81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

[83vert]

I picked it up about a month ago but had no idea what I was in for. With all the resources here I hope to be in the water by June. Pics as soon as I can figure it out.

 

[83vert]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

 

[83vert]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

 

[83vert]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

transom almost out

rotted stringers

 

[83vert]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

The monster that takes all the space up in the garage

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

Welcome to iboats! Hopefully you've found this thread http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=334233 as he's doing a bang up job on the same boat. Good luck with your project.

 

[83vert]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

Thanks and yes he has been very inspiring.

 

[83vert]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

I had no idea how much water the foam flotation could hold but as of yesterday it is now all removed along with the bow seating, floor, stringers and final pieces of the transom. Removing all the wood from that transom was a major task and I am very happy its over. Now it is time to start grinding and getting all the materials ready. What do you guys use for grinding and any tips about grinding discs? Here is a few pics of MDO ply that I picked up today, seems like real nice stuff with very few voids.

 

[notsunkyet]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

Ok here the deal.... now that ya got most everything cut out the real fun begins!!!!

the first thing i did was to make a run to harbor frieght... (cheap china junk tool store) and snag up a sawsall and a 4 1/2 grinder. dont buy a good one cuz you gonna fubar it by the time your done... Also buy up 2 boxes of the cheap 2" brushes and one box of 1" they work great and are perfect for one use and trash!

As far as the sawsall i then went to home depot and snagged up some 12 inch long cheap wood blades... I found it worked excelent for forming to the contour of the hull and drastically reducing grinding time.

Also while at home depot spend the few extra bucks and get what is known as "Flapper disks" made by Norton. basically sandpaper on a disk for a grinder but id only go down to 60 grit.. anything heavier can be really aggressive just when you dont want it to be. i used 3 sawsall blades and 4 disks. also while you are there you can buy the "Girlie" suit (I myself am a manly man lol... read stupid) which is a tyvek suit that will protect most of ya from the dreaded fiberglass itch THAT WILL HAPPEN... they arent too expensive. Buy one that is 2 to 3 sizes bigger than what you normally get!!!! That will give you room when your contorted on floor!
Oh yea .. you'll read alot about "PL" adheasive.. I had no clue as to what this stuff was but you can get it at home depot in the paint section for like 7 bucks for the BIG tube i needed 5 but i used it everywhere!

Do ya have your fiberglass and resin supplies yet?
There is a constant dissagreement on here about expoxy or resin.... either one will work and i think if ya ask around (try oops... he just did a massive redo and so did lowkee) they can tell you the cheapest and best place to score the goods youll need.

ok so that will get you started... remember! this will drive ya nuts, you will think youll never be done grinding, and progress will be slow... .that is when i would tell you to stop, get on here talk to the guys and they can guide you! they are an invaluable source and some of the stuff is just freaking funny

dont ever think that your becoming a pest, and there is no dumb questions just dumb pepole for not asking them.... i have asked plenty and ALWAYS there is someone to help me out......

There are guys that are the go to gurus for the mechanical side too!!!

 

[system-f]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

Home Depot's Norton cutting and grinding discs are awesome. The 3x longer disc by Norton are even better. For flapper discs though you might want to get those at Harbor Freight, MUCH cheaper and you will go through them like crazy.

 

[chrishayes]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

Home Depot's Norton cutting and grinding discs are awesome. The 3x longer disc by Norton are even better. For flapper discs though you might want to get those at Harbor Freight, MUCH cheaper and you will go through them like crazy.

My HF sells the 3x flappers in 60grit. About 3$ a piece and well worth it. ALso I found out that when you think it is worn out, keep using it, you can use it til it is nothing more than a fiber pad with a metal thread. I used a bunch of them before I realized that. Juat a tip. Looks like a nice project and keep up with robbankstons thread, he and his outlaw are kickin butt on theirs and doing it RIGHT. Now if only he would get his lazy butt back to work...

 

[83vert]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

You guys were dead on about those flapper grinding discs. I bought three DeWalt discs from Lowes this morning and went out to grind around the transom area. What a great way to take down the fiberglass although I could live without all that dust flying around. I took some rough measurements for the transom and cut out a template from some cardboard. I measured around the template when it was in place and added some here and took off some there by just writing right on the template. I made a new template with the new exact measurements and wouldnt you know it, a perfect fit.
Now for the question that I know but I am trying to tell myself that there must be a way that I just do not know of. Will the new transom fit without taking the cap off?

I can get one piece of 3/4 ply in but I do not know about two. Yesterday I made two 13 foot pieces of ply that I will be cutting the stringers out of in the near future( I hope).

One more question about water getting into my fiberglass, since I am working outside for now should I worry about water getting in these areas?

 

[83vert]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

these areas

Thanks for all the help guys, now I think I will cut the transom out with my new template

 

[chrishayes]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

You are the only one that can see the obstacles in your way with the cap on. Your call. its not THAT bad to have to take it off...

Your other question about keeping water out. Of course, if there is any way to keep it covered I would. However, those pictures show some pretty bad chopper gun work it looks like. THat will all have to get ground out anyways.

Nice work on the template! Are you sure that you are accounting for ALL of the transom doing it that way with the cap on?

 

[83vert]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

Finally some progress. I had to get out of the weather so I found this car port on craigslist that turned out to be perfect. Then I removed the trailer from underneath.

Finally got up enough courage to take off the rub rail and uncap so I could gain access to the rest of the transom.

Made the transom this morning and used PL to glue it together

No cynder blocks so a set of ford heads will have to do

I still need to put lights in the car port this weekend so that I can get in there after work and get this transom in.

 

[83vert]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

I have been slacking on this project and now it feels like winter is here already. This boat is rated for a 150 HP max and I have been looking at them on the computer and would like to have plenty of power but what do you guys think is the smallest I can get away with? I am looking to ski and tube with the boat when complete.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

The common formula used here is 70% of the max rated power is needed for acceptable performance. That's 105. That being said, I think I 90 would get the job done but you'd be happiest with a 115+.

 

[robbankston]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

I have been slacking on this project and now it feels like winter is here already. This boat is rated for a 150 HP max and I have been looking at them on the computer and would like to have plenty of power but what do you guys think is the smallest I can get away with? I am looking to ski and tube with the boat when complete.

Is it setup for an outboard? Mine is a i/o and it has a 200hp mercruiser. I think our boats are about 2k pounds dry. I doubt you'd be happy with anything less than a 150. Especially if you are going to ski and tube. You may could get by with 115 to a 125, but I wouldn't go less.

And yes these guys are right. I need to hop back on my project. Seems that time has slipped by quick. Nice thing is being Georgia I'll be able to work on it during the winter without much issue.

 

[83vert]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

Glad to see you back! Yea I think these guys are right about the smaller motor but being the macho man I am, definetly going to keep looking for the 150 LOL. I want to get the transom glassed in and the stringers before it is to cold but I think mother nature has different plans.

 

[tinkeringwackyone]

Re: 81 chaparral 187 bowrider first timer resto

I like the look of your boat, it reminds me of my 87 sea ray seville. I'm in the same situation being a first time restorer. I'd keep looking for a 150, sometimes you find them for a decent price on ebay.