Engine Cover

After getting the spotter seat frame worked out, I decided it was time to finally tackle the frame for the engine cover.  I was not looking forward to this one because I knew it was going to have to be rebuilt from scratch.  After gluing and brad nailing it all together, I flipped it over and set it on the cover so I know it fits right.  It took a little tweaking, but it will work well.

Spotter Seat

I finally decided it was time to start working on the framing for the spotter seat.  I was hoping I could just recover the existing frame in carpet and reuse what was there.  It was too far gone though.  So I used some of the leftover plywood from the floor to make a new frame.  I'll cover it in resin before carpet to keep this one from rotting to fast.

Wiring and Stereo

The wiring is largely buttoned up.  There are a few bits and pieces I'll have to finish as I complete some of the other projects.  The stereo is also installed and complete as far as I can go for right now.  I need to get the tower on before I can hook up the last 2 speakers and the all around white light though.  I think tomorrow I will finally work on the seat and engine cover frames.

Carpet

The carpet under the passenger side of the bow as well as both side walls tip to stern is complete.  I have a small piece to run under the driver's side of the bow still.  That side is not fun to work on because there is no room and tons of wiring and cables.  Then I need to rebuild and carpet the spotter seat and engine cover frames and the carpet will be done.

This and That

I got a bunch of work done on the boat this weekend.  I got the throttle assembly rebuilt and installed, the battery cables installed and much of the electrical tested, but the switches in the dash need some attention still.  The sound deadening is down the starboard side and the carpet is installed on the dash support.  It's finally starting to look like a boat again!

Floor Covering

In order to get ready for the new EVA foam floor covering, I finished installing the sound deadening along the port side.  Then I did a little body work along the seams where the removable section of the floor meats the permanent sections.  Finally I applied the primer so it can dry over night.  Then I'll get the grey paint laid down tomorrow.

Floor Covering

Last night I was able to get the majority of the grey paint laid down.  I still have to do around the motor housing and bilge pump access port as well as along the seam lines up front.  The removable section of the floor has also been painted.  I may go back and do a second coat, we'll see how it goes.  Next up is to rebuild the frames for the motor cover and spotter seat.

Assembly

I got quite a bit of stuff put back together on the boat this evening.  Notice the new check engine light on the right, USB charger on the left and the hour meter just to the left of the steering column.  The wiring is all cleaned up as well.  The vents on the bow and stern are installed as well as the navigation lights and tow hook.  I'll be starting on the floor covering soon.

Windshield

When we bought the boat the windshield was broken on both sides.  Since they don't make these any more, I had to order a sheet of plastic and cut a new one.  The old one was acrylic so it was quite fragile.  I made the new one out of polycarbonate so it won't break again.  We just have to be careful not to scratch it.  This stuff does not polish out very well.

Paint

I wound up doing 3 coats of color because this stuff just didn't cover very well.  Then I did 2 coats of a high solids clear and it turned out well.  The only problem is the boat has faded over time and not very evenly.  So the paint matches well in places but not so well in others.  I'll get it out in the sun tomorrow to check, but I think we'll be OK.  Over all I'm very happy.

Paint

I had enough time when I got back from the lake today to get the garage covered in plastic and get the sealer and some of the color applied on the boat.  I got 2 coats on the inside and the first coat on the outside, but I ran out!  There are a few waves in places, but nothing you will see outside in the sunshine.  It should look pretty good for a 25 year old boat.

Paint Prep

The boat is finally ready for paint.  I have the bottom masked off all the way around but I ran out of plastic.  I'm headed to the cabin tomorrow to finish the plumbing, but I'll get some more plastic on my way home and finish covering everything in the shop.  Hopefully I'll be able to shoot it Monday after work.

Motor Install

I got the motor back in the boat this weekend.  I also set the cover over the top and marked its location on the floor.  I got a bunch of other little stuff done too; the deck support is finished, the wiring for the gauges is cleaned up, the last of the fiber glass work is done under the bow and the drain plug is installed.  I'm sure there is more, but that covers the majority of it.

A Couple Things

Last night I got the removable section of the floor cut, supports made and installed and I got the first coat of resin laid down.  The fit is pretty good. 

I also got the support piece for the dash put back together.  I had to cut this into several pieces to get it out.  So I had to put some tabbing along the seams to hold it all together.

Last of the Glass

I got the last layer of fiber glass done on the floor.  After putting the 1708 down with a layer of resin, I sanded all the high spots down and filled in a few low spots with some fiberglass based body filler and put one more layer of resin from bow to stern.  I still need to put the deck and dash support in, but the floor is done.

More Glass Work

I finally got to work on the boat again today.  I got all the holes drilled under the dash for the air vents, battery cables and bilge pump hose.  I also installed the bilge pump and the last piece of the floor.  All the carpet glue has been scraped off the sides as well.  Finally, I began working on the the last coat of fiber glass.  But of course, I have run out of resin.