250 Custom Restoration

[Tampa Bay Mike]

Yes, that's pretty much the plan. I've got all the 1708 cut horizontally so I was thinking there may be seams where they butt up together. (See the last picture in my post below) My thought was to run some chopped strand mat vertically after the gelcoat to try and minimize those seams. Then continue with the rest of the lamination schedule. Currently that is three layers of 1708, coosa, then two more layers of 1708

[Tampa Bay Mike]

I also scooped up a little something off marketplace this evening. I saw it and couldn't pass it up. The price was right and it was just down the road from my house. It's used but the previous owner never even rigged the top station up.





I was leaning towards building a console since I couldn't find exactly what I wanted for less than $1000 so now it looks like I've got some dimensions to work off of.

[RickK]

That should fit well on a 250. 

[Ulysses485]

Nice find!!

Regarding the mold seams, I was more concerned about Gelcoat getting down into them I guess and having a hard time removing the part. Are you going to epoxy the panels together and sand the joints smooth? Maybe I’m overthinking it.

[Tampa Bay Mike]

Ahh I gotcha now. I went more simple with the seams and just laid a strip of packing tape over them. When I get ready for gelcoat and glass, I'm planning to slide some plastic drop cloths up under the sides and tape them down to keep it off the floor. It'll leave me with a little finish work to do but still should be a lot less than laying it up like normal.

[rocket88]

Mike,

Impressive and ambitious build, following this for sure! Not to derail this thread, but what is the plan for the space below-deck and outside the stringers? Will you foam this or leave it open?

[Tampa Bay Mike]

Thanks! Ambitious for sure but I'm enjoying it.

I'm not planning to refoam the outsides under the deck. There will be a three foot hatch on each side with under deck storage. I cut the bulkheads to form up the front and back of those compartments yesterday but haven't glassed them in yet. I'm spending most of my time trying to get the floor laid up so i can get the mold off the ground. There will be drain holes on the front and back of those areas to let any water out, and I installed some pvc drains through the stringers into the bilge. I have a similar setup on my 22 and it works great for things like nets and flip flops.

[rocket88]

Hey Mike,

I second the motion on no re-foam. It seems to me that the foam is the cause of most problems that necessitate such rebuilds, all of are directly related to the moisture absorption of the foam.

I have not yet gotten into an Aquasport rebuild, but have done others, all of which were not re-foamed.

Keep your progress reports and photos coming!

[Tampa Bay Mike]

Hey y'all. Lots of progress still happening. I got the floor laid up and popped off the mold. I tied some beams across six of the trusses and bought two chain hoists to get it off the ground and they worked great. Ran into a few issues with the gelcoat and had a few voids where the coosa didn't get fully pressed down but I was able to fill them with some thickened epoxy and it is incredibly solid now.



I got the bulkheads all installed and rolled some gelcoat to pretty them up a bit. The side boxes towards the rear are four feet long and the one up front is over five feet long and close to two feet deep. I can easily lay down inside of it if I want to.



I've also been doing a little shopping. I found a nice leaning post that matches the tower...



...but then got a nice package deal on a porta bracket and brand new Hanson leaning post livewell.





So now I have to decide which one to go with. I was thinking about a livewell built into the transom but this one is about 4 inches too tall. Maybe I can sink it into the floor some? Not sure yet. A decision for another day

[Ulysses485]

That's gonna be real nice Mike! Coming along quick! That fish box is HUGE! Glad to hear the epoxy injection did the trick. Are you planning intermediate bulkheads outboard of the stringers?

[Tampa Bay Mike]

I wasn't planning on anymore bulkheads. The deck is 3/4 coosa with three layers of 1708 on top and two on the bottom so it's already overkill. The span from the stringers over to the sides is only about 18" at the widest point so once it's bonded down and glassed to the hullsides it shouldn't need it

[Tampa Bay Mike]

Still at it! Since my last update I got the deck bonded and tabbed down and built some hatch lids. I also ended up building a livewell tub from scratch that will integrate into the rear transom cap better than the Hanson one would. I couldn't justify hacking it apart to try and make it work. I've also started working on the gunnel support/speaker boxes and roughed up the bow anchor locket bulkhead.

I tossed the console and leaning post in to start getting some measurements.

[Ulysses485]

Woah! Great Update! Starting to look like a boat again. I bet that feels good to be able to walk around in that. You have been busy no doubt. Great work as always Mike!

[RickK]

Definitely gained some room both fore and aft.   

[Tampa Bay Mike]

Definitely gained some room both fore and aft.   

Hard to believe it's only 2' longer than my 22. It feels 50% bigger inside. Should be great when we want to bring more friends along.