Ryan's (aka prudog45) 1975 Aquasport 222 Newbie Rebuild

[gran398]

Probably the most exiting part of any rebuild is the planning, sourcing, and purchasing of components. Take your time, do your due diligence, and search out the best stuff at the best price. As the old adage goes, the satisfaction of quality remains after the thrill of price is long forgotten. So take your time, get it just like you want. Sure doesn't have to take three years like Miss D....but a rush job is always that, a rush job. This might end up being a boat you'll keep for a good long time, so careful planning is a good thing. And a quality job makes it more desirable and marketable when and if the time comes.

Excited about your visit! Will you  be going to South Carolina, Georgia, or Florida

[prudog45]

Thanks all again for replies. I removed about 10" of stringer today that attaches to the transom. I was covered in fiberglass dust grinding it so I can epoxy the new 3/4 inch wood to the transom to beef it up. Itched a bit but I'm showered and feeling much better. Regardless I now have plenty of room to add some PVC drainage. When I foam and re fiberglass.

Scott did I miss something on where I'm visiting?    Or were you making a joke, Just want to make sure :-)

[gran398]

Yep, just funning

Looking forward to meeting you! Boat goes in the water this morning for the season!

[dburr]

Yep, just funning

Looking forward to meeting you! Boat goes in the water this morning for the season!

LUCKY!! Ice should be out of the lake by tomorrow if the sun comes out....

[prudog45]

Good deal Gentleman, congrats!!!

In the meantime, I'm trying to get my boat dry so I can epoxy the drain hole where the non-marine plywood that I paid 3500.00 for, in my new Transom, was left exposed for a year. Yes I offered to go get marine plywood, and was assured by this gentleman that he would have so much glass on it, it would never matter. I was new, and trust worthy at this time. Now I have been told, this was totally dishonest. I'll just pray for the best now.

Lets just say the guy that did my transom could of done a much better and more honest job. I felt he and I became friends on my many visits, which was a bad move on my part, as it made my telling him how I felt tough..... I paid him for a paint job and honestly I can not believe he let it go the way he did. But while I restrain myself from saying something really bad, I hope he finds that the brown bottle has caused his work to be careless, and word is getting around. I don't spread rumors, but I do hear them, and this guy is actually a bit rough around the edges but a good guy. Sure, he did me over good, did he mean too, I don't think so, I just think he believes he knows more than anyone about building boats using expensive marine woods, and composites... He has worked on boats his whole life, and came highly recommended because of his credentials with many boat companies, working himself up to managing a few of them. But he is losing his credentials fast, so his second source of income, which I think he needs, will be extinguished unless he finds his way off the bottle. It's sad for him, and for his daughters. It is sad for me, and for my girlfriend, because we can't see tearing the transom down again now. I just have to do what is best, and fix what I can, while I can, and beef up this transom more. The paint on the other hand, it's a good color, we picked it (my girl and I), but I know he didn't buy Imron Paint that we paid for. He didn't prep the pin holes he found prior to painting. So I ended up buying more paint for the bottom. Yes I could of refused, but it was in my nature to pay and get the boat out of his hands. It really became that in the last month, just get the boat away from him before he does more damage.

So that one is for the books, and hopefully this unseasoned learning boat re-builder can pass that along. If there is a job, and you don't think it is within your grasp, take it to a brick and mortar shop that has been in business for awhile. Save yourself cash by just paying more, and in my case, I don't even think I would of paid more. Jenny and I are $7000.00 out the window (basically) on two seriously shoddy very dishonest jobs. And neither of us have that kind of money to just throw away, hell who does. Should I be mad, yeah, and sometimes I get really mad, and I want to pick up the phone. But reality is, he's digging a slow grave with his drinking, sure we got the results of it. But I truly hope he finds it's killing him. Maybe someday, he will call me and offer to do his expensive transom and paint job right and apologize. Yeah I doubt it too, but forgiveness is easier right now. I have a boat to get done.

Any really good charity custom boat builders out there :-) LOL.. Just a joke!! I'll get there, granted through some difficulty, but in he end I can say I made it. And on launch day, I can smile ear to ear knowing I learned valuable life lessons. And I can provide sound honest advice from true hands on experience.

[gman 82 aquasport]

Sorry to hear of the transom issue, pretty much everyone on here knows of someone who was taken like that. A lot of good craftsmen have lost good businesses because of the bottle and other vices, but it makes it hard to take a loss like that for the average guy who works for a living and is just wanting a good job for his hard earned money.. You where probably smart to remove your boat from him before it got worse..
At least now with you doing it, you will know exactly how it was done and if you want to fix something that doesn't "look" right you can. I learned a lot on here while doing my rebuild, is it perfect, not by any means. but I know where every little part and piece is and why it is there..could have been smoother but the next one will be. I probably put my boat in places it wouldn't go if most people where behind the wheel, but I have some faith in the work I did and if need be can do again. Hang in there it won't be as hard as you think, just make your plan and go with it, but maintain a little flexability as you may find as you go farther into the build you may want to change little things here and there
Must be nice to have a partner that wants to help.

[redemn93]

i kind of experienced the same thing.  no bottle involved but i think i pissed him off when i showed up every 5-6 days to see the progress.  he came highly recommended and ive seen his other work.  his daily work is big boats.  sportfishes and whatnot.  think my boat was just a side project for him.  took almost 5 months to paint the boat and put a transom in.  paint turned out pretty good.  transom isnt to my standards and not what we discussed it would be.  structually i think itll be ok.  finish work on the outside skin could've been much better.  but ive seen worse too.  and i cant complain much about the price i paid.  he was just very dishonest in what he said he would do.  but by the time i realized it i couldnt take the boat away as i just dont have the money to pay someone else to finish.  but structually, it seems sound.  no flex and feels like hitting a rock when you knock on it and 1/4-1/2" thicker than factory transom.  ill find out in two weeks once this semester is over.

[gran398]

Ryan, here is a pic from another thread which pertains to a question you had asked...



http://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=9469.0

[prudog45]

Thanks Gentleman for sharing your stories with me about what you encountered as well. I am sorry this happened to you, but it does help me know I'm not alone. The Transom is actually probably fine, I'm going to beef it up, my aggravation is only that I offered to get marine plywood and he said no, he didn't need any. It really looks good, I'm seeing it now for what it is as I'm grinding off Gelcoat to attach the 3/4 inch Marine Grade Okoume plywood to the existing transom with Epoxy, and then temporary bolts to snug them together. He just didn't use marine plywood and left my drain exposed for almost a year. So the non marine plywood has basically been wet off and on at the drain for a pretty good period of time. I paid too much, and on top of that it is a 1" hole that is haunting me. Going to dry it in a shelter. Use acetone to pull any extra water out I can. Learned this worked on the last boat I worked on. That one was a nightmare. But I did learn git rot works real well. Turned what I thought was rotten wood into concrete. I wished I could use it in this situation as a precaution, drill some holes in the drain and fill them with Git Rot. But this would produce another challenge how?? So dry it, use acetone for a few days to pull all excess water out that I can. Then epoxy it up real well.

Gran: Thanks for the post, I'm at work and will need to look at them at home or at the shop (pics are blocked here for some reason). This is much appreciated because I can hand the print outs to Neal up at R&K and he can see the real deal. I wished I could Neal to come down for a bit to see your boat. Neal is the one that convinced me that Bluefish was good eating if cleaned right away and ate within 24 hours. Maybe if I tell him the Blues are biting he'll join me at Masonboro beach for an afternoon. He needs to break away from his shop. He is a work horse, and takes no breaks. But I suppose when you own the business, thats what you do.

Again, thanks to you all. Will start posting pics again Next week. No updates really. But I'm ready to start moving -- baby steps :-)

[prudog45]

Off to Wilmington tomorrow to see Gran's Super Aquasport.. Jenny and I are very excited.... My Mom is watching the boys and dogs. First away trip without the kids for Jenny and I!!  

[prudog45]

Side note:: I found this on an Army friend of mines families Yacht sales site.

http://www.dimillosyachtsales.com/searc ... chtype=buy

Just.passing along. Too far for me and I must not stop my AS rebuild progress! Our boat will be priceless to me when finished..

[seabob4]

Off to Wilmington tomorrow to see Gran's Super Aquasport.. Jenny and I are very excited.... My Mom is watching the boys and dogs. First away trip without the kids for Jenny and I!!  

You'll like Scotty's ride...  

[gran398]

Looking forward to meeting you guys!!

The sun is out, the birds are chirping :flower:

Thanks Bob, we've been enjoying her!

[prudog45]

Looking forward to meeting you guys!!

The sun is out, the birds are chirping :flower:

Thanks Bob, we've been enjoying her!

Just got to the hotel after a great afternoon. Too much too state' too good of a time!! Gran is the ultimate host. Showed us around the water front. Went and seen Ms. D, no words can express the mastership, quality, dedication, and heart that went into remaking her into a masterpiece. I had a bit of fear seeing a boat that was done so well. But Ms. D showed me that it can be done. Thanks so much Scott .. Hopefully we can go for a ride tomorrow. If the weather is bad as it turned into today it's all good. We will have no expectations and are thrilled to be down here for a few days  

[gran398]

Ryan, great meeting you and Jenny! Thanks for the kind words, I too hope this weather will straighten out....not much fun riding in the wind and rain.