Houseboat restoration - Update July '06

Dunaruna · Jan 20, 2005

I thought I would do a bit of housekeeping and combine the threads on this project in case anyone does a search on aluminum pontoons, glassing a big area or freshwater corrosion etc. Shes been floating for 4 weeks now and alls well. Built a 15ft gangplank on rollers (sweet

), 15ft x 18 inches and 3 inches thick, encased the edges in 3mm 'C' section gal which will give me something to mount a handrail on. Still got lots to do and I'll keep you posted. http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=27;t=001520;p=1#000000 http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=26;t=002045;p=1#000000 Gang Plank My home away from home Aldo

Triton II · Jan 20, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Nice one Aldo. May she provide years of boating pleasure to you and yours. Mark.

Winger Ed. · Jan 23, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Heck of a project buddy. I think if I'd gotten it as far as you have, I'd just quit. Tow it out, and anchor down about 500 yards offshore. Then, when the ex-wives screamed about how much of a rotten, low-life, SOB I was, and the Postman waved all my over-due bills at me while they both were standing on the bank---- I could bend over, slap my 'cheeks', and yell back that I couldn't hear them..... When they finally left, I could go back and check my fishing rod with a rock tied to the end of its line down about 30 feet..... I fish with a rock on the end of a string, because when I'm out on the water---- I don't want to be bothered by anything.

Dunaruna · Jan 24, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Originally posted by Winger Ed.: I think if I'd gotten it as far as you have, I'd just quit.

Believe me, I've considered quitting many times but I have a very good reason not to (long story), suffice to say that my wife is the driving force behind this project. Aldo

Triton II · Jan 24, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

It's hard to quit when beer is $30 a slab!

Dunaruna · Feb 6, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Just added the most important part of any pontoon boat project and you'd be happy to learn that it was made in the U.S. - the BBQ. Weber Aldo

Boomyal · Feb 6, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

That barbee is missing something isn't it?

BTW, I forgot what you were powering the HMS Get-a-Way with!

Realgun · Feb 7, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Ah man did you have to hit another boat on the first day? Did you do any damage to the V-hull?

I like your project! What the name of the Houseboat? Boom I believe he is using a 50 Merc 4 stroker.

Dunaruna · Feb 7, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Yep, 50hp bigfoot EFI, but I think boom was referring to propane, yeah? 2 x 45kg bottles power the barbie, fridge, HWS & stove. No name yet, it was called 'red'. We need to rename it but can't decide, we've got a dozen or so contenders. Aldo

Triton II · Feb 7, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

How about your iboats handle? Reckon 'Dunarunna' is a perfect name for a houseboat!

Dunaruna · Feb 7, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

My soon to be sold 'little' boat is called dunaruna. We need to rename the houseboat afresh but we've got to avoid upsetting the marine gods (neptune & poseidon)

. So far we've come up with (front runners but open to suggestions): Tadpole, hydrotherapy, L.A.B.S. (life after brain surgery), Bobbin' About, Relax-A-Vue (I'm a Dean Martin fan) and Hideout (sorry JB!). Aldo

Dunaruna · May 21, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Tengals & realgun have inspired me to build my non-existent dash. I used 1/2" MDF (craftwood), glued and stapled, 2 coats auto undercoat/filler, 3 coats auto top coat (gloss black) and 3 coats Uv stable clear ultra gloss. 2 x cig lighter sockets (lot's of toys to recharge), tacho, 2 x volt meters (motor battery & house bank), hr meter, rudder angle guage, fish finder and switch/fuse panel. The whole thing runs through a main circuit breaker. Underneath the dash there is 2 x buss bars and blanked off 'hot' connections for future use. I plan on tackling the helm next. pic1 pic2 pic3 pic4 pic5 Aldo

Peter J Fraser · May 21, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Hi Aldo, You have to be right proud of the 'finished product'. Looks as if you will get a lot of enjoyment from your project. Regards Peter

Dunaruna · May 21, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Thanks Pete, I appreciate that. BTW, it ain't finished by a long shot

Aldo

Boomyal · May 22, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Looks mighty professional to me Aldo. Was that furniture grade pressboard that you used? Was that an entirely new addition or did it replace something similar?

Dunaruna · May 22, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Yeah boom, it was furniture grade. The helm station was there but it didn't have a dash, it may have had one at some stage - dunno. When I bought the boat there were some wires in and around the helm but they went nowhere and the wire colors didn't match anything (no greys or purples etc). Aldo

tengals123 · May 22, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Aldo, great job on that dash. Looks a million dollars. The dash layout is practical and good looking. A credit to yourself. cheers

Boomyal · May 22, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

A little off current subject, do you have to lube your steering cable? Can't tell where your helm is in relation to the stern, but I had one on my houseboat that froze up for lack of proper lubrication. It was probably 28 feet long and only a few years old. Had to hacksaw it off and replace it. They said that every year you need to turn the wheel to fully retract the cable then shoot the grease in the fitting (I don't remember which end it was on)

Dunaruna · May 22, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

This is going to be a bit hard to describe so please bear with me. From the motor to the helm is 39ft, there is a landcruiser steering box (i'm not joking!) mounted about 3 ft to the right of the motor, a 3/4" steering rod with rose joints join the motor to the steering box. From the steering box to the helm (3ft below the helm) is a 3/4" solid rod shaft - it's 39ft long!!. It is mounted every 3 ft through a greasable bearing carrier. The steering wheel is directly above the termination of the rod, a push bike cog and chain join the two. Can you picture it? This boat was built back in the sixties, obviously they used whatever bits and pieces were available and it is so over engineered that I didn't want to mess with it. It works as smooth as silk. Aldo

Boomyal · May 22, 2005

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Re: Houseboat restoration - Update May '06

Sounds clever and bulletproof! May be made out of whatever was available but none the less, well built. Do ya have to go swimmin' to grease the pillow blocks??

Houseboat restoration - Update July '06

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