Pics and video of 'sea trials': http://picasaweb.google.com/rdezsofi/1972ReinellTriHullRestorationAndTest#
Pics of progress and general boating: http://picasaweb.google.com/rdezsofi
Wow. Almost a year of tearing it down and rebuilding. 16 gallons epoxy. Increased the transom to 25" high, and made it 3" thick to accommodate the Force 150 hp motor I picked up for $800 on E-Bay. (Less than 100 hours, runs incredible. Started right up after spending 18 months sitting in my garage!) New deck, carpet, steering, paint, stringers, railing, and two splashwell designs. Ended up making the splashwell functional. I like to toss things in there that the 2 year old can't reach: Tool box, fish net, etc. That meant going with bedliner for the splashwell. And sure enough, while putting the engine cover on for the last final check befor ethe sea trial, I slipped and gouged the bed liner with the engine cover. No big deal, an easy fix with a brush and some bed liner
This was an old, ugly, 1972 Reinell with faded gelcoat and a tired Merc 65 hp outboard. The transom was rotted, the stringers were gone, the rotted deck had been covered over by previous owner with new plywood. Was so heavy, wouldn't get up on a plane anymore. The axle weight before I started was 2890 pounds. Today, with all that extra transom thickness and epoxy, new stringers, a motor that's an easy 100 pounds heavier, and with removing the saturated foam, rotted deck and stringers......the axle weight today was 2475 pounds!
The GPS I have says it'll reach 60 mph with a slight tail wind. No wind, smooth water, I think we're talking 56 mph. This thing now flies as fast as I dare go, to the best fishing holes! (Yes, I PASSED a bass boat with a 125 Yamaha during the trials! I left him looking back at his motor wondering whats wrong)
Lessons learned...and INVALUABLE help from reading iBoats for the past year:
1. Epoxy is the way to go. The strength is worth it. Takes longer to set up, and patience, but I have full confidence in that transom. I also coated the entire inside of the hull with epoxy and some glass for added stregth.
2. I read everything on knee braces. I incorporated 2 knee braces, from the hull to the splashwell, and went 2 inches thick with them. The splashwell itself is almost a half inch thick fiberglass. Reinforcemnet on this boat is probably adequate for 2 outboards in excess of 200 HP. I can't make it flex no matter how I try at any angle. It is solid. You really can improve on factory designs.
3. Wiring. I went with the recommended tinned wire all around. I don't like simple crimp connections, so I did the soldered connections everywhere and used heat shrink tubing on every connection.
4. Paint. This was difficult. Auto painting is easier I decided. After 3 tries at a perfect topside, I was defeated each time by bad conditions. (Left the garage door open a foot for ventilation, and a freak wind gust blew stuff everywhere the first time. Sanded it all down....) After the third time, I decided that this is in fact a fishing boat, and so what if there are 2 runs in the paint? I have a 2 1/2 year old that loves fishing....it will even get scratches, right? The paint is just fine. Not perfect.....but it is a 1972 model!
Bottom paint, I went with an antifouling paint. Dark blue. very happy with that. Went on perfect. I might leave it in the water next summer at the marina.
5. Check the trailer. I read that....and looked. How could I miss anything, but after reading how trailers are neglected, I figured I better give it a full inspection. Damn, sagging springs, missing spring u-bolt, and worn spring bushings! New set of springs was $72, custom made u-bolts all around, $28. Sure pulls nicer now!
6. I can't count how many answers I received from iBoats....it really is a good resource. I have the resources to spend on overkill, and did so for peace of mind. Now that I have tested it out fully, I know this boat will keep on going longer than me. But, I have a toddler to keep in mind. That's why under the deck there is no foam....but on the outboard side of each stringer is a plastic 'bladder' 14 feet long, holding compressed air. (I can add air if ever needed via a port under drivers seat.) Should be enough to keep it floating if ever swamped. Read about foam issues....you will understand
7. My wife is SO HAPPY I'm done.....she ha snot been patient Between that and dealing with a broken elbow, the work went on. To all wives out there: This is an addiction with a huge benefit....please wait till your husband is done to see the results!
Tomorrow morning, Sunday...guess what? Well, during the 'sea trials', everyone we talked to had 'limited out' in trout on Foster Lake, Oregon. People were leaving before noon, because everyone on board had caught their limit. (5 fish per person per day, you can have 2 days limit in possession.) Well, tomorrow...the wife now wants to go fishing!
Pics of progress and general boating: http://picasaweb.google.com/rdezsofi
Wow. Almost a year of tearing it down and rebuilding. 16 gallons epoxy. Increased the transom to 25" high, and made it 3" thick to accommodate the Force 150 hp motor I picked up for $800 on E-Bay. (Less than 100 hours, runs incredible. Started right up after spending 18 months sitting in my garage!) New deck, carpet, steering, paint, stringers, railing, and two splashwell designs. Ended up making the splashwell functional. I like to toss things in there that the 2 year old can't reach: Tool box, fish net, etc. That meant going with bedliner for the splashwell. And sure enough, while putting the engine cover on for the last final check befor ethe sea trial, I slipped and gouged the bed liner with the engine cover. No big deal, an easy fix with a brush and some bed liner
This was an old, ugly, 1972 Reinell with faded gelcoat and a tired Merc 65 hp outboard. The transom was rotted, the stringers were gone, the rotted deck had been covered over by previous owner with new plywood. Was so heavy, wouldn't get up on a plane anymore. The axle weight before I started was 2890 pounds. Today, with all that extra transom thickness and epoxy, new stringers, a motor that's an easy 100 pounds heavier, and with removing the saturated foam, rotted deck and stringers......the axle weight today was 2475 pounds!
The GPS I have says it'll reach 60 mph with a slight tail wind. No wind, smooth water, I think we're talking 56 mph. This thing now flies as fast as I dare go, to the best fishing holes! (Yes, I PASSED a bass boat with a 125 Yamaha during the trials! I left him looking back at his motor wondering whats wrong
) Lessons learned...and INVALUABLE help from reading iBoats for the past year:
1. Epoxy is the way to go. The strength is worth it. Takes longer to set up, and patience, but I have full confidence in that transom. I also coated the entire inside of the hull with epoxy and some glass for added stregth.
2. I read everything on knee braces. I incorporated 2 knee braces, from the hull to the splashwell, and went 2 inches thick with them. The splashwell itself is almost a half inch thick fiberglass. Reinforcemnet on this boat is probably adequate for 2 outboards in excess of 200 HP. I can't make it flex no matter how I try at any angle. It is solid. You really can improve on factory designs.
3. Wiring. I went with the recommended tinned wire all around. I don't like simple crimp connections, so I did the soldered connections everywhere and used heat shrink tubing on every connection.
4. Paint. This was difficult. Auto painting is easier I decided. After 3 tries at a perfect topside, I was defeated each time by bad conditions. (Left the garage door open a foot for ventilation, and a freak wind gust blew stuff everywhere the first time. Sanded it all down....) After the third time, I decided that this is in fact a fishing boat, and so what if there are 2 runs in the paint? I have a 2 1/2 year old that loves fishing....it will even get scratches, right? The paint is just fine. Not perfect.....but it is a 1972 model!
Bottom paint, I went with an antifouling paint. Dark blue. very happy with that. Went on perfect. I might leave it in the water next summer at the marina.
5. Check the trailer. I read that....and looked. How could I miss anything, but after reading how trailers are neglected, I figured I better give it a full inspection. Damn, sagging springs, missing spring u-bolt, and worn spring bushings! New set of springs was $72, custom made u-bolts all around, $28. Sure pulls nicer now!
6. I can't count how many answers I received from iBoats....it really is a good resource. I have the resources to spend on overkill, and did so for peace of mind. Now that I have tested it out fully, I know this boat will keep on going longer than me. But, I have a toddler to keep in mind. That's why under the deck there is no foam....but on the outboard side of each stringer is a plastic 'bladder' 14 feet long, holding compressed air. (I can add air if ever needed via a port under drivers seat.) Should be enough to keep it floating if ever swamped. Read about foam issues....you will understand
7. My wife is SO HAPPY I'm done.....she ha snot been patient
Between that and dealing with a broken elbow, the work went on. To all wives out there: This is an addiction with a huge benefit....please wait till your husband is done to see the results!Tomorrow morning, Sunday...guess what? Well, during the 'sea trials', everyone we talked to had 'limited out' in trout on Foster Lake, Oregon. People were leaving before noon, because everyone on board had caught their limit. (5 fish per person per day, you can have 2 days limit in possession.) Well, tomorrow...the wife now wants to go fishing!
