Just another Tinny Resto

[paulywally]

Hello Iboats!

I'm a long time reader, but this is going to be my first of many restoration threads. I have experience restoring boats, but I have learnt so many new tips tricks, and methods from reading threads at IBoats.

This is my friends boat, he isn't very handy, and he is a stand up guy so I thought I would take the reins and restore his boat with his help, and his wallet.

Starting off, we have a 16 foot Alumarine, with a 60 HP mercury, tiller. Originally it was a bench boat. The previous owner added, and added, and added trying to make it into a fishing boat. The floor was rotten and the whole interior had a dated 1980s look.
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So we tore it out.

 

[paulywally]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

You gotta make sure the heater is running, cause it's cold up here.

Continue disassembling the previous owners hack job.

And there wouldn't be any fun if there wasn't poured in foam!

 

[paulywally]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

To the car wash!

All nice and clean

 

[paulywally]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

Then we took out the rear brackets which made a little bench area. These aren`t going to work with our new design.

Then we took out the middle bench.
Get out the grinder.

One side done.

As you can see there are always lots of helpers to stand around and drink beer.

The almost finished bench removal.

There will be two pieces of angle iron welded to the remaining pieces of the bench, to gain some strength and give the floor something to screw to.

 

[paulywally]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

Now we are up to where the boat stands now.

Christmas is next weekend so we won`t get any time to work on it till after the New Year. The next thing on the chopping block is preparing for gluvit, and then applying gluvit. This is where I have a few questions. I tried putting a knotted wire wheel on the angle grinder to remove the paint off the rivets, but this is a PAINSTAKING SLOW process. This paint is still on there good.

So is it best get get it down to bare aluminum or what? I have a few other ideas to remove that paint that I will post up.

 

[Gun Dog]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

Nice looking project. Winter parkas and you're gonna gulvit. Where are you located?

 

[paulywally]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

Nice looking project. Winter parkas and you're gonna gulvit. Where are you located?

Thanks Gun Dog, yes it will be leaving the garage with the heater and going into my heated shop for the gluvit application and drying. Located in Winnipeg, Canada.


I'm not sure if I should try a chemical removal for the paint on and around the rivets or keep going with mechanical removal. I was thinking about this http://www.princessauto.com/pal/product/8234387/Needle-Scalers/Air-Needle-Scaler
I'm worried it might be hard on the soft aluminum though. I've always wanted one, and now I have an excuse.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

Hi PW,
Don't know much, but I would prolly go for a good quality aircraft type paint stripper, covered with some cheap plastic saran-type wrap to keep it from evaporating too quickly. It would prevent any damage to the aluminum and with a little elbow grease in the form of a stiff brush before washing it off, you could be done fairly quick. Just remember to wear some good chemical proof gloves to keep from burning your skin off and some safety glasses in case of splash...

Just my 1/2 cent's worth...

Good Luck and have fun...
GT1M

 

[erwinner]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

Keep the pics and posts coming! I really like the boat and your humor! Do you have a friend application? I'm a pretty stand up guy (if I do say so myself) and I've got an '89 Grumman that could use some work. Manitoba is pretty far from Lubbock, but I just got back from driving in from San Francisco today, so no big deal.
Media blasting can be pretty expensive when done by a professional, but our local Chinese tool store has soda blasters for pretty cheap, and that might be an option... http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-abrasive-blaster-kit-37025.html
And if you're a resourceful person, maybe look at ways to find aluminum decking for the boat. Really expensive from a supplier, but there are ways around it. (just don't go stealing road signs... though the big ones on the interstates do look pretty tempting! J/K!!!)

 

[Gun Dog]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

http://www.princessauto.com/pal/product/8234387/Needle-Scalers/Air-Needle-Scaler[/URL]
I'm worried it might be hard on the soft aluminum though. I've always wanted one, and now I have an excuse.

Just use you're 4-1/2" with scotch brite's around the "reevits". Works great not much effort, easy on the aluminum. Winnipeg heated shop? $$$$$$$$

That doesn't look like Labatt blue.

 

[paulywally]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

Keep the pics and posts coming! I really like the boat and your humor! Do you have a friend application? I'm a pretty stand up guy (if I do say so myself) and I've got an '89 Grumman that could use some work. Manitoba is pretty far from Lubbock, but I just got back from driving in from San Francisco today, so no big deal.
Media blasting can be pretty expensive when done by a professional, but our local Chinese tool store has soda blasters for pretty cheap, and that might be an option... http://www.harborfreight.com/portable-abrasive-blaster-kit-37025.html
And if you're a resourceful person, maybe look at ways to find aluminum decking for the boat. Really expensive from a supplier, but there are ways around it. (just don't go stealing road signs... though the big ones on the interstates do look pretty tempting! J/K!!!)

Head on down, or up should I say. The more the merrier! Ya our version of harbour freight here in canada is princess auto. I have a sandblaster from there, I just don't like the mess. Haha. I think the plan is to go with a wood and carpeted floor right now.

Just use you're 4-1/2" with scotch brite's around the "reevits". Works great not much effort, easy on the aluminum. Winnipeg heated shop? $$$$$$$$

That doesn't look like Labatt blue.

Those are Keystones. Cheap beer. Haha. Is this what you are referring too gun dog? http://www.princessauto.com/pal/product/8385056/Orbital-Sander-Acces/4-1/2%22-Finishing-Disc

EDIT: I think this is what you're talking about. http://www.princessauto.com/pal/product/8251274/Sanding-And-Surface-Con%27g/5-pk-4-1/2-Surface-Conditioning-Discs
I have those in 2 inch for my 90 deg die grinder but I have never seen them for a grinder. Learn something new everyday.

 

[paulywally]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

The plan is too take some ideas from the boat my brother has.

I'm kind of torn on wether or not we should do full length rod lockers. I like the idea of the large area where the gauges can be mounted and incorporate a cooler/ bait livewell.
Either way we will be putting the spool gun to work.

 

[paulywally]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

It sucks, but I think all of the aluminum work has to be done before the gluvit gets applied. The heat from the welding will destroy the gluvit. So I think we have to get the floor plan ironed out.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

Just checking in to subscribe. That's a nice hull you've got to work with and your "model boat" up there is friggin' sweet. Good luck with your project.

 

[paulywally]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

Just checking in to subscribe. That's a nice hull you've got to work with and your "model boat" up there is friggin' sweet. Good luck with your project.

Ahh the famous ez. Nice of you to stop by. Any ideas on the floor plan? I'm thinking it might be to narrow of a boat to do the full length rod lockers. It would make the sides have a much more finished look though. Anyone else have any ideas/ suggestions for the interior?

I am going to be picking up a couple 4x8 sheets of aluminum after Christmas so I want to have our plan ironed out.

I've told the owner of the boat to check into the thread. Maybe if he uses some of his computer literacy he will make an account and throw his 2 cents in.

 

[herefishy]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

I am going to be picking up a couple 4x8 sheets of aluminum after Christmas so I want to have our plan ironed out.

Hi Pauly. Typically the aluminum will be in 12' sheets. For decks (flat surfaces) getting the hard aluminum is best - I purchased it being referred to as "marine grade". I could get the numbers on the different metals that I use - I'm not that versed in it.

If you are going to bend any sheetmetal, you won't be able to bend the "marine grade" (hard) stuff. When you purchase if from a reputable metals warehouse, let 'em know if you're going to bend it or not, or your intended use of the material - they are usually very helpful is my experience.

Cheers!

~Fishy

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

EDIT: I think this is what you're talking about. http://www.princessauto.com/pal/product/8251274/Sanding-And-Surface-Con%27g/5-pk-4-1/2-Surface-Conditioning-Discs
I have those in 2 inch for my 90 deg die grinder but I have never seen them for a grinder. Learn something new everyday.

If you go with these discs don't use the brown (too coarse) and be careful with the burgundy, the gray takes a little longer but isn't as apt to divit the aluminum.

 

[milliondollartinny]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

Hey iboats! its my first time working on a boat resto project, wait, any resto project. Needless to say my bud Paulywally has already mentioned im not the handiest guy around but am willing to get my hands on and dirty with pretty much any project. It has just begun and i can already sense the dollars flying, excited however feel i may hit a million dollars on this labor of love. lol. So there's my 2 cents Pauly. Where do we go from here?

 

[paulywally]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

Hi Pauly. Typically the aluminum will be in 12' sheets. For decks (flat surfaces) getting the hard aluminum is best - I purchased it being referred to as "marine grade". I could get the numbers on the different metals that I use - I'm not that versed in it.

If you are going to bend any sheetmetal, you won't be able to bend the "marine grade" (hard) stuff. When you purchase if from a reputable metals warehouse, let 'em know if you're going to bend it or not, or your intended use of the material - they are usually very helpful is my experience.

Cheers!

~Fishy

Thanks for the insight fishy. One of the boys on the project is a tig welder. Hopefully we can convince him to bring his suitcase tig over for any welds that will be visible so we don't have to bend. I don't have a brake big enough. Was planning on 5052 for the material and 5356 for the wire and or tig rods.

If you go with these discs don't use the brown (too coarse) and be careful with the burgundy, the gray takes a little longer but isn't as apt to divit the aluminum.

Thanks for the tip jign, I can imagine these can get away on you pretty fast, because even the two inch ones I use will take off alot of material if your not to careful. I think there is one that is extra fine (blue)? I will definetley take that into consideration, I probably wouldn't have gave it too much thought if you didn't bring it to my attention.

Hey iboats! its my first time working on a boat resto project, wait, any resto project. Needless to say my bud Paulywally has already mentioned im not the handiest guy around but am willing to get my hands on and dirty with pretty much any project. It has just begun and i can already sense the dollars flying, excited however feel i may hit a million dollars on this labor of love. lol. So there's my 2 cents Pauly. Where do we go from here?

I think we got to put in our order with blair (the welder) for a couple sheets of al.

 

[herefishy]

Re: Just another Tinny Resto

I don't have a brake big enough. Was planning on 5052 for the material and 5356 for the wire and or tig rods.

I bent .125" (1/8") 5052 in my brake rated 18ga. mild steel. Mind you, it took one guy with a breakfast of wheaties (or two guys without) to bend up to 70" bits, but we did it. I made my console out of 5052. The 5356 rod is good all-purpose - that's what I used.

What I was talking about - Hard aluminum for flat decks - is 6061-T6.

Regards,

~Fishy