"Katrina" the Sceptre Restoration
 

Now that the weather isn't so hot, the restoration of "Katrina" is about to start. "Katrina" is a 1978 SeaCraft Sceptre 23 that was damaged in Hurricane Katrina in 2005, hence the name. This boat was originally purchased by NO BONES in 2006, he planned to restore her but other projects took priority. In January of 2011, After years of sitting at area 442, Ken decided to "donate" / pass the project on to any willing member of CSC.com that wanted to take it on at no charge. Well, I and another member "DUECE" were willing to take on the challenge and drove from South Carolina to Area 442 in Florida to pick it up.

We plan on MAJOR changes:

1) Enclose the transom
2) Add single engine bracket
3) Redo the "soft" floors
4) Fix the damage to the nose and front cap
5) Take the windshield off and convert it to a "SAVAGE / CC"
6) Repower (at a later date)

So here goes....

Wishing you the very best luck!!!! Too bad NoBones ran it into the dock so hard!!! ;) :)

He wears glasses. Oh, so do I.

All the best with the resto.,
GFS

Bout' time you slacker...:rolleyes:
Oh, thats right we only have one slacker!! :)

BTW: My daughters name is Katrina..
So it seems fitting in more ways than one..

Good luck Jim, we need lots of pics as well.

Keep in mind she is the sister ship to Capt. Chucks boat

See ya, Ken

When I think back of all I had to do to get to the point that I am at now. I look at your project and say to my self.

OMG

You go guy!

Careful, I`ll start bit hacking Beach Boys tunes again.

Good First day!

Before...

After...

one more pic

I really want a 23, but have nowhere to put it. I saw myself in that hull. Can you see all the damage now? Feather back 12-1. ,more in the pointy end, but you know that already.

Cheers,
GFS

Yes, most of the damage is exposed. I am planning on removing part of the front inner liner to access and repair the damage to the nose completely. After the inner liner is removed, I will be able to fix the glass properly with some CSM, then 10 oz, then make it tougher than originally with a health dose of 1708 biaxial fiberglass. It will be a bullet proof nose then.

The hard part is deciding where the cut line should be, then cutting it out without cutting through it and getting into the external hull. Also I hope the inner liner in NOT Potter puttyed down the the external hull. Anybody have any experience with that?

cuz had a few in him that day

It has to flex so I would think no. Not to mention the weight.

I hope not, But we will find out for sure this weekend. That is when the 4" grinder/cutting tool comes out to play again....It's like the game "Operation"...."it takes a steady hand". LOL!

You go Jimbo!!!!
You are making me proud.....:D

This is what I really wanted to see for Katrina!

Keep the MoJo going..;)

Having done it both ways, if you use a multimaster or a similar tool instead of your "4" grinder/cutting" it will come out a lot nicer an make 0.000001 percent of the dust. One of the best things I have learned from this site!

if you use a multimaster or something similar doesnt the fiberglass eat up the blades?? i have the dremel multimax and it does cut the glass pretty well but the blades do not last.

What is a multimaster tool, never heard of one? Is it a big dremal tool?

One like this Jim,

Attachment 120

I don't think any of the blades for those type tools last long. I'm pretty sure they make their money on the replacement blades. At least that is what I've learned with my dremmel tool. Cuts like nobody's business, but, not for long!

Thanks for the picture description. Looks nice, but I got some SERIOUS cutting to do here!! Looks too dantey for me, I think I'll stick to the chainsaw!!! or maybe just the 4" grinder....it doesn't take long! Just have to be careful.

I have a Craftsman and the blades have lasted well. ITS SO MUCH CLEANER AND LESS DUSTY ITS NOT FUNNY. I wish I would have started using one on day 1.

Well another successful weekend of work on "Katrina". I got the inner liner out. Yes it was Potter Puttyied down, but not too bad. I came out pretty easily after the careful cutting.

With all this cutting, grinding, and massive demolition I actually have been able to get a good amount of fiberglass work done too. I'm using a cocktail of Chop Strand Mat (3/4 oz), then 10 oz woven glass, then Biaxial 1708. After the 1708, i'm going back with CSM to level it out. Then repeat the same process, over, and over, and over again. This is no "quick fix", while i'm in there and everything is open and easy to get to, I'm putting A LOT of glass back in this boat. The more the better is my though, as much as I can and still be able to get the inner liner back on. This boat will be MUCH stronger than the day it rolled off the factory floor. I'm using "The Elements of Boat Strength, for builders, designers and owners" by Dave Gerr as my reference book and design aid for the fiberglass work and strength calculations. A great book recommended by one of our members and fiberglass wizard "Blue Heron". Better to be a little over kill and safe now rather than hasty and sorry later.

Jim

Whoa, Jimbo......:D

If I recall there was no tree debris in the Katrina when you
graciously removed her from Area 442! :eek:

Lookin' good.....:)
You will be done in a week or two at the rate you are going. :p:rolleyes:

Good work Jim,

Let me know when the wife make you move it out of the driveway. We will find a home for it at the farm.

Phil

The fiberglass work (on the front) of the boat is just about done. Put the last layers on this afternoon. Tomorrow I'm going to do the final shapping with my belt sander then start the fairing process to make it buttery smooth. I'm planning on spraying on some white Gelcoat early next week. The restoration marches on....

A "before" picture of the damage is shown below.

Ahhhh.....the sweet smell of fairing compound and sanding dust!!!

"Did I mention sanding"??? :)

Now for the fun part (NOT!!) of sanding, shaping, and fairing. Anybody want to come over and help? Free beer after the work party. Anybody?

Jim, these were taken the day we picked up Katrina in LA.

Attachment 182

Attachment 183

Attachment 184

Cool...thanks for the photo history.

Did the Hurricane wash it THAT far onshore? LOL! Perfect landing.

Jim

Jim,

I must say you look better with the mask on.

Phil

Thanks....It's my Halloween costume...Pretty scary huh? Probably got about another week of good weather and work to complete before we pack up "Katrina" and take her to the farm for the winter and then start work again on the hull in the spring of 2012. I'll work on the bow cap and the inner liner here at the house this winter. I can do those in the Garage with a big space heater, then install next spring.

Got all of the "fairing" done, lots of sanding, etc. Glad this part is over!

Now for the fun part....Painting (primer).

Hate to break it to you, but it's not even close to "over". It's barely begun. There is much fairing and sanding in your future, Grasshopper, if you are to succeed in your quest.

Dave

He is right just ask me :eek:

Yeah, yeah, yeah.....I know, this is a "marathon" not a "sprint". But this is a 5 year project for me, so I've got lots of time to inhale fiberglass dust. LOL. I'm taking one restoration item at a time. Next is the inner liner repair and top cap redo. (winter 2011 and into Spring 2012)

Kinda like...

Q: "How do you eat an elephant?"
A: One bite at a time!.

Lots more resto (and fairing) to do on the hull, starting in the spring of 2012. I just wanted to get the hull/bottom done so I can "float" it off my trailer and leave it in the lake for an hour or two if I need to pull my other Sceptre out to work on it. The hull is now water-tight.

Surprizingly, the rest of the hull and bottom are in very good shape. No bottom paint, no barnicle scarring, and the gelcoat is in relatively good condition. This boat was obviously stored on a trailer most of it's life. You can see the wear marks on the hull where the rear trailer bunks slightly wore down the gelcoat. The transom has been redone before too. I plan on redoing it anyway, as I want to close it in and add a bracket.

NOW!!!....that's the attitude you need!!! Patience Grasshopper! There's the day when it all comes together and you are the only one who really understands! It's all good......:)

Well "Katrina" has made it's journey from my driveway to my friend Phil's ("76Savage" on our CSC board) farm for a winter vacation. I'll start working on her in the Spring of 2012.