RickK's 170 rebuild

[RickK]

I lost a couple days of working on the boat this long weekend, due to work   Happy Labor Day!!
Anyway, I was not real confident on the plan I had for securing the seat to the deck - I was going to use stainless inserts and had over-drilled and filled the holes with thickened resin. It's been eating at me in the back of my mind for months.  So I got to work on the boat Sunday and drilled a 1" hole down almost to the stringers, through the plugs I had poured earlier.  I cleaned out all the plastic and made sure I had a nice flat bottom for my new plan.


I had some 1/4 - 20 threaded rod laying around and had 7 of the T-nuts left.  So my plan was to mix up some thickened epoxy and press the t-nuts to the bottom of the hole and fill the holes with the epoxy.  I taped the bottom of the seat platform so any spilled epoxy wouldn't stick to them and set the seat down on top of the threaded bolts to keep them aligned.  I sprayed the bolts with some lubricant so the epoxy wouldn't stick and I could remove them - hard to see the bolts but they are in the holes on the inside of the seat platform.  Got up and rotated the bolts throughout the day until the epoxy hardened. Worked out well. I have confidence that these will allow securing the seat without letting water down into the stringers.

[RickK]

Started back on the boat over the past few days - working the grueling non-skid  The non-skid isn't bad, it's the double masking and all the transitions.
Started at the front and finished the casting deck and added some water run lines on the floor




Started the masking on the forward deck and then rolled the gelcoat and applied the glass bead




Let it kick, then swept off the excess and pulled the first layer of tape


Then topcoated it and let it kick


Did the front of the tank lid




Then started working the aft of the boat - a day of masking alone


I really should have broke it into two sides but I didn't - almost too much room to handle before the gelcoat kicks.


But got it done




\



I would not like to fall down on this stuff - talk about coming up with road rash.  Next is to gelcoat the remaining section of the lid - it will be grey without non-skid.

[mshugg]

Looking good.  Non skid!  Wow!  You're so close that you must be tasting the salt spray.  What are you useing for your non skid?

[RickK]

gelcoat and glass bead - see this post and the one after Lar's comment to see the process up close
http://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=10101.msg135182#msg135182

[RickK]

Rolled gray gelcoat on the middle of the tank lid - this portion will be inside the console.


Set it back in the boat


I forgot to take pics of the other non-skid I did over the past few days
Added this on both gunwale tops for the step into the boat


And this on the top of the transom




Then I laminated up the "tank keeper" with some Plascore and 1708 using epoxy. It is the piece that fits in the middle slot on the tank to keep it from moving


The tank well is pretty tight so it's not going anywhere but up if we take a big wave.


You get a glimpse of it here

[RickK]

Made up some Plascore with 1708 and epoxy on both sides - pretty stout with just a single layer on both sides. Then I cut some uprights to attach to the sides of the tank coffin.  I cut 3/4" H x1/4"W slots in them so I can raise the keeper out of the slot a little and then mixed up some thickened epoxy and glued them to the main keeper.




I pulled the glued keeper back out after it hardened a little and ground away any excess.  Put it back in and drilled some small marks at the top of the slot to locate the stainless threaded inserts. Pulled the keeper back out, drilled the correct size holes and threaded in the keepers.  Then I re-installed the keeper and put some high strength loctite on the truss bolts I screwed into the inserts - I left them a little loose so the keeper can move a little but raised the keeper out of the slot about 3/8" before I snugged them down.


After I attached the keeper I glued a brace down the middle of the keeper for added rigidity - she ain't going anywhere.




Keeper raised up




Next is chasing out the threads of all the threaded inserts around the perimeter of the tank lid, pulling the cables, wires etc through the access holes and setting and sealing the lid down.

[RickK]

Time to button it up.  Sorted all the stuff out to the proper sides and made sure I have access to the pull lines I ran in each tube


I got everything through the access holes and piled it up in the middle, inside where the console will be.
Next I added rubber washers under the truss bolts I anchor the tank lid with.  I also pumped caulking in the holes to seal them up.  Some oozed out but no big deal.
Time to button it up.  Sorted all the stuff out to the proper sides and made sure I have access to the pull lines I ran in each tube




Then it was time to caulk the lid to make it water tight.  I ran two strips of tape around the lid so I could do a nice job of filling the gap with the 4000UV


Then I filled it


And used a fillet tool to smooth it out - kept dipping it in mineral spirits.


Then removed the tape - had to fuss with the corners a bit with my finger dipped in mineral spirits.  Came out ok and it's sealed


Onward

[RickK]

Hung the power pole this morning and plumbed it.


Mounted the rear hatch hardware


Finished the loom into the starboard cabinet


Onward

[MarcG]

Looking good!  Was the Power Pole a Christmas present?   I wasn't considering additional accessories like that on my rebuild - I better go a little larger when I install the chase tubes under the floor just in case.

[RickK]

Thanks Marc.  I've had this Power Pole for about 10 years and it was installed on the boat before the rebuild, but through the transom.  This time I added a mounting bracket so I don't have extra holes in the transom.  If you plan to put the pump in the console, the only thing coming back to the pole is two very small hydraulic lines.

[larsli68]

Great work as always Rick, and great progress! 

Can't wait to see some on the water pictures!

Happy New Year!

//Lars

[RickK]

Thanks Lars - making good progress now.
Dropped the console in and bolted it down.  Fits like a tight pair of shoes - very tight.  Also caulked around the base.










I guess I have to replace the screws that are already rusting on the speakers. 
I spent a few days, months ago, pre-wiring inside the console, so all that is done.  I spent the rest of the day routing the cables from below (the majority of the time) and connecting wires.  Only have a few more connections to make, connect the shift/throttle cables to connect to the binnacle and then mount the binnacle, wire the trim/tilt and neutral safety switch.  Mount the steering wheel.  I think I'm going to extend the warning buzzer wire on the ignition switch and mount it in the opening of the vent on the side of the console so I can hear it.  I also have to connect the power pole hoses - there was just enough length, could have used an extra foot.  Then I'll add hydraulic fluid to the pole and the steering. Probably a half day's worth of work in the console.  On the boat itself I have the hinges to install on both front hatches (I'd love to find thinner hinges), seat, rub rail, the registration numbers/tags and a new jack on the trailer.

[larsli68]

It looks beautiful! Very nice!

I plan to re-do my electrical installation. I need to do a better job at routing the cables, and make it look nicer. I was in a rush getting it done two years ago.

Happy New Year!
//Lars

[CLM65]

Wow, Rick, looks fantastic!  Can't wait to see some action shots.  What is the next project going to be?

[Blue Agave]

 Looks great!  I guess the rub rail is next.