Diary of a Preditor Restoration

[Chris E]

if it's any consolation Gus, i faught with myself for a good 12 hours before i posted it!

 

[Chris E]

had a couple of hours yesterday, grinded out the air voids and laid a couple of more layers of glass in - think its good now - may play with the stringers tonight if all goes well.

 

[Chris E]

i laid the stringers in today, using sikaflex 292 to hold it in place - takes 8 days to cure which sucks, however, i want to get back at it sooner so we'll see, if felt good last night, and i may take the wieght off it today. now, for the question of the day. how many layers of fiberglass should be put on the stringers before i drop the floor on? i was thinking a layer of boat cloth, then a layer of mat. any thoughts?

 

[cooperider]

At least one good layer to cover all the wood. Maybe two good layers to bond it to the hull.


Oh, and "mat" goes in before cloth.




I wish I would have kept both Predictors that I had.

Just gave this thread a 5star rating, and added it to my subsribed list. And I should have done that a long time ago.

 

[Chris E]

hey experts:

so i have the transom glassed in and the stringers attached - but not glassed - can i load this thing back on the trailer now?

 

[JUPITER PULSARE]

If the stringers are set, you could move it very carefully but...I would glass the stringers before upsetting anything. You two layers of 1708 and overlap them onto the hull bottom. Grind before each layer of glass. Before installing your floor bevel the edges so it will bit flush with the angle of the hull sides/chine that you're glassing to. Run a beed of plexus on top of the stringers for the bottom of the floor to adhere to.

 

[JUPITER PULSARE]

If you get a chance review the tear down and rebuilding threads/pictures I posted from rebuilding my Pulsare 2100.

 

[2 tone z71]

Chris looking good I finished tearing my transom wood out late this afternoon,weathers so nice and all lol,both sheets came out intact so I have a pattern to trace,? are you putting the floor in after its back on the trailer what about the cap ,id like ot put my cap back on after the transom due to its laying on the ground in 8 inchs of snow

 

[Mr. Inline 6]

Progress Report

Pics? Update? Chris, where are you in the restoration?
Thanks.

Rick

 

[Chris E]

well, its like this, i've got 2 feet of snow in my yard now, i have a pretty good idea where the deck is - somewhere in the yard.

i had to load it on the trailer to get my snowblower out, and it's still sitting in the garage, i want it out so i can put my car inside.

the plan for the weekend is to get this thing out of the garage, the deck set on and tarped for the winter at the side of the house - wish i had a bigger garage.

 

[ontopcop]

Is this thread dead?

I was wondering how you ended up on this project. I was curious to see how you were going to finish out the floor. Did you remove the seat boxes?

 

[cooperider]

I was wondering how you ended up on this project. I was curious to see how you were going to finish out the floor. Did you remove the seat boxes?

I think he's waiting for spring so he can find where he put the deck in his yard.

 

[Chris E]

the thread's not dead - just hibernating!

pretty much - i hate winter and the garage isn't heated - but spring is almost here - yeah!

the winter has been very busy with work, and my wife and i separated in december so that's been hectic too. (and a VERY good thing )

i did cut out the seat bases and i have the floor cut and ready to go. just need to do a couple of finishing touches. i have all the glass cut for the stringers and ready to go. so now i just need some warm weather to get this bad boy going again. the stringers are set in with sikaflex and they aren't moving! i also came across a bunch of dolly wheels this winter and am going to make a cart for the boat so i can roll it in and out of the garage and keep it close to the ground - easier than rolling the trailer around.

 

[Chris E]

found the deck this morning !!!!!!!

now a little warm weather and i can get back to fiberglassing yahoo

 

[175checkmate]

Found the deck! Thats funny stuff. Snow is such a pain.

 

[remlinger]

Great info for boat restoration

If anyone is interested Gougeon Brothers Inc. makes of West System Epoxy have published a great book on boat construction and repairs. It goes into great depth on moister content of wood specis and wood incapsulation proceedures. I used this book to help design and build a stress skin river dory (drift Boat).

I bring this up because looking at the pics of the transom and stringers it did not appear that they were wet out with epoxy prior to installation which stablizes them and protects from future internal rotting. Also it helps in the adhesion of the wood to glass.

www.westsystem.com

 

[Chris E]

actually, when i sandwiched the transom peices together, i finished off my west system epoxy, and it all got wetted out with resin before the glass went on. just didn't take any pics - didn't want to get the camera covered in resin and fiberglass - lol.

the only thing that didn't get the full resin treament was the very top center of the transom. i'm sure it'll have to be cut and trimmed when the deck goes back on, so i didin't see a point in glasssing that all up nice and pretty - just to cut it later.

 

[Chris E]

what do i love more - a warm spring day or free wood - today it's both

built a cart for the boat to sit on - get her a little lower to the ground and easier to roll in and out of the garage (says he hopefully) some scrap wood, 4 casters and a few screws a later - and here you are:

 

[sim]

just bought an 88 predictor yesterday

hey chris! just picked up an 88 blue predictor yesterday. where do I get parts-specifically the electric panel and switches?

 

[Chris E]

congrats on the purchase, lets see some pics of it.

as far as switches go, my boat has no switch panel. i was thinking of picking up one from blue sea systems. i like the quality of their stuff. you may be able to pick one up from checkmate direct, they may have something kicking around in an old box.