Whitewater Interior Progress

[Bryan A.]

Here is what I have been doing this week. I am working to get the glue off the inner hull that was left over from the grey gorilla hair. My intent is to fill the weave and paint white to brighten up the cabin and make it easier to clean.
The pic is of tools I have used. By far the best is the wire cup brush on the 4" angle grider. I have found the better one so far was made in Spain. It lasted about 60% of the job. The brush made in China lasted <10% of the job before all the bristles fell out. You can also see the by product of these efforts, my own personal beach in the cabin! I am about 70% done with the large areas, then I have to go back and use the diegrinder in the smaller areas. The plan is to have it all ready for glass and filler when the temps start to rise. If anyone has to strip glue like this the power wire brush is the way to go. I'll keep posting progress here if you guys are interested.

[Trayder]

I do not envy you working out side in the cold we have had lately.

Granted it is probably better than work!

I would love to see a broader picture, one of the underside of the cabin.

Looks like it is coming along nicely.

[Bryan A.]

Here are a few more. I am documenting the progress for my self so there is no short supply of pictures. The first is of the cabin looking forward, shot just after a fury or wirebrushing, looks like snowfall.



The second is looking aft toward the cockpit and the backside of the helm (which is also getting cleaned up). In both shots you can see the heater I am using to keep me nice and toasty. I put the sending unit from an indoor/ outdoor thermometer in the cuddy so I can track the temp in the cabin. If its tool cold I don't work. You can also see the blue tarp in the second pic and you can make out a second tarp showing through. What I did was overlay a green tarp over the blue but I put it black side up. When the sun is out I have gotten temps in the mid 40's, when it is in the 20's outside, almost good for epoxy work.



The final pic is a close up of before and after wire brushing. It removes almost no glass but leaves a fress surface to bond to.


I wouldn't mind seeing interiors of others boats for ideas. I am eventually going to make a better filler piece for the V-berth. Pics of seafari's, seavette's or tsunami's would help, I have seen and saved a few from you guys already. Also potti solutions, I need to make this boat family friendly. Right now the cabin is just a big cave.

[abl1111]

Yuck ! I'm in for the same project. I have already taken the old, shag carpet out. I am going to install new carpet, 'gorilla hair'. I wonder if I have to remove the old glue to the extent that you are, to re-install the new carpet ? What do you think ? I would prefer NOT to go through what you are going through.

[Bryan A.]

I think if you are going to glue new stuff on, I would get the loose stuff off and glue over whatever is left. I want to finish the interior with paint for ease of cleaning and keep the cabin from geting that funky smell. It is easier to remove the cushions and hose out the cabin once in a while. I might put a headliner in but if I do I will make panels that Velcro in and cover the panels.

[Bryan A.]

I still love this shot that Finster posted of Lost2A6's Seavette interior. If mine comes out half as good I will be satisfied. More pics and ideas of that one and others would be helpful. Thanks in advance.

[warthog5]

Bryan before you go painting. I'd build some kind of removable box cover, to cover up all the switch's,guage's and such.

You can glue clete's to the fiberglass you have there now and attach it with screw's into the cleate's. Use finish washer's with a flat washer under them to keep the finish washer's from digging in.
You could build it out of 1/4 lauan and put a layer of 4oz cloth over it.

While it's cold out, were coverall's to keep clean and warmer. A tyvex suit will do very well for that in the winter time. No air flow thru them. In the summer there's no way I can wear them. To damn hot.

[Bryan A.]

Yeah. The box/cover is already in the works. It is going to be partially removable and partially fastened in. The part that is a little less removable is going to hold switches for all the lights, pumps, guages and anything else that doesn't need to be on the dash. Like the hour meter and such. It will also hold the VHF and Stereo head unit. I am trying to keep a minium amount of stuff outside. I'll proably make it out of mohaghany luan in certain parts so it can be fineshed showing the wood and other parts will be glass covered plywood painted to match the rest of the stuff. Thanks for the suggestions, keep them coming.

[abl1111]

Bryan,

Where did you get the wire brush (made in spain) and is it the thick type (like rope) or the individual wire type ? I went to Sears and they only have the China made one and based on your experience, that is sh_t. Also, any retrofit kit for the wire brush to fit on the grinder ?

Thx

[Bryan A.]

The spainish one was bought at a local harware stop, looked like it had been on the shelf for years. It was purple and the bristles were actually brass. It worked well but after I blew through that I tried the one from sears and it lasted about 15 min. So then I went back to the same local guy and he had one left. That one lasted a good while but eventually went to hell. Went back to the store and the new ones he had were all cheepies, made in china (for the same price). So I opted for one for 9$ from a tool wholesale store that one lasted OK but not as well as the Spanish one. Problem is I can't find them anywhere, not even online. They were packed under the name of Shark Welding. I now need to purchase a 5th one to finish up I have a few more spots on the ceiling to do and it is done for that phase.
I was tempted to try the twisted type but thought it might be to aggressive, If I did I probably would have used the same one from start to finish. Are you doing a large area or small. Sears did have various adapters to go between tools, if that helps. Let me know how you make out, pics don't hurt either.

Have you checked out the Long Island Sound gatherings thread yet?