1978 20 Master Angler Restoration

GradySailfish · #1 11-12-2007, 04:26 PM

Thanks for the compliments but Strick is a master craftsman....I do work no where near his calibre.

Now as for the Fuel Coffin Hatch.......THOSE WERE THE SAME EXACT MEASUREMENTS I HAD....26 3/4 wide by 8.1 long. You can either try and fix your existing hatch cover or make a new one. Mine was severly cracked and actually consisted of two seperate hatches....so I made one big hatch out of CORECELL. The CORECELL is 1/2 with 1 layer of 1.5 oz matt on top, with one layer of 1808 just under that, with 2 full laywer of 1808 on bottom and two strips of 1808 along the edges (to help raise it a little) All in all it took maybe 5 hours to make and fair.

gofastsandman · #2 11-12-2007, 10:04 PM

Hi G.S.,

My cover also needs to come up a little. Was yours originally a 2 piece cover or do you think it may have been cut for removal previously?

Did the factory put backing plates or more glass under the pedestal mount area ? I`m planning to put an oval poly 40 gal livewell under a leaning post and was wondering if I need to strengthen the deck under that area where it mounts.

36 inches wide flange to flange.

I did the 2 forward covers w/ 1 layer biax under the top and 2 over the bottom of beveled 1/2`` ply w/ brushed gelcoat and am pleased w/ the results but think I will over build it for the coffin as I`m puttin a lotta weight there.

Thanks for your thoughts ,
GFS

GradySailfish · #3 11-13-2007, 11:50 AM

It looks like it was a factory two piece cover. I think originally they came with an optional larger fuel tank, but if you got the smaller tank then the foward part of the compartment would be turned into a storage area...but I'm not 100% sure on this.

The factor did not put extra supports into the deck, I think it was 5/8 balsa core. If you have the time, build a new deck plate....I really like what strick did with modling his tank coffin cover.

gofastsandman · #4 11-13-2007, 08:33 PM

I`m gonna try to save it. I have a 50 gal tank. The problem is when the cover fractured the owner put furring strips on top of the tank to support the cover and used 5200.....

Strick is WAY outta my league.

I did learn a neat trick. When caulking the cover put 80 lb mono on the bottom so when you have to replace it you can pull it right out.

Thx,
GFS

GradySailfish · #5 11-19-2007, 01:28 PM

Paint is Imron. I did all the prep work and I was fortunate enought to have my friend and master fiberglassman/painter shoot the paint work.

Here she is after getting polished.

And as for your tank cover...sounds like you were in the same "boat" (no pun intended) as I was in. It would be a gagglef*&K to fix so I made a new one. I think you will be better off making a new one as well. You will save time and have a newer better finished piece of work.

1bayouboy · #6 11-19-2007, 02:59 PM

That's gorgeous.....

willydewitt2 · #7 11-22-2007, 05:45 PM

Thats some damn fine paint work. Your MA is looking mighty nice. You've done some great work. I can't wait to see the finished product. Great color combo also. Is that Ice blue AwlGrip? I have to do my transom sometime in the future. What do you think of doing it from the outside? Is it a bad idea? I have sealed and thru bolted my cap to my hull every four inches and it is solid as a rock but would be a big job to remove the cap, so I'm trying to do the transom without disturbing to much of what has already been done.

Makes me wish a did some more prep work instead of being so impatient and wanting to splash down so quickly.

GradySailfish · #8 11-22-2007, 08:13 PM

Your rig looks awesome as well. I know the feeling about rushing a job to splash. I kinda rushed some things on my MA to get her painted before the winter. I researched your project before I did mine...I think you used AwlCraft 2000 ? If so you can wetsand and buff the finish to your desire. But from the pictures your paint work looks excellent...I also like the color

As you know immitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

The paint is actually Imron, but mixed to be as close to Awlgrip Ice Blue as possible.

Today, I did the deck with Moondust Awlgrip and grip tex. I gotta put another coat on, then pull the tape.

Doing the transom from the outside is perfectly OK, but you might also want to look into raising the transom 5 inches...thats what I did as per recommendation of others on this site.

If you don't want to remove the entire cap, you can try and cut the cap a few imches behind the wells (looking towards the bow), and just pop off the part of the cap which will give you access to the transom.

AVK