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<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SkeetÂr89 »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Just a suggestion. Make sure you don't place your new stiffener in the same location as your engine mounting holes.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Skeeter, I actually surprized myself when I thought of that on my own. Thanks for lookin out for me.
im at awww with the work that all of u guys put in to ur boats im getting an 1988 champion and im going to do my own work to it hope i get to make it look half as good as u guys get ur boats to look like http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/praying.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/praying.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/bows.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/bows.gif http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif
RBH, Thanks for the kind words. There is some great work being done out there, and with this(BBC) resource, I think it will only get better.
I'm going to post a detailed description of what I did this weekend.
First I cut out and fit the new stiffener. I didn't have enough 3/4" marine ply to do it in one piece so I split it in the middle. I made a joint that has a large glueing area and I think its strong as hell. Especially after it gets covered with two layers of glass on both sides.
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1232941725
So the joint got glued with epoxy and dried overnight. Now I'm going to glue the stiffener to the hull. First I coat the gluing edge with unthickened epoxy and let it soak in. Then I come back and cover it with thickened (woodflour added) epoxy and stick it in place. I angled the gluing edge to conform with the shape of the hull.
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1232942167
When that set up I was able to make my radiussed fillets
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1232942340
I let the fillet set up a half hour and then applied the first layer of 12oz 6" tape.
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1232942515
Next came the second layer of tape. Everything was done wet on wet for a stronger bond, and it saves alot of time not having to sand between coats. Here is the second layer layed out in the wet resin of the first layer. The last photo shows it wet out.
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1232942891
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1232942944
Well next thing to do is glass the under side of the stiffener. Thats going to entail bending over the transom and working upside down or maybe putting a blanket down or laying on my side scrunched up. Either way its going to suck http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/roll.gif .
Well I got the underside of the stiffiner glassed. I also got the floatation foam boxes, on the sides of the bilge compartment, built and filled with foam. I will put a layer of glass over the fresh foam.
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1235616637
I decided to fish a Team Open club tourny on Sat. instead of working on my boat.
Now I must say, I'm not tryin to rub anybodies nose in the fact that they live somewhere that actually has winters, http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif, but it is actually pre-spawn here in So. Cal. That bein said, I just had to fish. Also, I've never been known to pass up an oportunity to boast, so here is a photo of our day. We won the tourny with a limit weight of 32.45 lbs. Thats a personal best and a club record, the old record was 28+ lbs. It was the best day on the water I've ever had.
My partner was Joey Gambina(grey shirt), I'm the serious one. Joey's dad let us use his 17' tracker for the tourny. These were all jig fish. Pitchin and skippin jigs under docks and a few trees.
The fish in my right hand was 9.2, the fish farthest to the right was an ounce shy of 7 lbs, also pictured is another over 6, and two over 5. It was a day to remember.
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1235618200
Despite being the land of fruits & nuts, California has some pretty good bass fishing. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/beers.gif
I've been working on my plumbing. I got a complete Flow-rite system for the boat. The problem is my livewell is V'd at the bottom. The bottom of the livewell is an inch from the hull of my boat. I wanted my drain to be at the bottom of my livewell and use a 90 degree fitting, but there wasn't enough clearence, and there was no flat spot for the flanges to make a seal. I decide to alter the bottom of the livewell to solve both these problems. I had a bunch of 15 lb high density urethane foam left over from a job and decided to carve an insert that I will glass into the bottom of my livewell.
I cut out a section from the bottom of the livewell.
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1235619535
I also filled the existing holes so I could move things around
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1235619649
I got my piece carved and glued up. The hole I needed for the fitting was 1". I drilled the hole 1 1/4", filled it with epoxy mixed wth milled fibers and wood flour. I also put a layer of glass over that and let it dry over night. The first shot is my insert upside down
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1235619969
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1235620040
Then I went back and drilled the 1" hole in the center of the filled hole. If there is ever a problem with the seal, and water gets in, it cant do any damage because it is solid epoxy and not foam.
I will use this technique for all of my thru hull penetrations. This includes all holes thru the transom. Always drill the hole a 1/4" over, fill it, and redrill the proper sized hole. If there is a leak with your fitting or bolt, the water still can't get to your wood.
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1235620631
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1235620664
I am going to glass this in, sand and fair it, and then refinish the inside of the livewell by " rolling and tipping" pigmented epoxy resin.
http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/smile.gif
Looks good man!! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/beers.gif I keep checking in on it every now and then.
Dang! The skill level and knowledge demonstrated on these boards is astonishing! To think I've been nervous to build a simple deck extension on my boat makes me feel like a total wuss!! Nice work!
That rear brace won't do much honestly.
You need something that braces the vertical part of the transom into the stringers.
On the 26' offshore cruising boats I used to build, I would install a 3/16" thick aluminum plate that covered all of the transom, and had legs on each side that lagged into the stringer. Then it was metecrylated into place once srewed down. Just for extra measure.
Granted that was for a boat rated for a 300hp 4S. It also had a large setback engine bracket made by Gil Marine bolted to the transom.
I think it's a good idea to copy something similar.
Think of an A but with the front / sitting against the transom.....
The plate also served as a backer for the Gil bracket (or in your case jack plate)
Thanks for stoppin by and checkin the progress Aaron.
Better slow down on that popcorn Kiss, this is going to take awhile http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/Laugh.gif
Hey Adam, 6 months ago I was afraid of the unknown as well, the info is out there, it's fun learnin something new. Dive in http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif
HydraSports, I appreciate your honesty. As stated before I am well aware of the structural advantages of knee braces( I think what you described in your post is similar to knee braces). Knees aren't going to fit in the layout of this boat.
Here is where I'm at (mentally) with this thing. The previous transom lasted 28 years, the ONLY reason it failed was because it got wet. I rebuilt the transom with better wood, stronger resin and glass, and doubled the thickness of that glass. I put in the stiffiner as per someones suggestion, and I have 1/2" thick aluminum brackets that span between the jackplate mounting bolts on the inside of the transom. At this point I'm going to call it good. If I suffer catastrophic hull failure I promise I will come on here and let everybody know, not to rebuild their transom in this manner. I'm willing to be the lab rat, and take the chance with this transom, as is.
Just to recap, HydraSports, I do appreciate your honesty, and I'm not disputing what your suggesting, I agree it would be stronger. Honestly though, I think I'm going to be OK.
PS...I have no idea what "METECRYLATED" means... http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/roll.gif
man thats some great, taking pride in something like this says a lot for yourself. that 300 series will be good you..keep us updated http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/bows.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/beers.gif
Thanks Jarred, will do. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/beers.gif
Well I got my livewell finished up. I glassed in my insert, got it sanded and faired smooth, and coated with 3 coats of pigmented epoxy. Application method was "roll & tip".
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1240163790
I've also been working on my plumbing thru hulls. I filled all the existing holes with epoxy. Then I drilled my new holes where I wanted them "oversized". Then I filled them with epoxy(thickened with milled fibers, wood flour, silica). Finally came back and drilled the propper sized hole in the center of that. Now I have no concerns about water getting into the wood.
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1240164305
[img]http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/cc348/ranger230v/bilge004.jpg?t=1240164366[/img)
My computer just locked up, this should have been one post, but I had to restart.
Heres a closeup
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1240165742
I also discovered my thru-hull fittings from Flow-Rite aren't long enough for these older 3/4" plywood core hulls. Thats a net thickness of 1 1/2" with 3/8" thick glass on both sides of the wood. I found extended thru-hulls on the net from TH Marine.
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1240166140
Finally, I finished the foam compartments along the sides of the bilge. I decided to get most of the painting, inside the bilge compartment, finished before I put the cap back on. Everything would be much easier to reach and I could come back with a little touch-up when I'm done with the cap. I left a few spots unpainted where I will be working to attach the cap.
I thoroughly sanded and wiped down the entire compartment. Then I primed everything with Interlux Epoxy PrimeKote. Sand and wipe down again, then applied 3 coats of Interlux BilgeKote. Scuffing and wiping between each coat( just follow the directions on the can). I chose grey, they also have white, I know the white would look spiffy, but I figured the grey wouldn't show as much grime in the long run.
I guess my next thing to do is attach the cap. I'll keep you posted on that. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/beers.gif
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1240167263
Ilove this post... beut workmanship http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/bows.gif
WoW!! Nice work!! http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif
Nice work....can't wait to see the finished boat. http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif
thanks for the kind words guys, just wish it was goin faster.
Hope everyone had a good summer. I took a few months off, from the boat, to spend time with the family and do some fishin. Now that air temps are dipping into the low 90s I'm running out of excuses for not working on her.
I did get the cap section reattached. Its all glassed in and I'm in the process of making it seemless. After the fiberglass work was complete, the first layer of filler was made with epoxy resin and microballoons. I did the bulk of the filling with this because its cheaper than the SystemThree fairing putty, which is what I will be using for the final step in the fairing process throughout the project. Here's some shots showing the progress. The last shot shows a great tool for getting flat surfaces smooth. You can make one or buy one, but you need a longboard to make it come out straight and true.
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1254186679
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1254186770
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1254186827
http://i526.photobucket.com/albums/c...g?t=1254186979
Oh yeah, the other tool you need for this stage is A TON OF PATIENCE. Slow and steady wins the race.
http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif
Very nice work! I'm impressed! http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif