Reef or Maddness 3

[wessnapp]

Awesome thread Keith!  Please keep this alive with pictures and updates.

Also, if you are in the mood to refer a Johnson mechanic/friend - i'll be stopping by the shop in the next couple of days.   Crushed the trout on Paul Brown lures and need to restock.

[wessnapp]

Keith - any update?  Would love to see the progress!!!

[Keith Knecht]

This is a picture for Capt. Bob.  The t top is from a 215 Osprey and it fits,well, almost perfect.

[Keith Knecht]

Now, finally for the splashwell area. A friend of mine is doing this for me and I have not been able to get there at the appropriate times for pictures but maybe it will give some of you some ideas of one possible approach.  The splash well was cut back even with the bait well. Cosa board glassed on both sides was used to fabricate the replacement pieces.  

[Keith Knecht]

The pieces were glassed in from the bottom side first, voids filled and the glassed in on top. and that's where we stand at this point.  Ultimately a 10-12" splash gate will be installed at the back edge of the transom.  It will either be hinged to fold out onto the platform or lift out of some tracks. The rigging will just lay on top of it when it is up.This modification gives me about a foot of additional space but more important,  It's removes the high step that pervents you from getting back to to bracket.  That is paramont to me since I like to fish for sharks and have to get back there to get around the motor.

[Capt. Bob]

Keith,
You need to paint the ol' gal.

Always wanted a T top but the wife wanted shade so....

It looks like you're keeping the factory well. It looks like opening up that back is going to work out for ya. Keep the pics coming.

PS... Still waiting on the next book in the series. You can't leave your faithful readers hanging like that.

[jdupree]

Nice work Keith   That is a big step in the right direction removing the "worthless" spashwell on the CCP'S.  

I was just curious, are you planning on using the livewell?  Looks like you could have cut out a little further aft and stopped right in front of the pie plates?  Regardless, that should give you the much needed space aft.

Thanks for the insight.  I am planning to have my transom re-built in several more months.  My transom should be good for several more years, but this will give me the excuse to gid rid of the splashwell

Keep the pictures coming.

[Keith Knecht]

Hey Bob,

The second book of Zahwu is almost done.  Actually it is done but it's not finished.  I made the fatal mistake,for me, since I am a story teller and not a writer, of writing the ending for the story before I had the middle. I am now having difficulty writing the middle since the story is really finished. My goal is to finish before the end of the year. I am excited that one of the private middle schools in Tampa is going to use it as part of their English writing program. Zahwu is also now a Kindal book and in libraries in Tampa, St Petersburg, and Pennsylvania.  Haven't made a best sellers list anywhere yet though.  Glad you liked the book enought to be interested in the second one.

And yes, the t top makes a big difference. Just had to shim it in a few places to make it fit.  Made the shims from starboard and it looks like it was custom made for the boat. The mounting pads at the bottom of the top butt right up against the console and sit on top of the console mounting flange. I could have notched the flange but by not doing that, half of the screws that hold the t top down go through the console flange and help hold it down even better. The other half go through the mounting pad, a shim, and into the deck.  That also leaves less of the pad in the walk space.

[Keith Knecht]

heyj, yes I am keeping the factory well.  I know, I know.  Lots of better options but for what I do it will work just fine for me and keeps the boat a little closer to original. Original? Who am I kidding?

[Capt. Bob]

Keith,
Just a tip.

Those square washers (aluminum) will "bite" you if you're barefoot and slip on that rear section. Guess I should have used stainless and made them round.
At least if they were stainless, that would reduce having to pick out the corroded alum. from your toes.

Good luck with both boat and book.

How about this?
When you finish it, I'll trade you an autographed copy for that carb rebuild kit and the mysterious spring taped to a piece of cardboard.
Pickup and delivery on me.

[Keith Knecht]

Deal.

[Keith Knecht]

It's dirty but heres the next step.  Used gelcoat and some non skid. Really opens thing up in the back and it's not much of a step up. That step makes a big difference if you're harnessed into an 80 international and have a big shark on the other end.

[Keith Knecht]

OK, Getting close to being finished.  Everything was done in gelcoat rather than paint.  We were more interested in durability than in shinny.  This is a fishing boat for garsh sakes.  Notice that we did do the inside of the bait well in blue so as not to stress the little fishies. Added a seal and catch on the lid and reinforced it with additional glass.  The whole spash well area is non skid including the top of the bait well lid.

[Keith Knecht]

Here's a better view of the work that has been done.  Sorry for the leaves and dirt.  It does clean up pretty nice. The splash gate is 1/2" starboard and is just sitting there for effect.  It will get a piano hinge and two barrel bolts so that it will lift up off the dive platform,it's normal resting place, and bolt in place. When it's up, the cable will just rest on top.  Don't think that will create any issues but will deal with that when and if the time comes. This gate will only be up when we get in a following sea that want's to join us in the ride. Oh, my friend says that he knows some magic and will be able to non skid the splash gate so we don't slip on it when it is laying down.

[Keith Knecht]

Here's a view from just above deck level.  Nearly time to go fishin'.  That's what this has been all about, you know. Oh, by the way, a special thanks to my friend Tran who works at Yacht building facitily.  He really does great work.  If you are in the Tampa, St Pete, Sarasota, Bradenton area and need some fiberglass or painting done, I can put you in touch with him.  If this shameless plug isn't right to put this here, the mods may feel free to delete it.