1966 22-2 Diver Rebuild

[RickK]

You better pass me a little of what you're smoking - I need that magic too 

[CLM65]

Lol, I didn't know you moonlight as a comedian!

As far as sequence goes, you might consider painting her before the flip.  Should be much easier, I would think.

[Callyb]

Lol, I didn't know you moonlight as a comedian!

As far as sequence goes, you might consider painting her before the flip.  Should be much easier, I would think.

Firstly, my second career as a comedian fizzled out years ago, LOL!!!!

Secondly, I have been thinking quite a bit about your recommendation. I think I might just paint her before I flip her, but man I don't want to screw up a new paint job though. Keep in mind I don't have a rotisserie, I have to use straps...and the straps plus a green paint job. Yikes. I don't know I guess I still have time to make up my mind.

In other news, I started getting the bottom cleaned up. I had purchased a blasting attachment for my pressure washer quite some time ago which finally got put to use. I have to say I was pretty impressed with it! My expectations were pretty low, but it did a great job at stripping away the top coat paint and bottom paint. It isn't the fastest thing in the world, but much faster that sanding or scraping for sure, and I did a quarter of the hull with less than 80lbs of medium sand ($8.35 per bag). Much less expensive than the amount of sand paper of grinding disks I would have used to clean the same area.

Here is the box. I don't know why I didn't take a picture of the pressure washer with it all put together????


So, I only had about an hour to mess around, and the amount of paint I removed (I thought) was pretty good for the amount of time I spent on it. Of course, I will have to go back over it again with the sander and clean it up better for paint, but I suppose you get the idea. BTW, there are multiple layers of bottom paint to contend with.


I should have some more pics by the weekend.

Until next time...

[RickK]

Looks really good for an hour of work only.  Jeez, I battled my bottom paint on the 230 for weeks and finally gave in and let them sand blast it.

You could build some gantries to flip the boat like I used to flip mine.  Might come in handy later around the shop?

[CLM65]

What size pressure washer are you using?  I tried that on my bottom paint, but it didn't do too much for me and I ended up sanding.  I figured my PW wasn't up to the task (I think it was like 2.5 gpm @ 3000 psi).  And yes, I used a lot of sandpaper.

[Callyb]

I'll double check when I get home, but i am pretty sure mine is the same specs... I'll take some pics of my setup tonight too.

I was using quikrete medium sand, 80lbs bag though.


Rick, I am also giving thought to building a gantry...

[Callyb]

Craig, Sorry for the delay....

My pressure washer is 2600 psi, 2.5 gpm. I first used a 5 gallon bucket like the instructions suggested, but I went through it so fast I decided to just fill a 55 gallon drum. This way I could just keep on going without having to keep filing the bucket back up. The only persistent issue I had is the suction hose kept collapsing. I plan on getting some reinforced hose the next time I go to the hardware to fix that. Overall, I have to say it works pretty well!

Here is my setup for the wet blaster.



I used a scrap of OSB to make a lid for the drum. I stuffed a rag on the hole to help keep water out.


They only thing is to make sure you put it where you want it, before you fill it up! LOL!

[CLM65]

I had the same problem with my hose, and I replaced it just as you are doing.  But I still didn't have much success.  I'm glad it is working for you - should make things much easier.  Have you removed enough of the bottom paint to get a good look at the gelcoat?  Hopefully it is not all crazed like mine.

[Callyb]

Have you removed enough of the bottom paint to get a good look at the gelcoat?  Hopefully it is not all crazed like mine.

Yes I have, and yes it has a bunch of crazing, but it is limited to the area round the end of the skeg. I suspect this is where the (ill fitted) old trailer used to hit the boat first. It is also where the old stringers were disbonded about the worst. Also, I am very happy to report that there is only a very slight hook (which I believe is supposed to be there) like 1/16th or so, if even that much. So fairing should be pretty straight forward.

The bigger problem I have is that some a-hole used a grinder on the forward portion of the bottom in a fairly large area, and they were not very cautious at all.

I am pretty sure I will wind up going down past the gelcoat before I get the marks out of it...

Here's where I left off yesterday. Thank goodness for good weather! The forward left looks like it isn't sanded all of the way, but it is actually the deep scratches with paint in them. The forward right is where I ran out of sand for blasting. I am very happy with the job the blast did, as I have only used 8 pieces of sandpaper so far on the outside! Seems like money well spent.

Oh, and the sides are done too. They are in really good shape.

[RickK]

Looks like you made good progress Carl.

[CLM65]

Excellent progress and good news (for the most part) on the condition! 

I assume you are going to extend the keel?  I brought mine to within 10-12" of the transom.  I'm not sure it would be detrimental to go all the way to the transom if you want, since your engine is going to be at least 17" further back on the porta bracket.

[Callyb]

Thanks guys. I really just want to get a coat of primer on her so i can really see where I am at with fairing.

As far as the keel/skeg extension, I honestly never gave it a though. I know you haven't had the opportunity to run yours yet, but they will spin withing their own length at lower speeds (like an old American Skier with the fins in the center of the boat). I really don't want to alter that handling characteristic, and I didn't really think that the higher speed handling was all that terrible either. I have been kicking around putting splash rails on it. I do recall water creeping up to the rub rail in really sharp turns, and think they will help quite a bit.

[CLM65]

I keep thinking about spray rails also.  If I could find a set at a reasonable price, I probably would do it.  But shipping costs are significant, so I will most likely skip them.

Other members have complained about high speed handling, leading to the keel extension.  Glad to hear that you don't think it is all that bad.  I have actually considered adding a set of additional strakes to the bottom, maybe 3-4' long and about 2' off center, to help prevent sliding at speed.  But I'm not ready to go that far outside the box yet.

[RickK]

You guys are certainly at that "decision time" for a set of spray rails.  What pricing were you seeing Craig (and shipping)?

[Callyb]

The only brand I could get a price on was Smart Rails, and yes they were very proud of those. So I am thinking about building them myself. Still on the fence though.

About the high speed handling of a flatback... It is simply NOT a high performance hull. It is like driving a Jon boat...you are not turning on a dime at 30 mph. As long as you understand and respect what it's strong suit is and it's design limitations are you are all set. I regularly ran mine in two completely different environments and never had any issues with the performance of the hull in the open water of Lake Huron or the winding channel of the Ausable River. The river narrows to less than 60 feet in many areas and winds through several 90 degree or better turns and it can easily be navigated with a flatback at 20 mph or better. Does it slip? Sure... My thoughts are to be a good Captain and throttle back... Would the longer keel help? Maybe. How much? I don't know? My bottom line here is not to plan on making this hull something it isn't.

Personally, I don't know that you can without some very heavy modifications, like the stakes Craig spoke of. And speaking of strakes, I would be inclined to build "reverse" strakes so that they bite in during a turn as opposed to "planing" strakes that you normally see on current hulls.

Just my two cents, and bouncing some ideas off of you guys.