My First project boat. Tips Idea's appriciated. Larson Flyer

[swflhummer]

Here's my long intro, read if you will.

My name is Clayton, I'm 18, in Fort myers, FL. I have always done automotive stereo overhauls, paint correction, custom builds, old german car restorations (latest one is a 1958 Mercedes 180b), and anything that has to do with tasteful customizing on cars/trucks. Well, my buddy picked this Larson Flyer up for $500 (what you see is what we got. Except no wiring, and motor wasn't mounted) and I told him I would work on it with my basic knowledge. and it went from just getting the motor running to just doing the entire boat. Now im addicted. I dont think this will stop.

I have always been big on watersports and fishing. I have a 17" Dusky Center Console, dad has a 21ft Tige wakeboard/skii boat that I use, but I wont say its mine since he pays for it.




Here's when we got it, but unfortunately, this is one of only few before Pictures I have. As you can somewhat tell, the bottom of it was all brown/green (from old paint). The white was as "powdery" as it gets.

Here is a half and half picture of a product I tried, but did not work very well.

Keep notice of all the green paint under the motor here

 

[swflhummer]

Re: Starting young, First project boat. Guidance appriciated!!

Re: Starting young, First project boat. Guidance appriciated!!

here is the interior gutted out, with all the old carpet pulled up

Here is what im at currently after discovering a hull cleaner called off and on that does a decent job!

 

[swflhummer]

Re: Starting young, First project boat. Guidance appriciated!!

Re: Starting young, First project boat. Guidance appriciated!!

Tomorrow, I will be picking up Carpet, and Vinyl to start doing the interior. I can manage carpet but I have a friend who will be coming to teach me how to sew. So I want to learn how to redo the seats. Its no fun when you say so and so did it. That doesn't make it a very good project!

I took apart a few of the seats and looks to be very simple. the only challenging part I see is getting the green stripes, on the white seats perfectly even. I've been thinking and have not come up with a good plan yet. Suggestions appriciated.

 

[produceguy]

Re: My First project boat. Tips Idea's appriciated. Larson Flyer

Looking at your pics your boat looks blue and white or maybe even black and white but not green. Just had to say I really think it is a slick looking boat and for the price you payed, I think you got a great deal. Keep up the good work. I really like the paint job.

 

[swflhummer]

Re: My First project boat. Tips Idea's appriciated. Larson Flyer

Well there was that coating under the boat to keep barnicals (spell check) and grime from salt water sticking to it. the Majority of it came off after work. Thats why you dont see it.

After some work:

 

[swflhummer]

Re: My First project boat. Tips Idea's appriciated. Larson Flyer

Then I got started on the inside today! (I sanded down everything before I layed the carpet down to insure the glue stuck well)

Before:

After:

We decided to go with a dark blue. We will do some details in the same color with it also along with the matching stripes and what not on the seats. Should look pretty good. For someone that has never messed with boats, I believe it is not coming out too shabby! So far we are at $900

 

[produceguy]

Re: My First project boat. Tips Idea's appriciated. Larson Flyer

I see the green. Were did you get the carpet? Looks good.

 

[1fishbone]

Re: My First project boat. Tips Idea's appriciated. Larson Flyer

What did you use to take off the bottom paint?
Nice work!

 

[swflhummer]

Re: My First project boat. Tips Idea's appriciated. Larson Flyer

I used on and off hull cleaner. I had trouble finding it and then I went to Bass pro and they had it.

It says use a sponge to put it on... That was a fail. I got a spray bottle, sprayed it on, let it soak for about 2 minutes, then got a scraper and just scraped the majority of it off. THEN get a sponge with on and off on it and just wipe the rest off. Get a water hose, spray it all down and ur done (wipe dry if ya want too).

I highly recommend not spraying while the wind is blowing. It will kill you slowly and my god it hurts. lol

I got the carpet from a local boat supply store, Scotties Canvas and Marine Outfitters . I went today and finished gluing the last of the carpet and pulled that little board up, cut the finger holes out and put the inserts in. I forgot to take pictures but ill get some tonight or tomorrow.
My next trip is to get the vinyl to reapholster the seats. Now this is where it will be challenging but luckily I have a friend who took sewing classes and she will be coming over to guide me on that one!

 

[swflhummer]

Re: My First project boat. Tips Idea's appriciated. Larson Flyer

Got the board in the middle done, like I said with the little holes to pull it up

Then I got bored of doing carpet and ran out of things to do and got this idea...
All I gotta do now is pull the gauges out and pull the plate off and paint it. Ill probably do the rings on the cup holders too.

The picture does it no justice. It has a lighter blue flake in it so when the sun hits it really shines!

 

[Luhrs28]

Re: My First project boat. Tips Idea's appriciated. Larson Flyer

I'm totally envious of that big steel building you have to work in. Is it heated? Man that must be nice.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: My First project boat. Tips Idea's appriciated. Larson Flyer

Please tell me that before you sank ALL that money and effort into the boat that you thoroughly checked the deck, substructure, and transom to ensure that they did NOT need to be rebuilt before you started this work!!!

I'm just sayin...

 

[swflhummer]

Re: My First project boat. Tips Idea's appriciated. Larson Flyer

Yeap. Not a single crack or soft spot on the entire boat. Theres a guy that works at the shop next door to ours and he has restored acouple of boats and I had him look at everything. Luckily the only wood on that entire boat was in the center and it was composite so he said that it does not rot or something but thats one person that told me so idk.

But the Hull is in great shape. but even the old wiring was all in great shape, but it wasn't the right one so I had to redo it with the right harness.

Luhrs: Yeah man, I totally lucked out on this shop! My buddy's dad leased it to put construction equiptment in, but he just decided to keep everything at the job sites and never used the building and gave the keys to me and him to do what ever with!!!!!! When ever I get a automotive lift and a loud speakers in there, my dream shop will be complete!