ralph's liberty project

« **Reply #150 on:** May 19, 2008, 02:09:57 PM »

Quote from: 2savage4you on May 19, 2008, 01:32:06 PM

Are any of you guys close to Rod?

2sav

sorry, no

« **Reply #151 on:** May 26, 2008, 09:29:36 AM »

we took it out to buena vista for the shake down trip, it ran flaw less all weekend. gps'd at 62.7 with 30 gallons of fuel two 230 pound guys. i feel that mission acomplished (sp) a few water leaks that will have to be sorted out, and some small upgrades later. I'M ON THE WATER, YEE-HAW

« **Reply #152 on:** May 26, 2008, 09:42:51 AM »

Way to go Bro. I should get mine out of paint shop today or in the morning, C U N June!!

« **Reply #153 on:** May 26, 2008, 09:46:32 AM »

Lookin damn good. Also looked like it was frickin hot outside

« **Reply #154 on:** May 26, 2008, 10:36:31 AM »

Looks good. Congrats...... Looks like typical Washington Summer weather if you ask me....

« **Reply #155 on:** May 26, 2008, 10:39:56 AM »

Ralph, do you plan on adding a droop or leaving it alone...... By the way, nice roost

2sav

« **Reply #156 on:** May 26, 2008, 10:59:22 AM »

Quote from: 2savage4you on May 26, 2008, 10:39:56 AM

Ralph, do you plan on adding a droop or leaving it alone...... By the way, nice roost

2sav

probably not at this time,it cost $$ and i need new guages first

« **Reply #157 on:** May 26, 2008, 12:00:33 PM »

Ralph, It looks darn good to me the way it is. Gages are a lot cheaper than a droop.

« **Reply #158 on:** May 26, 2008, 01:50:55 PM »

looks good, hope everyone had a good and safe time

« **Reply #159 on:** May 29, 2008, 12:36:09 AM »

I just spent the last hour reading this thread. AWESOME, Your the man Ralph. Hope to meet up with you guys in Parker.

« **Reply #160 on:** May 29, 2008, 07:34:38 AM »

Quote from: shawnthedrifter on May 29, 2008, 12:36:09 AM

I just spent the last hour reading this thread. AWESOME, Your the man Ralph. Hope to meet up with you guys in Parker.

thanks, glad you enjoyed it. we will be at the parker gathering with it.

« **Reply #161 on:** April 05, 2009, 07:01:10 AM »

well after a year or so of use it was time to get started on the bulk head. Liberty's came with a ski locker and the deck had come loose. I am putting a bulk head in and getting rid of the lockers.
this is verry nasty work and i really wanted to pay some one to do it but im cheap and can fuk it up a lot before i pay a grand to get it done.
here are some pix
left side of boat

down the center and starting to remove the right side, you can see the wood on the underside of the deck. all that wood will come out as well.

got the left and right side out

some of the foam was so petrified it was hard as a rock

tools to do the job

when i pulled the last ski locker out the deck dropped about an inch, now should i put it back up or just let it rest then glass the bulk head in

« **Reply #162 on:** April 05, 2009, 07:08:33 AM »

i would prop it back up the way its supposed to be and make sure you glass it in solid or else your deck will flap like a fat ladies ass when you get in the rough water.

a good tip i got after the fact when i did mine is put 1/4" spacers (pieces of wood or whatever) around so the bulkhead isnt directly touching any thing....kinda free floating or suspended.

glass in patches between/around the spacers you have used...once the glass drys, pull out the spacers then glass all the way around. direct contact between the deck and the bulkhead is the cause of stress cracks....if you look at my deck, you can tell where my ski locker is without even looking under because of the stress cracks.

« **Reply #163 on:** April 05, 2009, 07:24:18 AM »

Quote from: Brad @ SoCalJetBoats.com on April 05, 2009, 07:08:33 AM

i would prop it back up the way its supposed to be and make sure you glass it in solid or else your deck will flap like a fat ladies ass when you get in the rough water.

X2
In the Bahner the bulkhead broke loose and eventually ended up breaking the center bow support which let the bow drop down ALOT

they raced it that way for who knows how long

that was the first thing i had to repair......Get some support back in there

« **Reply #164 on:** April 05, 2009, 11:34:00 AM »

Shit Ralph, remind me to never leave my boat at your house $:-\$

Talk about going balls deep, as far as the bulkheads, there are better ways to do it that are mucho betta'.

First there is no reason at all to run cross bulkheads on a boat that is this low of profile, there is no added benefit to that much bracing, do yourself a huge favor and build some dividers out of plywood, (does not need to be marine grade) and go from the stringers up to the deck using some 3/4"X2" fir at the deck to brace area (this adds surface area), glass them at the top and through bolt them at the bottom, it will be super strong and user freindly.

I changed mine around from its origional configuration and not only did I gain some serious strength but it doubled the storage under the bow.

I think the reason it makes it so strong is that it supports the deck and the gunwales simultaniously, (also makes a killer spot to hang stereo equipment

)..

Looks killer, are you tired of feling itchy yet

GT

« **Reply #165 on:** April 05, 2009, 11:43:53 AM »

gt im always looking for an easier way. now let me get this straight

are you telling me to bolt a 3/4x 2 inch peice of plywood to my stinger (on each side one per stringer) and run it up to the deck

then fiberglass to the deck

i really liked the ski locker because my pop up would fit in there perfect, this way would still allow that

« **Reply #166 on:** April 05, 2009, 12:18:10 PM »

Quote from: Ralph Brunt on April 05, 2009, 11:43:53 AM

gt im always looking for an easier way. now let me get this straight
are you telling me to bolt a 3/4x 2 inch peice of plywood to my stinger (on each side one per stringer) and run it up to the deck then fiberglass to the deck

i really liked the ski locker because my pop up would fit in there perfect, this way would still allow that

Nope, you can use 1/2" plywood (plenty strong IMO) and use the 3/4"X2" fir strip at the top of the plywood to mate to the deck, otherwise there is too many pressure points on the bottom surface of the deck and would promote stress cracks, I will try to snap a couple of pictures, which is something I am terrible about, I always say when done with a project, "gee I wish I would have taken some pics of that" (sounds like a 50's sit com $:-\$ ).

Anyway, basically just like the Bahners had there deck supports in the 80's, super strong..

GT

« **Reply #167 on:** April 05, 2009, 01:52:22 PM »

Quote from: GT Jets on April 05, 2009, 12:18:10 PM

Nope, you can use 1/2" plywood (plenty strong IMO) and use the 3/4"X2" fir strip at the top of the plywood to mate to the deck, otherwise there is too many pressure points on the bottom surface of the deck and would promote stress cracks, I will try to snap a couple of pictures, which is something I am terrible about, I always say when done with a project, "gee I wish I would have taken some pics of that" (sounds like a 50's sit com $:-\$ ).

Anyway, basically just like the Bahners had there deck supports in the 80's, super strong..

GT

i did this in my Bahner, except i went a little extreme. I used 3/4" plywood 12"x12" glassed to the deck and 2x4's glassed to the plywood and through bolted the stringers..... I had to because off the dropped bow and it made it super strong and brought it back up to par.. i could have parked a truck on the bow after that ..(mini truck of course

)

I will do the same on my Carribean, except the 2x4's

« **Reply #168 on:** April 26, 2009, 09:18:31 AM »

i got back on it this weekend

and its still nasty work

this is the underside of the deck, i had to grind away all the wood so i can glass the bulk head in

template

template on wood

buy what a cluster fjock, my buddie leonard came over and said wtf is that

i said my template

he said go get more card board and get the fock out of the way

will post more as the day goes on, this thing will be in today

« **Reply #169 on:** April 26, 2009, 06:51:31 PM »

Quote from: Ralph Brunt on April 26, 2009, 09:18:31 AM

buy what a cluster fjock, my buddie leonard came over and said wtf is that i said my template he said go get more card board and get the fock out of the way

hahaha....sweet.

cant wait to see it done!

« **Reply #170 on:** April 26, 2009, 08:24:40 PM »

leonard cutting the template

bulk head done

the last test fit, in the upper left corner you can see a piece of wood between the bulk head and the deck. you dont want the bulk head touching the deck or you will have stress cracks

i used west system because jrork had nothing but good things to say about it. i got all my stuff together then set about cutting 6 inch wide mat and i used 6 inch cloth over the top of that. i still need to do the other side of the bulk head but, needed this front side to kick so i didn't disturb the posistion of it. the resin kicks really slow but also gives over and hour of working time. all in all i am very happy with the west systems and will never use another brand. the gallon of resin was 94.oo and the resin was 39.oo so its not your home depot stuff. back to the pics.

when and if you ever do this job, remove the steering wheel

i dont know how many times that focker got in my way

i'll get more pics as i finish up

brad i have the deck template cut out in wood and will save it for you, it will save you about 3 hours

« **Reply #171 on:** April 26, 2009, 08:26:44 PM »

Looks good Ralph, I guess this means you'll be ready for Memorial Day?

« **Reply #172 on:** April 26, 2009, 08:32:17 PM »

Great job Ralph, but I am a little confused, do you attach the top of the bulkhead to the underside of the deck er...what??

p-jet

« **Reply #173 on:** April 26, 2009, 08:52:21 PM »

West Systems is the Shiiiat! I love the stuff.

Looks tough as nails Ralph...

GT

« **Reply #174 on:** April 27, 2009, 05:39:02 AM »

That looks awesome (though I liked your template better

). Keep it up. By the way, which hardener did you get? I ended up going with the Fast stuff cuz in our colder weather the slow took too long. It is nice stuff though and it hell for stout.

Ralph Brunt

Ralph Brunt

HDriderTH

pw_Tony

jrork

2savage4you

Ralph Brunt

GAWnCA

FORKEDUP

shawnthedrifter

Ralph Brunt

Ralph Brunt

Brad @ SCJB

2savage4you

GT Jets

Ralph Brunt

GT Jets

2savage4you

Ralph Brunt

Brad @ SCJB

Ralph Brunt

Luckie Stiff

povertyjet

GT Jets

jrork