do you ever need bracket or special mounts built i do custom machine work on cnc mill or lathe
i have access to design software
i can make a model and show you what it would look like
before i machine it
i could make some cool boat bling

FishinFruit It don't look like you are going to make friends very fast on this forum. With only 2 post & both being negative talk about another members project. You might do better by keeping your comments to yourself. Rant over!

This is not the place for rude comments like that. We don't talk like that here on this forum. Take it some place else........

The undertakeing is increadablely great. That cell insulation will work the way you have it, just as long as it stays dry and not setting in water. The old Sea Nympth boats as well as Starcraft used white cell block styrofoam. Worked for what it was intended to do, that being, keep the boat afloat for a short period of time. Did not do well if you leave the plug in and let rain fill the boat. Then it obsorbed the water.

I say its lookin good, keep us posted with updated pictures.



Gonna make her a good lookin boat again.

matt

It looks like this is going to be a real nice fishing machine when completed. Keep up the good work.

I don't post alot on here, but I will said this it LOOKING GOOD. I hope you keep us posted on your restore project. For year I had a 14 foot jon boat that I fix up with casting deck, floor, carpet, trolling motor, light, basely the whole work over the years. Spend more money on it there I got back when it came time to sale. But that not the point I enjoy fixing it up the way I wanted and fishing from it. What is important is that you enjoying what you are doing and what you are going to do with it.

This new boat is more suited to the conditions I am in frequently.. Strong Texas winds and big waves. The little boat I had was just well.. too little. This is way more boat and will be a better tool for me.

FishinFruit was sent packing. Nice project. I'm looking forward to seeing more photos.

Well a bit of a setback today. I knew I was going to have a bit of patchwork to do on the metal at the transom... However upon entering through the top cap I discovered a VERY mushy plank indeed. The entire piece will have to be replaced.

I will not be easy but it is far from impossible. At least when I have done this it will indeed be a complete restore and I can have a lot more confidence in my new boat!

Mushy is bad... Atleast you dont have to fiberglass.

OK got a lot done today... or at least it took a lot of work to get a little bit done!

First off was the mission to remove the old transom wood. Not an easy task. There were bolts running thru the wood and through some sheet metal... problem was the nuts were buried in the original factory foam thus this was a 27 year old piece of wood I had back there... Honestly that is pretty impressive considering it didn't appear to have been sealed with anything other than Thompson's or something of that nature. IT got tore up coming out. here it is in the trash!



I cleaned up all the wood chips and we cut the new transom pieces and laminated them together. They will probably go in tomorrow. Here is the empty transome w/ no wood



I stripped down the center console and did some preliminary sanding on it. I will be painting it white hopefully this week... It is fun to get past the DEMO parts and get to the building and reassembling phases!

Now I had a few places that needed to be welded so I took the boat to my friends house to use his TIG welder. I didnt take any pics of the welding and plasma cutting I did on the boat but I did weld up about 5 leaks in the Livewell.

Before:


After:



No JB weld on my watch! I really love welding aluminum... its a very rewarding thing.

I patched a hole in the transom plate and also cut an access hole with a plasma cutter. I then got busy cleaning up the inside of the area the new transom wood will go. After it was clean I sprayed it down really well with a zink primer to try to prevent any further corrosion. I will take pictures of this tomorrow and of the transom in place. Once it is I will be gin prepping for paint and bedliner.

I need some paint recommendations for the console.. anyone know a good paint that is durable and wont fade in the sun?


Ohh and I almost forgot the most exciting part of the day... The first and best of all the goodies I have purchased have showed up.. That being my Hummingbird Side imaging sonar! Cant wait to get this baby going!

Keep up the great work! Those welds look great!

I just finished rebuilding a fiberglass 1971 narrow trihull. My boat will never be as pretty as yours and I 'm fine with that. I feel your pain. At least your stringers and such weren't rotted out!

Yesterday I preped and painted the center console.

Today I Got the new transom all bolted in and all of the floors as well. Heading out now to do some caulking and prep for the Bed liner which still has not showed up

Will post some more pics soon!

you have a skill my friend.