77 Skeeter Restoration

[fishbone77]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

Got out this morning to start tabbing in the deck - there were a couple areas as shown in the pics where the gaps between the deck and the original fiberglass were too large for using PB - so I spanned it with 17oz cloth - These are not structural areas or areas that should have any real flex, but before I'm done, I'll probably end up double-layering them because the cloth is defining some corners, etc. This should also have pretty much sealed off the foam compartments - so I hopefully won't get foam spreading anywhere I don't want it!

 

[fishbone77]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

Question time:

Until now, I've left the original holes in the hull from the transom mount bolts, the tie-down eyes, etc. I want to redrill these before repainting the hull - my plan is to drill an oversized hole, fill with PB, and then drill to size. My question is: is there any special type of bit that I should be using to not tear out the fiberglass? And any tips for keeping the holes square to the transom?

 

[fishbone77]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

A good friend came over today to give me hand - got all the foaming done under the deck! Got a little carried away with the foam in a couple of spots, but it seemed to go well overall!

'

 

[fishbone77]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

Got out for a little while today -

I cleaned up the foaming, and sanded down any excess foam and PB from the edges of the deck...

And I got the initial layer of tabbing done between the deck and the hull...

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

You can build a Drill Bridge like this from a 2 x 6

and use a Spade Bit to drill your holes

or buy one of these...

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

With an even larger sized hole drilled from the inside to lock the plug into the transom, & prevent the entire plug from being pulled out....

There's a pix of that @ here somewhere, I just can't seem to find it....

 

[fishbone77]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

You can build a Drill Bridge like this from a 2 x 6
and use a Spade Bit to drill your holes

Thanks for the ideas - cheaper is better for me, so I think I'll opt for the 2x6 and the spade bit... thanks a lot WOG!

With an even larger sized hole drilled from the inside to lock the plug into the transom, & prevent the entire plug from being pulled out....

I see what you're saying jbcurt - makes a lot of sense - thanks for the tip!

Hopefully I'll have some time to get out tomorrow to put this to work! Thanks for the help guys!

 

[fishbone77]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

Got out today and worked on the boat - I started building a drill bridge for drilling holes, just waiting on glue to dry...haha

I also put a second layer of tabbing between the transom and the hull, and between the deck and hull. I had a little extra epoxy mixed so I brushed some over the foam that had filled the pour holes in the deck to seal it.

 

[fishbone77]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

Finished the drill bridge - Going to be able to drill holes in the transom tomorrow!

Unfortunately it looks like I'm going to have to make yet another order for epoxy:facepalm: Knew I should have just ordered more last time...haha

 

[fishbone77]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

Got out and drilled the transom holes yesterday - I oversized them all and will be filling them with thickened epoxy tonight!

 

[fishbone77]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

Got out this afternoon - used some thickened epoxy to fill the oversized holes in the transom. I just used masking tape on the exterior side to help hold the epoxy in - I didn't get it quite as thick as I would have liked because I ran out of cabosil, but it still held up pretty well... I also used a belt sander to sand the contour on to the top edge of the transom so it matched the original shape.

I also drilled new holes for the bow-eye, and refilled them with the same thickened epoxy.

Placing an order for some more epoxy today or tomorrow - I've used almost 5 gallons so far, I'm thinking I'll probably end up using 1-2 gallons more by the time the project's done.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

Got out and drilled the transom holes yesterday - I oversized them all and will be filling them with thickened epoxy tonight!

Looks like the drill bridge worked well for you!

 

[fishbone77]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

Looks like the drill bridge worked well for you!

Sure did! Thanks a lot for the idea - it really made a difference, and kept the holes nice and square! Going back out today to drill the finish-sized holes and then hopefully some work on the cap!

 

[fishbone77]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

Got out and sanded the epoxy plugs I put in the transom yesterday - after thinking about it, I decided to wait until tomorrow to re-drill the holes - probably unnecessary, but I want to make sure everything is fully cured.

Then I started sanding on the cap, but got rained out so I had to move the project back into the garage...So I broke out some of the Bondo-glass that I had picked up and started filling some of the extra holes that had been drilled into the cap over the years...

I also cut some plywood plugs for the cap where some deck lights had been before...

 

[fishbone77]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

I also realized that I have some foam left after pouring underneath the deck, so I removed all the old foam from around the bow live-well, and cleaned the fiberglass - I'll flip the cap over and pour new foam around it for insulation before dropping the cap back on the boat.

 

[geoff-nz]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

I'm really impressed with your perserverance and ability............awesome

 

[fishbone77]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

I'm really impressed with your perserverance and ability............awesome

Thanks Geoff, it's been a fun project!

 

[Gator1996]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

Hey Fishbone. Just saw your thread and wanted to say that you are doing great work. Keep it up.
Good luck

 

[fishbone77]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

Hey Fishbone. Just saw your thread and wanted to say that you are doing great work. Keep it up.
Good luck

Thanks Gator! Will do!

 

[fishbone77]

Re: 77 Skeeter Restoration

Didn't get much time to work on the boat today - but I did get out long enough to drill the finish-size holes for the transom tie-down eyes and dry-fit them...I'll get out tomorrow to drill the rest of the holes tomorrow!