Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

[rfevans]

Well It has officially began.. I had the Old runabout a couple of years just waiting on me and I finally started last weekend. She's a 59 14.5 ft Duracraft runabout my wife affectionately calls "pinky". Last year I did get her up and running and took her out a few times and had a ball. I gave her a good going over last year before I splashed her all was well. The transom is great condition and there's no other wood in the boat other than the seat backs and they will have to be redone. With that said the process of stripping her of all the hardware has started. This weekend if the the weather acts right I'll remove the rest of the hardware and pull the engine. Monday she has a date with a soda blaster at a local shop that's where the fun begins. I've been reading old tin restore's here for a week or two to gather as much info as I can. The plan is when I get her back from soda blasting is to prep for painting. I've noticed theres two methods most of you guys use here so I am looking for pointers here. I cant find alumiprep or alodine anywhere local I have been to every paint store in the county including automotive paint stores so I may have to go the other route. I could be looking in the wrong places so you guys please let me know on that. Paints are another thing have not decided which way to go there either and this will be my weak point on the restore. I have a good paint gun and a airless rig as well but from what I've read here the airless do not work well. The other thing is I am not sure what to expect when I get back from blasting anyone with that experience please chime in. Once I get past the paint aspect of things I'll be in good shape just not sure of myself on this. We are going to try to keep her as original as possible with a couple of exceptions. The old cable systems got a go just don't trust it and I have a teleflex system for it. Paint will go back original stripping wise but pinky may get a name change lol...Engine wise it has a 59 Merc Mark 35A that's in excellent shape but I have 4 other engines that could go on her as well but that will come later. With that I'm leaving it up to you guys for tips and tricks....Let me know what you think any and all posts welcome. Here's a pic of what I am starting with..Thanks in advance.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

Welcome to the iboats dry dock, tin division........... :tinfoil3:

Lots of good tin info over in the Starcraft owner's forum, and the SC project thread.

As for aluminum prep after blasting, all I can offer info-wise is prep, prep, prep......

Acid wash (vinegar & water 50/50) & a rinse {which is a less aggressive(less thorough too may be) process then YD's suggested steps you mention that you can't find}

Then make sure it's really dry before shooting self-etching or Zinc Chromate primer on bare aluminum. Followed by more prep & shooting a metal primer before any topcoats.

Yacht Dr's aluminum prep thread is a great resource, and has lots of good info.

How to properly paint your boat will also depend on if it's stored on the trailer or kept in the water longer then a few days or an occasional long weekend. It makes a difference.

 

[rfevans]

Re: Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

Thanks for the reply JB she'll be a trailer queen for the most part. I have been looking at easy epoxy and bright side for my paint and I see a lot of fowlks useing Tractor Supply paint as well witch I am pretty familar with. Have not found a supply for the self etching or zinc chromate yet either will be looking today. I do have a local napa that I could order the Z C from but seems like it will take a lot rattle cans to prime a boat. How much would I need to do that with a rattle cans?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

The good news about using ZC or SE paint is that it only 'needs' to be applied as a light coat:

If the hull's been blasted & all of the paint has been removed, I'd estimate the amount of hull (approx sq ft) and get 1 & 1/2 times the amount of rattle cans the manufacturer claims the SE/ZC rattle can covers. Maybe twice that amount. You can return the unused cans, and I rather too much then not enough to finish.....

You can use the advanced search function from the restoration home page & search for: Painting bare aluminum. You'll get LOTS of hits, so plenty of info to get Ole' Pink painted..

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

That hull is super cool and that Merc even cooler! Good luck with your project.

 

[rfevans]

Re: Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

Thanks JB for the tips and you as well ezmobee I think she's cool too..I've been stripping her down today and got a lot done just for being by myself hard to get those tiny flat head screws out by yourself when they've been on there 50 + years. I had been soaking with pb blaster for a week in prep for today and its paying off. The son in laws are coming over tomorrow for a little strip party so to speak tomorrow and will have it completed. All this leads to a question guys the navigation light fixtures that are chromed mine are blistered and a little corroded looking but are in great shape other wise what do you guys do to clean them up? I would not be beyond having them re-chromed if I could find some where to do it.Really only three pieces. Anyways here is a couple of pics of the lights I'm talking about. Oh and I've been reading bunches of starcraft restores here you guys have done bang up jobs with those...

 

[rfevans]

Re: Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

Oh and one more thing I did finally find some SE primer bought 2 quarts I think that should be plenty but I'm waffling on paint now.. I am actually thinking of using Flu-Thane 2K instead of what I posted earlier. I found a couple of people here have used it and my paint guy highly recommends it. Well all for now...Thanks always...

 

[GT1000000]

Re: Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

Nice tinny, rfevans...

Looks like you could also go for the polished aluminum finish with maybe a paint finish below the waterline, after stripping it down...

I know, I know...crazy talk...lots of upkeep, but it sure would look snazzy...

The above pics are from here...http://forums.iboats.com/starcraft-boats/1987-16-ss-528421.html

Good luck and have fun refinishing.
GT1M

 

[rfevans]

Re: Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

Thanks GT 1000000 I actually thought about that I'm kinda torn between staying original and updating or modernizing per say Im still up in the air about that. I really like the polished look they really look sweet that way. I cant say just how good a shape this hull is in. I was all over it today and there is not one gouge,dent, ding ect just faded oxidized paint. I'll just have to see how it comes back from blasting to decide what to do. I really don't think its had much time in the water at all. I'm having trouble finding color pics of the 50's duracrafts to see what other colors they used. I am not painting it pink like it was originally even tho my wife liked it..lol. Anyone with any old duracrafts of pics of old durcrafts please chime in....Thanks

 

[rfevans]

Re: Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

Well got her stripped today and Pinky got a half way bath going to get a good one tomorrow. Here's pics of what I got done. Had a ball today messing with her.

 

[rfevans]

Re: Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

Ok guys I need a little help here. Pinky is at the blaster's as we speak and in the mean time I have managed to find Alumi prep and Alodine I ended up getting a gallon on each I also have 2 quarts of SEM SE primer. This is where I'm confused my plan was to 220 grit sand when I got the boat home clean with acetone and let dry then Alumi prep rinse well then shoot a coat of SEM SE let dry and then regular prime. Is this over kill or wrong or what. I have read so many different options on this I am confused. After I get past this stage I am home free on the rest I think. Thanks

 

[briangcc]

Re: Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

For your light fixtures, you're correct, they'll need to be re-chromed. From what you're showing, they're pot metal castings. Basically the manufacturer in a cost cutting effort took all the scrap metal, tossed it into a pot, melted it down and poured your castings. Over time, the different metals "work" its way out giving you that lovely finish you currently have. Any metal chromer who's good at their craft can correct that for you. It'll be stripped, any pits filled with lead, buffed and chromed - I'm over simplifying the process but you get the picture...

Muscle Car on Spike last week showed how pot metal is re-chromed so it can be done back to show quality finish. If you don't get any replies here for good chromers, head on over to Hemmings Motor News and check out their services section. There's a few chromers listed that I'm sure would be happy to take on your job.


BTW: That's a nice looking boat. Any chance the "pink" was originally red and just faded out over time? If so, plan on putting it back to red??

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

Many @iboats & another boat forum have mentioned how hard it is to find a chrome guy that'll re-chrome pot metal, so if you have good luck w/ one or know 1, post their info......

 

[rfevans]

Re: Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

Thanks Briangcc I thought it might have been red too but it turns out under the boat hardware the colors originally were a apricot and cream color that's the best i can describe it and that it had faded to pink and white. I am actually thinking of putting it back that way now but I had also thought of blue and white as well going back original on the stripes. I had given up on finding original colors till I got hardware off and had already matched a 50s Chevy blue paint to the vinyl but haven't bought any of it yet. I'm definitely keeping in the 50s color scheme tho. Red has been talked much about too I am in Arkansas and a Arkansas Razorback fan so red's in the picture still for sure. Big thing now is just getting primed right and then worry about color at that point.

JBcurt00 I have actually found a guy in northwest arkansas that said he would take on the job of the re-chroming. I don't know much about him other than someone here that restores a lot of cars that I know recommended him. I called him and he seemed knowledgeable and he had me send him pics of what I had. He said he could do it but it won't be cheap for sure. But I think its worth it on the bow light for sure and probably my duracraft emblems. He is suppose to quote me after I ship to him but did give me a ball park figure. I'll Pass that info on when I see how it turns out. Thanks guys for the posts

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

Sounds like you've got the chroming figured out, great.....


After posting this:

Many @iboats & another boat forum have mentioned how hard it is to find a chrome guy that'll re-chrome pot metal, so if you have good luck w/ one or know 1, post their info......

I think it may have been a problem w/ powdercoating pot metal, not chrome. But if you've found a guy willing to re-chrome the parts & pieces, it's certainly worth giving him a shot. Let us know...

 

[briangcc]

Re: Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

Hmm...Barnes Metal Finishing in Medina NY is one that's local to me that I know does pot metal. Buddy of mine has a '66 C10 stepside shortbed and had his dash bezel (pot metal) re-chromed. Came out very well - sorry no pics, its not mine afterall

But anyway enough of the hijack...let's get some more work done on that boat of yours

 

[rfevans]

Re: Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

Ok been really busy and have not had time to post much but got Tons done....After many hours prep work after getting "Pinky" blasted here's the fruits of my labor...And if anyone is intrested here's my paint process...After prep work was completed I used Dupont's version of 133 and alodine then Sem self etching primer, 3 coats of Nason Primer and 3 quarts of Nason Ful-Thane 2K Urethane the color is creamy white about the same as Cloud White on the Merc. That part was not cheap but don't want a do this again for a long time...Very Happy with the results so far considering it was my first paint job looks like glass on top... I learned a lot mostly with the help from here and the weather has not been kind to me at all. I did have on advantage I did all my prep work here at the house and then used a buddy's paint booth for painting helped a ton. Here's on piece of advice I'll give if this was to do over again I would not blast unless doing it myself. The blaster's ruined one of my boat tags even after I told them not to blast that area and I had gorilla tape stuck over it....In hind sight I would drilled the rivets out and re installed the tag latter. But the one good thing came from that the owner was so mad at his help about it that he's going to powder coat the trailer for free so I can't really beat that...Well here she is...Let me know what you think....I taped the rub rails off to be polished later.The one pic has both my 59s in its a 59 glaspar avalon...

 

[gm280]

Re: Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

I love to see progress in pictures. Looks like you are on your way to a very nice outfit. Glad you are doing this the correct way as well. You are not band-aiding it... I'll be watching your results along the way... Very nice thus far...

 

[rfevans]

Re: Our 1st Restore "Ole Pinky"

Thanks GM for the compliment lot a hardwork to get to here. The right way depends on who you talk too I've found out I think I probably overkilled mine but I don't think overkill is a bad thing. The main thing is good prep will shine thru as everyone has stated. My problem was to much learning and not enough knowing. Started with my upholstery learning as I go on that as well.