Another boat rebuild finished - Another Master Rebuilder

[RickK]

Hey Everyone:
Let's give a big congrats to Lars for completing his rebuild (except for minor stuff, which are always there) AND joining the Master Rebuilder Group.

Being a Master Rebuilder means that 1) you own an Aquasport or other Manufacturer's boat (we do have several members that are almost finished their rebuild of another brand of boat)  2) have rebuilt said boat yourself or with little professional help or parts (he did have the luxury of using a pro's shop though, throughout the cold Scandinavian winter)  3) posted pics of your wins and losses here in front of the world to comment on - good or bad and 4) advise/help our members on materials, usage, shortcuts, general tips and tricks learned throughout their rebuild.

Rebuilding a boat is not for the faint of heart or pocket and Lars has overcome all obstacles even though he's doing all this in a place that doesn't have the West Marines around the corner nor access to some of the stuff we can get here in the USA. Plus he may be the only one to own an Aquasport in his country - so no one to go talk to, to see what/how they did it.
Anyway.....  rebuilding a boat ain't easy, is always harder and takes longer than it should - we persevere though.

Before:




After:


Congrats Lars - She's a beauty. You earned and deserve this honor

If you haven't been following, here is a link to his rebuild http://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=12508.0

[CLM65]

Congratulations, Lars!  Way to go!

[Callyb]

Super job Lars! Congratulations on the Master Rebuilder honor and on a job well done on your boat!

[larsli68]

Thanks guys! If feels great and I feel very honored!

I also want to thank you all for the support and feed back you have given me during the restoration process.
If I can help others, I will be happy to do so. I have made a collection of pictures from my restoration, that I can share with anyone interested in the process.
I love the boat, and will stay in touch and post pictures of improvements, trips with the boat etc.
We finally got some rain today. It is grey and dull outside my window, and it feels OK to be at work.
Friday I'm picking up friends from NC at the Airport in Stockholm. I hope for the good weather to return and the opportunity to take them out on
my Aquasport. I have looked online, but not found anything about other Aquasports in Sweden. My insurance company didn't have my boat in its register.

Once again thanks a lot guys!
I'm very happy for the award!

//Lars

[Capt. Bob]

A well deserved congrats Lars.

You've done an excellent job at obtaining what this Forum has always been about, rebuilding an old but to some, a classic marque. The thing for me is that you, like many others did this for the first time and as such you help others by posting your progress. I thank you for that because it adds yet another reference to the Forum we can pass along.

Enjoy the ride, you've earned it.

[larsli68]

Thanks Captain Bob!

I'm very grateful to this forum, and will do my best to help others do what I did. If it had not been for you all helping me, I don't know if I could have done it.

My nephew and I will take her out tonight, to continue the break in of the new engine.
I filled gas last night. We have a cold front here at the moment with strong winds. We will probably only stay on our inlet. Do an hour on the motor.

Once again thanks!

//Lars

[Aswaff400]

nice work!,

i dont recall seeing in your thread, what bottom paint did you use?

[dirtwheelsfl]

Looking cherry congrats!     Love the teak on the gunnels

[larsli68]

Thanks for the nice words guys.

Aswaff400: I used a bottom paint designed for the 0.5% salt brackish Baltic sea water. We do not have the high salt content in the Baltic, and use a special bottom paint because of this.
On the west coast of Sweden (Gothenburg) they have the Atlantic water with 4.5% salt (I think).

The teak on the gunnels are a nice feature. I have made them easy to remove, allowing easy re-finishing in the winter time.

Thanks, 

Lars

[gman 82 aquasport]

Congrats on finishing her ...Looks great..and welcome to the club.

[larsli68]

Thanks gman 82 aquasport!

If feels good to have the boat in the water again. All I need now is a bit of good weather...
We have a low pressure and cold front moving through at the moment... Rain, rain and some more rain...
But after rain comes sun shine.
Tonight I will install the new fuel sender sensor that works with my Smart craft system.

Thanks,

Lars

[fitz73222]

Lars,
That's very interesting about the salt content in the Baltic, one thing you may want to consider since you keep the boat in the water is switch to magnesium corrosion anodes on your new engine. The standard zinc anodes will not work well in such low salt content and will "skin" over. The magnesium is more passive and is recommended for brackish or freshwater use.

[larsli68]

Thanks for that input fitz73222, that was news to me.
I will check if I can get hold of magnesium corrosion anodes over here.

I always tilt my motor up when not in use, but parts of the motor bracket is constantly in the water.
This is why I really enjoy to be part of this forum. There's so much knowledge here!
Thanks fitz73222!

//Lars

[fitz73222]

Hi Lars,
Your engine should also have a larger plate zinc under the mounting brackets that will always be in the water, that needs changing also. My name is Farley by the way. I'm working on a large contract for us with a company in Denmark which may have us go there in the fall depending if we get the job or not. If so, we may drive over to Sweden to go for a boat ride on the Baltic if you'll have us!!! We'll call it Aquasport diplomacy!

[larsli68]

Hi Farley,

That would be cool. I'm located 1 hour south of Stockholm.  5 hour drive north of Copenhagen.
Let me know when it's getting closer. I will have my boat at a mooring very close to the archipelago.
There is a low cost airline from Copenhagen to my home town. There are also trains that might be more convenient than driving.
Let me know, welcome to Sweden!
//Lars