Which to do first?

[jbcurt00]

Re: Which to do first?

I hope I can smell the fiberglass when it gets bad. I had a firecracker accident when I was a kid that left my olfactory sense a bit numb.

When you are grinding, Slim may be correct & the filter may clog & become more difficult to inhale. Excercise caution & err on the safe side, replace them as often as you can during the grinding stage. The actual fiberglass & polyester resin stage will be much more difficult for you to 'sense' that the filters need to be changed. The fumes shouldn't clog the filter in any real way to restrict inhalation, it will just lose it's ability to keep the noxious fumes away from your lungs. This is usually about the time you can 'smell' the poly fumes while you are wearing the mask. You should exercise even more caution if you have limited olfactory acuity. If it is a general limited ability to smell odors, be extremely diligent about wearing your mask and changing the filter media often. By the time you can detect the polyester smell, you may have already inhaled a higher then normal exposure to the fumes. Is it lowered ability to smell most odors, specific odors, or until the odors are what most would describe as strong that you are able to detect the odor at all?

If you are able to work in 6-10hr chunks while wearing the mask, you should consider changing the filter every time you work on the boat. In smaller work hour increments, you might replace them every 2nd or 3rd time, or at about the same time period of actual filter usage.

Compared to your health, filters are cheap. Even if replaced every 4 or 5hrs of usage.

Best of luck on your project, and I hope your stay in dry dock is short & rewarding

 

[slim6969]

Re: Which to do first?

So have you done any work to your boat yet?

 

[finx]

Re: Which to do first?

I just got back from the doctor. I'm heading to harbor freight to get some casters and and a few other odds and ends to make a cradle. The cradle should be done by tomorrow. I have to figure a way to get the boat off the trailer and onto the cradle without any help. I guess the lift I made might come in handy tomorrow.

 

[finx]

Re: Which to do first?

When you are grinding, Slim may be correct & the filter may clog & become more difficult to inhale. Excercise caution & err on the safe side, replace them as often as you can during the grinding stage. The actual fiberglass & polyester resin stage will be much more difficult for you to 'sense' that the filters need to be changed. The fumes shouldn't clog the filter in any real way to restrict inhalation, it will just lose it's ability to keep the noxious fumes away from your lungs. This is usually about the time you can 'smell' the poly fumes while you are wearing the mask. You should exercise even more caution if you have limited olfactory acuity. If it is a general limited ability to smell odors, be extremely diligent about wearing your mask and changing the filter media often. By the time you can detect the polyester smell, you may have already inhaled a higher then normal exposure to the fumes. Is it lowered ability to smell most odors, specific odors, or until the odors are what most would describe as strong that you are able to detect the odor at all?

If you are able to work in 6-10hr chunks while wearing the mask, you should consider changing the filter every time you work on the boat. In smaller work hour increments, you might replace them every 2nd or 3rd time, or at about the same time period of actual filter usage.

Compared to your health, filters are cheap. Even if replaced every 4 or 5hrs of usage.

Best of luck on your project, and I hope your stay in dry dock is short & rewarding

Thanks! Thats exactly what I was looking for. I'll change the filter after every night. they're $15.00 per replacement but it's worth it in the long run.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Which to do first?

I'm heading to harbor freight to get some casters and and a few other odds and ends to make a cradle. The cradle should be done by tomorrow. I have to figure a way to get the boat off the trailer and onto the cradle without any help. I guess the lift I made might come in handy tomorrow.

If you have the room where you will be working on the boat in the cradle, it is surprisingly easy to get the boat off the trailer. Easiest will probably be to use your lift frame to raise the stern end off the trailer, and rent an engine hoist for an afternoon~1/2day to raise the bow w/ the boy eye, from the side if possible. Then roll the trailer out, slide the cradle in. You'lll need to raise it a good bit to pull the trailer out at an angle to miss the engine hoist, your lifting frame & have the fenders miss the keel. Don't fully lift either end, as the keel may drag/bang the trailer cross braces & etc.

Use the advanced search feature on the restoration forum home page and do a cradle search, there are LOTS of options, WoodOnGlass & Andgott both made really nice mobile cradles that will do double duty on working on the hull right side up & while working on the exterior hull upside down on the cradle. They both used large diameter wheel assemblies, not exactly casters.

For sure be safe w/ the filter media changes. You might get a 2nd respirator & have someone check on you often and maybe baseline some time frames for 'reasonable' exposure to the polyester resin & fumes. And take regular fresh air breaks during grinding & resin work. Getting found face down in wet resin would but a real damper on the project.... Interesting texture & 3/4 view of your profile in relief permanently fixed in the cured resin, not withstanding.

 

[slim6969]

Re: Which to do first?

if you use your stand you made i would take it really slow from the pic it looks alright but you just never know

 

[finx]

Re: Which to do first?

ok, Do you think that I could lift the boat completely with my lift? What reinforments should i make?

I am going to push the boat back a few feet then try to use my lift to lift the whole boat up with a comealong hand winch. Is this a bad idea?

 

[slim6969]

Re: Which to do first?

in the pic you posted it looks like most of the weight will be on the front strap and might pull your stand over the strap will also get stuck on your rollers of your trailer i would put the back of the boat and center it up and lift one end at a time maybe build another stand for the front of the boat

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Which to do first?

I probably wouldn't, it wouldn't take much for it to slide in the sling or be very tippy in all directions & hard to keep evenly lifted until you get the trailer out & the new cradle under it. And esp not w/ the motor still installed. With a single attachment point mid-span on an 8' 4X4, I probably wouldn't even if the upper diagonal braces were inline with the 4X4's instead of nailed, screwed or bolted to the 4X4's sides. Lifting it from the bow & the stern it wouldn't be nearly as much weight on your gantry frame. And suspended from both ends, the low in the hull engine weight would tend to keep it from becoming tippy.

You might try to use your gantry frame & come along to pull the motor 1st as mentioned before, pull the boat out from under the motor & put the motor on a pallet or an engine stand, then revisit the lifting the boat questions.

 

[slim6969]

Re: Which to do first?

you could try putting the center of your boat under your stand and run two straps from there one going to the front one going to the back and then find a way to keep them there so they do not slip slowly pull the boat up so its not on the trailer and pull the trailer out stop half way put your cradle under the back dont know if your stand will hold the hole boat also like jb says pull the motor first less to try and pick up

 

[finx]

Re: Which to do first?

I'm going to make another gantry in front of it. 4X4's are inexpensive and i could always use the wood for another project down the road. In fact I might just use 2X4's bolted together. They're pretty strong and most of the weight is in the rear of the boat.

who knew so much engineering and building needs to take place before I even start to rip open the boat. Kinda fun.

 

[slim6969]

Re: Which to do first?

just make sure you find a way to keep your straps from slipping out from under the boat and another gantry is a good idea

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Which to do first?

If you are using a dbl 2X4 top on the gantry, keep the vertical not flat, and put a 1/2" rip of plywood between them (so they are the same width as 4X4's, and make 1/2"plywood gussets(2 for each upper corner, 4 total) & put a 2X4 w/ beveled ends in between the cross beam & the vertical supports, along the inside diagonal edge of the gussets. The plywood gussets are large triangles that are put in place of where you have the 2X4's on either side of the cross beam & the vertical supports on the 1st gantry. W/ similar length 2X4's (only 2 this time) w/ bevels on the ends, they then slip in between the plywood gussets & your assembly will be much stronger & support more weight. Use this gantry at the rear, and the current gantry for the bow. Be sure to fasten the ply gussets to the cross beam & vertical supports and to the beveled 2X4 along the diagonal front edge of the gusset, all really well, numberous 8d or 10d nails.

Does that ^^^ make sense? I may be able to draft a rough sketch in paint tomorrow, but not now.

 

[rickryder]

Re: Which to do first?

Being a framer by trade #8's are too short for nailing 2x4's together....I would use 10's or 3" screws.... If you go with screws it will be easier to take apart and use the wood for another project. The 1/2" gussets can be attached with 2" screws or #8's

Great idea on the 1/2" ply between the 2x4's.....It's just like building a header for over a door or window.

JB has a great idea right there

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Which to do first?

Absolutely no 8d in the cross beam. They were only intended for the gussets, good catch RR!

Been a framer before myself. Really enjoyed some timber framing in Park City, recovered lumber out of the Salt Lake was interesting to work with.

 

[finx]

Re: Which to do first?

I didnt quite follow exactly what you meant. I never really fixed anything more than a sandwich before so this is all new to me. I literally had to buy a circular saw and a drill because I dont own tools. I had to make sawhorses and I had to buy extension cords to work. Thats how new I am to stuff. My fiance was laughing when I told her I'm restoring a boat because I've never really been the fixer type.

I tried to understand what you meant so I made 2x4 standing on its side with 3/4 plywood inbetween and in the corners. I added another 4x4 on top of both sides just for support but I think it will hold.

Here is some pics of what I accomplished today.

 

[finx]

Re: Which to do first?

more pics.



This was a celebratory moment! I built something that did what it was suppose to do!



Here is the cart I made to push the motor out. the motor didnt weight as much as I thought. The cart did well, Im surprised it would roll around with the weight.






I dont know about you, but this motor looks toast. I'm going to pull the head off next weekend but if it looks anything like under the valve cover, im scrapping it for a new one.

 

[rickryder]

Re: Which to do first?

I think you did a fine job on the gantry framing! Tell the girl she can't laugh at ya no more

I agree that the engine is not looking so good..... Did you drain the oil....or should I say water from the pan? I bet it's seized up solid....

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Which to do first?

Not exactly what I had in mind, but it definitely worked, motor's out. Gantry frames should be sufficient to lift the boat off the trailer. I'd suggest to give the trailer some attention while the boat is in demo mode. It will be good to make positive progress while the boat is still getting torn apart. But more importantly, once you start moving on put back of the boat, you'll want the trailer done, ready & waiting to take the boat again. No waiting to finish the trailer, looking for parts & pieces etc etc etc.

Yeah, might check what bulk scrap metal is getting at the metal recycling yard, motor has definitely seen better days. But you might get lucky & it can still be used as a core for a rebuilt motor. Prep for the worst, then you can be pleasantly surprised..............

 

[slim6969]

Re: Which to do first?

looks good well on your way to a nicely fixed up boat