89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

[m2bueller]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

Max, I've been following your conversion since I joined the forum. as a mater of fact a Google search of bow rider to center console is how I found you project. I'm in the process of doing the same to a 1983 Chris Craft Scorpion 168. I was wondering what you planed to do with the old bow seating. Are you going to leave it as is or build up a casting deck? I'm trying to decide what to do with mine right now.I'm debating whether to cut it out completely or box it in for a raised deck with storage underneath. Thanks for all your posts.
JT

 

[maxum247]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

She's looking great!!! It looks soo much sleeker and lighter. Still think you"ll have it in the water by the 4th?

Man! I sure hope so, I've been putting every spare minute I get on the boat, some things go fast and some like the gunwale repair on the front set of gunwales are just going at a snail pace right now.

max!

 

[maxum247]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

Max, I've been following your conversion since I joined the forum. as a mater of fact a Google search of bow rider to center console is how I found you project. I'm in the process of doing the same to a 1983 Chris Craft Scorpion 168. I was wondering what you planed to do with the old bow seating. Are you going to leave it as is or build up a casting deck? I'm trying to decide what to do with mine right now.I'm debating whether to cut it out completely or box it in for a raised deck with storage underneath. Thanks for all your posts.
JT

Some day it will be removed and decked over after I get the rest of the hull stabalized so I don't have to worry about any twisting and flexing after it's removed. The deck of the boat has been raised by about 4in" so the seat/bunk area is only about 4in" high although it looks higher in the picture, the free deck space will be of better use for my needs.

max!

 

[maxum247]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

I got the port gunwale cut and mounted temporarily on the boat this afternoon. Afterwards I started on the starboard side but it started getting dark before I could finish so I'll try to get back on it tommorrow after work for a couple of hours. Hopefully by Wednsday or thursday I'll have the gunwales glued and fastened into place and then I can begin the prep to get them ready for fiberglass. We'll see how it goes over the next few afternoons.
I'm getting closer each day I work on the boat but am still concerned if I will make my deadline for the 4th. I still have some blocking to install under the gunwales so they will be solid until I can get the rest of the bracing in place for them and some rewiring to do on the motor and lite interior sanding and painting to be done and whatever other little things that pop up that need fixing.

Here's a few picture's of today's progress.

max!

 

[Nico2112]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

Definately as a center console is how your boat looks best!

Nice progress done in these couple of days.

I guess if you keep it up, you will meet your deadline

 

[maxum247]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

Definately as a center console is how your boat looks best!

Nice progress done in these couple of days.

I guess if you keep it up, you will meet your deadline

Center console was the way to go with this hull.

Deadline is getting near but I think I'll make it. I still have three weeks to get it sea worthy enough to use for the 4th of July weekend.

max!

 

[maxum247]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

Got on the boat again this afternoon and this is the result. I have both gunwales in place and am ready to glue and fasten them permanently, which I will do after work tommorrow when I get home if the weather holds, trying to thunderstorm here this evening.
After everything is fastened it will be time to install some blocking support under the gunwales at the front bulkhead and at each joint where the plywood ends meet. Later I will glass in plywood supports from the deck to the underside of the gunwales in several places on either side of the hull so everything will be tied together permanently.

max!

 

[maxum247]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

As of this afternoon the gunwales are glued and fastened into place.
Tommorrow I'll start suring up the gunwales from the undersides by installing plywood pads useing PL Adhesive and stainless screws at each joint along the gunwales and front bulkhead where the gunwales tie in.

 

[jonesg]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

This might help keep you motivated, I got a lot of ideas from this guys cuddy to center console conversion.
Let the slideshow load and run, some really clever work, similar to yours in many regards.

http://s728.photobucket.com/albums/ww290/88bowtie/?albumview=slideshow

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

http://s728.photobucket.com/albums/ww290/88bowtie/?albumview=slideshow

That was a heck of a link jonesg. Really awesome work. Make sure oops sees it.

 

[m2bueller]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

http://s728.photobucket.com/albums/ww290/88bowtie/?albumview=slideshow

WOW
Talk about inspiration

 

[maxum247]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

This might help keep you motivated, I got a lot of ideas from this guys cuddy to center console conversion.
Let the slideshow load and run, some really clever work, similar to yours in many regards.

http://s728.photobucket.com/albums/ww290/88bowtie/?albumview=slideshow

Yes sir, that is quite a nice project.
I skipped over working on mine this afternoon. I'm worn out after two weeks of working on the boat a couple hours every afternoon after work and 4 or 5 hours on Sat and Sun. I'll rest tonight and then I'll get back on it sometime this weekend.

max!

 

[maxum247]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

I got back on the boat early this morning, the bracing on the under of the gunwales is finished and all the screw heads in the bow area and gunwales are filled, and any low spots that needed filling were faired useing thickened polyester resin. Next I will sand the places I've filled and then refill them if needed, and then resand and the gunwales and bowcap will be ready for fiberglass.

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

Glad the weather is good down there for you to work on the boat. My daughter & I were priming the trailer a few minutes ago and the bottom fell out of the sky, now as I'm typing, it's sunny again. Go figure

 

[maxum247]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

Glad the weather is good down there for you to work on the boat. My daughter & I were priming the trailer a few minutes ago and the bottom fell out of the sky, now as I'm typing, it's sunny again. Go figure

Good to here from you! Weather's good today. Thundered a lot last night but no rain.

max!

 

[maxum247]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

I couldn't sit still so I decided to do a test area of paint on the interior hull of the boat with some light gray paint that I have, not exactly the color I had wanted to use but it will do. So the interior will be light gray instead of flat white.
I painted a spot about 2x3" and it didn't scratch with my fingernail after drying, don't know how it will hold overtime but from what I can see it adhered well. I may string some color around on the light gray to look like the factory white did with the red strung around on it.
This is what the factory finish looks like now. What color would look good strung around over the light gray interior? Blue, red, black, etc. The gunwales will be flat white when painted.
The boat is maroon now but may be painted dark blue, flag blue or something like that in the future or it may stay the color it is now.
Any suggestions on color to use are welcome.

Here's a picture of the way it looks now.

Gott'a run! I hear thunder in the distance, gott'a get the boat covered in case it rains!



max!

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

I would string the blue over, blue & gray should look pretty good. But maybe I'm just saying that because those are the colors I bought to paint my boat with :redface:


I ran back out after that 2 minute shower & finished priming the trailer, It must be moving toward your way

 

[maxum247]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

I would string the blue over, blue & gray should look pretty good. But maybe I'm just saying that because does are the colors I bought to paint my boat with :redface:


I ran back out after that 2 minute shower & finished priming the trailer, It must be moving toward your way

The skies darkned here for about 30 minutes, the wind shifted and started blowing, it rained pretty hard for a few minutes and thundered, some lighting.

I did get the boat cleaned and vacumed inside before the rain. I was getting ready to lay down some paint on the interior hullsides when the wind shifted so I put the cover on and came inside to eat and relax a bit, now it's starting to clear and the sun is trying to come out.

 

[m2bueller]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

If you're going to go blue outside I would string the blue over the gray. I'll be doing blue over egg shell white when I finally get to that point.

 

[maxum247]

Re: 89maxum cuddy/to bowrider/to center console conversion

If you're going to go blue outside I would string the blue over the gray. I'll be doing blue over egg shell white when I finally get to that point.

Thank's for the reply.

What color would you go with if the maroon were left on the exterior hull?
I sort of Like the red that is on the factory flat white finish now to go over the light gray, what do you think?

max!