Two more steps

Since Rachele finished the third coat of blue yesterday I had a few specific goals today:
1. Glass in the side shelves for what will be the pockets
2. Slather a second coat of gel coat on the floor and the above shelf
3. Install the bow nav lights
4. Cut holes in and install dash panel
4. Finish cleaning the aluminum of the windows
5. Install the windows

 Where I started, this is after the third coat of paint. It looks AMAZING.

This is the starboard interior trim piece skinned with white vinyl. (yes it's upside down). This is my first attempt at upholstery, not too bad if I say so myself.


As is often the case, I got a late start since I spent the morning running errands and getting the hardware I need for the above to do list. When I did start I began with the shelves. These turned out to be much harder than I would have expected. Since I have spent so much time with fiberglass this summer I assumed it would be quick and easy. I set up quart pant cans for height and laid the wood on to of that. Since the sides of the boat angles out I had a hell of a time getting it flush. After I laid the glass in on the first one on the port side and moved to starboard, port quickly slipped off its cans and fell apart. Before the glass set I had to pull it all up and toss it out. The second attempt was more successful.

Here's a view of the starboard shelf with white gel coat

*Time Lapse* it's now Saturday evening. I got distracted Thursday...

While the gel coat and glass were setting I prepped the windows, dash, and bow nav lights. Earlier in the week I installed the transducer and sender for the depth finder and speedometer, so I figured the gauges were the next logical step. Before I could place the windshield I had to anchor down the fish finder stand. This wouldn't have been much of an issue but the new floor in the bow is just enough higher to push up the dash and make the windshield a little off center from where it was. I had to jimmy and shift it around a bunch to get all the pieces line up, mark it, remove them, screw down the anchor, then reset the windshield and anchor it.

I am now left with two more steps: 1. Finish the interior vinyl and trim 2. Wire up the lights and gauges. Of course the engine still needs attention but that will come in due course. I have an appointment Thursday.

Bow lights and windshield. She's beautiful

Saphire Blue

As is often the case August has been a donkey show of busy. Weddings, summer youth theatre, end of season paperwork, etc, etc. As a result my mad dash to finish the boat has had a few hurdles. Fret not though, I have been able to hammer out a few days. Last week I slathered on a coat of bilge paint in the rear as well as gel coating the floor and sealing the interior stern cap seam. Of course the imperfections in the floor are highlighted now but that is to be expected

Bilge area coated with heavy duty gas resistant paint.

Floor painted with white gel coat.

Also, I sealed and painted the new dash. I decided a while back not to try and fill all the old dash holes but to put a panel over it and cut new holes for the gauges and steering wheel. It'll be easier and a lot less messy

Soon to have a snazzy new speedometer and steering wheel poking through it.

Then today I sanded (and sanded, and sanded) the blue areas. smoothing out all the patched I have been making as I went along. After sanding I wiped it all down with acetone and taped off the aluminum trim. Once that was finished the long awaited first coat of new blue went on. It's considerably darker, but that's a good thing. To be honest, I have never cared much for how light the old blue was. That may be surprising to some, but after all it is a pastel. And I hate pastels.

First coat! It's patchy but the second coat will take care of that

Interior bow. This section is the hardest with all the tight areas and corners

Splash well. Here you can see the old blue as comparison. Plus a bottle of my own fuel.

Next week the engine is getting fixed so it's a dash to the end. The vinyl and piping is also in so I should be able to get the interior panels finished this week.

As always, more to come.

Paint and Power

No huge updates this time around but still some significant happenings.
First the paint. The bottom paint and white sides and bow are all finished. I put the second coat on today and I have the gummy perma-white spots on my legs to prove it.
Second, I broke the motor. I have no idea what happened but the motors electrical system is fried. At first the tilt worked but when I went to turn it over the battery would spark and the whole thing would go dead. If I left it off the battery over night it would heal itself and I could tilt it again. I did some digging in the wiring harness and figured that since I had removed the long broken oil meter the loose cables must be causing a short. So I disconnected that cable from the engine system, and as if by magic it worked again. I could tilt and it would turn over, all was right with the world. Then yesterday I got a bug up my butt to connect the new fuel tanks and fire her up. And lo and behold it sparked and died again. This time it isn't healing itself so I get the pleasure of taking it in and paying waaaaaaaay too much money for someone to figure out and fix what my dumb ass broke.

And don't worry loyal reader(s) the irony that I am a theatre electrician and I have broken the electrical system is not lost on me.