To take on or not to take on?

[TooFly]

So I have virtually no wood working skills, aside from what I did in 8th grade wood shop. I did get excellent grades for my drawings, though. There's lots that I want to do on my boat, but I'm afraid that once I get started (cutting, pulling crap out, etc.) I'll be overwhelmed and my limited skills will prevent me from getting the finished product I want. Or worse yet, shoddy work will put my life, and those onboard in danger. I certainly don't want that.

Things I want to do to my boat are:

- Take off the Gil bracket and add a floatation style outboard bracket. I'm hoping that will solve the self-bailing issue without raising the deck.

- Close off in-deck scuppers.

- Remove the splash well and add scuppers in the transom. The transom was replaced and enclosed in 1997, BTW.

- Repair soft spots in the deck, get rid of the panel pattern/texture and add a non-skid.

- Narrow the console by 4-6" and make it taller for flush mounting electronics.

- Add a small live well somewhere.

I also want to replace the leaning post and T-top in the next season or two, which of course someone else will fabricate. I'll replace any hardware myself. And as far as gel coat or paint goes, a good friend has someone who will shoot it for cheap as a favor.

A few friends and my brother, who has made fiberglass wings for his car and for his buddies (WOO HOO), have offered to help me with my boat. I know that doesn't qualify him to work on a boat, but at least he has some experience with resins, fabric, etc. And then with my friends who offered to help, I'm not sure how experienced they truly are. I know it's not rocket science. But I want to do it once and do it right.

The big plus is that a good friend offered up half of his garage, as a winter workspace, if I can find a place for two of this vintage Mustangs. Otherwise, I don't think I'd consider half the stuff I want done without paying someone else to do them.

What do you guys think?

Thanks,
Paul

[basswacker]

go ahead so we can learn from your mistakes

[TooFly]

go ahead so we can learn from your mistakes

Oh yaaa. Sherrr...

[cdavisdb]

I have/had very minimal skill in your area, but recently did a whole bunch of structural work on my Seafari(thanks again to Blue Heron, Denny and Stick, among others, for all the help). Working with epoxy and polyester resin/fiberglass is very forgiving as long as you go slow and don't need it to look cosmetically fabulous. You can definitely do it, taking advantage of the advice available here. There are several step by step threads with lots of pics to show the way and many individuals who will help with your questions. Cosmetics are not my thing, but it sounds like you have access to someone who does have those skills. Digesting(it may take while) a copy of "The Elements of Boat Strength" by David Gerr will keep you from making any understrength and unsafe moves.

Go for it and good luck!

[uncleboo]

This might help as well. It's in my "favorites".
http://www.westsystem.com/ss/assets/...aintenance.pdf

[TooFly]

This might help as well. It's in my "favorites".
http://www.westsystem.com/ss/assets/...aintenance.pdf

Thanks, uncle! Can I call you uncle? And, uncle... can I borrow some money? Bigshrimpin posted this on someone else's thread. I saved it on my Mac and will read more of it tonight.

[TooFly]

I have/had very minimal skill in your area, but recently did a whole bunch of structural work on my Seafari(thanks again to Blue Heron, Denny and Stick, among others, for all the help). Working with epoxy and polyester resin/fiberglass is very forgiving as long as you go slow and don't need it to look cosmetically fabulous. You can definitely do it, taking advantage of the advice available here. There are several step by step threads with lots of pics to show the way and many individuals who will help with your questions. Cosmetics are not my thing, but it sounds like you have access to someone who does have those skills. Digesting(it may take while) a copy of "The Elements of Boat Strength" by David Gerr will keep you from making any understrength and unsafe moves.

Go for it and good luck!

I did quite a few gel coat repairs on my last boat, come to think of it. Friends said they had to look real hard to find them, even when pointed in the vicinity. I'm a bit of a perfectionist, I tie beautiful flies and I'm pretty artistic.

You're right! I got this! Seriously, I'm going to give it a whirl. Start with baby steps...

[Trayder]

Unless you know you can commit most all of your winter weekends to the project time would be the only issue from my experience

Working with glass and resins does take time to learn but i am sure you can do it and with the other members here you have a great sounding board.

Take on a few smaller projects this winter to get a feel for it and then make the decision yourself if you can tackle the rest over the next winter or over the next few winters.

one good starting place may be the transom and bracket this year, then work inside the boat next.

[Wildman]

Unless you know you can commit most all of your winter weekends to the project time would be the only issue from my experience

My question would be, do you like to fish and boat more or work with your hands on projects? If you tackle all these things at once your boat will be down for quite a while, (most of next year is my bet) do it in steps to start, make it safe and useable then work from there.

[TooFly]

TunaMeltdown - Thanks for the vote of confidence and for sharing your experience thus far. It's posts like yours that have me thinking that I can handle these projects.

Trayder - Thank you for the suggestions. As far as I know, the transom is in good shape. It was replaced by Hunter Scott Custom Boat Works, Pocasset MA, in 1997. That should mean that I can take on the scuppers soon.

Wildman - I'd have to say that I prefer to fish. But then I don't know how much I'd like working with my hands. Never done much... But I appreciate the pride one finds in being a DIY'er.

Paul