85 2001 LVL Stringer Project

Kris,
Stay away from the Bilgcoat too. Tim found out the hard way that it too does not like to go down over epoxy. It didn't cure!!!

I'd say just tint some epoxy resin and go with that.

Kris I just read through your project great job, you haven't posted in a while just curious if you finished? I'm still on the fence about what material to go with ?
Kirk   

Hey guys well I am still chugging along with my project little by little. I will have to come back and post some pictures up later seeing as I do not have any with me right now.
I am still working on smoothing things down getting ready to paint. I did order me some faring compound and am using it now rather than just the glass bubbles. It is taking so long because I have not had a whole lot of time to get in there and get dirty working. So I will jump in there and spend a few hours putting down some epoxy and filler, then it will be maybe a day or maybe 2 weeks before I can get in again to sand it down. I am making progress though slowly but surly. One more coat and the bilge should be done and all I will have left is between the main and secondary stringers. Oh and putting in the rear main string support, I have left it out to make sanding in the back a little easier. Once close I will install that then sand, fill and clean up around it.

I built a frame with wheels to go under my engine so I could pull it out and move it around to start getting it cleaned up a little. In the process I realized how rough it looked so I started pulling parts off sand blasting and painting them. I am going to go ahead and paint the whole engine so it will not look like a turd sitting next to the newly painted bilge and new carpet.

I ordered my carpet and have it sitting at the house waiting. I also have my bilge paint sitting waiting to go in. I decided to go with Interlux epoxy primer then Interlux Perfection on the bilge. Hopefully it will turn out nice.

I need to start sourcing some glue, I am going to try and find some Henry's. How glue much should I need to do all the floor, walls, seat bases and crash pads?

8122pbrainard wrote: Kris, Just keep "plugging" away at it. Do you think you'll have it in the water this summer?

I am going to do my very best to finish by the end of June. We would like to try and take it out some the week of July 4th.

Kris,
Now I understand completely why the project has been running on the slow side - Lots of time in the bedroom! Congratulations

old bronco behind your engine yours?

I was able to sneak down a get a little work done on the boat this weekend. I did what is hopefully the final full faring over the entire bilge area. I hope that I can sand this down, then do a few touch ups, sand that down then start painting. I would love to be painting next weekend but we will see how things go.

TRBenj wrote: I apologize if this was mentioned on a previous page, but what are you planning to paint your bilge with? Mine looked very similar to yours (lots of fairing) prior to painting with Bilgekote. After several days of it not setting up, I learned that it cant be applied directly to epoxy. They dont consider epoxy to be a "fiberglass resin" in their instructions- but they have a footnote that says you need a primer for it. Several days of paint stripper and sanding later (what a MESS), we had an unfinished (and un-smoothed) bilge again. What a waste. We ended up going with tinted epoxy resin instead. Long story short, I wouldnt recommend bilgekote. If you do use it, make sure you use their primer. Instead, I would recommend either tinted epoxy resin, or even better, gelcoat. Those finishes should prove to be more durable, and are more appropriate for a really nice bilge, IMHO.

I thought about using gelcoat but found out it is recommended to use a primer on that as well. In the end after weighing my options I decided to go with a primer and paint. So I am going to be using Interlux Primekote then topping that with Interlux Perfection. I am crossing my fingers that things will work well with this combo. This project is taking so long already, I do not want it to take any more than needed.

Morfoot wrote: Looking good Kris and the boat looks good too. Congrats Dad!

Thanks!!

I just sent your stringer inspection video to a buddy today who is looking to buy a project boat.    

good work!!!

gun-driver wrote: I see you have the pylon in the background of the picture. I was going to mention including that when you do your test fits.

Yep, I use the pylon each time I put the cradle in the boat to make sure it all fits right.

Good looking project you have there. I will be so glad when mine is sanded smooth and painted!!

So last week I was able to get the last piece of wood installed, the rear Main Stringer Brace. I glassed it down with one layer so far but I am going to add one or 2 more to make sure things a nice and strong. yesterday I put on what I am hoping will be my last fairing coat. My goal is to get this sanded down this week and be painting this weekend.


Last week was able to get in and cut out my access hole to the front Bilge area. I then put a layer of cloth and a layer of mat over the edges to water proof them. I put a tape on the piece of floor that I pulled out and that area is exactly 1" thick. So I am pleased with the results.

I climbed under the bow with my dremmel last week and cleaned up the fiber glass around the air and wire ducts. That way I can put some fairing around them and make sure I have a good seal between the glass and the pipes.



My box of new stuff for the boat is filling up, so I have got to keep up the pace so I can put these new goodies on the boat.



I also have my carpet sitting waiting patiently by my box of parts. My Goal is to be putting carpet in on Memorial day weekend. Then have the whole boat completed by the end of June.

nautique frk wrote: Looking very Nice !! Congrats on your Baby My wife and I have our third one due around June 7th

Awesome, congrats!! It is getting close! Get some sleep now, I forgot how often they get up when they are little bitty.

nautique frk wrote: I know we have two daughters 5 and 1 1/2 This one is a boy !! I am done !!

Me Too, I have a 7 year old Girl and this one is a boy. We are done.

Good work there. I just found this thread and it has been a fun read. Thanks.
I just skimmed it and so follows the question:
Have you been working on this for four year?
And you want it running by this June?
Wow. I'm impressed.