1987 Blue Fin S170 Rebuild

[Shife]

Re: 1987 Blue Fin S170 Rebuild

Finally had a chance to get some sewing done on the top. I scored a free Kenmore sewing machine from 1963 from a neighbor. It is very heavy and beefy, but getting the machine to hold thread tension without breaking the thread when sewing the Keder bolt rope material was very difficult. I used V92 thread from Bainbridge as recommended by Sunbrella. I really needed to be using the next heavier gauge thread for the Keder material, but the machine can't handle anything more than V92.

The front and rear of the canvas are done and fit well. The sides still need to be trimmed, hemmed, and tensioning straps installed. I ran out of daylight so no pics of it looking as it should. I'll be gone racing on St. Clair tomorrow and busy Sunday so I probably won't have a chance to finish it until next week.

 

[Shife]

Re: 1987 Blue Fin S170 Rebuild

Top is nearly complete.

 

[Shife]

Re: 1987 Blue Fin S170 Rebuild

Top retracted for decreased windage / increased sun:

Still some refinement to do including reinforcing a few seams and adding wear patches, but it is usable now.

Now it's time to start adding accessories!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1987 Blue Fin S170 Rebuild

Very cool.

 

[Shife]

Re: 1987 Blue Fin S170 Rebuild

Thanks, Ez.

A good friend upgraded his VHF to a new one with AIS capabilities so I got his old one. I made a bracket to mount it under the stereo. It has a remote mic with display that I'll put at the helm as well. I still need to order the VHF antenna.

 

[Shife]

Re: 1987 Blue Fin S170 Rebuild

Finally got around to building a dock out so the boat could be tied up in a slightly less redneck fashion.

 

[Triton II]

Re: 1987 Blue Fin S170 Rebuild

Top and dock look great Shife... nice work.

TII

 

[StephMcC]

Re: 1987 Blue Fin S170 Rebuild

Your early photos show all the foam removed. Did you ever replace it, and if so, with what kind of foam? We are just starting a rebuild of our 1984 16-ft Blue Fin Sportsman. The plywood has turned to mulch, & the extruded foam packing is water-logged. The boat is in a garage now, and I hope the foam will dry out over the fall & winter with the plywood decking removed. Did you paint or seal the underneath side of the decking before installing it?