Fits perfect. It will get screwed with big washers in place so I can remove it to get to things like the bilge pump and thru hull transducer or what ever else may be in the way.

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131178.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131180.JPG

Test fitting everything

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131181.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131182.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131183.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131184.JPG


During the week I trimmed the excess glass off the big bracket and bonded the top half to the flotation chamber. It still needs some light grinding and then glassing the two parts together. After that it can be sanded. Bill took the day off form Seacraft work and I'll leave that to him when he returns. In the picture below you can see little dimples in the wing of the swim platform. Those are not alligators! I accidentally put the wrong side facing in of the plastic molding...one side is smooth and the other side is textured so the textured side got glassed instead of the smooth side....always in a hurry.


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131170.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131171.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131172.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131173.JPG

Started making the mold for bracket that's going on little Red. It will have a 25 inch set back. The flotation chamber is 48" wide at is maximum width. An aggressive reverse chine. It has a 15 degree deadrise.

Drawing it out

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8121158.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8121161.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8121162.JPG

I cut out a little template to see how it would look before I went to cutting all the wood.

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8121159.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131163.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131164.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131165.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131166.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131168.JPG

More photos.

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131174.JPG


It's gonna look like the bat mobile hanging off the back of the boat :)


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131175.JPG


The gaps on the inside of the mold will get filled with clay when I start the modeling.

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131176.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131177.JPG


Thats it for now!

strick

.
 

Strick,
Is there a reason for the reverse chines on a couple of your bracket designs (both the 20' I think) and no reverse chines on the ones you have made for the 23's? Very nice work as usual.

No not really. I got in a hurry on the big bracket and forgot to put them in. Also I was working with that melamine board (white laminate on both sides) for the first time and I usually use MDF. With MDF you can slap some glass the outside of the mold to help keep it together but you cannot do that with the melamine. When I built the mold for the big bracket I was thinking that I had to glass the outside of the mold to hold the reverse chine in place but then today I went back and looked at my build photos of the bracket thats on the yellow 20 and saw that I could do it without glassing them in. My thinking is that the reverse chine adds a little buoyancy..... I dont know. If nothing else I think it looks cool so I decided to do it again. I would recommend the melamine board for molds when applicable because the part practically slides out when you go to remove it. If you notice on the swim platform I used MDF because of the way that I build that mold trying to staple it together wont keep it stable enough so it needs to be glassed.

strick

Nice melamine molds . . . I'm sure that saves a lot of time. Last bracket MDF mold I spent a hour with a pressure washer and chisel to get the tub out.

hey strick the melamine mold looks great. something you may want to consider when building your mold and it may save you some time i did it on mine. i put a 3/8x2'' board across the front of the mold at the top on the inside to form a recess when i did the lay up so the swim platform could be bonded across the front of the tub. made it eazy for me.

Ha thats funny. :) I was talking to Don Hermco the other day and he told me that I was not building the molds right and that I should do exactly as you have described so I was planning on dong this one that way. Thanks Kneedeep!

strick

Some shots of modeling the clay. I have been using a product that Composits One puts out called Permoplast that I really like. I use a heat gun to soften it and then run various sized sockets over it to get the desires radius.


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131188.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8131190.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8141192.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8141193.JPG


A shot showing how strong the core cell laminate is. I'm about 190# and the thing does not flex at all. There is only one layer of 1808 on each side of the 5/8" core cell.

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8141194.JPG

A shot showing the 3/8" lip that Hermco and Kneedeep are talking about. There is a clay bevel on the underside of it so the glass will contour up and over this to form a recessed pocket.

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8141196.JPG

The mold is ready for wax and PVA now.


strick

Now you're talkin. :D

oh . . . I like that socket tool. Nice job with the lip . . .

Strick,

I like that reversed chine! You're right, it'll add a little more buoyancy and it might also give you a little more stern lift when coming up on plane, but without the extra drag those flats create at cruise, since it'll be out of the water then. Denny

Denny-

Another thing that I plan on doing is mounting the bracket a couple inches lower then I did on the last boat.

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/20sf/P1270566.JPG


Since I do not have the gumption to go thru tearing out the floor and raising the stringers on little red I will need every inch of flotation I can get. I do plan on routing the scuppers out the stern and my only concern is that if I mount the bracket too low it may interfere with the scuppers. I'm gonna have to take a chance there. I dont think that I am going to put trim tabs on this little boat. I have them on the 20sf and never use them. That boat handles perfectly the way it is set up. Little Red will have 3 batteries in the forward consel area...a trolling motor on the bow and the weight of it's passengers more forward then the 20sf so I'm hoping it will still self bail and jump up on plane easily....well see :)

strick

Strick, I agree, that swim platform does look a little high on your 20. Don mounted my bracket and the height is just about perfect for diving use, as you can see in first picture below. The waterline is just about at the top edge of the green paint, and the boat was fully loaded in this picture with gas and a couple of coolers full of ice, beer and gear for a 5 day cruise on the St. Johns River. This was in fresh water, so it'll float a little higher in salt water. It is self bailing at the dock with no one aboard, with the deck about 1" above the water, and my boat is all original. (Don't remember what year your Sceptre is, but Potter raised the deck a couple inches on later models; if the little wells around the scuppers are about 1" deep, that's the original design. The wells are 2-3" deep on later models.) Here are some reference dimensions that might give you some ideas for mounting height:

As you can see in second pic, the bottom of swim platform is even with the top of bootstripe. The top of bootstripe is 7.75" above the chine, as measured along the side of the transom. Bottom of bracket is 4" above keel. Bootstripe is 2" tall and the gel coat colored stripe below it is 3/4" tall, so bottom of platform is about 2" above the water at aft edge of platform. With 1-2 average size folks in back of boat, the platform is touching water and it's easy to pull yourself out of water onto platform without using the ladder. The line I've tied between the towing eyes helps with that. I used one of Don's rigging kits to run all the rigging down into the flotation tub and then into the transom. As shown in last pic, I think this makes for a much neater job and makes it easier to walk across the platform w/o the rigging in the way!

As for boat trim/balance, I would think having 3 batteries up front in the Sceptre should approximate the weight I have forward with the cabin, door & bulkhead, and almost 10 gallons of water in the galley seat and portapottie. My motor weighs 433 lbs and bracket setback is 30", so the trim on that Sceptre should be similar if you go with the 140 Zuke.
I use my tabs a lot for side-to-side trim tweaks, but you can do the same by moving bodies/gear around. Motor trim has a big effect on running angle so I mostly use it rather than tabs to trim the bow up or down. You could always add the short Volvo tabs later if you decided if you need them. Hope this helps. Denny

Strick, Your boat makes me drool . That is one sweeeet ride !

Thanks! Make sure you wear a bib when looking at CSC! :)

Denny- Thanks for the detailed info. I have not measured the bracket on the 20sf to see how far above the keel it is sitting. Your bracket looks to be about perfect height. Your engine is a little heavier and set back farther then the setup I have on the 20sf. I will probably mount this bracket 3" above the keel on the 20 sceptre. I did not know that Potter raised the deck on the later models so that's some good info. I think my scuppers are 2-3 inches deep but the boat is a 1973. I will get in there and re measure them. I was thinking the same thing about the Volvo tabs so I will run this boat first and if needed add them. Another option that I was thinking was to route the scuppers out the side of the hull like the 25 seafari. I will get it all put together and then see what works best.


More work completed over the last week. I'm pushing to get most of the grunt work done.



Duratec sanding primer

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8171198.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8171199.JPG


All the glass pre cut


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8171200.JPG


Glassing the part. There is 2 layers of 1.5 oz matt and three layers of 1808. All layers are over lapped 4-6 inches so that there is no common seam in the finished part.


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8171201.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8181202.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8181205.JPG


Building the transom. 3/4" ply 3/4" core cell and 1/2" ply


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8181206.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8181207.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8181208.JPG

Building the stringers. Made out of 3/4" core cell


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8191209.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8191211.JPG


Lots of garbage created


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8191212.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8191213.JPG


Stringers tabbed in place


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8191214.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8191215.JPG

Removed the part from the mold this morning.


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8191217.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8191220.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8191221.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8191222.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8191224.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8191225.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8191226.JPG


I have a few holidays that will need to be filled once the part is sanded down.


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8191227.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8191228.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8191230.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8191231.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8191232.JPG


Today I will get the materials for the swim platform and start on that time permitting. There is a mistake that I made during the build of this bracket because I was in a hurry like usual. See if you can find it in the photos above and the first guy to see it gets a free seacraft :)


strick

If you make the stringers full heighth you can then tab them to the platform making the resulting part much stronger, in effect "untizing" the parts. ;)

Ok, I'll take the bait.

I was going to ask if you normally core the laminate on the forward face that bolts to the transom. When you said you made a mistake, I figured that was it. I went back to check and saw you cored the other one.

I'm watching and taking notes. You've got me thinking about my next boat project and I haven't even started on Julie's kitchen.

Dave

Good advice but then I would have to add 4 access hatches and work through a 8 inch opening....I'm a glutton for punishment but not masochistic in nature :) I thought about making them full height and then gluing them to the swim platform? they make some great adhesives for that kind of stuff. BTW I've spent a lot of time studying your website :)

strick

Dave I think what you saw on the other bracket was a core cell ledge that I glass in on the top of the tub around the perimeter. I have not got that far on this one yet. I put lots of cabosil on the ledge and then bond the two parts together. Coring the front of the bracket tub would sure make it bullet proof but I've never done that. Did you get my message yesterday?

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/20sf/DSCN6602.JPG



Anyone else? it's fairly obvious if you look at both brackets :) something I forgot to do....that would have been easier to do before I glassed....but is easily fixed with a power tool :)

strick

Yes. Just left you a message. Phone tag, you're it.



Ok, next guess: You forgot the limber holes under the aft ends of the stringers?

BINGO What would you like you have a pick from a 20 sf, 20 sceptre, 23 tsunami, or a 25 seafari :)

strick

Well, I really like what you've done with your 20SF and your 25 Seafari, but I already have those models, so let's go with the 23 Tsunami. When will it be ready? ;):D

Dang......Didn't know you had another build going till someone dropped a link on Classic Mako.

Your a inspiration Chuck. It's always good to have someone hanging around to motivate and inspire you. :)

It's either to HOT or to rainy here to do anything. Been that way for about a month and a half.

Thanks Bobby. The temps have been around 90-100 over here for the past 2 weeks. The shop gets piping hot during the day.

strick

Strick,
Just started checking back on the site and I see that you are at it again. Awesome as always!
Hope all is well!

Joey-

THANKS! PM sent

strick

More of the same going on over here on the left coast. finished the mold for the swim platform during the week and was able to get the part layed up Friday night.



Heavy coat of Duratec rolled onto the mold


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8251233.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8251234.JPG


Two layers of 1.5 oz cloth and 1 layer of 1808 make up the first barrage

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8251235.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8251237.JPG


3/4" core cell cabosiled in place and then one more layer of 1808 over the top of that. The corners and lip going around the mold got two more layers of 1808 so they are about 1/4" thick or so.

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8251238.JPG


Ready to get popped out of the mold. I ran out of partall paste wax so I used carnuba wax instead from the local auto parts store and it worked well.


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261239.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261240.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261241.JPG

It even fits this time without any grinding :)


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261243.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261242.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261244.JPG


Whats left of the mold


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261246.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261247.JPG



Gluing the two pieces together with cabosil


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261248.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261250.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261251.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261252.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261254.JPG

Thermographic images showing the heat build up from the cabosil as it bonds the two parts together. These photos were taken about 1.5 hours after they were stuck together.


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptretsumani/IR_0494.jpg

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptretsumani/IR_0495.jpg

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptretsumani/IR_0496.jpg

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptretsumani/IR_0497.jpg

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptretsumani/IR_0498.jpg



First coat of primer on the live well enclosure


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261255.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261256.JPG

Alex has been sanding the boat for me. The entire boat is now sanded so soon I will begin repairing blemishes here and there.


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8251236.JPG


Removing the thru hulls. They were not rotten but since I am re doing the deck drainage on this boat they needed to be removed.


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261257.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261258.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261259.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261260.JPG


Bill came over yesterday and he ground down the seams on the big bracket so we could glass it all together. This will get sanded down and then faired over to a smooth finish.


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261261.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261262.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261263.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/P8261264.JPG


American Hero RIP


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...trong_X-15.jpg



strick

See now we even get thermal images!!!
Amazing!!!

I figured I'd spice it up a bit :)

strick

Nice work Doc.

Where are the pics from the Cape?

I would have put a Halographic Gucci "Made by Strick" signature stamp inside.
That way there would be NO Mistake in the future who caused the current owner to bust his ass getting that thing apart . Come'on Chuck (you know the Potter Putty drill) :o

Potter putty drill....yes Capt Chuck I remember that well :)

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/DSCN2646.jpg


Sandy- going to the cape next month for some R&R if that's what you are talking about?

strick

A few pics so you guys know that I have not been screwing off instead of working on the boat. I have been doing lots of filling and fairing inside and outside the boat. There are 3 coats Awlgrip 545. The dark gray primer is great for bringing out any blemishes.

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/PA220009.JPG

The light brown and clear smudge marks you see on the gray primer is system 3 quick fair

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/PA220010.JPG


http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/PA220008.JPG


The livewell enclosure is looking better and better. It just needs one more sanding and a coat of 545 then it can be painted.

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/PA220011.JPG

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/PA220012.JPG



Filling in the old scupper drains. I chopped up a bunch of matt and mixed it with resin and then filled the holes near the top then sanded and faired with cabosil and two layers of 1.5 oz matt went on top of that. Need to sand and then quick fair now.

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/PA220013.JPG

Engine bracket sits on Bigshrimpin's old engine stand that he left behind before he headed back east. It's the only thing I have to remember him by....brings back fond memories :)

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/PA220007.JPG


Made a trip up to Oregon a couple weekends ago to pick up the motor for the boat. I'll unveil it when I'm done with all the spraying.

http://www.casdvm.com/photos/sceptre...i/PA220006.JPG


This is the first full weekend I've had to work on the boat in a while and I'm getting closer to getting the outer hull finished. I'm missing some good Fall striped bass fishing choosing to work on the boat instead.

strick

I was wondering what happened to you .. Good to see u back. Sorry i missed you in Ca.. Busy with family stuff..