FLDXT Posted April 18, 2013 Report Share Posted April 18, 2013 Amazing job! I just started pulling the BP off of my Maverick today, decided to put it back on until I plan on having ALOT of down time to tear the Mav apart and hopefully do half as good of a job as you did! I sure hope these posts don't go anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reel Loco Posted April 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2013 Hey FLDXT, Sure hope your Mav doesn't need as much attention as the LT. I've been able to put in alot of hrs now that I'm retired and it's still taking longer than I would like. :confused: I bought some marine carpet and cut out the new gunnel carpets. I still have to order the binding. That sewing machine I bought came with an attachment for doing the binding. What luck I took the fibergl*** flatstock I made and installed it around the entire perimeter of the floor lip with ss screws every six inches. Next I'm going to loosen the screws, run a bead of thickened epoxy on top of the flatstock and tighten the screws back down. Wahooooo we're getting close to laying the floor back in. I was going to fill the entire gap in with 1708, epoxy and cap it with gelcoat but after examining construction of my floor I'm leaning towards a couple layers of 1708 & epoxy at the bottom followed by two part foam to replicate the core material and then four layers of 1708 capped with gelcoat. RL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stallion5020 Posted April 19, 2013 Report Share Posted April 19, 2013 it is looking great! i am hopefully going down to marine trading post in ft. myers to pick up some gl***, resin, and all the other little things to rebuild the stringers on mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flood Posted April 20, 2013 Report Share Posted April 20, 2013 RL, How much pre-search did you do before diving in the deep end? You obviously have the engineer gene, at some point do you just pull out the grinder and say what the heck? Do not have the tenacity or patience you have, but might get myself into something on a much smaller scale. Great inspiration for people in general in my opinion. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reel Loco Posted April 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2013 Flood, Before purchasing the LT I did quite a bit of research mainly on the internet as I had zero experience working with fibergl*** and resins. I followed a thread on The Hull Truth involving a guy that cut the whole stearn off his 25' boat and added five feet. While reading a book on fibergl*** boat repair the author stated in the forward " there is nothing on a fibergl*** boat that cannot be repaired". It was at that moment I figured if I screw something up I can always go back and fix it again. I also traveled from the west coast of Florida to the factory on the east coast for a tour of the factory. That was an eye opener as I got to see boats in different stages of their build. There is also a ton of info regarding fibergl*** boat repair on YouTube.com. I couldn't tell you how many vids I watched on how to make repairs, materials to use, etc. Good luck with your repair I'm glad this thread has been helpful. RL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flood Posted April 21, 2013 Report Share Posted April 21, 2013 Well, you sure took good notes. I have a pirogue in the back yard I should probable practice on first. I have some modification in mind for it too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reel Loco Posted April 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2013 Well, you sure took good notes. I have a pirogue in the back yard I should probable practice on first. I have some modification in mind for it too "A pirogue is a small, flat-bottomed boat of a design ***ociated particularly with the Cajuns of the Louisiana marsh." Had to look that one up :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flood Posted April 21, 2013 Report Share Posted April 21, 2013 as hard to pronounce as gheenoe and even less freeboard. Awesome little boats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reel Loco Posted April 23, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 23, 2013 Saturday I removed all of the fibergl*** strips from the lip of the floor edge, mixed epoxy and re-installed them. That was a long process as I first mixed about four ounces of epoxy with 404 thickner and inserted it in an empty caulk tube. Quickly I prepared to apply it with a caulk gun but before I could use it it had kicked! Sooooo, I mixed smaller batches with less hardner and applied with a tongue depressor. :susel: I'm satisfied with how strong of a ledge this arraignment gave me to install the floor on. This morning Mrs. Reel Loco and myself set the floor in to check how well the fit would be. I couldn't be happier with the fit. I removed the floor again as I'm going to taper the top edge back about one inch on both sides to give the epoxy more surface area to adhere to. Yesterday I prepped the inside of the forward storage compartment to facilitate installing a new bottom. (PO had cut out the bottom to get at the stringer). Well, I'm getting down to the nitty gritty as I attacked some of the smaller issues such as a long crack in the gelcoat located under the bench seat. This saturday is the target date for re-installing the floor. RL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RipTide Posted April 24, 2013 Report Share Posted April 24, 2013 Once you get it gl***ed back together and feather edged with 40 grit, mix up some gel coat and add some talc to it making a medium paste. Take a wide dry wall knife and float your floor out. This will fill all of your low spots. Don't forget to add your curing agent before adding the talc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reel Loco Posted April 25, 2013 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2013 Hey thanks Johnny. Sounds like a plan! Get yours flipped over yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stallion5020 Posted May 1, 2013 Report Share Posted May 1, 2013 what did you use for the floor? or is that the floor you cut out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reel Loco Posted May 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 This past Saturday was a good day in this restoration process. Three good friends gave me a hand and we got the floor installed. Before my friends arrived I prepped the top edge of the old floor and existing lip for a better bond when applying the top layer of gl*** (coming up when this rain stops). Fine looking group of helpers To install the floor we needed to apply a thickened epoxy around the edge of the existing lip and also apply a bonding putty to the top of the stringers that would bond the floor stiffners to the tops of the stringer. This was going to be a little tricky as it all had to be done quickly so neither the epoxy or bonding putty kicked before the other. Hence the three helpers. After a good discussion on how we were going to proceed the mixing began. These guys worked like a finely tuned motor. I was very worried about the bonding of the stiffners to the stringers but as you will see in the photos it all went well. Also notice I had installed small penetrations(pvc) thru the stiffners to facilitate getting my gunnel courtesy light wiring past the stiffners to the center console under the floor. Here's a pic of the new bottom in my port side forward compartment While it was raining the past couple of days I used that binding attachment that came with my sewing machine and finished the binding on my new gunnel carpets. Next I'm trying to figure out which rod holder goes where as they are not all the same. Hope to finish the floor (except gelcoat) early next week. RL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
squidmotion Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 good work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trf97 Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 Awesome work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wakenbait Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 You are the jack of all trades. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wanaflatsfish Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 I love this thread You are da bomb...group boat rebuilding dc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bilge rat Posted May 3, 2013 Report Share Posted May 3, 2013 I need to get that binding foot for the machines at work! Very nice work on everything. A true custom built boat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reel Loco Posted May 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2013 Hey guys, Thanks for the compliments! I've been busting my butt this week trying to get the floor done before the really hot weather sets in. I been blessed with not so hot days and some clouds to boot. Altogether I put about 20hrs on her this week. I've got some sore and aching muscles and joints but I'll forget about all that the first time I splash some fish slime on her! This is the deck joint prepped and ready for a couple of layers of 1708 biaxial cloth and epoxy. After applying the two layers of gl*** & epoxy in the bottom of the groove Next I mixed up two part 4lb density foam and poured the groove full After trimming the foam flush with the top of the deck with a hand saw. Then I used a foam rasp to remove enough foam to allow for a 1/4" thick laminate of gl*** to tie it all together. The following pics are of the gl*** fabric I trimmed to fit the groove. It took a total of 6 layers of 1708 biaxial cloth. The following day I layed up two three layer shots() of gl*** with sanding between the first and second. After six hours of sanding this is where I'm at in the floor process. (exhausting!) Next up is to fill in some voids left after sanding with thickened epoxy and go get some matching gelcoat. RL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wakenbait Posted May 10, 2013 Report Share Posted May 10, 2013 Close, man. Ready to see some blood on her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldsalt Posted May 10, 2013 Report Share Posted May 10, 2013 Great job Gary! Let me know when you need a fishing break. I'll send those dimensions you requested to your e-mail. Might even take a couple pictures with the ruler, so you get the dimensional view. Are you going to roll on the gel and are you putting a pattern in it? Bob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reel Loco Posted May 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 16, 2013 Okay, so I've been getting ready to gelcoat the deck repairs and in the last two days found out the reverse osmosis system in the house has been wasting water down the drain 24/7 (shut it off) driving up our water usage for the past two mos., went to use the air compressor (new to me) and it crapped out, and found that the water softner was almost clogged shut causing a pressure drop in the house (dumped the contents today and found the bottom caked with a grayish sandlike substance). Headed to the local water treatment store for new resins. RL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeys Posted May 30, 2013 Report Share Posted May 30, 2013 I have a 1999/2000 LTS 18' do you have information on the sending unit? and are the dimensions you stated in this post about the same... ie 7 in depth, looking at a moeller float model http://www.boatersland.com/moe03576910.html?gclid=CKX_i9nFvbcCFVIV7AodqBQAbA thanks for the help... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reel Loco Posted May 30, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 30, 2013 I have a 1999/2000 LTS 18'do you have information on the sending unit? and are the dimensions you stated in this post about the same... ie 7 in depth, looking at a moeller float model http://www.boatersland.com/moe03576910.html?gclid=CKX_i9nFvbcCFVIV7AodqBQAbA thanks for the help... Jkeys, You might try calling Ray Ayers at Maverick Boat Company for the info you are seeking. I don't have info on your boat but Ray should. That sender(I reused the one that was in the tank) looks great but the literature says it's for a 8" tank depth and mine only measured 7" in depth. May not work correctly if that float rod comes in contact with the bottom of your tank. Can't you measure the depth of your tank after removing the old sending unit? RL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reel Loco Posted May 31, 2013 Author Report Share Posted May 31, 2013 Reel Loco is goin BLACK!!!!! :cool: Looks like the LT will be sportin' this motor sometime in August or September when it becomes available. Thanks to Capt. Dan Malzone from Tampa. Picked up matched gelcoat and waiting for my gelcoat man to call so we can get started on gelcoating all the deck repairs I've made. I was looking at pictures this morning and realized I started this whole project 3yrs ago come the middle of September. Wow! This has been a Long Haul!! RL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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