81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

Interesting Read so far

+1 to the other posters replies on your edging problem - a small radius/round over is the cure. Also in the little FG work I've done I've found I get the best results by wetting it down over the edge then coming back as its started to tack up and laying the fibers down again.

Trying to picture your concern of flat edge abutting to something - If you talking about say a bulkhead to the hull side it won't matter as you'll want fill the meeting point w/ PB and fillet/radius it anyway to get your tabbing to lay down nicely.

I guess my point is that FG doesn't do square corners it needs to be bent into place.

Hopefully I've typed all that in way that it all makes sense.

Here's to a Merry Christmas to you and yours from me and mine. I'll definitely be following to see how this turns out.

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

TDF, glad to see you on board and thanks for the info.

The butting I'm thinking of is where stringer meet bulkheads, where stringers meet floorboards, and for butting the multiple pieces of the main bulkhead.

I'll put everyone's suggestion to work when I get back to the boat. But not today. Mrs Kick Back says can't work on the boat on Christmas Day.

 

[zopperman]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

What a shame
Enjoy the day off and away from resin fumes and itching!!!
The butting will be FINE with a rounded edges!! My stringers were actually rounded significantly from the factory.
Where does the main bulkhead meet up? I'd probably PB that together then use a few layers of csm/1708 over that join going a foot or so in each direction. it wont budge.
Or you could SCARF joint those two pieces together. I'd probably do that actually...
Just thinking out loud lol

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

What a shame
Enjoy the day off and away from resin fumes and itching!!!
The butting will be FINE with a rounded edges!! My stringers were actually rounded significantly from the factory.
Where does the main bulkhead meet up? I'd probably PB that together then use a few layers of csm/1708 over that join going a foot or so in each direction. it wont budge.
Or you could SCARF joint those two pieces together. I'd probably do that actually...
Just thinking out loud lol

Yep, its a shame. But its raining today which would have hampered work anyway. Now I have lots of time to post on iboats.

Glad to hear the routing is no problem. I will definitely start doing that.

As for bulkhead butting, I've described the main bulkhead design on past posts. By to review, its double 3/4 ply. The aft portion will come up to the front edge of the cockpit deck and support it. It will be three pieces to make the 9' width required. The forward portion will come all the way up to the bridge to support it. It will be three pieces as well. The seams on the aft portion will be in a different place than the seams on the front portion. I plan a layer of csm over the aft seams before putting on the forward pieces.

Are you back at home for the holidays or did you stay around school?

 

[Big Island Lifer]

Check out frisco's videos. He used his pooky or peanut butter mixture to put a nice radius on all of his inside corners and did a nice job in the top of his stringers.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

Check out frisco's videos. He used his pooky or peanut butter mixture to put a nice radius on all of his inside corners and did a nice job in the top of his stringers.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sounds interesting. Do you have a link to the video?

 

[zopperman]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

Yep, its a shame. But its raining today which would have hampered work anyway. Now I have lots of time to post on iboats.

Glad to hear the routing is no problem. I will definitely start doing that.

As for bulkhead butting, I've described the main bulkhead design on past posts. By to review, its double 3/4 ply. The aft portion will come up to the front edge of the cockpit deck and support it. It will be three pieces to make the 9' width required. The forward portion will come all the way up to the bridge to support it. It will be three pieces as well. The seams on the aft portion will be in a different place than the seams on the front portion. I plan a layer of csm over the aft seams before putting on the forward pieces.

Are you back at home for the holidays or did you stay around school?

As for the bulhead, 2 x 3/4 ply + CSM will be PLENTY strong.. i wound't waster the fabric using 1708. Puzzle piecing it like you described is also a good idea, basically scarfing without having to make teh annoying cuts lol.

and I think what he is describing (Frisco's PB) is using PB and coving it with the convex side of a spoon to get a nice filet to lay glass over... I did this on my deck-sidewall joint and it makes laying the tabbing much easier.

I had my last final on the 21.. I drew the short straw :facepalm: But I'm back home now, thank God. NOTHING like Mom's cooking!!!

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

As for the bulhead, 2 x 3/4 ply + CSM will be PLENTY strong.. i wound't waster the fabric using 1708. Puzzle piecing it like you described is also a good idea, basically scarfing without having to make teh annoying cuts lol.

and I think what he is describing (Frisco's PB) is using PB and coving it with the convex side of a spoon to get a nice filet to lay glass over... I did this on my deck-sidewall joint and it makes laying the tabbing much easier.

I had my last final on the 21.. I drew the short straw :facepalm: But I'm back home now, thank God. NOTHING like Mom's cooking!!!

Oh yea! The cooking. We had our big dinner last night. I'm still full. Picked up my daughter at the airport on Thursday, back from finishing her Master's in New York. All she has to do now is a mission trip. She'll be going to an orphanage in South Africa for 10 weeks starting in February. From there she will visit other orpahanges, interview their administrator, and then write her thesis when she gets back. So, she's here now for the holidays.

Ah, the spoon thing. Yea, looks like that works great. I have been using wood sticks from the salon that we use for waxing. They are like popsicle sticks only a bit bigger (about 5/8" wide). They make a really nice fillet.

I hear ya on the 1708 on bulkhead. I have thought about whether I need it or not. But like oops!, when in doubt, I will tend toward building a tank. If you saw the lack of support the bridge had, you would probably be concerned about the strength as well. I don't mind the extra cost or work for a layer of 1708 on both sides. When the seas are rolling and I'm on the bridge, I don't want to be thinking about going into the water because the bridge gave way lol. Besides, as I've mentioned, I will be cutting out parts of the bulkhead for windows and storage compartments.

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

I called Armstrong today with severall questions:

1) Transom thickness - they recommend a 2" thickness, so ours should be fine. I do plan to tab the transom in more, add a layer of csm and 1708, and bring the 4 aft stringers all tje way to the transom.

2) Outboard Shaft Length - Several pages back, we had a discussion about whether to go with 25" or 30" shafts on the OBs. They said the only benefit to 30" was to get the motor farther away from the water. There is no performance difference. While I can see the benefit on engine maintenance, I will stick with 25" shafts fir the following reasons:

A) Center of Gravity - Since we are a bit worried about top heaviness in the boat, The COG will benefit with the engines, bracket, and swim platform a bit lower.

B) Bracket Purchase - The bracket has to be ordered based upon the shaft length. Since we will not know exactly which engines we will eventually have, we need to decide in advance.

C) Engine Purchase - since we will likely be buying used engines, and since 25" shafts are more common, our search for engunes will be easiier.

D) Maintenance - I am good about maintaining my equipment. So, although a bit mire work keeping the engines clean, I am the kind of person that will do it.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

Hope you and your Family had a wondeful Christmas and I hope I am not too late, but here is a link to Frisco's Pooky... http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=N3kmr9ZctUo

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

Hope you and your Family had a wondeful Christmas and I hope I am not too late, but here is a link to Frisco's Pooky... http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=N3kmr9ZctUo

Never too late GT. I did see that video before, but it was long before I read oops!"s thread, so I didn't retain much from it. Good to review. In one of oops!'s pictures, I saw he mixed with the mixing tool in a drill, so that is what I've done so far. I haven't had any problem getting the hardener mixed thoroughly, even though I add the MEKP last. I prefer to have the extra working time.

Its funny, but before I ever mixed any PB, I was dreading it. Seemed compliced. Figured it was a pita. Now that Icve done it several times, I see its no problem at all. I've been mixing Cabosil and microbaloons in equal amounts and also chopped strands. The uS Composites web site says the Cabosil gives a bit stronger PB but the microbaloons gives a more sandable PB. So, I guess I'll vary the proportions based upon the needs of each application.

BTW, the Edge PB didn't work out. I didn't realize the chopped strand would soak up the resin and thicken like regular PB. I thought it would stay in suspension so the thin resin would spread the glass. Oh well. Worth a try.

 

[zopperman]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

Yeah, cabosil is harder to sand (stronger) and microballoons are better for a fairing compound type deal... I didn't sand my PB at all... it was all filets though which were made smooth with a spoon.

 

[Tregaskis]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

We had a 1982 27' Sea Ray Sunchaser (10' beam) powered by twin 3.8l OMC V-6 I/0's. She would top out at 39 mph with 2 people and half fuel. Cruise at 3500 rpm was 26mph burning around 14 gallons an hour. Hope this gives a little comparison for you.

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

Welcome aboard tregaskis. Thanks for the info. Helpful.

Almost 2 mpg at cruise. Not bad. I had a 28 and a half Cruisers Yachts and got a little less than you are getting.

What was the HP of your engines and what was the dry weight of the boat?

My project boat is a 255, so a nit ser than yours. But if I can get 2 mpg at cruise, I'll be a happy camper ( errr, I mean boater).

 

[sly_karma]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

Thanks to Capt Kickback and the other thoughtful posters for this excellent thread. "Building the Boat that no one makes" strikes a chord with me, because I'm starting to think the boat I want isn't out there either, not at a price I can afford without a mortgage anyway... I want a walkaround hull with bracket-mounted outboard power and a straight transom. Repowering an inboard has crossed my mind; this thread makes me think I can take it on. No fibreglass experience but I'm a journeyman carpenter and contractor with plenty of practical skills and problem solving ability. So many pieces of good information here. I'll continue to read with interest. Happy new year to all.

Sly

 

[oops!]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

Thanks to Capt Kickback and the other thoughtful posters for this excellent thread. "Building the Boat that no one makes" strikes a chord with me, because I'm starting to think the boat I want isn't out there either, not at a price I can afford without a mortgage anyway... I want a walkaround hull with bracket-mounted outboard power and a straight transom. Repowering an inboard has crossed my mind; this thread makes me think I can take it on. No fibreglass experience but I'm a journeyman carpenter and contractor with plenty of practical skills and problem solving ability. So many pieces of good information here. I'll continue to read with interest. Happy new year to all.
Sly

Hey sly......welcome to iboats....im right down the road from you....
glassing is no problem once you get the basics down...
if you need any help drinking a beer and rolling glass.....pm me !

lots of great stuff on this forum...

hope to see you on the water ! look for a really looong white boat...(well white for now...lol)

cheers
oops

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

Welcome aboard Sly.

As oops! said, there is a lot of help here. I consider oops! my mentor. I started with no fiberglass skills, but after reading through his thread, I felt very knowledgeable. With the FG work I've done so far, its goung great.

Since you are a carpenter, you definity have the hands on aptitude to do your project. Start a thread when your project gets underway.

 

[YamahaFXCruiser]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

Looks like some great work so far...Impressive. But what I really want to know is when will this project be finished? I have a fishing trip planned for mid september and I need a guide who knows the waters of south Florida. This is KickBack Fishing Guide service isn't it?

 

[sly_karma]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

Thanks for the offers, Oops... both of them! First I need to find a hull. So much stuff around but all those overpriced (for their age) older engines that I don't want to pay for. Something with a popped engine is the way to go.

I want unrestricted deck space for fishing and cargo. Am I better off modifying an outboard hull to get rid of the splash well, or is it easier to pull the engine and leg out of an I/O and do the deck repair like Capt Kickback?

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: 81 Sea Ray 26 Sedan Bridge I/O to OB Conversion/Restore (Pics)

Looks like some great work so far...Impressive. But what I really want to know is when will this project be finished? I have a fishing trip planned for mid september and I need a guide who knows the waters of south Florida. This is KickBack Fishing Guide service isn't it?

We originally targeted July 4 to have the boat done, but looks like we're not going to makes it. Lots of reasons: hard to get time to work on it, very agressive plans for everything we want to do, underestimated the amount of work required, Q got a job has limited time, .......

So we're just taking it as it goes with no expectations. When its done, we'll enjoy it. Unfortunately YamahaFXCruiser, we don't fish. But we can definitely spend some quality cruising time.