1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

[HiltonFerg]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

The sun has gone down. Better lighting

 

[HiltonFerg]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

Wow, tough crowd.

The last of my paint supplies got here today. Tomorrow is full, but Thursday (weather permitting) I'll slap on the first coat of paint.



Significantly more than $100 by the way.

 

[Galentheboatkiller]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

Man, I can't wait to see how this turns out! You are doing a great job!

Galen

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

Significantly More than you'll need to paint your boat! 3 Gallons!!!! I painted my 16 footer with 3 coats with 2 quarts of Primer and 2 quarts of Paint.

 

[HiltonFerg]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

First coat took almost exactly two quarts.





Second coat I'll start at the back and work forward a couple of feet, then move to the front and work back to the middle.

 

[mnskier]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

Hilton - Great job on the Brendella! I just came across your work and I am impressed. I've got a 1990 Shortline Comp myself and I love to see another one get back in the water. Keep the posts (and work) going!

-Mark

 

[HiltonFerg]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

Thanks!
I did a search on here for "Brendella" and came up with two guys in Texas who each have one. Other than those and one for sale on eBay, I haven't heard much about them.

What condition is yours in? This was mine right after Galen bought it, about 8 years ago.



Hopefully it will be in at least this condition again soon.

 

[HiltonFerg]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

Second coat, on the boat!

 

[mnskier]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

Mine is a 1990, and it has been in our family since new, so it has been pretty well taken care of. The boat is still in storage (i'm in Minnesota), but here are a few pics that I had on my phone...

 

[HiltonFerg]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

Beautiful boat and a great looking family!
I'd appreciate a few more interior pictures when it's convenient for you.

Today I put the third coat of paint on the boat and cut (what I think I'll use for) a front seat.

I returned the oil pan and ordered the "B" version. Also picked up fuel line, new fuel filter, a coil, and a couple other things.
The alternator is the only thing I'm still missing.
I still need to order vinyl.
How many yards does the iboat collective think I should buy to recover the drivers seat, the doghouse, a rear seat I'm creating, a rear facing front seat I'm creating, and have enough left to wrap the side pieces?


I'm getting excited.

 

[HiltonFerg]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

After 4 trips to the auto parts store, I still was unable to buy an oil pan that fits this pickup.
"Hell with it!"

I hit the super rusty spots with a flap disk, painted it with a coat of Rustoleum, then two coats of undercoating.
Here it is in my paint booth.





The center pieces for before and behind the engine.




I also have "roughed in" the backs for the seats.

 

[HiltonFerg]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

Engine related:

Plug wires are on the new plugs. The distributor cap and rotor I bought were the wrong ones. They'll go back tomorrow. I cleaned all the contacts on the old ones with a wire brush and a shot of carb cleaner. "Good enough." They actually looked really nice.

I re-installed the alternator. I haven't a clue if it works or not. It's easy enough to change if it doesn't.

Transmission fluid changed.

New belts are on. New coil on. New starter will go on after the oil pan; which has to dry a bit more before I pull it out of the paint booth.



I also apparently tried to drink all the beer in the world.

 

[mnskier]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

Great progress! Congratulations for getting the floor all finished :clap2:

Thanks for the kind words on the boat and the family. I'll definitely shoot some more pics of the interior of my Brendella once i get it out of storage... hopefully this weekend.

Keep up the great work!

-Mark

 

[HiltonFerg]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

Mark, I would especially appreciate pictures of where the lights go and the front and rear passenger seats.

I've made a bit more progress. Installed the freshly painted oil pan and new oil pan gasket, oil and filter. Then installed the starter, checked all the hose clamps, and cleaned it a little.

I think it's ready to go back in the boat!

If the alternator doesn't work I can always have it rebuilt. I've got a good battery on a battery buddy just waiting to go in.

 

[HiltonFerg]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

Engine pictures!





I'm a little concerned with how I'll get the engine to line up with the driveshaft.

 

[HiltonFerg]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

I had a setback today. The boards I glued, screwed, then glassed to the stringers to serve as motor mounts are too high to allow the transmission to mate up with the propeller shaft. The motor mounts attached to the engine are adjustable, but not nearly enough. I need to lower the engine ~1.75 inches. This means that I have to cut out portions of the wood.

I've marked exactly where the motor mounts touch the wood braces. My plan is to cut out four areas 6 inches wide 1.75 inches down, grind that area smooth, acetone wash, then reglass.

Disappointing, but I still think I can meet my date goal.

 

[HiltonFerg]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

I got outside this morning about 8 to start cutting down the wood where the motor mounts attach.

I learned something I feel I should share with the iBoat collective; though most of you probably would have known this instinctively.

When removing wood, measure from the hull up, not from the top of the wood down. I have 12mm from the hull up on one side, 14mm from the hull on the other side.

Not to worry, the motor mounts are adjustable, I can make this right, just a small observation.

It's now 12:30 Central Standard Time. This is the first time this year it's been HOT. I'm going to relax inside for a while, then go back out this evening and hopefully get it all lined up.

Next step will be to grind down to fresh fiberglass around the cutout area, wash it with acetone, then glass the area.

 

[HiltonFerg]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

 

[Piratehooker]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

At least you are working in nice fresh wood and not rotten sludge. Good luck with your adjustments.

 

[HiltonFerg]

Re: 1989 Ski Brendella (boat restoration progress)

Thanks. I got back to work on the boat again a little after 5pm. It was still hot but not unbearable.

I'm still struggling with getting the engine to line up with the propeller.











First the engine was way too high. I cut out portions of the wood to which the motor mounts attach.

Then I realized that the engine needed to go further forward. The propeller shaft comes into the hull at an angle, the further away from the rear of the boat it comes in, the higher it is. I cut the portions out further forward.

Now it seems that I cut the front areas too low. I've maxed out the motor mounts height wise and still need another ~3 cm.

If I have the front supported by the hoist, the rear mounts will touch and the engine will line up pretty damn close with the propeller.

I can figure this out, just not today. I'm beat. Monday I'll start experimenting with different amounts of wood beneath the front mounts.