I/O (Sterndrive) Conversion to Outboards

[tpenfield]

Ted must be busy grinding

I am glassing today . . . not quite warm enough, but I got a heater going and using 2.25% MEKP . . . seems to be working . . . but it is not quick.

 

[tpenfield]

The sun is shining so I'm doing some more glassing. I did the crossbar pieces over the past couple of days, and today I glassed the center stringer . . . 4 layers wet-on-wet.
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With the sun out, temperatures in the boat are 80˚F, even though it is only 60˚F outside. To keep the coldness out I put some plastic over the transom cut-outs and set them in place. It's a good thing I didn't toss them

 

[redneck joe]

I thought you were leaving the keyhole open for access?

 

[tpenfield]

I thought you were leaving the keyhole open for access?

"set them in place" to keep the cold out. They will be gone once I don't need them.

 

[redneck joe]

Forgot you were in Yankee weather....

 

[Scott Danforth]

Ted, will you be adding shelving to hold the beer er provisionings in the old bilge area? if you need a design for a service elevator, let me know. we did one that brings a blender and booze from below deck galley up to the cockpit. 2 ball-screws, a kevlar belt and a small DC gear motor. it would raise and lower up to 150#

 

[redneck joe]

^^^^^^

If you don't do this i will be quite disappointed.

 

[tpenfield]

The center stringer support is done. I do plan on putting in a floor of some sort to make for a decent storage area. The new stringer will play a role in supporting a floor.

I did another test fit and decided to go up a 'wee bit' on the spacers. (0.45" up from 0.35"). The thinner ones were a 'smidge' too tight on the sides.
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The alignment with the keel was dead nuts on as per my laser line tool, so I hope to replicate that with the thicker spacers.

 

[flashback]

Removable teak grates for the floor would be nice, give it a bit of a nautical look.

 

[tpenfield]

Installation Update . . .

I got the extension bracket aligned with the different (0.45") spacers. As such, I drilled the 'pilot' holes and put the 'installation guide pins' in at the 4 corners of the extension bracket. They will need a little bit of play in order to align with the matching holes in the transom.
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Now with these pins/bolts I can install the extension bracket without worrying (too much) about the alignment.

The sun was getting low on the horizon, so no time to bond the spacers to the E-B. That will be for tomorrow (sunshine permitting.)

I'll do an installation practice, check the alignment, and then drill the rest of the bolt holes. I ran a test of the 'open time' on the putty @ 60˚F and 2% MEKP. It stayed open for at least an hour and was showing signs of hardening at 90 minutes.

So, that will be my target . . . get the extension bracket installed and reasonably fastened within an hour of activating the putty.

 

[redneck joe]

Point of technical order I belive 0.45 is defined as a tad, not a smidge