Spring Project(s) 74 20SF

[uncleboo]

I hate that you had so much trouble, but, looks like you almost have it whipped. The water sure was pretty up your way this morning.

[SeaPlusPlus]

Yeah getting there, got some minor details to finish but hopefully she turns out as good as she looks when I close my eyes.

The weather up here has just been ridiculous, its driving me crazy since I can't use the boat. Got to me tonight and I had to catch a fish. Went out back to our pond and after a few casts:



Now that I know what catching a fish feels like again, back to work.

[SeaPlusPlus]

WARNING this is a long overdue update and contains more images than should be allowed in a single post, I apologize in advanced for this (but really though, is there every enough boat porn? ).

Boat was brought back to my driveway after taking it over to the painter. He noticed some things that we hadn't seen that needed to be addressed before moving on so to work we went. Some things might have been overkill but better safe than sorry.

For one all the old hardware holes on the cap we had just taped the bottoms and filled with thickened epoxy then faired. He mentioned that he'd seen people do that before and after a while the epoxy shrinks and its visible in the paint job, recommended to grind out a little around them and put a layer of glass on top.





This was loads of fun on the 200 holes in the console.





A drill with a 60 grit wheel on the end was a good tool for grinding out a little square on each hole.



These were then faired and sanded.









Also noticed some spider cracks on the hull sides that we hadn't seen before. These were ground out and then covered with a layer of 1708 and 6oz cloth.





And then faired.





I also decided to switch from the square butt style hinge up front to the strap style hinge. So the recessed hinge cut outs were filled.







Recessed areas also filled on hatches.



I have purchased a new stainless gas fill that has a 3 hole pattern vs the 4 hole of the original. The underside was backed with a glassed piece of 3/8" marine ply and then was filled with epoxy. This sealed the hole well and will provide some meat for the new fill to mount in vs just glass.



Then more of the usual fairing and pin hole filling.









The boat was then taken over to the warehouse to start the paint process. First coat was some Awlgrip Epoxy Sprayable Fairing Compound (which was picked up off the sale rack at West Marine for $13!). This is a very thick (20 mils dry) coat that fills A LOT of imperfections. We spot sprayed the trouble areas on the outside of the hull but my interior has been beat to hell over the past 36 years and it got a complete coat.

Below are some pictures after we'd been sanding on it some.











We sanded that down smooth and then put a coat of Awl-Quik Sanding Surfacer. This is a very pale yellow, but smooth coat that can be used as a surfacer for 545 primer or top coat can be directly applied. Awl-Grip recommends for best distinction of image to use Awl-Quik with 545 on top, so that's what we're doing. The Awl-Quik is currently being lightly sanded with 180 to prepare for 545.

























This is where we stand now, almost done sanding the Awl-Quik. Getting 545 on it this week and hopefully topcoat early next week. Then she starts to get put back together. Which reminds me, I've been picking up boat jewelry since she's close to being finished. The amount has almost tripled since I took this pic but I'll get a more up to date pick once I start putting everything on her. She's getting new stainless EVERYTHING.

[Dilligaf]

hey man if u dont mind, pass along your painters number to me in a PM or something.... my hull is getting soda blasted this winter and i need a person that can paint. im doing the same by useing awlgrip on the bottom (stored on trailer) thanks

[uncleboo]

Looking great!!! Instead of checking your work out, I guess I'll have to see it on the water. I'll be keeping a check on your progress. Maybe you can show me around your VA playground sometime. Keep up the good work!

[Old'sCool]

You're gonna have to post a pic and explain the "4' gigginhauler" Uncle Boo

[uncleboo]

I've been waiting patiently for someone to ask. I'll post a picture tomorrow.

[SeaPlusPlus]

Maybe you can show me around your VA playground sometime. Keep up the good work!

Definitely, we need to work out a mid-atlantic get together. Can't let all the Fl boys have all the fun.

I've been waiting patiently for someone to ask. I'll post a picture tomorrow.

Yeah I was wondering about that too haha.

[uncleboo]

I'm ready for a gathering! Can't wait to see your finished project.

[SeaPlusPlus]

Been working on a logo for the boat to go on the hull sides. My SeaCraft stickers on the sides are gonna be the newer style with the metallic gold outline on black. I think the combo looks great on sea foam boats as seen here on this 2001 21':



So I've decided to play on that. Downloaded the logo from the Brands of the World website and used the Sea from that logo to ensure the correct font/spacing/etc. Playing off the computer themed name decided to use binary (1s and 0s) as the interior of the ++'s. These will be visible up close but fade away from a distance and just look filled in.



The gold will obviously not be that yellow, but rather match the gold from the SeaCraft stickers, and the white will be the hull side so all white will be sea foam. Comments? Suggestions? One comment that I got from friends is that it looked like it said Seatt, what do you guys think?