I got 1/2" GPO-3 fiberglass laminate (industrial grade polyester/glass layup) from these guys for way cheaper than I could have done a layup myself: http://www.onlinemetals.com/merchant...64&top_cat=181 The only problem is that it is red - messes with my expectations.

You might want to consider a 1/2" Corecell core with solid glass at the hard points. All of that is exactly the same thickness and plays nice together. Another thing to consider if you have small hard points is getting some 1-1/2" solid FG rod, cutting it to the right thickness with a chop saw, and using it as a solid glass plug in 1-1/2" holes from a hole saw; it fits perfectly.

I found an air hammer with a chisel bit to quite effective as well. Just dont forget your osha approved safety glasses!

All great ideas that I like

I have a pretty good idea where the console t-top and leaning post will be going but to be safe go a little bigger.

Some where I have heard some may have used Divinycell? and the solid glass at the hard points

On the gas tank hatch will this composite layup be ok strength wise?

Lots of research on installation (maybe someone local can chime in)

Lots of pricing for materials too....need to create a secret fund so the Admiral does not know what I'm spending

"need to create a secret fund so the Admiral does not know what I'm spending"

Good luck!!! It's not easy, always use the "I got it on eBay real cheap....and with free shipping", "It was a closeout and it was way below West Marine", whatever works!!!! If you do find something that really does work please let us know!!! :)

Well I have gotten some things done on the boat in the last week.
Not much but I have been busy with work and things.

Basically I have the rotten wood out of the transom and the transom skin and the interior skin grinded and ready to go Taking out the wood from under the lip was a pain but my chain saw did the job.

The floor has taken out and the floor skins and the bottom skin has been grinded also.
Still need to grind down where the glass will be faired in.

I have taken out 95% of the hardware off the hull and just need a few more items.

Now here is where I found some additional work for me.

The cap in front and above the anchor locker is soft. I would like to take off the cap and redo it now but I cringe at the thought of doing it.

One thought would be to cut the cap a little behind the affected area and leave the gunnels alone.

I guess the rebuild list just keeps getting bigger but I can look forward to some cooler weather to work with.

And after all the "rough" work is done my original plan is to have someone finish and paint the hull.

A quote I heard and adapted for our purpose. My biggest fear is that when I die my wife will sell my boat parts for what I told her they cost. ;)

I went today to Fiber Glass Coatings in Ft Lauderdale and Spoke to Richard and came home with a SUV full of goodies to lay down the floor of my project.
Will follow up with what I bought later

The weather is starting to get a little better and the rain will be a "more" predictable thing too. I would love to have a nice large garage like some of you guys.

So tomorrow it begins again, I would like to get most of it done this weekend, as we bought another "flip" home and duty calls soon.

Sooo....after getting all of my supplies I have not done much.

The Admiral saw me unloading them and stashing it in my shed and ...I was busted.

She made me do a million things around the house so not much time for my project.

I did manage to get the gas tank hatch done on Sunday afternoon while the weather was nice but it raining here again. I am off to New York this Friday so I guess another 10 days with nothing.

Hey Jorge, is this the project that you wanted to get done by July 4th? LOL

Maybe July 4 of 2016 at the rate it's going

Even with that date you might still beat me...

I took out the core from the 2 hatches that covered the gas tank and redid it with Divinicell and glassed it back in. What a difference in the weight from the old water soaked plywood to how it is now, there must be a 75lb difference. I had already taken out the plywood from the floor and yesterday I cut to form the divinicell to replace it and get it glassed back in.. How I wish the I had a large enough shed/garage like some here have since you have to plan around the weather here...Today it's raining hard and looks like rain till Tuesday. No pics yet, but some to follow.

I have a question on the layup schedule for the floor.
I was planning on reusing the skins that I took off but they are in poor condition so I would like to replace it all with new mat, fair it and then paint/non skid

Suggestions are needed

I have a pictur of a section of floor in my 25. It is 5/16" glass on top. I don't know the schedule. But I suspect there is a lot of woven roving in there and mat on top? That sounds like 8 or so layers of 1708 - which is my favorite to work with. Ideally you would get 0,90 -45 and +45 layers alternating to get a quasi isotropic laminate, but if you are at least not all 0-90, and have some mat, that's a good start

Not sure if this helps or not;
Original deck schedule for early ‘70s 23’ Sceptre; top to bottom (from Feb ’73 Boating, Boat Test #207)
Gelcoat
1 layer 3/4 oz mat
2 layers of 1 ½ oz mat
1 layer 22 oz mat
1 layer of 1 ½ oz mat
3/8” end grain balsa
1 layer of 1 ½ oz mat
1 layer of 22 oz roving

Sounds like yours might be similar but with plywood instead of balsa?

Thanks guys it gives me an idea on what to do

But now how do I get it to stop raining?

Soap up your car but don't rinse it off