My 1981 Malibu 16'8 CC restomod

[SBTOM]

Re: My 1981 Malibu 16'8 CC restomod

Good progress! About that 90 heat... that must suck! What were you catalyzing the resin at? 1%?

 

[Signal 20]

Re: My 1981 Malibu 16'8 CC restomod

Good progress! About that 90 heat... that must suck! What were you catalyzing the resin at? 1%?

I have been making 16oz batches at a time. And I add 1/8th oz of MEKP. I have been getting around 15 minutes before it starts to gel. I tried to make a 32oz batch to cut down on pouring time and using up measuring cups, however I got about half way through the batch and it gelled in the container and I had to throw it out.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: My 1981 Malibu 16'8 CC restomod

I am really trying to stay as motivated as possible as the fishing weather is getting very nice and I'm tired of hearing fishing stories from my friends while I'm stuck at home with a 45% completed boat project. I need to be on the water

I hear ya there...it's not exactly warm here in Michigan yet but it's warm enough to take the boat out. I've got another week or two on my SS and I can't wait to get her wet.

Have you run that Merc on muffs at all? I had mine running a few weeks ago and I think she will get lots of time this summer.

Keep up the great work!

 

[Signal 20]

Re: My 1981 Malibu 16'8 CC restomod

I hear ya there...it's not exactly warm here in Michigan yet but it's warm enough to take the boat out. I've got another week or two on my SS and I can't wait to get her wet.

Have you run that Merc on muffs at all? I had mine running a few weeks ago and I think she will get lots of time this summer.

Keep up the great work!

I'm alittle afraid to run it on that stand I built. I built it kind of fast and its not the best construction ever haha. anyways, I took the boat out before I started cutting into it and the motor ran ok. The water pump needs work as it stoped peeing water 100 yards from the ramp and i turned around and rushed back real quick before i got stranded. The motor will probably need a complete tune up, however I havent checked the compression, i'm keeping my fingers crossed that it just needs alittle work.

 

[Signal 20]

Re: My 1981 Malibu 16'8 CC restomod

I need some advice on the next part of my project. Before I start the deck I wanted to take care of 4 holes in the side of the hull. They were used as a cheap live well system. You could pull the bottom plug to fill the live well then pull the top one so it would not overflow. They are on both sides of the boat. THE BOTTOM HOLE IS BELOW THE WATER LINE AND TOP IS ABOVE WATER LINE.

anyways I cut out the livewells and dont plan on using them anymore and I want to fill up the holes. Whats the best way to go about that?

Outside view of the livewell holes

Inside view, I grinded away alittle on the top one as you can see.

Is the best way to start from the inside with CSM or fairing compound? And what is the best way to add gelcoat to the outside to match the rest of the hull?

 

[SBTOM]

Re: My 1981 Malibu 16'8 CC restomod

My two cents:
You are on the right track with the grinding. I think the general rule of thumb is that you should taper out to 3x the diameter of the holes. Since you have good acess to the backside of the holes, you might as well do a full repair rather than using fillers, plugs, etc.

Next, you are going to want to get yourself a nice smooth piece of plastic or metal sheet. Mold release the surface and tape it to the outside of the hull so that it covers up the hole. Then start with gelcoat and work back through a few layers of glass until you have the thickness that you need.

 

[Signal 20]

Re: My 1981 Malibu 16'8 CC restomod

I was able to finish glassing in the stringers and I fabricated the bilge area out of 1/2" plywood. I then glued the bilge sections to the hull with PL Poly. I just about ran out of the 5 gallon pail of resin already so I had to order another 5 gallon pail from US Composites which should be here tomorrow (monday). Once I get that and the PL Poly cues I will start measuring and cutting the deck out.

I'm pretty happy about how its turning out for being my first experience fiberglassing. Honestly the only thing that is bothering me is I have some areas of "dry" glass on the stringers where I probably should have used more resin, however I am not going to grind out the brand new glass and start again. I am just going to deal with it since the deck will be completely sealed.

-----you can also see that I drilled out the holes to mount the outboard. I plan on mixing up some West System G2 flex epoxy and I am going to try and seal the holes so I can just be done with the transom until its time to paint or gelcoat.

 

[osborn159]

Re: My 1981 Malibu 16'8 CC restomod

hey man just wondering how your coming along. havent heard anything in a while. i know what you mean mixing and trying to glass in this 90deg weather i was hoping to be done with it by now, but had a set back in my personal life that has kept me from working on the boat for the last 45 days. bout ready to get back on it, but will be working in the evenings to avoid the blistering heat
hope all is well with you and yours, Dennis

 

[Signal 20]

Re: My 1981 Malibu 16'8 CC restomod

****UPDATE****

I have been doing a good amount of work on the boat in the last couple days. I finished a final layer of CSM on the stringers and decided I am done with the stringers!! That was a milestone, glassing the stringers was a huge pain and I'm glad Im done.

I spent some time making thickened resin with cabosil and glass ballons and I sanded the front bow area smooth, filled in some holes from the old bow rails that I wont be using, then smoothed it out with the thickened resin, then sanded it smooth again. It looks awesome!!

I cut my first piece of deck out of 1/2" exterior plywood and glued it to the stringers using 5200. I baught a brand new Carolina Skiff console from Marine Surplus for $200 (I felt it was a good deal). I then cut cut 2 holes under the console and in the back bilge area that I am going to run PVC from to use as cable chases and livewell plumbing chases.

I will follow with pics of that.

Here is how it currently looks, the console is NOT secured to the deck yet, obviously it wont be until the deck is glasses and painted, I just needed it positioned so I could see where to cut the holes for the cable chases.

 

[tallcanadian]

Re: My 1981 Malibu 16'8 CC restomod

So far so good. It's looking very nice. I love the new centre console. Very nice.

 

[Signal 20]

Re: My 1981 Malibu 16'8 CC restomod

I made cable chases that will come up under the center console, run under the deck, then come out at the bilge area....I made 2 because I wanted to use 2" pvc pipe and figured 1 wouldnt hold everything I need. I'm planning on running the steering cable, throttle cables, battery cables and all wiring to the back of the boat in 1 pipe....and live well piping in the other.
I used 2" couplers at the top so I can leave it open, or if I only end up using 1 of the chases I can cap the other and seal it off until I need it.

 

[jlangleyrn]

Re: My 1981 Malibu 16'8 CC restomod

Does anyone know if this project was ever completed? I have an identical boat that has had the same work done to it and am just about to start the final stages of putting it back together , and would love to see how this project turned out.