RickK's 170 rebuild

[RickK]

Thanks Craig, one day (weekend day) at a time....
The only reason I kept the same console and didn't build my own (even though I kinda did) is that I like the windshield I have (a place to hide behind) and also I already have a custom cover for the boat and I don't want to have to modify that (may have to though since I raised the sole a couple inches).
If you have no console now figure out how you want it and build your own out of light plywood and a few layers of glass.  There are several great examples of homemade consoles here - you can handle this. You might even want to build it out composites to save weight but it has to be able to hold a screw if you're mounting pumps and stuff.  My console is already too heavy for me to lift and move, maybe in my younger days, but not now. I can lift it but it's too bulky to do anything but lift it straight up (maybe I'm getting smarter instead of weaker   ).

The big success of this weekend was to see, after I drew the stringers on the sole and set the console, that I don't have to move my rigging pipes  

I think the next step is to figure out my hatch situation and how to handle them with this composite stuff.
The time I'm spending now doing what I'm doing will hopefully pay off - one of these weekends I will have the floor and the console in at the same time.

[fishinonthebrain]

Rick real nice I think I am going to do the same on my console.

 You might need to switch to the 4 day weekend.

[RickK]

I wish  
It is coming up on the time of the year that I take all my vacation at once - should get a ton done then.

[RickK]

Today I spent time getting the console close to being finished.  I mixed up some thickened poly and used it to fair the the console out - took two different recipes and two applications and I think it is pretty much done. Then I laid a 3/4oz layer over the complete outside to build it up a little and I'll see how it looks tomorrow after I get all the dust out of my eyes.  Still have to trim it all up.






I think tomorrow I will start the seat for the console - should take a couple hours.  Have to figure out a few things while I'm sleeping tonight but should be a piece of cake otherwise.

[RickK]

I scruffed up the new 3/4oz lam and put in the backers for the seat


Then I dry cut all the materials - 1.5oz, 1808, 1708 and 1.5oz - removed that and set it aside.  Then I laid visqueen over the backers and over the sides.  Called my wife out to give me more hands and started mixing resin and lamming it up.  When done (had to mix two more batches of resin through the process - stuff really soaked it up) I covered it with plastic and then put some corner brackets (bought a moving box from HD and cut it into 6" strips, doubled them up and folded them over the corners - obviously done before the start)  on the corners and strapped then down to make sure the cloth would make the corners.

[RickK]

After a bit - I really like the predictability of poly, epoxy hardens when it "feels like it" - I let it sit for an hour and a half while I cleaned up everything, I took off the straps and peeled off the outer plastic


Then I popped it off to see what it looked like


The top of the back is about 2" too tall - it needs to drop in right below the windshield frame.

[RickK]

Then I peeled off the bottom plastic




Here is a glimpse of the seat on the console - of course it needs to be trimmed up and pampered a bit.

[dburr]

That came out SLICK!!!

[CLM65]

You definitely have some talent, Rick!  What did you use to thicken the poly for fairing?

[fishinonthebrain]

Rick it's looking great. I was working on my console today too cutting the bottom lip off to do my version of a toe kick. Now I want to make a fold up seat too.

Are you planning on hinging it to fold up for easy access the inside of the console?
If so I noticed a yellowfin with that type of design. Very sweet.

[RickK]

You definitely have some talent, Rick!  What did you use to thicken the poly for fairing?

Thanks Craig. I used poly, chopped fibers and cabosil in the first batch and made it really thick. In the second I used just poly and cabosil and made it a little less thick.

Rick it's looking great. I was working on my console today too cutting the bottom lip off to do my version of a toe kick. Now I want to make a fold up seat too.

Are you planning on hinging it to fold up for easy access the inside of the console?
If so I noticed a yellowfin with that type of design. Very sweet.

Don't forget to take pics for us to see.  

This seat will be hinged at the front and will fold forward and lay on the casting deck opening up the whole console.
After I do some grinding on the seat and trim off the extra glass all the way around I will take the "backers" and cut them down a bit and then glue them to the underside of the seat for support.  I will have to glue in a frame of sorts on the backrest portion of the console so I can glue in some foam to cushion the seat so it doesn't rattle.

[Callyb]

Oh Rick! You stole my thunder... :P  I am doing the same thing with my console. After quite a few beers while staring at it and trying to figure out the best access to get to the batteries and wiring I decided that having the seat hinged is the most logical way to do it. The only diference is that I will hinge mine at the top. I think it will make it easier to crawl in the console by not having the seat in the way (if it is to flip forward).

Also, IT LOOKS AWESOME :!: I agree with CLM, you have some serious talent Sir     . The cardboard "forms" definitely take a lot of the work out of the work. Very clean.

You are the man.

[RickK]

Thanks Carl.
Staring at the project is a fond past-time of mine    If I could recoup all the time I've wasted staring  

How will you keep the hatch open?  Gas Cylinders?

[Callyb]

How will you keep the hatch open? Gas Cylinders?

Yes, well that is the plan.

Staring at the project is a fond past-time of mine  If I could recoup all the time I've wasted staring

I think that is true for all of us.

[wingtime]

What if you used pinned hinges that you could take apart? That way you could take the seat totally out of your way if you need to do some work in the console?