we use a wet dry vac (necked down )

Dude, Cupcake, I don't think even I would have admitted to that (even though all us guys have thought about it one time or another) and I certainly wouldn't have said that I had to "neck" it down......


Okay, back on topic.  I think thats a heck of a good idea as it can get cold up here and some have cracked blocks before.  With that said, usually just having a petcock on each side of the block to drain the water has been sufficient.  The ones that cracked blocks didnt drain the water and left a heater/light in the boat that was covered with a tarp.  That seems to work fine.......till the power goes out!!!!

Looks fantastic Tommy.  Jeez I don't understand how people can do that stripin stuff.  Tried it once for grins and decided that wasnt something I'd ever be able to do..

You're killing me TJ.   So bad ass.  Congrats and keep the pics coming

Skip came through big on some ski tows...he said I half to give him head for which is cool,

Dude, I don't understand you guys down there.......I'm mean, Skips a looker no doubt about it but...... We kinda keep our "negotiating" a bit more private up here.

They are right.  Grind down thru the gel coat to the glass layer wider than your anticipated work area.  Clean with acetone.  USE MAT, NOT CLOTH, Start with a 1" wd strip, wet it out, wet the work area, lay it across seam, roll or brush out any bubbles, feather the edges into the adjacent surfaces, let it cure.  Do it again with 1/2" wider strips up to 3", over lapping the end of the previous strip by an inch or two.   You could do all layers in one day, just pre-cut the strips, and lay-up one entire layer around the boat.  Then the next layer as soon as the first has kicked.  Remember to use general purpose laminating resin...Remember also that the higher the humidity, the FASTER its going to kick, so catalize with that in mind.

a little verbose, but hope it helps

p-jet

BINGO,  thats good advice P-jet.  More work but I really think it's worth it in the end when you feel good that it's not gonna break apart without something really working it over.

I'd like to suggest a strip added to the inside of the seam if you can as well.  Some boats are really accessable and some are tough. 

Thanks John!  I actually mixed some chopped fibers into the filler and I'm in the process now of wrapping glass over the filler to tie in the cap and the hull.  I'll get some pics up today, but what do ya think?  Will there be any issues there?  

By the way...I used to live up in your neck of the woods for about 7 bone chilling years!  Actually the three months of summer were beautiful, just the rest of the year kinda made me wanna shoot myself  Wish I had found jetboats when I still lived up there, I'd probably still be there

Let me be the first to admit that I genuinely don't know what I'm doing!!!  Prior to starting my cap job I pinged and talked to many people that were doing this and pretty much universally they all recommended grinding back and then using multiple layers of glass starting very thin (one VERY highly respected boat painter suggested starting with a fiberglass rope like material that they use for insulation purposes) and then with the following layers going with wider strips.

This is what I did (though I didnt use the rope) and so far I've been very happy.  Your method might work as well but I just don't have enough experiance to say for sure. Maybe somebody else here can jump in.  My fear is founded on a couple of really nice boats that have had cracks show up after a expensive paint job and they've found out that all that was used was some filler with glass strands in it.  I'd really hate to see that happen to you.  Of course, with that said, just watch me go out to the shop and see a crack but so far (knock on wood) it has held up with being trailered on some brutal roads and running in some awful rough water (not to mention some semi necked ladys on the deck) so I'm happy.

I would be more than happy to talk to you by phone and will PM my phone number if you'd like.


FYI, I used to live in Lualualei and Wahiawa back in the 60's (yah, I'm old).........take care..........john

what do i have to do to convince you to not do that? Theres a lot of good info in this thread....love it or hate it....im telling you the thruth.

All the pains and victories of this project will be helpful to someone down the road.

I've gotta agree with Brad.  Leave this cuz it's the real deal.  You've done a hell of a job and shit happens and we all have things that come up that make us change our thoughts.  This is a damn good thread.


PS...........if Moby is headed your way, hide the Crown...... otherwise, he may never leave.....

You say you got a quote for paint at $1500, thats dirt cheap, what kind of paint?  The materials should be in the $1000 range.

Zactly.  Not talking you out of it and if you got a quote for $1500 that is a SCREAMING GOOD DEAL!!!!  I figured I had a touch over $2000 in materials on mine though to be fair, I was not efficent having never done it before. 

Best of luck and we're all here to help, just dont want you to go down the road and get nickle and dimed to death with costs you didnt factor in.  GT's boat sounds awesome

Trust me He's well taken care of !

The Punk Azz Kid has hired me as an agent and "we" want

• Weekends off
• Way more money

Now we don't want to drag this out in the public (actually I do) but we will settle for a small monetary incrase in Josh's monthly wage and some goodies for his ever faithful agent..............me

Me and my punkass kid will be headed down south to pick up the motor and plan on swinging thru and drinking all your homebrew.......consider yourself warned

Now back on topic........beautiful resto Tommy (and my client)......

Oh man, this is the story of my life....  Great advice here.  I quit adding up what I had in mine a LOOOONG time ago. 

Yep Omar, Barry is a great and patient guy.  I really have enjoyed my conversations with him in the past and they the primary reason why I went with him.  Definately knows his stuff, nice guy and looks for ways for his customers to save a little $$$ when possible instead of being a cubic dollar kinda guy.
Very similar to Tommy and JBP.  Quality people all the way around.


T.J.
Appreciate the kind words but I'm doing nuthing but writing the checks on this one.  I've had good luck building my motors in the past but for this one, I really wanted something that will live.  Not gonna be a monster by any stretch of the imagination but I hope bulletproof.

Hah!!!  It's a race as to whether we drag another one north to the land of endless clouds or it stays down south......who's gonna win?  It's is a screaming nice looking boat.  Congrats if you get it.