'78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

GT1M - That is why I do not have a fan...trying to let it settle...I do have the prefilters. Didn't realize there were two sets until I sucked one set into the shop vac! My local Lowes does not have the prefilters. I ended up getting some HF over the ear cheapo masks, cut them to fit as prefilters. Seemed to work OK, but they clog up quick and I get a bad headache. Or that could be from the face shield. My Tyvek suit has a hood, I just pulled that over the face shield worked great! But leaves a gap at the bottom, but doesn't seem to let much dust in. Boatnut/bear_cuda - lots of fun! I've got an area that has the glass seperating...Almost afraid to keep going here, but I know I need to. Was getting pretty soft. Update: the wife just told me the gelcoat is flaking in this area, I had her check to see if it was moving when I applied pressure with my hand.

Here is the underside view of the area in question. I did not notice this before, but it is tucked in behind the whels of the trailer. I saw no flakes on the ground, so maybe it has been this way for awhile. Does this mean I need to regelcoat?

I couldn't resist, had to spray her out to see what I have got done so far. I did a little on he left, alot on the right. Getting closer!

 

[GT1000000]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Hang in there Troop, you are almost there...

Oh and that "fan", A- is not worth the housing it is built into, and B- you can't tell when it's running or not...definitely not the type of fan that was designed to actually move air...:facepalm:...it basically just spins the blades for show...Heeheehee! As a matter of fact I am thinking about using it as a Lawn sculpture...

Regards,
GT

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Well it has been a long time coming, but it is finally here....
The day I can say all the "Major" grinding is complete. I still have the areas where I will be tabbing the deck to scuff up, but that will be easy compared to the last two days worth of grinding. Storm heading this way so decided to call it a day. Still managed to get a good solid 5 hours grinding in today.
Bilge area and transom. Just a tiny bit of balsa down in the bottom there to get out. Some scuffing up top I didn't get. Hard to see with glasses and faceshield fogging up.

Not sure what they used to hold the balsa down, it is that odd color in the center of boat, down in the bottom of this picture. Came up pretty easy, had no glass in it. I left the very center bit so I would have a good radius to lay glass on.

Should I go ahead and get all that burnt looking resin or 2PF out?

Looking clean!

Just begging for stringers....

I was hoping to get the wood started next weekend. But after thinking about it, makes sense to do the fiberglass first, incase the dimensions change drastically. I'm sure I have a ton of smaller items to take care of while I am saving the money up for that.

If I start thinking about it too much, I may end up pulling the cab and flipping her over to work on the belly.

The wife is going to kill me ....

 

[GT1000000]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

OOOOOOhhh What a feeeling!

A Herculean effort my friend, Well Done...now take a nice hot shower and crack open your favorite frosty beverage...you have earned it!

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Thanks GT!

Even though not 100% It still feels good to know I am this close

 

[Restoration2012]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Wow, awesome progress. Looked through all your posts from where you started. This is going to be a gem when you get done with it. What an accomplishment so far!

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Wow, awesome progress. Looked through all your posts from where you started. This is going to be a gem when you get done with it. What an accomplishment so far!

Thank you! I still have a ways to go yet. Has been alot of fun so far. The hard part is over, or so I think

 

[Decker83]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Trooper82

You sure have that hull looking good. You can tell you've put alot of work into it.

I agree, I can hear that hull screaming down here in Texas for those new stringers.

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Trooper82

You sure have that hull looking good. You can tell you've put alot of work into it.

I agree, I can hear that hull screaming down here in Texas for those new stringers.

Thanks Decker. I still have a minimal amount of grinding o get done. If the taxman has any sympathy for us boaters i hope to start getting mateials soon.

 

[boatnut74]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

I bet it feels good to be nearing the end of grinding. I bet it feels even better you can start putting new wood in soon

 

[sphelps]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Troop I,m waiting on Mr Taxman myself things are tuff these days. My wife suggested I sell our old motor home to help pay for the boat.
I told her I was using the m/h for a tow vehicle .

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Troop I,m waiting on Mr Taxman myself things are tuff these days. My wife suggested I sell our old motor home to help pay for the boat.
I told her I was using the m/h for a tow vehicle .

Funny....Mine says I need to get rid of some of my other 'toys'...I just find it hard to part with anything.

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

I bet it feels good to be nearing the end of grinding. I bet it feels even better you can start putting new wood in soon

Yes it does!...

Not sure I am supposed to say this or not, but I found that there was little to no itch from the work I done.(don't let the tinnys read that) I guess it is all in how you prepare for the work at hand.

As you can see from my past pics, I went in mummified

 

[ezmobee]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Funny....Mine says I need to get rid of some of my other 'toys'...I just find it hard to part with anything.

I sold off most of my O gauge trains and tore down my layout. I figured one wallet draining hobby was enough.

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

OK, Need your advice folks....


I was looking under the hull today. I wanted to build a cradle to hold her so I could work on the trailer. I see many spots where light is shining through. Keel is banged up, normal use I'd say. What looks to be white paint in several places underneath. Gelcoat peeling in quite a few places. I know I really should do the hull. Should I save this for last or do it now while the inside is empty? I vote for now due to less weight to have to worry about.

1. Will I be able to address the issues with the hull upside down or will I need to flip it?

2. I need help with the correct process to fix the gelcoat. Sand it all off and start over?

3. Sub question to go with #2. Roll, Roll/Tip or spray? Keep in mind I work outside and the only spraying I have done came from spray paint can. I also have nada in tools for spraying.

I'll try to get some pics today of what I am seeing underneath...

 

[ben2go]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

There are many ways to go about it.My way is a little different than most.I would lay the stringers and prep the inside for the floor.No foam yet,just the wood,epoxy,and fiberglass work.Then I would flip the boat over on stands or saw horses.I like to get the hull down low to the ground, couple inches from the ground to make working the keel area a little easier.I like to start at the bow and work back to the stern.Of all the paint methods that I have been a party to,I prefer roll and tip,unless I have access to a both or clean area to spray.There are some good roll and tip vids on utube.This is just my way of doing things,others will have a different techniques.Go with what you feel will be easiest for you,just make sure the hull is square and rigid before flipping it.The gantry and a couple eye bolts will help with rolling the hull,just make sure they are as close to the center line as possible and backed on both sides with plywood.

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

I have to agree that flipping would make it so much easier to work on. But flipping the boat seems like it would be pretty difficult with my current situation, working by myslef. Will i need to sand all the gelcoat off or just the spots I need to rework? Can I use a hand orbital sander or do i need to use a block to keep things flat?

i just got back from buying wood to make the cradle. If I need to flip her I don't see much sense in making the cradle. If I do decide to flip her, do I need to pull the cap or leave it to hold things in place?

Lot's of questions........

 

[wlg]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Looking good Trooper. When you get the outside hull repaired are you going to put keel guard or some similar product on it? I have never used it, but it looks like a good idea.

 

[Trooper82]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

Looking good Trooper. When you get the outside hull repaired are you going to put keel guard or some similar product on it? I have never used it, but it looks like a good idea.

Have not decided if I will use that or not.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: '78 Ebko Lebaron - Therapy

I recommend leaving the cap on to help hold the hulls shape. I built this for 50 bucks. I rolled her off the traile onto the yard. And me and two of my nephews rolled her onto the dolly's edge then lifted her onto the dolly. Took less than 30 mins. Your's prolly weighs more than mine but still with some beer and a few friends you could do it pretty easy. Some of those need to have some glass layed on the inside to reinforce them then glass on the outside as well. Others can just be filled with Microballon PB. You don't have to sand off all the Gel just sand well with 80 grit and then fill all the gouges etc. Final sand with 180 and apply two coats of Primer wet sanding between coats and then the final color coats. Check out page #10 in my thread for Painting advice. Prep Prep Prep is the key to a nice Hull. Roll n' Roll is the way to go.
Check out this guys thread. He does a nice job documenting fixing a hull with a lot of issues.
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=365820&page=24&highlight=arkansas+traveler