yachtbuilder Posted May 18, 2010 Report Share Posted May 18, 2010 I am currently restoring this 1986 sportster. I build custom sport fishing yachts for a living in Stuart Fl. and this is my personal project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpikeMike Posted May 18, 2010 Report Share Posted May 18, 2010 cool. keep us posted and please show us some progress photos along the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yachtbuilder Posted May 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 I am about 60% done with the complete restoration. The photo above is a year old. I have so many pics to share with you guys documenting all aspects of the work done....Just finding time to upload them. Every piece of wood that was in the boat was rotted..deck, stringers, transom...in fact, there was a deck on top of the original deck. I completely gutted the entire boat until it was an empty shell. The new stringers and deck are all composite now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yachtbuilder Posted May 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 The day I brought her home....paid 300.00 from Chapman school of seamanship. They have boats that people donate that are in different stages of deterioration. They have some nice ones too if you have the money. It seems someone went "carpet crazy". It's amazing what some people will do to their boats. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yachtbuilder Posted May 19, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 The Engine is a mercruiser 470 with a 2 barrel carb, which makes it 170hp. A big 4 banger...mercruiser aluminum block with a ford 460 head on it. This one had coolant in the oil, but started right up. The camshaft drives the water pump for the closed cooling system, which has 2 o-rings to keep water out of the oil pan. well, the o-rings wore a groove in the cam. Instead of spending 700.00+ on a new cam, I spent 40.00 on a set of speedy sleves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
211 Bay Posted May 19, 2010 Report Share Posted May 19, 2010 Sounds like you've had your hands full. Look forward to seeing the finished product! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yachtbuilder Posted May 20, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2010 Here are some more....I fabricated the fwd bulkhead from polyurethane foam on a mold surface I made from malamine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squidmotion Posted May 21, 2010 Report Share Posted May 21, 2010 that looks GREAT, so far. i can't wait to see more pics. that is a very interesting engine, and even cooler that it runs. i bet it is fairly lightweight and balances well in that boat... with 170hp and the right prop, should have no trouble at all pulling skiers! what are your other plans for the restoration? edit: you know, one of those cool wakeboard overhead rack things might look sweet on this boat, if done right... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yachtbuilder Posted May 26, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 26, 2010 Here are some pics of the new stringers and transom all composite ! I plan on adding a water tank and pump for fresh water washdown, and full length dive platform. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yachtbuilder Posted May 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 Some pics of primer and paint on the hull. I used Awlcraft 2000 flag blue with awlgrip silver boot stripe and vivid red accent. Also the one piece deck taking shape on the mold ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joe884 Posted June 15, 2010 Report Share Posted June 15, 2010 Looks like a first cl*** rebuild. Its going to be a sharp looking boat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yachtbuilder Posted June 21, 2010 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2010 Thanks ! I put the deck in last weekend...will try to upload some more pics tonight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yachtbuilder Posted July 24, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2010 here are the latest pics..its been slow going lately because I just started a new job at Gamefisherman building a 42 express. Its great to be employed again after 6 months of unemployment. The tank is installed and foamed in. all hoses and electrical is hooked up.deck is fabricated and in, and I'm laying up the dive platform now. the tank picture was taken before I finished the pour foam. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yachtbuilder Posted July 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2010 swim platform mold. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squidmotion Posted July 31, 2010 Report Share Posted July 31, 2010 first cl*** rebuild is RIGHT!!! i dig the color! great work. it's obvious you have done this before, and are very good at it.... keep the photos coming!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yachtbuilder Posted August 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2010 Thank you ! Your compliments are appreciated...Just doing what I love.....building boats ! The topsides, deck, and cockpit will be Stark White Awlcraft 2000. I will do the swim platform Flag Blue like the hull with stark white nonskid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yachtbuilder Posted August 2, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2010 found out the other day that the gimbal housing is junk. I took the boot off and the lip crumbled into white powder....so Im shopping for a good used gimbal plate....my gimbal ring is good but the bell housing is kinda ify...I'll probably replace that too. I want everything to be right when it hits the water...hate surprises. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yachtbuilder Posted August 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2010 Dry fit of the dive platform.....next I will fabricate the new console for the steering and gauges, since I will be cutting the stock one out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpikeMike Posted August 29, 2010 Report Share Posted August 29, 2010 nice work. i want to learn just a little of what you're doing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yachtbuilder Posted August 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 30, 2010 What would you like to know ? I'll help you if I can....and by the way....thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpikeMike Posted August 30, 2010 Report Share Posted August 30, 2010 well, first, what did you make the stringers out of? the way they are finished off, they look like some kind of foam. also, how did you make the deck? did you make a mold? then, how do you know what kind of fibergl*** cloth to use in different places? and, when you use a mold, what is a good release agent? sorry for all the questions. you're project looks good and i admire the knowledge and work going into it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yachtbuilder Posted August 31, 2010 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2010 Your correct. The stringers are 3/4" divinycell pvc foam core material, doubled, and glued together with epoxy resin mixed with cabosil to give me a 1 1/2" thick stringer. Then ***embled out of the boat and dropped in as a unit. I wrapped them with 3 layers of 1708 biaxial cloth which is a unidirectional textile with chopped mat glued to the uderside with sizing. I always put 3/4'temp blocks to hold the stringers off the hull so I can partially roll the gl*** under the stringers. Tab them in, and then pull the blocks out before fully gl***ing the stringers in place. The deck was made on a temp mold fabricated from malamine. all it takes is a thin coat of wax to get it to release...too much wax and it will pre-release from the heat of the resin curing. then I sprayed gelcoat on the mold followed by one skin coat of 3/4 oz. chopped mat. 2 layers of 1708, 3/4" divinycell foam then 2 more layers of 1708. I put 3/4" ply core in the seat pedistal areas and where the batteries and trim pump mount. Remember....when making your mold everything is in reverse because your skipping the plug process for a one off. deciding which materials to use comes from experience... you learn what works from past mistakes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WestFoto Posted September 20, 2010 Report Share Posted September 20, 2010 Very Nice! How much time do you think you will have in it when you are done? Very NIce. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yachtbuilder Posted September 22, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 22, 2010 Well...really havent been keeping track of the time..mostly on and off on weekends, but not every weekend, for a little over a year now. Getting close though, I dropped the engine in this week to figure out the motor box I have to fabricate next. after that its on to painting everything and then putting it back together. Thanks for the compliment ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yachtbuilder Posted October 9, 2010 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2010 here is the dry fit of the engine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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