nzlance Posted July 16, 2012 Author Posted July 16, 2012 Just been sanding, sanding and more bloody sanding. Going pretty well though. Once glassing was finished and filled it was out with the west systems 411. This stuff sands down beautifully. Back half of the boat nearly complete. Cabin... both inside and out need more work. From here its coat the entire topside with resin mixed with white pigment to provide a barrier coat and colour base. Then high build primer, then undercoats. All this will be applied by hand.... carport is way to small to use spray equipment. Then the boat will be sent away to have the topsides professionally sprayed with finish coats. The surface area of the inside is way to vast to keep a wet edge when putting on top coats with roller. I put in a pic of my little Hitachi finishing sander..... if anyone out there is contemplating purchasing a new finish sander , this thing gets my vote. It absolutley rips. Plenty of power... quiet(ish). Great for tight spots but can still be used on large areas with great results... and the finish it brings up is superb. no swirl marks. I know there are alot of different brands of these things on the market... especially in the USA, you are spoilt for choice, The hitachi is really good value for money, over here its $100.00 cheaper than the competing Makita.... The makita has a tad more power though......... Quote
hokeyhydro Posted July 16, 2012 Posted July 16, 2012 Barrier coat - to prevent UV from leaking through paint and degrading the substrate, airplanes use aluminum paint. For WEST that would be #420. Quote
nzlance Posted August 2, 2012 Author Posted August 2, 2012 Yep Hokey .... barrier coat is #420. After applied 3 coats of Altex no.2 high build have been rolled on. Quote
nzlance Posted August 27, 2012 Author Posted August 27, 2012 Had trailer arrive today and winched boat out into a beautiful late winters afternoon. First time I have been able to step back and look at the thing side on for over a year. I was pretty happy. 1 Quote
nzlance Posted August 28, 2012 Author Posted August 28, 2012 Thankyou very much lads. Still have to finish the exterior paint on cabin and topsides etc, but shes nearly there. Also gonna change trailer mudguards to some nice rounded stainless items. Stock items only giving 30mm clearance either side of hull and they look a touch 'agracultural'. Quote
Scott Dunsworth Posted August 28, 2012 Posted August 28, 2012 Very nice and all your customisations look like they were designed original. She is definitely a beauty, also in a fairly short build time for a craft like this!! All in such a small shop, very impressive. Scott Quote
nzlance Posted August 28, 2012 Author Posted August 28, 2012 Hey thankyou scott. 20 feet is about as big as I ever want to go. The cost of materials...as you are probaly seeing yourself (27 gallons so far....unbeleivable!) And time spent working late into the night wear you down after a while. Especially in such a small workshop/carport. Ive hit my head on the roof rafters more times than i can remember and spent so long wearing a dust mask I know feel naked without it. Getting the thing outside and on a trailer makes all the rough times all worth while. My little son was mainly the reason for short (ish) build time. I wanna be taking him to school sports and fishing on weekends, not be locked away in shed on my own like some mad professor! Quote
dmnolan Posted August 29, 2012 Posted August 29, 2012 Amazing! Really, I am blown away. I want so bad to build this boat and to see what you have been able to do in that tight shop of yours gives me hope. Dying to hear how she handles. David 1 Quote
nzlance Posted August 31, 2012 Author Posted August 31, 2012 Thanks David, still alot to do before shes realeased into the briney. Fishish coating is proving impossible to do during the evening after work. The solvent in the paint seems to be a major attraction for flying bugs, combine that with some fluro lights and my carport seems to be the hottest ticket in town for anything with wings and multiple legs. Will try and get paint on during weekend-daytime. Shear band fender strip will be stainless steel, possibly 304 as apposed to 316 alot cheaper apparently..... is this a good idea? Also brass keel strip will be needed.. Now the boat is right way up , on a trailer and the keel is an absolute pig to get to seems like the perfect time to fit it. Anbody had much experiance with dipping screws in epoxy and drilling them into timber? Quote
Miyot Posted September 1, 2012 Posted September 1, 2012 Your boat looks great, and all of your pics will be a big help to other builders, including me. I have seen a lot of bad stainless. Some stainless screws never have problems and some out of the same batch will bleed rust. I would go with the best stainless you could afford. When my boat gets that far done I believe I'll go with Bronze if I can find it. Stay away from Brass in the marine environment. It will turn to mush. I hate the idea of drilling holes or driving screws below the water line. But I will install my trim tabs that way. I don't know if epoxy is the way to go or something like 3ms 5200 sealant. Maybe some one else has the answer. Nice boat and a great job. Quote
hokeyhydro Posted September 1, 2012 Posted September 1, 2012 I drill pilot hole, set screw, remove screw, saturate hole with epoxy, reinsert screw. I have also done much the same routine except used shellac to soak the hole. Quote
nzlance Posted September 9, 2012 Author Posted September 9, 2012 Yeah hokey, I think when it comes time to fitting keel strip keeping it simple is the best option. I looked at a 3m keelsheild but they cant be stuck onto boats that have rollers touching it. Latest pics. Trying to fit off as much as possible before boat goes off and has motor fitted. Seats will come back out so carpet can be fitted. Twin batterys go under cabin seats, not much room in transom locker plus didnt want all the weight in the stern. Anchor bollard will be fitted once I have anchor and chain to measure its exact position as bollard pin goes through chain link to secure it. (no windlas at this stage.) All in all things going pretty well. will get some decent pics as soon as the weather clears up and I can wheel her outside. Good ol kiwi springtime at the moment....sun, rain, wind, more rain, sun........... Quote
nzlance Posted September 13, 2012 Author Posted September 13, 2012 A bit more progress on helm. hydro steering , trim tab controls and battery vsr installed. who ever invented the multi-tool should receive a knighthood. Also fitted flexi-hose to take pipes and wires to engine. Quote
nzlance Posted September 14, 2012 Author Posted September 14, 2012 Managed to wheel her out out this afternoon. Next job is to fit stainless belting around the gunnels.... and get outboard fitted next week. Should be able to get some performance figures then. Have to fit trim tabs, fuel filter and tank-changeover tap in the transome locker aswell. Carpet will be done once shes been in the water and all set up. 6 rodholders , non-skid to be done in very near future too. 1 Quote
nzlance Posted September 14, 2012 Author Posted September 14, 2012 Zeb the cat is not into any of this boat thing at all. Quote
PinoyPiper Posted September 14, 2012 Posted September 14, 2012 Wow! Sexy! doesn't look like a wooden boat at all ... and that cat needs to go on a diet Quote
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