcalChrisCraft]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

Forgot about my thread lol

Project is far from dead, but summer is here and I would rather be at the lake then working on a boat wishing I was there I have been going 100% on another project I have and once it starts cooling down again I am going to knock out the rest of the stingers so hopefully will have a real update in a month or two. Splash date isn't till next season so I have a good amount of time to procrastinate.

 

[markheck1]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

LOL,

Ahhh, I see, I have the cover, but not the windows....
Yeah, that would make a lot cleaner look

 

[NorcalChrisCraft]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

Little update so my thread doesn't get locked for being inactive....seems to happen often here.

Summer is ending and the tarps I had put up when I first started the resto have been destroyed by the sun. Instead of just getting new tarps, I decided to redo my whole canopy. The Bimini was supporting the tarps, and I decided I wanted to store the bimini and figure out another way to support everything. I spent some time wandering the plumbing isle at Lowes and came up with a system that worked.

10 - 1/2" pvc sections (8ft)
2 - 1/2" pvc T connectors
3 - 1/2" pvc 4-way connectors
4 - 1/2" 24" long pvc pieces to tie it together

30 min later I had what resembles a cover wagon in my side yard. I used clamps to attach the pvc to the bunker of the trailer. I then covered everything with a total of 4 tarps staggering the seems and using a combo of zip ties and rope to hold everything together. It is a good height for me to work in and not to big that the wind blows it around. It feels really solid, I don't have snow to worry about though just rain.

As you can see I also got my fan and lights installed. I am going to spend a few nights this week getting everything cleaned up and ready for continuing fiberglass. I left off with needing to add the last 2 layers of 1708 to the transom then it's on to the stringers.

One question I do have is how important is it for the stringer to be one piece the whole length of the boat? It looks like from the factory that this is not the case but something I see come up in other builds.

 

[NorcalChrisCraft]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

One question I do have is how important is it for the stringer to be one piece the whole length of the boat? It looks like from the factory that this is not the case but something I see come up in other builds.

Wanted to bump my thread and see if anybody had a answer regarding the stringer question I had? Started to get warm enough to lay fiberglass again.

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: 1984 Chris Craft Scorpion 186 Restoration

I think the stringer is important for longitudonal strength...

Ply is only 8 feet long, so many folks do a butt or sister joint so its two pieces, but one "unit" for practical purposes.