Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

[jonesg]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

have you given any thought toward wiring, windshield wiper, nav light etc before the finish goes on.

a coat hanger, bent to the correct desired shape, in a soldering gun will cut perfect channels in foam. Probably too late for that idea.
A pvc pipe with teeth cut into the end can be drilled into the foam , after the foam core is pushed out of the tube reinstall the tube to run wiring.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

The electric needed for the top will be one or two windshield wipers, and interior lights. I may have to re-locate the stern "all around light" to the roof of the hard top to meet CG regs. I was planning on running wires through split side conduit, and covering the inside with padded vinyl to hide it all. If I ever get that far!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Today I took out my 7" sander/polisher and started sanding down some of the areas where the 1708 biax overlapped. The sand disk didn't last too long, so I went to three different stores to get 7" hook and loop sanding disks. Guess what? No 7" hook and loop sanding disks!!!! Grrrrr. Went online, and can't find them either. What's going on here?

So I had to settle for the 6" disk in a drill. Not as good, but will have to do unless I buy a new sander that takes a different style 7" disk.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

The only place I've been able to find 7 inch hook and loop discs for my harbor freight sander is harbor freight. So I bought a bunch there.

I'm sure I could order online from eg. mcmaster-carr or similar, but I might just change the disc on the sander to something more common.

Erik

 

[Mark42]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Got some time this weekend to work on the top. Right now its upside down in the garage so I can glass in the ceiling. About 2/3 of the interior (windshield frame, side walls and about a foot of the front and rear of the roof) are done in 1708 for strength. The remaining area, where the wood braces are, was done in the 6oz to save weight. It is obviously not nearly as strong as the 1708, but all it has to do is keep the kids from pushing their fingers into the foam

Also, the very bottom of the top, where it contacts the boat was not covered with the 1708 because it is too heavy to bend around that 1/8" radius at the bottom. So I cut 6" strips of the 6oz, and covered the bottom and wrapped them up the sides about 2 inches. That should protect the wood strip in the base from any water penetration. Well, maybe a second layer is needed...

Sorry, no pictures today.

 

[ne7800]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

i so envy you guys who have garages to work on the boats in the winter

 

[Mark42]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

i so envy you guys who have garages to work on the boats in the winter

I have until about Thanksgiving to work in the garage. After that, I have to clean it all out so we can put the cars in for the snow months. Already have space in the shed to store the top until spring. With a little luck, I should have it ready for next summer.

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Nope what you guys need to do is get your wife a big a@@ truck that she cant fit in the garage !! hahahah thats how i got the garage !!! John

 

[ne7800]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Nope what you guys need to do is get your wife a big a@@ truck that she cant fit in the garage !! hahahah thats how i got the garage !!! John

and she hasn't suggested you build a bigger garage?

 

[GO OVRIT]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

and she hasn't suggested you build a bigger garage?

That could be a plus. When you trade the truck in on a more economical car, then you get the big garage.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

I finally applied the last of the 1708 and 6 oz to the inside of the top. It has put on some weight. I'm going to guess it weighs around 30 lbs.

The bottom wood strip with the threaded inserts is sealed. I plugged the holes where the threaded inserts were with paper towel and laid the glass right over them. Now I have to go back and drill out and chamfer the holes and paint a little epoxy around the newly exposed wood.

This weekend, weather permitting, serious sanding will begin. Time to put on the coveralls and respirator.

I was going to store the top in the shed for this winter, then got the idea that maybe I should just put it on the boat and put the tarp over it for the winter. Will have to see how much time I have available.

Will get some pictures this weekend if I work on it.

 

[oops!]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Today I took out my 7" sander/polisher and started sanding down some of the areas where the 1708 biax overlapped. The sand disk didn't last too long, so I went to three different stores to get 7" hook and loop sanding disks. Guess what? No 7" hook and loop sanding disks!!!! Grrrrr. Went online, and can't find them either. What's going on here?

So I had to settle for the 6" disk in a drill. Not as good, but will have to do unless I buy a new sander that takes a different style 7" disk.

sorry i didnt see this post earlyer mark.......

i think harbour freight has a $70 dollar variable speed sander/polisher.....
mine is a makita........it looks like a big grinder...ill take pics tonight.

it is a 7 inch varied speed from 300 to 3000 rpm.....and for sanding and polishing....it is the cats meow.......the 6 inch on a drill thing will work....but take forever and getting it smooth will be a pain....as the drill will never be perpindicular to the surface........

i consider this tool invaluable for boat building.....if i would have had it at the start....over a month of grinding would have been knocked off the total time of the job.

as for the paper for a 7 inch....in the corse grits......up to a 120 7 inch...(the kind with a hole in the middle) or a hook and lop are readilly avalable from lordco......the kind with a hole ....even from home depot......heck....i got a bazillion left.....if it didnt cost 100 bucks to get em across the boarder you could have em...

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

and she hasn't suggested you build a bigger garage?

hahah nope dont have the room !! John

 

[Mark42]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

sorry i didnt see this post earlyer mark.......

i think harbour freight has a $70 dollar variable speed sander/polisher.....
mine is a makita........it looks like a big grinder...ill take pics tonight.

it is a 7 inch varied speed from 300 to 3000 rpm.....and for sanding and polishing....it is the cats meow.......the 6 inch on a drill thing will work....but take forever and getting it smooth will be a pain....as the drill will never be perpindicular to the surface........

i consider this tool invaluable for boat building.....if i would have had it at the start....over a month of grinding would have been knocked off the total time of the job.

as for the paper for a 7 inch....in the corse grits......up to a 120 7 inch...(the kind with a hole in the middle) or a hook and lop are readilly avalable from lordco......the kind with a hole ....even from home depot......heck....i got a bazillion left.....if it didnt cost 100 bucks to get em across the boarder you could have em...

I'm going to use the 6" w/35 and 40 grit to remove the excess where the 1708 overlaps two or thee layers deep. Then either buy or rent a belt sander. Have to see what the rental cost is for a nice big belt sander vs buying a budget priced one. I have a 4" random orbital, and a 7" Harbor Freight polisher/sander, but I think it will die if actually used as a sander.

 

[oops!]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

the belt sander wont do it.....

it digs grooves.....deep ones......no matter how lightly you try....


this is the tool im using....i think your haurbor freight is the same....

right now....its got a 7 inch flapper....(rubber) on it

the tool can be changed to a sanding disc.....(not pictured).....any thing with a 5/8ths arbour.......but the sander is a really spongy 2 inch pad.......stick a scerwdriver in the edge of the pad.....and cut it up....it will give you a soft edge.....rather than a hard sanding line.....

heres more....its a vari speed.....150 rpm....to 3000.

it is what all the pros are using

..i think your haurbor freight one is the same........it is a really versitle machine

cheers
ooops

 

[Mark42]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Thanks for all that info, oops. My sander is a Makita knock-off. I brought it to Home Depot looking to get a 7" flapper and/or arbor adaptert, but none fit my arbor. I'm not sure what size it it, guess I'll have to measure. Wonder if its some weird metric size or something.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

You don't want to sand down the overlaps too much, or into the glass to get rid of the rough pattern. If you grind off the overlap it turns into a weak butt joint and as soon as you hit glass on the rest of the surface you will start to weaken it. You need to fill everything first with an easy to sand mix, then start sanding, but not into the glass if possible.

Use a notched trowel to spread the filler, this makes sanding the surface easier because you're only sanding on half the amount of filler. Once the surface is true you can fill the grooves.

 

[i386]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Use a notched trowel to spread the filler, this makes sanding the surface easier because you're only sanding on half of the amount of filler. Once the surface is true you can fill the groves.

Brilliant! I will probably put that advice to work in later stages.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

Great advice. Guess I'm going to have to buy a couple more gallons of epoxy to make fairing compound.

I measured the polisher. The arbor is larger than 1/2" and smaller than 5/8". Just a hair larger than half inch. I think it will be easier to just buy another cheap sander with a standard 5/8" arbor so I can get the attachments I need.

 

[zach103]

Re: Project "1600 Capri Hard Top" has begun!

mark we get pictures this weekend??