1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

[fishfeatures]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

Thanks GT, will definetely it a go with a heat gun tomorrow never thought about that. Cheers.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

Just remember...not too much in one spot or you'll melt it!...do a little at a time and once you get the hang of it, it should grow back to size...

Regards,
GT1M

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

Got few bit done today, installed the steering system and attached the windscreen. I purchased some polycarbonate for the windscreen and used the old broken one to trace out the outline and then cut it with a jigsaw. Quite a PITA to install it but got it all to fit back as it should, why do simple looking jobs always seem to be the ones to give the most trouble???
Anyway tomorrow I'm planning on putting on the cleats, and splashwell grommits and then put in the seat mounts. After that it's going into hibernation for a while so I can make a start on sorting out the engine.
I was going to do the wiring but may leave this off until I get the gauges and go at it all at once.

so updates may become scarce from here on in, for the next few weeks anyway.

hope today was the blackest of fridays to all you guys state side by the way.

 

[registeroot]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

fantastic work! that screen looks really good.
is it smoked polycarbonate you used? how thick?

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

Very nice job, makes it look even faster...

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

fantastic work! that screen looks really good.
is it smoked polycarbonate you used? how thick?

the thinnest polycarbonate I could get was 4mm and I choose to go for the "bronzed" over the "clear" as the sceen before was tinted perspex and I thought it looked ok. So I went bronzed, it's not as dark as I would have liked but still looks ok IMO. The 4mm poly is very flexible and curved no problem. I only bought half a sheet for ?60 but I could have made a full complete screen but I couldn't justify the waste of Poly and money. So 1/2 sheet left me with both sides plus I still have enough left to store away just in case anything happens on side although they do say that this stuff is virtually unbreakable..oh and for info purposes I used Goldstar plastics in Dublin and found Paul there to be most helpful.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

Just a side note, find out what the manufacturer recommends to clean the poly, my experience is that anything other than mild soapy water and a very soft cotton cloth can scratch the heck out of it... you might also be able to use either wax or rain-X to help keep it clean and clear, but again, double check with the manufacturer.

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

Good point GT as I forgot to mention that the crowd I bought it from advised not to wash it with anything stronger than soapy water no harsh cleaning products are to go near it. That's fine by me because it always got rinsed off after every trip with the water hose and every so often I'd wash it down with mild soapy water so I'll keep going that way with this new baby and I won't have any worries.

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

went to tackle the trailer today as it needs up keep work done. I forgot to take phot's of it before i started so apologies. Firstly I replaced the bow stop bar as the current one was rusted nealry to the point of collapse. Now my welding skills are not great but still I got it done so I claiming a sucess on that one.

I then sandblasted the back quarter of the trailer as it's frequently submersed and the previous owner rarely if ever rinsed it down at the end of the day so it's a good bit more corroded than the rest of the trailer. The majority of the trailer is in good condition under the paint so I'll prob blast the whole thing and then re paint it white as it's a horrid gray at the moment.

My trailer is both bunks and rollers, the bunks are about 3 feet long and 2 inches wide. It works quite well and I think I'll refurb it as i was going to go to all rollers but have changed my mind. The wood is teak by the looks of it but is painted Gray.


I'll sand these down tonight and apply teak oil to them and hopefully they'll show there lovely aged colours for me. I guess because the bunks are so narrow that is why the previous owner/s covered them with ratchet strapping. It always worked well in sliding on and off the boat so I'll replace this as I can get any amount of it at work and hopefully in the new year I'll splash out and re cover it in marine carpet. I'm ordering Stoltz rollers as the colour suits my colour scheme so until they arrive i'll put on the old ones in case i need to move the boat for some reason.



I was just going back over my collection of photos and I am kind of smiling away to myself as I can see the progress that i have made.




I can't believe that i was going around with the transom in this bad state, it's true what you read here, transom steel plates are always hiding a problem or 6.

Trying to sort out piston kits or the engine rebuild today and I am shocked that i can buy from EBAY 3 x piston kits and get them shipped herefrom the US for less than what a dealer was charging me here for 1 kit !!!! how can that happen ?? it is absolutely ridiculous.. think I start importing piston kits myself now and sell them here and make a killing

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

Well either santa came to me or else the "accountant" was really nice to me ( thanks Miriam), but somehow I received these for xmas

They are the Teleflex sahara Series which I chose over the lido series as I liked the cream colour backround on them and the orange pointer.


I then made copies from cardboard wwith the hole saw to see if they would all fit into the newly added dash area.

Thankfully they fit barely so I bit the bullet and drilled them out , i thought I had everything spot on but alas the voltmeter somehow moved a bit to the left on me :facepalm: shouldn't be a big job to adjust it.

Shouldn't be too big of a job to get it where it should be, I'm told to leave it but I think it'll always put me off when I look at it.
Well that's them in place I'll now fit them permanently and start wiring them up. My knowledge of electrics is terrible but I have researched a lot on it and I'm confident I can get it all to go ok . It seems like I've a mental block when it comes to electrics so I've drawn out on a white board the "loops" to make sure that all circuits are going to work when power is supplied.

All I have are the gauges , 12v power socket, bilge pump,switch panel, trim switch and my homemade relay switch box which didn't come with the T&T i bought (this will be secured to one side of the splashwell) and then just wires for the trim sender and fuel sender. but it still just seems a bit tricky , so I'll take my time and not rush it anyway.
Done the line I'll be adding nav lights and a vhf and FM radio and maybe strip lighting around the back of the dash and for giggles.

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

One with the wheel on so as to give me an idea how easy they can be read.

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

I currently use 2 of these tanks for my fuel needs

they are 30 litre tanks which equate to about 16 US gallons. These usually do me for the time i am out on the water but I do carry an extra 15 litre tank if I think I am going to be out a bit further or longer.

Would it be a stupid idea to install senders in these??? I cant find a tank to fit under the splashwell or in the bow so I'll have to get on specially made and my funds won't stretch that far for some time. In hindsight I should have cut out the back of the deck to fit a tank or even had one installed in the bow before I fibreglassed it back together but alas I didn't .
Would a sender fit ? as i have the gauge now I'd really like it to be working, or am I just being ridiculous???

 

[registeroot]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

no idea man. i wouldnt bother if you can see them but thats just me. btw how long do you think 30L would last on the water?
youre making great progress btw. on the water for Feb???

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

no idea man. i wouldnt bother if you can see them but thats just me. btw how long do you think 30L would last on the water?
youre making great progress btw. on the water for Feb???

Can't see them as they are behind the cover but both tanks last for what I want to do.

Yeah Feb is looking like break in month (fingercrossed). Am gonna miss working on her, I think I may go bigger in a while, just something needing TLC ...!!. but ssshhhhh don't tell herself.....

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

Ok guys long time no posts here but I guess it's because I really stopped caring as much as this has gone on a bit too long for my liking...

Well anyway,

A big thanks to Theresa for doing the upholstery ( not bad for a beginner thanks Mam), I don't think she'll be offering again in a hurry as there is a lot of work in it.

I painted the floor and sides with interdeck non slip which I'm happy enough with although I am going to look into carpet as I think it'll look better. it'll hade to be removeable as the launching area and slip can get quite muddy which eventually finds it's way inside the boat.

I also added 2 x 1 1/2 inch galvanised poles to either side held in palce by U bolts , these then got 2" pvc over them capped off with 2 lids from 20 litre cans. Not too bad for guide on's I have to say.

Mounted the motor and stood back slightly impressed.

All electrics work (phew) and all gauges except the fuel tank one works so I'm delighted with that. My spray job on the trailer was light in places so rust has started to come through but I'll remedy that again over the next month or so.

All in all am happy with my first restore attempt , next time ( if there will be one) I'd probably do thing differently in places and most definetely not move house to a place with no garage
many thanks to all you Iboaters for your help and tips which without wouldn't be possible, all the thousands of pages with helpful info in here. thanks to Mam, Dad, Brian, Orlagh, Hugh, Liam for use of his shed,anyone else that helped out and most of all thanks to Miriam whose patience and kindness shown over the months has been godly, and all those cups of tea brought out have not gone unnoticed, you are a great person with a big heart and I promise i'll never attempt anything like this again without consultation with you first (thank god I didn't have a big boat !!!)

Anyway here it is Project: Ffeatures



http://s1227.photobucket.com/albums...ishfeatures/?action=view&current=IMG00081.jpg

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

Its a good thing you posted in the TLC thread as I had lost track of this thread.

You did a great job the boat looks great! Have you splashed her and gone for a ride yet?

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

Its a good thing you posted in the TLC thread as I had lost track of this thread.

You did a great job the boat looks great! Have you splashed her and gone for a ride yet?

Have been busy with work but hope to splash her in the next day or two...can't wait...

 

[registeroot]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

congratulations looks good.

 

[fishfeatures]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat

thanks, am hoping to splash it this weekend ... fingers crossed am just busy with work at the moment.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat (fletcher)

Re: 1st restore on a 14ft ski boat (fletcher)

Wow FF,

I hadn't been by in a while and I am blown away by your Fantastic progress and excellent craftsmanship. You have done a beautiful job on this little speeder...Congratulations on a fine piece of work!

Can't wait to see it in its natural environment with your ear to ear grin lighting up the way...

Best regards for a fun and safe SPLASH!