1969 flatback rebuild

[Robert]

Sorry I have not been posting my progress but am catching up today. Also want to appologize for the small formats pics. I have not been able to figure out how to do it on my iPad. Going to turn pictures over to one of my kids to do on desktop

[Robert]

So I got the hull sandblasted and back in the barn. Blocked the trailer up solid and level. Then blocked the boat up true on the trailer. Going to lay 1 layer of 1708 in the bottom up to the height of the new floor.

[Robert]

Got the layer of 1708 biaxle in the floor to beef up the hull. Now going to repair the old transom to have something solid to epoxy the new coosa board to. Going full height of the gunnels then crown in the center about 1.75" higher.

[Robert]

I laminated two pieces of 3/4" coosa with a layer of 1708 biaxle with west systems epoxy. Then clamped the new laminated coosa transom into the repaired fiberglass skin of the old hull. I used almost a gallon of epoxy mixed with milled fibers to adhere the coosa to the glass and then clamped the crap out of it. This removed pretty much all the waviness in the hull. Seems rock solid.

[Robert]

Filled in the small voids on the edges of the coosa with more epoxy and milled fibers. Went back with 2 layers of 1708 with vinylester over the new coosa, lapped the first layer about 3 inches and the next about 6 inches. That pretty much completes the transom replacement.

[Robert]

Next step is stringers, bulkheads and fuel tank install. I have been glassing 1" sheets of foam on each side with 1 layer of 1708. Once the main stringers are in I will cut these out with the jigsaw to make bulkheads and deck supports out of. Also covered the 52 gallon moeller fuel tank with 1/2" foam exercise mats. I wrapped the tank and foam with plastic and got most of the wrinkles out. I glassed over the bottom and the long sides with a bunch of scraps and made a fiberglass cradle to bed the fuel tank in. Felt like it was a good use of the scrap.

[RickK]

Next step is stringers, bulkheads and fuel tank install. I have been glassing 1" sheets of foam on each side with 1 layer of 1708. Once the main stringers are in I will cut these out with the jigsaw to make bulkheads and deck supports out of. Also covered the 52 gallon moeller fuel tank with 1/2" foam exercise mats. I wrapped the tank and foam with plastic and got most of the wrinkles out. I glassed over the bottom and the long sides with a bunch of scraps and made a fiberglass cradle to bed the fuel tank in. Felt like it was a good use of the scrap.

Nice progress!! Be advised that you need to allow growing room of 1 - 1.5% in all direction for the poly tank.

[Robert]

Hi Rick, I didn't know that about the poly tanks, good to know. I am hoping that the the foam mat will take care of any expansion as well as give it a nice abrasion free place to rest.

[Tampa Bay Mike]

Lots of progress, looking good. 

And the pics showed up as thumbnails on my phone but if I click on them they expand to full size.

[RickK]

Hi Rick, I didn't know that about the poly tanks, good to know. I am hoping that the the foam mat will take care of any expansion as well as give it a nice abrasion free place to rest.

The expansion is a chemical reaction with gas and expands but doesn't contract. I have no idea if it can be contained with glass.

[Robert]

Got a little more done this weekend. Stringers are shaped and the rear ones are bedded in with thickened epoxy, the front haves are just sitting in but will get them down this week.

[Ulysses485]

How is the rebuild going? Any updates?

Ulysses