"1986 16.5' Dateline/Sidewinder sports boat. Full strip and rebuild

[kwik_uk]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

welcome to the dry dock sir! i cant wait to see how she turns out. cheers

Thanks for the warm welcome!

You have quite a task ahead of you and a short amount of time.... I wish you good luck in your adventure
When it comes to the v6 you want to drop in... Know anyone with a tow truck that can boom it in for you?

I'll be keeping this updated each day, that way we'll see how the two week schedule works. I wish I did know someone with a tow truck, that would have been ideal!


Todays progress:

Well I had a helper which was great. My father came down and helped me out a lot. He brought a dremmel type tool with an extension and a saw blade. This made cutting through the glass holding the transom in much easier and more precise:

Foam gone! woohoo!!!

 

[kwik_uk]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

After lots and lots of grinding and cutting, we ended up with this by the end of today:

The volume of dust was unreal. Even with a hat, hood, gloves, mask and goggles I was covered from head to foot. That stuff gets everywhere! Bloody itchy too!


Still need to sand the glass on the inside of the transom as it was too thin to contemplate grinding.

My wood gets delivered tomorrow, so I might make up the template for the new transom and get cutting and glassing. I'm wondering whether it's worth putting in the new transom first to give the boat some rigidity at the rear, or leaving it till I've stripped the rest of the boat?


Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I'd appreciate your advice

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Wow! at this rate you might just make that deadline...you are really moving...

As far as doing or not doing the transom, you seem somewhat fortunate by the design of the hull having that lip, which should at least partially hellp to hold the shape...

A very important consideration is that the hull doesn't flex or distort on you, especially now that you have removed the cap...

There are several ways to properly support the hull to prevent flex/distortion...some use straps or make up very elaborate cradles, add some wood bunks to the trailers, and everything in between, but you should add some support to the hull to help it keep its shape while doing all the repairs/replacements...it would be extremely disappointing to find that the cap doesn't fit back on your freshly rebuilt hull...

Take several measurements acros the cap to hull joint and the deck area, so when you go to put it back, everything stays the same...


To itch while working with fiberglass is part of the initiation ritual...to cut down or mostly eliminate it try one of the following methods...

Completely cover your self with baby powder or a liquid body soap [and let it dry]... before suiting up...this helps to seal your pores from getting filled with fiberglass particles...also, use tape to wrap up any opening left in your grinding outfit and a scarf or hood for your noggin...

If you get it on exposed skin, and you haven't been sweating, a quick rinse with cold water will help remove most of it from the skin...

After the fact, I have heard that a product called, I think...Cetaphil, or something like that, is supposed to help alleviate the itch...you may be able to find it at a local pharmacy...ask the pharmacist, if in doubt...

I don't know what they call it on your side of the pond, but make sure you use Acetone to carefully and completely wipe down all the surfaces you are going to be glassing...

And finally, if you don't have any of the old pieces to uses as templates for cutting your new wood, you can use cardboard cut into strips and hot glued together to make a very close template of any part required...cut it slightly oversized and final trim to fit...

Oh yeah, and in case you missed it, don't bed your new stringers directly to the hull, keep them up about 1/4 of an inch using pieces of foam, wooden dowels, popsicle sticks, etc... the reason for this is you don't want create a hard spot on the hull which could cause a crack later on...

Regards,
Gus

 

[proshadetree]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

That boat looks just like a Sidewinder. I have never heard of it though. Glad to see you saving it as it would be a shame to let such a great hull go to waste.

 

[Captain Shikaboo]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

I can't wait to see it put back together, that's a sweet boat Kwik!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Nice work on the tear out. Cool boat also!

 

[kwik_uk]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Wow! at this rate you might just make that deadline...you are really moving...

As far as doing or not doing the transom, you seem somewhat fortunate by the design of the hull having that lip, which should at least partially hellp to hold the shape...

A very important consideration is that the hull doesn't flex or distort on you, especially now that you have removed the cap...

There are several ways to properly support the hull to prevent flex/distortion...some use straps or make up very elaborate cradles, add some wood bunks to the trailers, and everything in between, but you should add some support to the hull to help it keep its shape while doing all the repairs/replacements...it would be extremely disappointing to find that the cap doesn't fit back on your freshly rebuilt hull...

Take several measurements acros the cap to hull joint and the deck area, so when you go to put it back, everything stays the same...


To itch while working with fiberglass is part of the initiation ritual...to cut down or mostly eliminate it try one of the following methods...

Completely cover your self with baby powder or a liquid body soap [and let it dry]... before suiting up...this helps to seal your pores from getting filled with fiberglass particles...also, use tape to wrap up any opening left in your grinding outfit and a scarf or hood for your noggin...

If you get it on exposed skin, and you haven't been sweating, a quick rinse with cold water will help remove most of it from the skin...

After the fact, I have heard that a product called, I think...Cetaphil, or something like that, is supposed to help alleviate the itch...you may be able to find it at a local pharmacy...ask the pharmacist, if in doubt...

I don't know what they call it on your side of the pond, but make sure you use Acetone to carefully and completely wipe down all the surfaces you are going to be glassing...

And finally, if you don't have any of the old pieces to uses as templates for cutting your new wood, you can use cardboard cut into strips and hot glued together to make a very close template of any part required...cut it slightly oversized and final trim to fit...

Oh yeah, and in case you missed it, don't bed your new stringers directly to the hull, keep them up about 1/4 of an inch using pieces of foam, wooden dowels, popsicle sticks, etc... the reason for this is you don't want create a hard spot on the hull which could cause a crack later on...

Regards,
Gus

I tried the baby powder trick, seemed to work quite well. I haven't been doing that much dirty work today however.

I've made a cardboard template for the new transom wood and I'll be cutting that out later tonight. I had two 8'x4' 3/4" sheets, and one 8'x4' 1/2 sheet of marine ply get delivered this morning.

I drove out to the composites supplier this morning and picked up all of my supplied. Back seats of my car were completely full!

Hopefully if I consume at least another gallon of coffee I should be good to go tonight and get this new transom cut. That means I'll be able to glass it in to my hull to give it some rigidity, as at the moment it is awfully thin and I fear it will get damaged during the rest of the work. Once this is in I can proceed to remove the bulkheads and the remains of the floor.

I've taken your advice and measured out the size of the hull just in case it flexes whilst the cap is off. I've been placing the cap back on each night after I finish working and putting six bolts in either side to try and keep it's shape. The damn thing is heavy!

I've got some 1/4" foam to use for the stringer supports also

That boat looks just like a Sidewinder. I have never heard of it though. Glad to see you saving it as it would be a shame to let such a great hull go to waste.

Thanks. Do you have any links to the Sidewinder you mention? I'm quite interested

I can't wait to see it put back together, that's a sweet boat Kwik!

Thanks, I can't wait to see it put back together either! hehe

Nice work on the tear out. Cool boat also!

Thanks, I'm hoping to keep the momentum up and do as much of the work at the start of the time period I have as I can.

 

[kwik_uk]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Transom is marked out now on the new wood, alas it was too late to cut it due to the noise

A few pics of the glass fibre supplies I picked up today:

I'm not being uber-patriotic in this one. It's box from some apples!

One big roll of 1.5oz chopped strand mat, and another big roll of 1708:

I'll be going back later in the week to pick up some more resin, as this is all I could get in the back of the Jag (the back doors don't open very far!)

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

great work there Kiwi, will keep an eye on this to see how you are getting on. Are you planning on putting in knees to reinforce the transom for that big V6 as I doubt it was rated to carry it?

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Transom is marked out now on the new wood, alas it was too late to cut it due to the noise

A few pics of the glass fibre supplies I picked up today:

I'm not being uber-patriotic in this one. It's box from some apples!

One big roll of 1.5oz chopped strand mat, and another big roll of 1708:

I'll be going back later in the week to pick up some more resin, as this is all I could get in the back of the Jag (the back doors don't open very far!)

Great score on the materials...just one question, though...are the bananas for eating or are you making up some sort of secret resin thickener we don't know about...

Keep up the great Progress...

 

[kwik_uk]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

great work there Kiwi, will keep an eye on this to see how you are getting on. Are you planning on putting in knees to reinforce the transom for that big V6 as I doubt it was rated to carry it?

Thanks fish. Yes I'm putting in knees to reinforce the transom. I'm also changing the layout of the transom area quite a bit by extending the floor right back and boxing in the bulkheads.

are the bananas for eating or are you making up some sort of secret resin thickener we don't know about...

Now that would be telling

 

[kwik_uk]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Well I've made what I feel to be pretty good progress today. Got up early and went down to the marina to double check the templates before coming back and cutting into the ?58 (~$100) per sheet marine ply:

All the wood cut and sanded ready to take down the boat for a trial fitting:

My new mask arrived. How I looked:

How I felt I looked:

Trial fitting just leaning everything in (ignore the angles here, it is just balancing together for the photo!) it all fits brilliantly. In fact, there was almost no trimming required. I couldn't believe it!

New 3/4" bulkheads:

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

How I felt I looked:

You strike an imposing figure, Sir...quite the Lady-killer...and anything else that gets in your way...

Two things,
1- If you are doing any more grinding or even while mixing up the resin...and you don't want your eyes to look like those in the picture above, be sure to wear some safety goggles......And...

2- Make sure you round over all of the sharp edges on the wood to make wrapping the Fiberglass mat a little easier, the stuff doesn't like to bend over sharp corners...

Still amazed at the amount of progress! Keep it up!

As us over yonder this side of the pond like say...Git-r-dun!...

 

[kwik_uk]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Got the two 3/4" transom plates stuck together with resin:

I made a mistake mixing the resin though. Tiredness got the better of me. Even with a technical bachelors degree, and a technical masters degree, I conclusively decided that 4% of 400 was 8. Nice one :facepalm:

That means it's going to be the morning at least until this thing sets as it's about 3-4* Celsius (39* Fahrenheit) during the night here at the moment. Ah well, could have been worse!

I'm going to make up a crib sheet in big marker pen with all the mixtures going up in 100ml volumes so this doesn't happen again!

 

[kwik_uk]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

You strike an imposing figure, Sir...quite the Lady-killer...and anything else that gets in your way...

Two things,
1- If you are doing any more grinding or even while mixing up the resin...and you don't want your eyes to look like those in the picture above, be sure to wear some safety goggles......And...

2- Make sure you round over all of the sharp edges on the wood to make wrapping the Fiberglass mat a little easier, the stuff doesn't like to bend over sharp corners...

Still amazed at the amount of progress! Keep it up!

As us over yonder this side of the pond like say...Git-r-dun!...

Thanks for the encouragement, I'm just trying to keep the momentum up as best I can. There is no way I am not finishing this thing. I don't care whether I'll be working through the night at the end of it! haha

I'll be donning the full kit tomorrow as I'm going back down to the marina at first light to cut the rest of the floor and stringers out. I had an old pair of snowboarding goggles that would have been ideal. No idea where to put my hands on them now though. Ah well.

Looks like I'll need to put a new steering cable in for mine, as the one that is in has a cracked outer plastic sheathing, and it's exposed the metal middle sheathing which in turn has started to rust. The big V6 is going to be a heavy beast so it looks like I'll need to replace. There goes another ?160+ (~$260)!!

Not sure whether it warrants hydraulic steering though. Might see how hard it is to turn once I've ran it a while and make my choice then.

Still really wish I had a jack plate for it

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Got the two 3/4" transom plates stuck together with resin:

I made a mistake mixing the resin though. Tiredness got the better of me. Even with a technical bachelors degree, and a technical masters degree, I conclusively decided that 4% of 400 was 8. Nice one :facepalm:

That means it's going to be the morning at least until this thing sets as it's about 3-4* Celsius (39* Fahrenheit) during the night here at the moment. Ah well, could have been worse!

I'm going to make up a crib sheet in big marker pen with all the mixtures going up in 100ml volumes so this doesn't happen again!

Remember, the ratios are in the range of 1.5% to 2%, or 100ml Resin=1.5-2ml MEKP at approximately 70? F...it has been stated that the "ideal" ratio is 1.7%...so, you actually ended up fairly close, except your temps are a bit on the cold side...try and get a space heater that is safe to leave unattended...and warm up the area best you can...

But then again, for it being as cold as it is, 4% may not be a bad ratio, but double check with your resin supplier and make sure that isn't too hot a mix, which can affect the cured strength...

By the way, even with the crib sheet, what if you forget to look at it or where you hung it on the wall???

Thanks for the encouragement, I'm just trying to keep the momentum up as best I can. There is no way I am not finishing this thing. I don't care whether I'll be working through the night at the end of it! haha

I'll be donning the full kit tomorrow as I'm going back down to the marina at first light to cut the rest of the floor and stringers out. I had an old pair of snowboarding goggles that would have been ideal. No idea where to put my hands on them now though. Ah well.

Looks like I'll need to put a new steering cable in for mine, as the one that is in has a cracked outer plastic sheathing, and it's exposed the metal middle sheathing which in turn has started to rust. The big V6 is going to be a heavy beast so it looks like I'll need to replace. There goes another ?160+ (~$260)!!

Not sure whether it warrants hydraulic steering though. Might see how hard it is to turn once I've ran it a while and make my choice then.

Still really wish I had a jack plate for it

Look for the goggles in the same place as the key for the trailer lock, if it is not there, they will be in the last place you look......if they don't magically appear, go to your local hardware supplier [are they called the same thing over there or is it sundries?] and see if they have some inexpensive safety goggles...

The best part about restoring a boat is replacing almost everything to like new condition and knowing that it is done better than the factory and that it will probably out last us...

As for making decisions on jack plates and hydraulic steering...don't fret...finish the boat, get it back into Fun Use, and as time goes by, you will find the new toys that are to your liking and get to them eventually...as long as the boat is "ship-shape" and you and your Family are enjoying it...all else will fall into place...

Regards,
Gus

 

[kwik_uk]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Remember, the ratios are in the range of 1.5% to 2%, or 100ml Resin=1.5-2ml MEKP at approximately 70? F...it has been stated that the "ideal" ratio is 1.7%...so, you actually ended up fairly close, except your temps are a bit on the cold side...try and get a space heater that is safe to leave unattended...and warm up the area best you can...

But then again, for it being as cold as it is, 4% may not be a bad ratio, but double check with your resin supplier and make sure that isn't too hot a mix, which can affect the cured strength...

By the way, even with the crib sheet, what if you forget to look at it or where you hung it on the wall???

70? F?? We haven't seen those temperatures since last September/October!

The guys at East Coat Glass Supplies said that using 4% would cure the resin in 2-3 hours at 5? C (41? F), so my 2% just took a lot longer. I've just been out and took a look while the coffee is brewing, and it has cured. It had just started to tack when I went to bed.

As for the space heater, I'd love to. However without getting the boat back home and finishing it in the car port I can't really do it. At the moment I'm working under a gazebo at the marina. Once I've got the rest of the really mucky jobs done like cutting the rest of the floor out and grinding off the old tabbing I'll bring it back.

My crib sheet is in red pen on A3 sheet. If I forget to look, I don't deserve for it to cure

Look for the goggles in the same place as the key for the trailer lock, if it is not there, they will be in the last place you look......if they don't magically appear, go to your local hardware supplier [are they called the same thing over there or is it sundries?] and see if they have some inexpensive safety goggles...

The best part about restoring a boat is replacing almost everything to like new condition and knowing that it is done better than the factory and that it will probably out last us...

As for making decisions on jack plates and hydraulic steering...don't fret...finish the boat, get it back into Fun Use, and as time goes by, you will find the new toys that are to your liking and get to them eventually...as long as the boat is "ship-shape" and you and your Family are enjoying it...all else will fall into place...

Regards,
Gus

I've got plenty of good goggles, I was just after some that formed a complete seal to my face. I have to drive past a hardware (we call these the same in my locale) shop on my way to the marina, so I'll see what they've got.

What you said about restoring a boat rings very true with me. I've done resto projects on other things, and it is very satisfying knowing that you've improved on factory. My boat is older than I thought being an '80-'81 so it's already a lot older than I am!

Sensible words in your last paragraph. It's just hard not to think of these things. My plans are always in motion, so who knows how she'll look for next season

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

70? F?? We haven't seen those temperatures since last September/October!

The guys at East Coat Glass Supplies said that using 4% would cure the resin in 2-3 hours at 5? C (41? F), so my 2% just took a lot longer. I've just been out and took a look while the coffee is brewing, and it has cured. It had just started to tack when I went to bed.

As for the space heater, I'd love to. However without getting the boat back home and finishing it in the car port I can't really do it. At the moment I'm working under a gazebo at the marina. Once I've got the rest of the really mucky jobs done like cutting the rest of the floor out and grinding off the old tabbing I'll bring it back.

My crib sheet is in red pen on A3 sheet. If I forget to look, I don't deserve for it to cure



I've got plenty of good goggles, I was just after some that formed a complete seal to my face. I have to drive past a hardware (we call these the same in my locale) shop on my way to the marina, so I'll see what they've got.

What you said about restoring a boat rings very true with me. I've done resto projects on other things, and it is very satisfying knowing that you've improved on factory. My boat is older than I thought being an '80-'81 so it's already a lot older than I am!

Sensible words in your last paragraph. It's just hard not to think of these things. My plans are always in motion, so who knows how she'll look for next season

Wow! No 70's since Sept/Oct.??? Man oh man...BRRRRRRR

!

Glad to hear the resin ratios are all good...I guess that in certain climates, the resin scientists would have to come up with ways of making it work... I am so used to hearing guys here talk about having to wait for it to warm up or pre-heating their work space before doing any resin work...

Yep, my bad, I forgot you were out in the open...just recalled the picture of the shelter you started out in...

Thanks for the lesson in proper English, I really wasn't sure if hardware stores were called the same...

You are doing a bang up job and I continue to be amazed by your progress...

 

[kwik_uk]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Up at first light and back down to the marina. Ground off all the tabbing from the old stringers, and measured up for the new ones. Got some new formers marked up too.

Got home and got all the new stringers and formers marked out, cut and sanded ready to go back down.
Lots of trial fitting and adjustment on the stringers to get them right, also the formers took a bit of tweaking. They're ready to be glassed in now.

First thing first, get the new transom glassed in and clamped up! Rubbed all the contact areas on the hull with acetone to clean, and aid in the adhesion.
Used PB on back of the transom, and also on the inside of the hull to hold them both together.

You can see in these shots I was using PB to fillet the transom to the hull. Alas not many pics as I had to replace my gloves every time to took a picture due to the resin.

Before PB at the top:

After PB:

I used a bolt dipped in PVA release agent to put through the drain plug hole and pull it all in tight at the bottom:

Tomorrow the stringers are going to be laid up and tabbed in, and the transom will be getting the same treatment. Hope fully should have the new bulkheads in too if I can work fast enough.

I can't thank my dad enough, he's helped me all day today cutting & marking, mixing etc. Wouldn't have got anywhere near as far without him!


Now after that 13 hour day, I'm going to put my electric back warmer on and crawl into my pit for some well earned shut-eye!

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

Re: 1986 16.5' Dateline Bikini full gut and rebuild. My first

You are moving so fast I forgot to mention a tip when it comes to gloves...get the disposable doctors type latex gloves, put a little baby powder on your hands to help them slip on easily, then repeat with the next two, three or four layers of gloves, as they get mucked up while handling the resin, you just peel off the top layer and have a fresh set on right away...

Looking Great! Kudos to you and your Dad...