'78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

I am following your post with great interest. I am in the process of rebuilding a 21 Glasply.

I really appreciate this. It helps a lot knowing that I have others in here that are cheering me on to get this completed. I like to hear form everyone also. Some days I feel like I am talking to myself in the third person....


Make sure you start a thread..and take lots of pics, I'd be interested in watching your restore too!

I have a question. I cannot tell from your pictures BUT was the floor (plywood) of the boat sprayed with fiberglas.

Yes there was fiberglass on the decking material. The lack of any tabbing and the look og the 'glass compare to what runs up the gunwhales leads me to believe it was sprayed an and not some type of mat. However, I am no pro at this so I could be mistaken.

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Evening all!


You know I have not missed a day doing something on the boat since it arrived?

Hope I can keep this up.....I worked on the remaining deck on the port side near the inboard this evening. There was about a half inch of foam that was completly water saturated in this area. As I was pulling up the foam I found a spot that looks like a rupture in the hull, that must have only been repaired from the outside. It was too dark by the time I got things cleaned up to confirm there is not a hole on the outside. It could be covered by one of the bunks so would be awahile before I would be able to see that. I figure if it is a hole it can be repaired fairly easy with the help of the pros.

Is this a hole? Opinions?

All cleaned out

Not sure how far I need to go towars the front. I am thinking I may as well take it all out to do it correctly.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Hey Troop,

I can't offer much in the way of advice on how to proceed with many of the things that encompass one of these restorations, but I sure will cheer and applaud any and all accomplishments.

You are cranking right along and things are looking better everyday. Keep up the great work.

Oh and my 1/2 cent worth on whether or not to do the floor all the way... I vote for YES...Heck, you are going this far, and you are planning on having this boat for a long time, so what's a few more hours work and few dollars more, for the many years of family enjoyment that will come from knowing that this baby is solid, through and through...And remember that IF, there is any rot left, it will migrate and start eating away at your new work, the first chance it gets.

Regards,
GT1M

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Is this a hole? Opinions?

Not sure how far I need to go towars the front. I am thinking I may as well take it all out to do it correctly.

In your pic, I do not see a hole per se, but the glass might be a bit thin so when you do some grinding you should be able to tell and if it is just lay a couple of layers of CSM on it with a final layer of 1708 and you'll be good to go. As for the deck, I vote to remove it all. If you take the time now then you can rest easy for the next 2 decades knowing that this boat will be structurally trouble free and you can use your time for enjoying it instead of working on it.

 

[bharness]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Hey Trooper
Good morning from the West Coast. You are coming right along.

I can't tell from the pic if that is a hole or not. I agree, the glass looks kind of thin.

I have to go with the others on replacing the deck. At this point, what is a few more hours of labor to do it right.

I will be posting my thread in the next few days. My wife (Grandma) has me busy doing Christmas chores around the house so I am kind of tied up.

Like I said, I am checking your thread every day. Love what you are doing.

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

OK the whole deck it is. I kinda figured I was headed that way anyhow.

Thank you all who responded

Now for today's update.....




Oh my freakin' elbow hurts!!!!

I have been nursing it for a week or so, I was not sure what I had done to it. It hit me tonight as I was taking out the foam on the last section of deck next to motor.
The chisel I so like for taking up the foam is kinda heavy and it was reallly hurting tonight


There really wasn't that much foam to come up....

Lots of water in this side, I found out later why, the screws for the speedometer sensor.(I forgot to get a pic) I found alot of the foam down on the lowest section here was dark, brittle and HEAVY. Almost looks burnt. I was thinking it might be due to some chemical reaction to gas or oil from the trim pump mixing with it. Then I figured that the chemical reaction was actually due to when the foam was pooured in. This due to not mixing correctly?

All clean on this side....now to tackle the reamining floor!

 

[bharness]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Trooper82
I sent you a PM
BHarness

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Trooper82
I sent you a PM
BHarness

Got it and replied

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Only update for tonight is that I do not have much of an update.

I decided to give the elbow a rest, really did a number on it.

I did manage to go out and tighten the tarps up, expecting some rain. I even gave it a test with the old garden hose. Not a single drip in the boat....sweet.

While I have been reading through the threads tonight I am thinking I might like to place a center helm in the boat. I may decide different after getting the rest of the deck out. Have to make sure things will work out.

Does a center helm give you more room for fishing? Any other reasons to have a center vs. side drivers seat?

Another thing that has been on my mind. Is this boat big/safe enough to take out on the gulf? I've always wanted to go out and try my luck at tuna and anything else that might be out there biting.

I seem to recall there was a football (us) player that was lost at sea in the gulf and might have been on a boat this size or maybe a little smaller. Not much of a sports fan so no idea who it was.

So anyway I should have more to post this weekend.

Safe boating everyone.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Hi T,

Thanks for the update, at least you had one... I haven't updated my thread in so long that I think it is drifting somewhere...:facepalm:

Hope your elbow gets better soon.

As far as going into the Gulf, heck, I respect your courage...me, I've been out to the Atlantic many times, with many folks before, and I can tell you that, I have a Love-Hate thing with the wide blue yonder...Too many times I have been out there on what seemed like "nothin but blue skies" and had the weather turn ugly nasty in a matter of minutes, plus the slightest little wave action, after 6 to 8 hours really beats you up, but other than that, when the fish are biting and the weather stays nice, it sure can't be beat for a good time...

If by a center helm, you mean like a center console type set-up, I would think YES, you would definitely have more fishing room. If you mean just moving the helm to the center of the dash, I don't know...Hmmmm.

If you decide to get out there, make sure you have a good GPS, Real good Marine radio, cell phone, all of your safety gear and emergency supplies, let folks you know where and how long you plan to be out there, Compass, Take a Coast Guard Safety course, and make sure the sattelite weather picture looks clear for hundreds, no make that thousands of miles...LOL

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Hey GT yes I meant a center console. After speaking with some folks from down here I think I may forgo the gulf trip. Been on lake Erie many times in a 35 footer and it does take alot out of ya. I imagine the gulf would be worse. Plenty of lakes and a few rivers I can put her in down here though.

As for your thread, what are waiting on summer heat? Take care and get back to it when you can.

 

[zopperman]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

I read that as a 35 foot wave and almost had a heart attack!

You can buy a console blank on iboats, make one from wood, or make a mold 'n' 'glass it yourself

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

I read that as a 35 foot wave and almost had a heart attack!

Erie isn't that deep of a lake, 35 footer (waves) would be out of the norm

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Now I get to say I put my blood into this boat, literally.....



It looks much worse in the picture than it really is....

And all cleaned up ready for a bandage..

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

I actually did get some work done today, after the minor mis-hap...

Earlier in the thread I had mentioned that the hull was soft in some places down in the valley. Later I thought that there was some 1/4 or 3/8 ply underneath the added fiberglass in the bottom of the hull.

Well I got a big section up today and it looked very strange.

Was I seeing squares? Honeycomb or cellular structure? But it looks like rings of a tree in places....was this wood? Sure looks like wood, but it looks like it was cross cut.

Can anyone tell me why this is here? Is this normal to find 'tiles' made from the end of a board that has been crosscut? And notice the reddish tint? That is what I was seeing up under the glass before....

Here I found some of the pieces that was not yet rotted out. Definitely wood....

It doesn't show in this pic but I actually got all the deck out today. I am debating if I will tear out the seating area up front.
Like I said before, not a big fan of the console the way it is, so this is coming out eventually. I did take part out already today.

I was using a cutoff whell on the grinder todat to cut the fdeck out in the tight areas. I was also using that same wheel to sharpen the blade to my oscilating tool.

I bought the Chicago brand tool from HF. Anyone know which adapter I can buy to fit other brand name tools to it? The blades from HF are junk. I want to get a good tool steel blade.

Does it look like this boat had 4 stringers at one time? The flat bottom notches are what I am seeing that makes me think it did at one time have 4.

 

[ben2go]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

That ply could have been relief cut to conform to the hull shape.I'm just guessing.I have never seen that before.From the looks of it,I don't think the floor has ever been out of the boat,so I am guess it only had the two.You're in it this far,I'd pull the cap and do it right,all the way to the bow.

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

That ply could have been relief cut to conform to the hull shape.I'm just guessing.

That's just it though, it wasn't plywood. Looks like they took 2x4 and cut 1/4 inch lengths from it and layed them out on hull. I did not see any glue, they come up fairly easy, the one's that are rotten anyway.

Too inifity and beyond...lol

I was actually thinking the same thing before I called it an evening. It shouldn't be that much more work from what I was seeing.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

If I'm not mistaken that's what's known as Balsa core. I have seen it before here on iBoats but never had to deal with it. You might want to PM OOPS or Yacht Dr. and see if they can give you some advice. In the meantime I googled these for you to read up on.

http://www.yachtsurvey.com/searay_balsa_core_bottoms.htm
http://www.pcmarinesurveys.com/balsa core marine survey surveyor.htm
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=404079

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Thanks WoG i will read up on it.

 

[oops!]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

end grain balsa core.

sorry bout your hand. im relly glad you were wearing gloves....it could have been much worse.

as far as the hole.....it is tough to see bud.....but the area around the suspect hole, is glass shot out of a gun that was not properly resin rolled....that is the difference between a build crew paying attention to one that is just doing the basics.

the weird colored foam is a mixture of bilge water and lake water in the foam.....it can really change colors.
most of the foam in build shops is shot from a gun that mixes the stuff out side the nozzel ....the can be out......but for the most part they are pretty consistent.

as far as your delema....about the balsa core.....i would just rip it out and glass over it with csm and 1708......then when you re pour the foam....it will stiffen up just fine.

but i can see that you are really on this.....i applaud that.....it is easy to get discouraged and hold off for a day or two......but even 2 hours a night will get the job done really fast.

cheers bud
oops