Ultimate project? Help me lord!

[pilchardjones]

Darren,
My project was very similar - 445R completely rebuilt and converted to bass boat style side console.
Peter Webster has an article that i think he will run one issue soon.
Basically with my project:
new transom 2 layers 15mm ply laminated together with glass
new stringers 12mm ply
12mm floor glassed both sides
sides widened using 2" foam, shaped, glassed over, faired over (i paid somone to do this)
console was made by salvaging the old dash, and joining to it with divynicell glassed both sides, then faired over. (paid somone also)
2 years of work condensed into a 2 minute post but i don't have much time at the moment sorry. I will email you some more photos and PM you my ph no. if you want to chat.
good luck - it will be a great project.
steve

[pilchardjones]

more photographs

[Greg P]

You just might be able to get your hands on that article Darren if you ask the boss nicely

[Deiter]

Steve, awesome looking job there. pm sent for more pics.

2 Q's:

1. Where do you get divynicell and how much does it cost?
2. How do you find the boat's stability when you are standing up high on the bow deck?

Thanx, Damo

[pilchardjones]

Damo.
Get it at the fibreglass supplier you are using, but if you are not concerned about weight, just use 12mm ply in the same fashion. The trick with joining to the existing glass (the console or the gunnels etc), is to grind the existing glass down say 4mm over the length of lap (say 70mm), so that when you lap the join with say 4 layers of 450, it ends up just lower than the exist glass level. This allows you to get a layer of fairing compound screeded over then sanded back.
The photos i email will show it.
steve

[pilchardjones]

and the stability is no worries up on the bow platform, but i generally use in calm waters around hinchinbrook - townsville.
if yours was to regularly venture offshore i would consider dropping the platform to say 400mm below gunnel height.
steve

[lee8sec]

The use of prelaminated fibreglas sandwich panels may work out cheaper and easier. Leigh
http://www.atlcomposites.com/product...nels/index.htm#

Cut out the shape you need and glue / glass in. There used to be panels available that could be used to build boats in as if you where building a alloy plate boat but they where glass foam sandwich, will see if i can find who stocked them

[boatboy50]

Wow,

Steve, I didn't think there was anybody around as insane as me!

Awesome job mate.

Any info you can provide here or email would be great.

Your pics so far are awesome. Gives me lots of comfort that I havn't bitten off more than I can chew. Especially interested in the bonding of the gunnal sides, the transom and floor rebuild process and the engine well treatment, as these are the areas I have most concern over.

Any rough ideas on costings for the project? I will have a chat with PW and grab a copy of your story, looks the goods.

Again thank you.

Regards

Darren

[pilchardjones]

Darren,
The photos are on my computer at work so can't post here at the moment but its all explained in the article.
Just quickly:

Transom was done by removing top deck about 600mm forward of the transom, chiseling / grinding old timber out, new transom timber 2 x 15mm ply laminated together and all glassed in and bonded to hull and sides 300mm or so.
Engine well was cut down and incorporated into the rear casting platform using a joint between new (platform) and old (cut down well) similar to gunnell joint explained above.

Keep in mind i paid a professional to do the gunnell widening as i was worried about this joint also, but if you look on the photo of the shaped foam running stern to bow (the 5th one), you can see screws at around 300mm centres all along the gunnell. These hold a piece of 90 x 45 wall stud pine up against the underside of the gunnell. This gives you something to screw the foam to and allows it to be bent into shape around the curve. Once you glass over the shaped foam (about 5mm of glass) this timber is removed and the screw holes in the ggunnell top bogged over.

No worries to give me a call if you have any queries.
I like the idea of using pre glassed panels for the platforms and console etc. Saves making your own up with divynicell and 4mm of glass on both sides.
Steve