My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

[dixie_boysles]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

thanks man

 

[dixie_boysles]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

ttt

 

[dixie_boysles]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

Update 4/12/10:

Yesterday, the future father-in-law and I got some more work done on the boat. We framed out the front casting deck/storage area using 1x1 aluminum angle. It turned out real nice and is VERY strong. We used 3/16" x 1/2" grip aluminum rivets to hold it all together. As you can see, there is plent of bracing. I have to go this week and pick up a full sheet of 3/4" plywood to cap it off now and also to cap off the back bench. Everything that you see in wood and metal is going to have gray carpet on it. Im also going to carpet the inside under the casting deck in the storage area so that when things are in there, they aren't banging on metal.

To do this now:

-mount plywood for casting deck (all plywood will fiberglassed for waterproofing)
-mount plywood on back bench so i can securely mount a swivel seat
-carpet entire inside of boat (excluding the area behind back bench)
-install both seats
-wire up fishfinder and running lights
-have front of boat reinforced with 1 1/4" aluminum tubing (you can see where we had to cut the old reinforcing off because it was ragged.)
-paint boat
paint trailer

so as you can see, we've made alot of progress, but still have alot to do

 

[dixie_boysles]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

UPDATE: 5/18/2010

finally an update. Not a big one, but an update none the less. Work slowed down on the ol' boat this past month. Finally able to get back to it. I attacked the front of the boat yesterday. Whoever owned the boat before me was a fukin idiot. They tried to fix the front they hacked up with the wrong type of welder and it was really awful looking. You can see where I had to cut the front gunwhale off as it was pretted effed up. I had to get the boat ready for the welder for the last time. Where the gunwhale was, I am having a 1 1/4" diameter aluminum pipe put there. The welder is going to mill a slit the length of the pipe and cap if over where i had to cut the old gunwhale off. and then tie it into the side gunwhales making it really strong. Then where that front bench meets the front of the boat, you can see their awful attempt at welding! i cut all that **** off. Going today to get a piec of aluminum cut to tie the front bench in back to where it was.

Before:

After:

Yes I know it looks rough, but trust me, thats the way any project starts. I just dont know what the previous owner did or was on, but that front end is messed up!

 

[dixie_boysles]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

Update: 5/19

got the front bench braced to the front of the boat today! used 16 guage aluminum sheetmetal cut to size and bent to the right angle by the local machine shop. Looks 10000000000 times better. going to the welder tomorrow to get the gunwhale (1 5/16" aluminum pipe) capped over that sheetmetal and tied into the side gunwhales.

 

[dixie_boysles]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

UPDATE 5/26/09:

Picked the boat up yesterday with a new gunwale on the front! I looks awesome! I had to have it mad in two pieces as I went to like 5 different places looking for a 1 1/4" pipe that was long enough. Fianlly found some, but it wasnt long enough. But he had one long piece and one short piece. So I had him piece it together. Where the weld it, i will grind it smooth and it all gets painted, so it will look fine. I must say the front of the boat is STRONG again!

That means this week (probably saturday) I will put it up on some sawhorses and epoxy 4 slow leaky rivets. Then i will pick up a can of Nason (by dupont) etching primer from O'Reilly's (good stuff) and prime any bare metal spots. Then in a week or two, Ill wash her good and then paint her flat grey!

 

[dixie_boysles]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

alright I have an update!!!!!!!!!

took the boat to my friend's body shop today. We turned it upside down, I cleaned it with miniral spirits or something, then wiped it down with a tack cloth. Then primed it with etching primer on any bare aluminum surfaces. then wiped it with a tack cloth again. Then he showed me how to use the gun by applying the first coat. Then i applied two more coats while wiping with tack cloth between coats. It turned out amazing! I used Parker Coatings Bay Grey Duck Boat paint and I couldnt be more impressed with the covereage and the quality of the paint.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

Looking good DB, as far as your primer goes, take my advice and prime the entire hull. Other have not and have regretted it. Make sure and use Self Etching primer and give the hull a vinegar bath prior to applying the primer. Let the primer dry for 24 hours minium then give it a light sanding with a scotch brite pad before your first coat of paint.

I'm just sayin...

 

[dixie_boysles]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

UPDATE:

Alright, I intalled a new Bow Eyelet that I bought from iboats.com. I backed it with a 1/4" thick piece of aluminum plate so that it is even stronger.

Also as you can see, where the paint is still soft, i rubbed off some paint Going to fix that soon. I hope this paint hardens up good!

I then placed on my new decals and numbers, but read that in NC, your numbers have to be 3", so i took them off, ordering some more today.

 

[dixie_boysles]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

UPDATE!:

 

[dixie_boysles]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

no one interested?

 

[dixie_boysles]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

did a little more work on the boat today with Sara Marie. She helped me install the two courtesy lights to the sides pieces. and she helped me to try and figure out where to put my depthfinder.

 

[westexasrepublic]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

I didnt read the text just flpied through the pix but its looking real good, i thought this was gonna be a duck boat though?

Also the front and back are just empty space under that fishing deck or is it removable for storage?

 

[dixie_boysles]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

I didnt read the text just flpied through the pix but its looking real good, i thought this was gonna be a duck boat though?

Also the front and back are just empty space under that fishing deck or is it removable for storage?

There is a hole i have yet to cut out of the carpet on the face for the access hole under the casting deck. The back bench has foam in it though

 

[dixie_boysles]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

ttt

 

[dixie_boysles]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

One of my Rod Holders came in today!!! These mount on the side of the boat during transport and to keep the rods off the floorboard of the boat:

I have one more coming next week

 

[dixie_boysles]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

a few things ive got done the past few days:

Rear light pole Socket:

Then the seat support for my rear swivel seat. My papa cut a 1/8" steel plate and drilled holes for me to go up under the wood on top of the back bench. Today i cut a pocket in the bottom of the wood for the plate and nuts to recess into. I used a skilsaw and a router.

Tomorrow the board will get carpeted and the seat will get mounted.
I also installed the front seat today to the swivel and to the pedestal but did take pics.

and here are my GREAT RodSaver SM6 side mount rod holders!

Before anyone askes, i know its over the ligth but no it will not hinder it. Im using LEDs in the lights and a little ol rod aint gonna block all that light. Those bulbs should be here soon.

After tomorrow, ALL i lack is wiring and fastening all the panels down and this boat is DONE!!!

next is the trailer painting and new bunks for it and this WHOLE project is done!!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

I like those rod savers. My boat could use a couple of those.

 

[dixie_boysles]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

thanks man

 

[emoney]

Re: My 1985 PolarKraft 1440 Restore

Looking real good! Keep up the good work.