Build a Barge Workshop

[gm280]

SK as a kid growing up in North Eastern Pennsylvania, I do remember the sleigh riding in the winters. With living on the side of a mountain, you would pick up speed very quickly too. The problem with that is, you had to stop. How they did that was the ashes everyone had left over from burning coal to heat their homes. They spread those coal ashes across the end of the sloping road where it "T" into a perpendicular road. But while the sleigh seemed to stop instantly, your body not so quickly. Yeah that inertia idea came into play. You slid off the sleigh and landed in the coal ashes. Then the long and very hard to navigate trip back up the hill... But all the kids loved it!

 

[southkogs]

Got back out to work on the barge again today. Finished taking all of the rails off:



Pulled the nav lights up front and set them aside. Might see if I can convert them over to LED just to keep the old style lights on the boat. This boat would have had it's anchor light up on a canopy structure. They were an aluminum tube "grid" that was supported by four legs you could "retract" to close the canopy down when docked. The whole gig had a canvas top that strapped to the aluminum.

Similar to this one:

We don't have the top aluminum, so we're gonna' have to go bimini and I'll have to figure out how to rig an anchor light to a good height.

 

[southkogs]

Got a crack up ... for all of the stuff that is tired and weathered on this thing, the helm turned smooth as a baby's bottom:


It's the original Morse rotary helm. But the cable is fraying and breaking out of the casing in the stern, so we will replace it:

So, the rest of today was pulling the old pedestal seat, remote controls, steering cable and helm:

 

[southkogs]

Next is to finish pulling the console, and then we're ready to pull the deck wood.

I did a quick look over the deck. Four sheets cut to run their long edge across beam of the boat. Bolting them back to the aluminum looks pretty simple. And while it didn't work well for preservation, it appears the old carpet on the boat wasn't glued down. That'll make pulling that up pretty easy ... as long as the moss hasn't rooted in too deeply

 

[sphelps]

https://www.homedepot.com/tool-truck-rental/Sod-Cutter/SC-18HD/
When you get ready you could always rent one of these ..

 

[southkogs]

Ha! I actually made a similar joke to that when we were working on it.

Got the motor well cleaned out today:


And then we got the console column out:

Carpet wasn't glued down, which is interesting as I think it was probably the original. We rolled it off with no real struggle other than cutting it up a little.

There are four sheets of plywood on there, and they each measure out 4'x8' perfectly. Looks like there's not really a lot of cutting to do on the new wood! Hadn't expected that. We started working on the elevator bolts holding the wood to the boat frame, and those aren't going to take too long. So, the wood should be completely off next trip out there:

 

[southkogs]

We also found the plugs for the pontoons, so we can do a pressure test on 'em. Visual inspection we can't see any breaks or holes. The cans are in rough shape, but they'll do for a slow boat.

 

[southkogs]

Been a busy few weeks, so we haven't gotten much done. Last night I went out to work on it with him, and we got rained out. But God reminded us that this one doesn't have to carry animals, so all good:

 

[GA_Boater]

Did you chase the rainbow for the pot of gold at the end. Why is it always the other end? :smile:

 

[gm280]

Did you chase the rainbow for the pot of gold at the end. Why is it always the other end? :smile:

"GOLD?" I thought it was to catch a "Cold", and I never wanted to catch a cold...so I never even tried. :stupid: :brick:

 

[Scott Danforth]

Hey Kogs, is the minivan yours or the admirals?

 

[southkogs]

Minivan is my Mother in Law's. Part of their "fleet." He dabbles in used cars, mostly antiques but peppered with some other stuff. That van is one they picked up at a sweet price and the thing drives like a champ.

At home the Admiral and I skipped the minivan and went for the full size E150. Then we got my 2500 truck. Now that the kids are mostly on their own, we're wondering why we have so much metal in the driveway.

 

[southkogs]

Did you chase the rainbow for the pot of gold at the end. Why is it always the other end? :smile:

Whatever is at the end of that rainbow is probably ... Algood

https://goo.gl/maps/A6GWApCXqdJH6quQ7

 

[MRS]

Southkogs, just was wondering if you had any updates on the rebuild?

 

[eddy622611]

I have a 1987 Crest 20’ pontoon. We have had it for 12 years. Great boat. Definitely worth the work you are putting into it.

 

[southkogs]

Sorry y'all ... I missed a notice that someone bumped this. I can't believe - in a pandemic - how busy life has been. One kid off to USAF, one got married, a vacation trip with the Admiral's family; not to mention trying to keep a business alive. Crazy.

The deck is all off of the 'toon. I'll get some pictures when I get out there next. I'm working on cleaning up the pontoon and the deck joist aluminum, but we also took a break to work on FIL's '63 Comet Convertible (new brake lines and cylinders). Next up on the 'toon is deciding if we're painting the fence. I think FIL wants to, so we may do over the winter. Not sure.

I've collected up some parts we had up in Michigan from one of our old pontoons (same vintage and make, humorously). I had a remote set that will work on this outboard. I've also kinda' accidentally (pushed a wrong button on Amazon) wound up buying the breaker panel we'll put in and getting a couple other accouterments that will mount to the aluminum console.

Slow going, as life just keeps getting in the way ... and I have a boat that gets me on the water

 

[GA_Boater]

I I've also kinda' accidentally (pushed a wrong button on Amazon) wound up buying the breaker panel we'll put in and getting a couple other accouterments that will mount to the aluminum console.

Slow going, as life just keeps getting in the way ... and I have a boat that gets me on the water

That Amazon One Click button is dangerous! Not too long ago I bought a Kindle book and it wasn't until I clicked that button did I notice I will get to read it twice. A cheapy 99 cent one, thank goodness.

 

[southkogs]

^^^ Right?
But, this did have a USB charger port on it, which will be nice to have out on the boat. It works.

 

[Scott Danforth]

but we also took a break to work on FIL's '63 Comet Convertible (new brake lines and cylinders).

Got pics of the Comet?

 

[southkogs]

No. I couldn't get a good angle on it in the garage. It's in really nice shape. Looks similar to this car:

But without the rear wheel skirts. The color is slightly different because it's been painted and the convertible top has been replaced. I'll get some shots next time I'm out there. There's a '64 Mustang, '49 Dodge Wayfarer and a 1960 Edsel Ranger too. It's be fun to show 'em.