I finally have time to begin the reconstruction of the AristoCraft 18. To that end I have looked at various ways to fill the holes created when I moved the windshield & cockpit aft 3 + feet. In the past I received advice from qualified forum members, personal friends, read construction books and major refit procedure articles. It is time to move forward.
I decided to use exterior grade 3/8 plywood, a strip 4" wide, sealed with epoxy resin, attached to the underside of the deck extending 1/2" past the cut line I made to separate the cockpit and move it backwards, into the cockpit sidewall. My intention is to let the cockpit section rest upon this ledge for centering and support while attaching L brackets prior to adhesion with heavy cloth and epoxy.
Attaching "L brackets" from the underside of the deck to the side of the cockpit wall on 6" centers using counter sunk S/S hardware (I can then hide the hardware with filler docksides), I can adjust "centering" of the cockpit left to right prior to reattaching the cutout section to the deck with heavy biaxial glass cloth & epoxy resin down the side and across the deck both above and below the structure for strength. The "L brackets" should allow a centering of the reattached cockpit section before glassing so the boat does not look like it's crabbing along the water while in straight line movement and the retained sliding hardtop moves freely fore and aft.
Since I have the deck removed from the hull, doing the attachment from the backside should be a piece of cake once the cutout is centered properly, secured with the brackets/bolts, and glassed in on the underside. I can then set that aside to work the transom, engine mounting support, fuel cell enclosure, under the floor conduit for control cables, electrical harness & A/C hoses to the front unit. I think there should be good access to the fuel cell and conduit, but I am unsure at this point whether or not I will modify a production hatch (ski locker type) from a salvage boat or fab a removable enclosure cover.
I still need to address flotation type, transom thickness for a Bravo1, Hydraulic trim tabs & pump, accelerator/transmission control type (sidewall or center console mounted?) and placement that will work with a GM LS2 aluminum V8.
I have collected all the wood working power tools necessary over the last year (table saw, jig saw, band saw, dual action sanders, belt sanders, wood clamps, even a mig welder for framing the engine mount and various other brackets needed) Looking forward to moving on this, it?s been a long time collecting things and I hear a boat ride calling.
Take Care
