Saf-T-Mate Rebuild? Worth it?

[Boomyal]

Re: Saf-T-Mate Rebuild? Worth it?

ooooooooooh, yer in for it now! Now the fun begins, especially if you like crafting. From the apparent condition of the rest of the boat you will have a real gem when you are done. That is, of course, assuming you do it right. Hope you have kids, cause you'll be makin an heirloom. <br /><br />You are certainly in the right place to pick up all the tricks and techniques.

 

[Indymike]

Re: Saf-T-Mate Rebuild? Worth it?

Great photos RR but you cheat. You have a set of rollers I don't. hehe. The inners on your boat look alot like mine.<br /> photos <br />To answer your original question, yes it will be worth it. But then I'm one who enjoys the journey.<br />The few times I've had mine out it was a blast. Wifey likes it too. Enjoy.<br />Thanks, Mike

 

[Winger Ed.]

Re: Saf-T-Mate Rebuild? Worth it?

Sell it 'as is' or keep it and fix it.<br /><br />If you fix it and then sell it--- <br /><br />You'll have worked your transom off for about 12 cents an hour, so someone else can enjoy that great little boat.<br /><br />////////<br /><br />If its a boat that does the sort of boating you like to do,,,<br /><br />Fix it right, and keep it. Then you'll get to enjoy the fruits of your labor for the next 20 years.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Saf-T-Mate Rebuild? Worth it?

Well, I am not sure if anyone is interested in this project anymore or not. <br /><br />I also hate to bring an old post back from the dead but I have made some progress and thought I would share.<br /><br />I have been pretty busy since the weather has been decent. I will get more pics soon. I have the strings cut and ready to place in the hull. I hope to do this in the next few days. <br /><br />I have posted just a few links of the hull before the stringers are in.<br /><br />You will notice a bit of fresh glass right at the bow. I just wanted to helpe give that area as much strength as possible. I have had very little time to work on this and made the decision to make this restoration partial. I therefore admit to not being as thorough as I wanted to be. I have no reason to believe that the transom is rotted and I am not going to even consider it at this point. If I get even 5 years use out of the boat that will be good for me. I am also primarily looking at this as a learning experience. I hope to build a boat from scratch at some point so this should give me a pretty good foundation of knowledge to work from.<br /><br /> http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/rupertjamal/Saf-T-Mate/100_2558.jpg <br /><br /> http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/rupertjamal/Saf-T-Mate/100_2557.jpg <br /><br /> http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v254/rupertjamal/Saf-T-Mate/100_2554.jpg <br /><br />I'll have more pics with the stringers soon.<br /><br />Thanks for all of the help and guidance. I have been reading a lot of the restoration posts over the past few months.

 

[AMD Rules]

Re: Saf-T-Mate Rebuild? Worth it?

Looks great.... keep up the fine work. As for interest...I really enjoy reading and looking at photos of items people are working on. To see them through to completion is tough.... deserving of respect. Please continue to post updates as you progress. Thumbs-up.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Saf-T-Mate Rebuild? Worth it?

I was wondering what happened to that boat. I must have missed the follow up posts. <br /><br />Nice work cleaning up the hull. That is going to be one hot little number when your done. Especially in that color. Does the term "chick magnet" apply to boats?

 

[fishingdan]

Re: Saf-T-Mate Rebuild? Worth it?

That will be a nice boat when complete. <br /><br />Some questions/comments:<br /><br />Were you able to use the old stringers and floor as templates for the new structures? This will make things much easier. <br /><br />The location of the stringers is also very important. Do your best to install the stringers in the original locations. <br /><br />What were the original stringers made of? Obviously, it is important that the new stringers be at least of equal strength. <br /><br />How do you plan to attach the stringers to the hull/transom? Sole to Stringers? Do you plan to use structural fiberglass cloth (biaxial or heavy woven roving cloth)?<br /><br />Make sure that any wood surfaces get 2 coats of epoxy to encapsulate them and protect them from future water problems. <br /><br />Keep us posted and keep up the good work. <br /><br />Dan

 

[bnk999]

Re: Saf-T-Mate Rebuild? Worth it?

Love the boat!! Especially that color-- I have a similiar runabout -how many ft?

 

[Indymike]

Re: Saf-T-Mate Rebuild? Worth it?

Looks great RR. If you you recall I have a similar project comming along as well. Keep us posted. Wish my gelcoat was in as good of shape as yours.

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Saf-T-Mate Rebuild? Worth it?

Thanks everyone.<br /><br />To answer a few questions...<br /><br />I measured all of the stringers before I took them out. I was able to get a whole side one that worked nicely for a template. The center "keel" came out in pieces. I was glad to have the measurements to get pretty close with only minor ajustments needed to fit. The floor came out in several pieces. I still have most of them and I may try to piece it together to get an outline. At this point though I will probably just have to meausure and cut then trim to fit.<br /><br />The original locations will be maintained with some additions and modifications. As an engineer I think the original design was weak with wasted/unutilized material.<br /><br />Original stringers were timber. The center "keel" was 3/4". I am replacing it with 3/4" ACX. It turned out to be 1/2 the cost of Marine ply from the only local supplier. The outer stringers were just 2x4s of unknown species. I am replacing them with two pieces of 3/4" ACX laminated with epoxy resin paste and SS screws.<br /><br />The stringers are going to be attached to hull first with the same epoxy resin paste as used to laminate them. I will use this to fillet the joints and fill any uneveness in the hull. I then will use 6" biax cloth tape and laminating resin to give that joint even more stiffness. The sole will be attached with the same paste and SS screws then tape and resin around the outside joint. Then topped with at least two layers of 6oz cloth.<br /><br />I hope to get all of the wood encapsulated. I am primarily concerned about the bottom of the sole. I am on a budget though....<br /><br />Some general info on the boat it is a Saf-T-Mate. It was made in Cadillac, Michigan and is the predecessor to the Four Winns brand. The Winn's bought the company and started with the same molds that had been used by Saf-T-Mate. It is a 15' boat. I am not sure which model it is. They had several with the same hull and I assume slightly different interiors.<br /><br />IndyMike,<br /><br />I have been looking at your recent pictures. You have really done what I wish I had the time to do. It really is the proper way to restore a boat. These boats seem to be pretty rare. I guess that means one of two things, not a lot were made or not a lot survived. I think it is the latter since the construction was sub-par in my opinion.<br /><br />I guess some of the pictures don't show some of the scars the boat has. It has had some repairs that really need attention again. I am hoping that I won't regret closing up the floor before I can get the boat off the trailer and rolled to get at them. I am also planning to leave about a 6-8" gap between the floor and the transom. This is for two reasons. The first to address one of the original design flaws. There was absolutely no way to get the water out of the bilge. This is the main reason this boat rotted so bad. The second is for the sake of being able to at a later date split the hull and top and dig into the transom. I would hate to have to undo the work I am doing at this time. Some of it still may need to be redone but I think I can minimize it this way.<br /><br />Thanks again everyone. I will be taking more pictures at some point to post.

 

[Realgun]

Re: Saf-T-Mate Rebuild? Worth it?

Might I suggest a website to ya? You can post a how I and pictures on the www.shareaproject.com site it would make it easier to see.

 

[kmk_7110]

Re: Saf-T-Mate Rebuild? Worth it?

I think I have the same exact boat as you but mine is in much worse shape. I thank you for posting pictures so that tells me that the stringers in my floor are original, but with a crappy nonoriginal floor put over it. My boat is white and I will need to split mine for sure and do some hull work. You got a lucky steal there. Congrats. Keep me posted as to what you do with your boat.