1989 Australian Flightcraft

[jmkrak]

My husband and I are just starting a boat restoration project together. I have a personal goal of under 5 fights where we stop talking to each other We already did one mini restore and only had 2 evenings where we were not speaking to each other. The problem is we are both always right.... does not always work the best.

Anyways on to the project. The boat is a 1989 Australian Flightcraft that unfortunately got left to rot outside for a few years. So it is a total interior restoration. Plus the motor block cracked due to the fact that it was not winterized right. I know some of you are probably thinking it is not worth fixing, but the engine is a 350 and my husband happens to have 2 rebuilt 350s in our garage ( he is an automotive mechanic ). Motors can be hard to sell if they are not installed in something because you can't prove how well they work, so we were looking for a project that required a 350.

Here are our beginning pics... sorry he already had it in the garage so I did not get great pics because I can't get far enough away.

 

[jmkrak]

Re: 1989 Australian Flightcraft

The pictures don't really show how bad it was. The floor was only held together by carpet in a couple places. So far we have removed the motor, interior, decking, the water soaked foam and the secondary stringers. The primary stringers looked like they were pretty good, but further investigation showed the wood was rotten underneath and they only looked and felt ok because of the fiberglass. So those will have to go too.

So now we are the point of ordering replacement materials. I have done a lot of reading of other threads on this forum...so much so I feel like I know a couple of you. We have made the decision to go with an epoxy resin from us composities. I have read arguments on both sides and I have a couple of reasons for the decision so if anyone is really interested I can explain. We are going with dimensional lumber for the stringers as that is what the boat had. We bought exterior plywood for the decking. From other threads I understand that you don't use CSM with epoxy so what do you use for fiberglass material? Can you still use 1708? Doesn't that have a layer of CSM in it?

 

[jmkrak]

Re: 1989 Australian Flightcraft

Pictures of the progress so far

 

[jmkrak]

Re: 1989 Australian Flightcraft

Ok I figured out the answer to my question. US Composites lists 1708 as usable with both poly and epoxy resin and it seems to be a popular choice.

So I am thinking we will use 1708 for the stringers and do tab in the deck and then use 7.5 oz cloth to cover the deck. Does that sound about right? I think I will get 1708 12" tape to tab the floor. Should the stringers be tabbed with 1708 and then also wrapped in 1708? If the corners of the dimensional lumber are rounded off I think the 1708 will go around the stringers fine with epoxy resin.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1989 Australian Flightcraft

You don't need the 1708. Epoxy does not have styrene in it and so the Mat that is sewn to the 1708 is basically worthless. it will just soak up excess epoxy. I'd recommend you go with the DB 170 17 oz Biaxial Fabric for your stringers and Transom. the 7.5 oz cloth is fine for the deck. The 8" 8.7 oz E Glass Tape would be fine for tabbing. Since epoxy is so strong and so is the E-Glass this would be more than ample. If you tab the transom with this and then apply a layer or two of the DB170 it will be a TANK!!! On the stringers You can do a full wrap if you want but again since you're using epoxy going up the sides and out onto the hull with the 170 is all that's needed IMHO. Full Wraps are hard to do with out getting air bubbles.

 

[jmkrak]

Re: 1989 Australian Flightcraft

Thanks for the info. I was kind of thinking the same thing about the 1708 but did not know what to use instead. There is a lot of great info in the how to stickies on here for what materials to use with poly but I found it to have a less complete explanation for use with epoxy. I was sure there are some great threads but I am not sure which ones. So if I don't completely wrap the stringers when using epoxy, I can just seal the tops with a couple coats of epoxy? So should we do a good couple of coats ( 2 or 3 ? ) on the strings before installing them? It is ok if those coats completely cure or should we plan on putting those coats on, letting them set up and then tabbed them in within like 12 hours?

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1989 Australian Flightcraft

Hi and welcome to the Iboats dry dock, jmkrak...
I really can't help much with any epoxy related questions, since I have zero experience with it when it comes to boats...
But I would really like to come aboard and watch and learn from your experiences restoring this really cool looking boat...
Oh yeah, and to see if your fight guess-timate is correct...:caked::fish::argue::croc:

Although, hopefully, you'll both just end up with a really great boat and deeper in Love...:couple_inlove::kiss:

Best regards and have fun!
GT1M

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1989 Australian Flightcraft

It's always best to recoat before full cure with any resin. Especially with Poly but also with epoxy. One coat is sufficient prior to installation and tabbing. Once the stringers are in an the glass is layered I'd but another coat or two on the tops. You might cut some small 3" cap strips to lay over the tops if you want but IMO not totally necessary. Epoxy is usually easier to work with starting from top down and be aware that the 17 oz glass can be kinda squirrely when you first start using it. It doesn't like to stay in one place. I have taped it to the top of stringers and transoms and then draped it down the sides and wet it out top down to help keep it in place. Still squirmy.

 

[jmkrak]

Re: 1989 Australian Flightcraft

Luckily my husband has experience working with glass from making really fast model airplanes... so I think he should have no problems with the mechanics of it. What I am most concerned with is getting the materials right as they are going to be pretty different from what he uses for planes.

So if you have not figured it out yet, I am in charge of research, ordering materials, and the upholestry. He is in charge of grinding, cutting, sanding, installing, glassing, and all the mechanical parts. Seriously he is in the garage with his mask on grinding right now and I am at the dining room table doing research.

So my next question is... for the fillets on the stringers and deck, if I am using epoxy what do I want to get to mix with it. I believe cabosil is a must have, then I am thinking Phenolic Microballoons and 1/4" Chopped Strand to mix in. Does that sound right? If I have a 21' boat.... have to fillet the primary and secondary stringers and the entire deck, then what is the ball park amount of cabosil I will need?

 

[jmkrak]

Re: 1989 Australian Flightcraft

One more thing... I have such a hard time after reading 30 pages of someone's thread and they finally include a picture they are in and they look nothing like I pictured them. So here is a picture of my husband and I