Another 25 Seafari goes under the knife

[Fr. Frank]

If you can set it up so that you look just over the windshield when standing, that is a major advantage. My 20 was that way and I miss it on the 25. The 20 could get pretty wet and you had to dodge water on rough days, but you won't have that problem with the 25.

You don't dodge the water for long on rough days. After a while, you're soaked anyway, so you just go ahead and enjoy the ride!

[cdavisdb]

Its not the "soaked" part. Mostly I'm wearing a bathing suit anyway. Its keeping enough water out of my eyes so I can see where I'm going. No windshield in front makes seeing much better.

[Blue_Heron]

No windshield in front makes seeing much better.

Well, I got the no windshield thing covered so far.

[seafari25]

Dave, no, I haven't put her in yet. I would usually have her in by now, when she was on Georgian Bay but now that she's on the east coast, I'd like to do a few mods and preventative maint. before she goes in the salt. I just don't have enough time down east to do everything I need to do. I am going down this weekend so I'll start with taking the tarps off and go from there. If I'm lucky, I might get her in by the end of summer.

Brandon

[strick]

Looks Great Dave you got it down pat!

strick

[Blue_Heron]

It's been almost a month since my last update. Seems hard to find time to work on the boat. Spent both Memorial Day weekend and the weekend of the 4th out of town, it's scallop season in Florida's big bend, and the shrimp are running on the St. Johns River. I took the kids scalloping June 25th and we're off to Jax this Saturday to see if we can fill a five gallon bucket with shrimp.

Here's what little I've gotten done in the last month. I masked off and painted my boot stripes:





I also did some fairing and sanding on the deck. It's almost ready for primer.








My wife and I met my brother and sister and their spouses at my sister's place in Vermont for the weekend of the 4th. She's got a beautiful place at the south end of the state with a creek running through it. This video is where the creek starts through a series of waterfalls through a gorge that drops into a pool deep enough to swim in.



We spent some time running around on their four wheelers, and to make sure we didn't get bored, my sister put my brother George and I to work making her some furniture. They had taken a maple tree that came down last year and had it sawed into slabs 2 1/2" thick. She wanted George (he's the cabinet maker in the family) to make her a bar top with one of the slabs. I started out to help him with the bar, but there were a couple other slabs that were just begging to become a coffee table. Both pieces are constructed with mortise and tenon joinery.

George's Bar:






My coffee table.

The pieces:



And assembled:



Dave

[BigLew]

Dave,

That is some gorgeous work. Your sister-in-law is one lucky woman. I love the maple and the design/workmanship looks better than first rate. You both should be proud puppies for that job done.

The boat looks terrific, too. Nice job! - BL

PS. Thanks for the inspiration to get down in my shop and get to work. (If I only did that quality of work.)

[Blue_Heron]

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve updated my thread. I’m a year into it and still making progress. I can now confirm that the conventional wisdom here is correct. Estimate how long you think it will take and how much it will cost and double it. That being said, I have no regrets. I just want to be done and get this thing in the water.

I’ve done a lot of fairing and priming on the top cap and in the cockpit, but it’s still not done, so I’m not ready to post pics. It’s been so hot lately, I decided to do some stuff that could be done inside the shop. Man, am I glad I put in that A/C unit.

I originally planned to use blue Styrofoam to insulate the fish box, but after considerable pondering, I came to the conclusion that it would be way too much work for a questionable result. I decided instead to laminate the tub into the outer box and then fill the void with 2lb. density polyurethane foam. It seems to have been a good decision. Here’s the process I used:

First, I used thickened epoxy resin to glue the tub into the outer box.



After I flipped the whole thing over, I tabbed the two parts together, used a piece of scrap masonite to build a form on the open end of the box, and poured two part foam around the tub.



Before foaming the bottom of the tub, I put in a drain.



I wasn’t sure how much leakage I might get, so I covered the bottom of the box with visqueen before I put a rigid form over it.



Then I clamped and screwed a piece of sign board over the bottom to create the form.



Here’s the gap to be filled.



And after the foam is placed.



And with the form removed.



The insulation really stiffens up the structure. The tub is solid as a rock. In hindsight, I probably could have gone lighter on the laminate for the outer box, but it is what it is.

I’ve done some other stuff that I’ll try to post in the next couple days until I’m up to date.
Dave

[strick]

I just want to be done and get this thing in the water.

Know the feeling...just keep plugging away. Soon it will be finished and the glorious day will arrive when you splash her...OR You can do like IslandTrader did and run the boat when it's half finished but that shows a lack of physical restraint just kidding of course Terry.

I should have done the pour foam instead of the spray can method...I was afraid I would get foam every where but you seemed to have it under control. Thanks for the up date Dave.

strick

[Blue_Heron]

Know the feeling...just keep plugging away. Soon it will be finished and the glorious day will arrive when you splash her...OR You can do like IslandTrader did and run the boat when it's half finished but that shows a lack of physical restraint just kidding of course Terry.

I should have done the pour foam instead of the spray can method...I was afraid I would get foam every where but you seemed to have it under control. Thanks for the up date Dave.

strick

Thanks for the reply, Chuck, and the encouragement. I haven't lost interest, but sometimes it's tough to maintain momentum. I've been tempted to focus on just the stuff it would take to get her in the water, but so far, my self control is holding up better than Terry's. All kidding aside, I think Terry's idea to run a sea trial to verify CG and running trim before finishing up is a good idea. Gives him a little flexibility to move stuff around if he needs to make adjustments.

On the insulation, I was a little hesitant about the two-part foam, but it worked out pretty well. I think the secret is to plan well, and mix it fast (with a drill and paint stirrer, not by hand). I calculated the volume of the cavity and then the volume of foam to mix based on 25X expansion rate. Once you pour the two parts together, you've got about 15 seconds to mix, and another 15 seconds to pour it out, or it's gonna run away from you. I did both pours in two steps to allow for better control.


Dave