1973 Aquasport 19-6 Rebuild

[pete]

very nice work!nice choice of accessories,like the trolling tabs!

[thennutts]

very nice work!nice choice of accessories,like the trolling tabs!

Thanks pete!!! Thinking these trolling tabs may be a little bit too powerful, I didn't realize when I ordered them that they are 101 lbs of thrust each. I thought they were 101 total. Whoops! I might get on plane with 202 lbs of thrust haha

[kyle19kenyon]

I have been thinking about painting my boat, that paint looks really good, I was wondering if you had to prime it first? Also what type of roller did you use to get it that Nice!

Thanks

[thennutts]

I have been thinking about painting my boat, that paint looks really good, I was wondering if you had to prime it first? Also what type of roller did you use to get it that Nice!

Thanks

Kyle,

I used Interlux brand products, worked great for me! It was simple to follow the directions and the paint was forgiving for people like us that are not pros. The process I used is called "roll and tip", youtube it and watch plenty of videos to get an idea of what to do and how to do it. I used a closed cell foam roller( 6") to apply from west marine, they are yellow, the only yellow ones they sell. I used a china bristle brush (3") to "tip" the bubbles out. Im going to write a quick summary of the paint job since I never did it before on this post so you and everyone else can sorta of get an idea of what is involved before taking that leap. I will use terminology from the interlux brand, from what they label there chemicals and paint as. Assuming you have powertools (orbital sander, etc) the entire external paint job should cost you about $500 bucks and a bunch of man hours.

De-wax boat using 202 solution BEFORE sanding, you don't want to drive the gelcoat and waxes into the surface.
Sand boat with 100 grit to get rid of the paint quickly with orbital, careful here don't get crazy!
Use a hose to water the dust off boat, dry boat, use 202 solution to clean boat, Let dry
Sand with 180 grit sandpaper until smooth
Use a hose to water the dust off boat, dry boat, use 202 solution to clean boat, Let dry
Use Water-tite below the waterline epoxy to fill all holes, cracks, dings, let cure
Sand with 220 smooth
Use a hose to water the dust off boat, dry boat, use 202 solution to clean boat, Let dry
Apply Pre-Kote primer using roll and tip and thinned with 2333N reducer
Sand 220 grit until smooth
Use a hose to water the dust off boat, dry boat, use 2333N solution to clean boat, Let dry
Apply 2nd coat of Pre-Kote primer using roll and tip method thinned with 2333N
Sand using 320-400 grit sandpaper
Use a hose to water the dust off boat, dry boat, use 2333N solution to clean boat, Let dry
Apply Perfection 2 part epoxy paint using roll and tip method thinned with 2333N
Sand using 400 grit
Use a hose to water the dust off boat, dry boat, use 2333N solution to clean boat, Let dry
Apply 2nd coat Perfection 2 part epoxy using roll and tip method thinned with 2333N
YOUR DONE!

Remember, It is all in the prep, Don't rush it,  best of luck!

[gran398]

NICE post. Thanks for all of the accurate steps.

Things are looking good around here!

Good work.

 

[thennutts]

Got a couple of things accomplished today...

Took it out of the tent and mounted the motor. Side profile


Close up of motor mount


I am going to float the boat tomorrow so I did a perfectly level line with blue tape horizontally, this way once in the water I can use a tape measure and make sure the lines will be equal to each other. If they are not I know which side to add weight and check again until perfect. I also filled her up with 46 gallons of fuel today. It holds 65 but I figured running with 45 will be more accurate, I don;t know if I will ever run a full tank unless i'm grouper fishing. Also made a gauge vertically and numbered the amount of inches so I know approx what this boat floats at rest.


Tower is in boat and ratchet strapped down for the test float tomorrow.






This is the 2nd station of the tower. Note the 15 gallon live well on the second station. No need to run down and get bait anymore!


Getting dark. Will be taking more pics of the boat tomorrow morning for the test float. Stay tuned!!

[gran398]

Sweet!

Good thinking on the balance, measurements, etc.
Looking forward to tomorrow night's pics.

 

[RickK]

Looking Great  

[slvrlng]

All I can say is you better post some pics of it in the water! I cannot wait to see this floating!

[thennutts]

Thanks guys for the support!
Would you believe it? She floats!









On the first shot she was perfect, even weight distribution and after checking the measurements against my blue tape for the left and right lean, they were within 1/4" of each other. The boat was also drafting just at 12" with 45 gallons of fuel, tower and center console in place. The only thing that I am going to do is build a box/seat in the front of my center console so I can add batteries inside there to move more weight forward. I got in the boat 240 lbs, my dad got in 220 lbs, and my mom got in at 115 lbs. My dad was directly behind the center console as if he was driving, I was standing behind him as if I were the livewell and my mom stood in front of the center console acting as 3 batteries and the boat still was 12" at rest. Without her up front the ass end was dipping into the 14" draft range which was too much. My goal now is to put as much stuff(batteries, electronics, etc) either at center or forward to keep the level perfect. All in all a successful day and it really made me happy to see her on the water!

[gran398]

Terrific! You have a lot to be proud of.....and look at the bucks you saved!

And probably most importantly, you KNOW the job is right, and knowing you'll probably be doing the rigging/wiring yourself...another plus.

NICE!

 

[Capt. Bob]

Well I've followed this thread all the way and there is no doubt to the time and energy you've put in to your rebuild. It's looking fantastic.

That stated,
I'm not very experienced with towers that have livewells. I've never seen one but I'm sure they exist. My thoughts on that are.......

It will add additional weight well above the center of gravity which will already be "elevated" when you are up there. By your own admittance, you ain't no 90 pound weakling.  Couple that with water and bait conveyance and it seems to be overkill (except maybe when you're all alone) to me. Though passing bait up would seem to be easier with two fishermen.

If you're going to fight the fish from up there, I'll assume someone below will bring it aboard, unhook and place it in cooler. Why not just have them bait the hook while you have the line on the deck?

I'm just thinking out loud.

[gran398]

CB,

Good point regarding the upper-station weight.

My limited understanding of beach-fishing "Tampa style" tarpon boats is that you cruise along the beach on a nice day, up in the tower, and look for tarpon. Its sight fishing, pitching baits in front of the single or pack, much like bonefishing.

So if you're alone (and nutts, PLEASE don't fish alone, I can tell you of innumerable bad situations that can/have occurred to myself and others) you have the ability to quickly chunk a livey. From what I hear, they move fast, and you have a short, quick window.

But guess mostly you have an opportunity to throw a fast back-up bait behind the guys in the cockpit that went first.

You can limit the weight by limiting the water with different height drains...that is, ten gallons to support a couple baits would be better, particularly if its a little rough...but then again if its rough, you probably wouldn't be sight fishing....

Anyhow, what a cool boat!

[kyle19kenyon]

Ya, from my experience tall towers can  be very tippy on narrow boats, I believe a dorado 23 with a full tower even flipped over one time with a couple big guys were riding up top and went over a big boat wave. I would just be careful with it, don't run in the trough in 4footers  when your up there, who want to go out there when its rough anyways. The bait well is handy when beach tarpon fishing, but if its ten gallons it will add another 80lbs up there, also its hard on bait pumps to pump the water up that high in the air.

[thennutts]

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback. This boat will be 90% used on the flats and back bay. I have no intentions at all to be up there in any sort of seas nor even thinking about getting up there and driving, hell I don't even plan on driving it up there even when it's calm. It's simply for sight fishing! The bait well does not have fresh water pumping up to it, it uses a 500 gph circ pump with aieration to keep the water fresh. Though it is a 15 gallon live well on the tower, where the holes are drilled for the overflow it is only at about a 10 gallon level. Also, this tower is a single person tower. It will be top heavy in rough seas, hopefully I won't get caught in rough seas BUT in this situation I will fold the tower down( the front shade folds down and then the tower folds on top of that). No doubt this boat will be top heavy,its obvious, its a full tower on a less than 8' wide boat, but when back bay and in the flats I have no worries about it! It's a strictly back bay, flats, lobster and tarpon boat, typically rough seas doesn't come into play with these activities, if they do though, you can put your money that I won't be up top