1978 SF restoration, my first one.....

[wtenglish]

Corey, just seeing your question on here but got back with you via email. It's been tough logging on after being away from my Seacraft for so long. Looks like the new year will bring me back to Jax and some much needed restoration therapy!!

[everybody]

good to here. I look forward to your post. I'm sure its been eating you up not able to peck away at it.

[strick]

Looking good Will. Keep at it your almost there!

The spot in the circle will likely crack down the road. Better to grind down the area were the two sides meet then glass and fair. I don't know if you were planning on doing that or not.




strick

[wtenglish]

Strick,

I believe that I've already done that but honestly can't remember. I'll check it out when I'm home over the Chrismas Holiday.

I almost went by your place the other day - was at the hobby shop in the shopping center. But - you aren't there! Would your bride let me take a peak? BTW - I still have not done anything with that transom piece. Bad on me. Still have plans for it though. Let's try to fish over the holidays!!

[wtenglish]

No worries Ron, you saved that piece as it was headed for the landfill. Stop by anytime, I'm driving back tomorrow for a couple weeks so give me a call.

[wtenglish]

General, mission accomplished!

I had actually started prepping the area before working out of town for a few months but am back now and am trying to get back on track. Thanks for the reminder though.



Laying out the coring for my two hatches.



Cabosiled in place and glassed with matt.



Bow hatch set in place to test fit.



Added matt to try and fill in some areas on sides of the stoarge compartments in the bow before fairing.



Weather and temps are still an issue but so I have been doing a LOT of sanding lately. Yesterday's 70 degree ceiling allowed me to start fairing the transom.



More updates to follow.

[everybody]

Looks good. I bet your happy to be home.

[wtenglish]

It is good to be back St. Augi!

Lot's of fairing and sanding as of late. Went ahead and put the boat on blocks so I could access the bottom and to work on the trailer when the temps were to low for production work.



I had been looking at ways of removing the bottom paint without having to sand all of it. Soda blasting hasn't been an option in my area and the only mobile unit wanted $700. I located this peel away product that they say is safe for fiberglass and decided to give it a shot. It is pricey at $80 a gallon but I figure the time saved would be worth it.



They provided this paper to install over it while wet but think it was probably not intended for inverted surfaces.



After a dwell time of about 45 minutes I used a 6" drywall knife to try it out. There is only one picture because this stuff was so messy. Even after wearing a tyvek suit gloves and respirator I still got it everywhere when scraping off.



I haven't completed the removal yet, only about half and have plenty of cleanup to do but it seems to take off large portions of the bottom paint.

Shot of the interior with a skim coat of fairing compound. I have a lot of work to do. Notice poor man's Festool!



With the temps still below 50 at times I stopped by and picked up the trailer parts from the nice folks at Float On Trailers. If you remember I had purchased a Seafari that was on this trailer and swapped with my previous one before selling the boat. This trailer is 30 years old but in sound structural condition.




You can see new torsion axles laying on the trailer.





A friend giving me some much needed help. The axles were heavy!



New fenders to replace the old "flying nuns".





All in after new torsion axles, rims and tires, center jack, V bunk and guide, lighting and overall cleaning.

[Trayder]

Peel Away....brings back some real bad memories, it works, but I can relate to the mess.

Your trailer looks brand new in the last shot, very nice work!