RickK's 170 rebuild

[dburr]

Another thing I notice is that the stainless screws I ordered (McMasters) for connecting the cap to the hull are rusting and I see rust stains running down the hull a little bit. I guess I need to get better quality screws?

3 years... Well Rick, it's about the journey, not the destination.. You know that or you would have quit long ago. Really nice work! 

For screws, check out Boltdepot.com, any time I need more then a dozen of anything fastener related it is cheaper for me to order from them then to get them form any local source. Sad in a way...  In the end, you really want chrome plated stainless.. Good luck on the hunt!

And Happy Thanksgiving!!

[CLM65]

I took this week off too - have to make the best of it.  It's been 3 years for me this month.
Happy Thanksgiving!!

Happy Thanksgiving...and Happy Anniversary, too!

[RickK]

Good to see you around here Dave - I have missed your advice. And thanks for the bolt suggestion - I have been trying to buy 316 but have not seen chrome plated stainless "anything".  Guess I have to look harder - I usually go through McMaster-Carr but I'll peek into the Boltdepot - thx.
Before I left for "Turkey and Ham heaven" at my sisters house I did go out and cut the big square out of the center of the vents and also counter sunk the holes a bit.  Pix to follow but I think you guys can imagine what I'm talking about.

[RickK]

A little blurry - sorry.

[larsli68]

A late Happy Thanksgiving from Sweden. We are celebrating with Turkey and fixings today, since we worked Thursday and Friday.

Your boat is looking good Rick!

Weather here in Sweden has gone from very good for November to typical November... 42 degrees and raining today...

//Lars

[RickK]

The wind is still kicking butt here 
I was able to sand and spray paint the windshield frame this morning in between blasts of wind.




I bought a Perko LED all-around light to replace the incandescent one I had - it came with a real short 3-conductor wire that I needed to splice into.  I bought some bilge 3 conductor wire thinking it was about the same size but it was heavier.  I staggered the butt splices (adhesive/heat shrink type) so the splice area would be about the size of the new wire and then I covered it with heat shrink. The light is different in that you can turn on only the front or front and back.


It fit perfectly in the existing holes - "in use" position


"stored" position - there will be a little cushion glued to the windshield glass where the light would touch, to avoid it breaking the glass.


Here is the back side of the windshield and the wiring is exposed


So here is my dilemma - what to do with the wire.  Options 1) leave as is  2) paint it with the same color used on the frame and make it disappear 3) buy some black heat shrink and heat shrink the entire length.  What would you do?

Yesterday and last weekend I ditz'd around on the hull while the wind was blowing.
I cut the rear speaker holes in the liner



The repair above the hole was where the Power Pole switch was (the pump was mounted, exposed, right below it - now it will be inside the console) and I don't need it here anymore, a new one is being mounted on the console. I also filled a hole above on the top of the cap where the GPS antenna was.

I also installed the scupper flaps during my boredom.  I am going to pick up some 4200 today and then install the garboard plug.

[Capt. Bob]

So here is my dilemma - what to do with the wire.  Options 1) leave as is  2) paint it with the same color used on the frame and make it disappear 3) buy some black heat shrink and heat shrink the entire length.  What would you do?

http://www.delcity.net/store/UV-Resistant-High!Temp-Split-Loom/p_807069.h_807106.t_1.r_IF1003?mkwid=sJJppdCKW&crid=38094426869&mp_kw=&mp_mt=&gclid=CKf51pnCyMkCFYkdgQodXcMCPg

[CLM65]

I wouldn't paint the wire.  It will eventually chip and flake off and look like crap.  The split loom that CB posted might work, but from my limited experience the plastic split loom stuff does not like to stay closed when in a tight radius.  Not sure how tight your bends are, so I don't know if that would be an issue for you.  I would look at the braided loom, also sold by Del City.  The only thing I'm not sure of is the UV resistance of it.

Boat's looking good, btw!

[RickK]

Decided on the heat shrink. Slid it over the majority of the wire




Used my trusty Harbor Freight heat gun to shrink it up


Blends in better now.




Mixed up and colored a gallon of unwaxed gelcoat and hopefully will get a morning without wind over the next couple days.

[dburr]

What about putting some holes in the end of the box tubing and then snake in the wire down through the window frame then covering the holes with solid grommets?  With all the effort you going through to make this a killer rebuild how much more time would that really take?  Might that be a good windy day project?

[RickK]

Good idea Dave but I don't think it'll fit inside the tubing.

[RickK]

Ok, no more wind delays 
I went to Home Depot and bought some 1/2" PVC and some fittings and, with the help of my wife, built the framework for a spray booth.


I also bought some heavy visqueen and, using contact cement and the help of my wife, started covering the frame


The wind here today was easy 30 mph gusts, so I had to start weighing it down with cinder blocks as I covered it


Closed in one end - you can see the contact cement on the frame and visqueen


It's a nice size booth.  10Wx10Dx8H.  Still have to work around the wind to spray the boat but at least I can get the other things sprayed


We covered the other end and then we walked it out to beside the 230.  I immediately put 6 cinder blocks on the framework to keep it down.  We put a 18" over lap on the door into the booth.


Came out pretty nice - should have built it a month ago

[CLM65]

Good job, Rick .  And your wife can use it as a greenhouse when you are done!

[larsli68]

Great work with the spray booth Rick! 

Weather looks nice!
I could almost launch my boat again. It has been mid 50's here in Sweden for a week now, and the warm weather continues.

I have had problems uploading pictures. Am I doing something wrong? Has anything changed?

//Lars

[RickK]

Hi Lars, hopefully in the morning I will use the booth and keep using it until I'm done with everything that will fit in there.

50s in Sweden in the end of December? 

Are you trying to upload more than 3 pics at a time?  If so I have seen this problem too.  I asked the Service provider to reboot the server - maybe he didn't?