Popular Post dmulally Posted January 11 Popular Post Posted January 11 So this followed me home on probably the most sketchiest trailer drag home I've done in a while. 13 1 2 Quote
Popular Post dmulally Posted January 11 Author Popular Post Posted January 11 The hull is sound but the seats, decking, and some of the stringers have to be cut out. It came with a mid 70's 50hp Merc which apart from being raided for parts at some point, looks like it hasn't run forever. I might put it to a side and keep an eye out for any other crappy ones to make one from two. It'll look nice when restored but not on the agenda for now. I hadn't really thought much about an engine but I did recall this post from the legend @Tiger Tamer and haggled him down on price. I figured the 50hp was a 4 cyl and the 75 he has was a 3 cyl so they should be of a similar size. Oh how wrong I was. A quick roady up to Napier only to find out somebody left the heat pump on outside and poor Malcolm had to help me load what I'm assuming is the largest outboard I've ever seen into the back of a wagon. Some comparison shots with the 50hp and an 8hp for a laugh. So the next steps are to clean out the interior. Has a lot of junk inside that needs to be swept up. As well as then cutting the rotten seat bases out (untreated ply will do that) and then doing a proper inspection of the stringers. Then I'll look at attaching the motor and dunking it all in the pond to see if it'll float. If it does I'll get to work on strengthening the transom. 13 1 1 Quote
Popular Post dmulally Posted January 12 Author Popular Post Posted January 12 Getting rid of the rotten seat frames to see what I'm working with. Not too bad for such an old boat. Before I rip the deck structure off I'll sort the flooring so it keeps form. 11 Quote
xsspeed Posted January 12 Posted January 12 That ol mercs not a 50 it's a 500 you'll be underpowered now 3 Quote
Tiger Tamer Posted January 12 Posted January 12 I figured the 50hp was a 4 cyl and the 75 he has was a 3 cyl so they should be of a similar size. Oh how wrong I was. It's been lying down for a long time. Might have bloat and have wind . Anyway, it will give the boat presence and if you put a 1 in front of the 7 and a 0 behind the 5 no one will doubt it . Going to be a pretty boat, and fast. 2 1 Quote
rusty360 Posted January 12 Posted January 12 6 hours ago, dmulally said: The hull is sound but the seats, decking, and some of the stringers have to be cut out. It came with a mid 70's 50hp Merc which apart from being raided for parts at some point, looks like it hasn't run forever. I might put it to a side and keep an eye out for any other crappy ones to make one from two. It'll look nice when restored but not on the agenda for now. I hadn't really thought much about an engine but I did recall this post from the legend @Tiger Tamer and haggled him down on price. I figured the 50hp was a 4 cyl and the 75 he has was a 3 cyl so they should be of a similar size. Oh how wrong I was. A quick roady up to Napier only to find out somebody left the heat pump on outside and poor Malcolm had to help me load what I'm assuming is the largest outboard I've ever seen into the back of a wagon. Some comparison shots with the 50hp and an 8hp for a laugh. So the next steps are to clean out the interior. Has a lot of junk inside that needs to be swept up. As well as then cutting the rotten seat bases out (untreated ply will do that) and then doing a proper inspection of the stringers. Then I'll look at attaching the motor and dunking it all in the pond to see if it'll float. If it does I'll get to work on strengthening the transom. Pretty sure that 75 is actually a de-tuned 90hp. They share the same block etc. Probably just carbs or a plate in the exhaust. 6 1 Quote
dmulally Posted January 12 Author Posted January 12 Started on lifting the paint of the floor to look at glassing it all up and so far so good. I won't bother with doing the bow until I take the decking off as it's too hard to fit in. It's a messy job as there are a few layers of build up over the years. It has been put together with nails rather than screws and uncovering a bent nail made me relate to the builder all those years ago. I have about a billion hours of sanding rock hard paint ahead of me which will give me time to think about how I'll want to go about glassing the floor. I haven't had much luck with putting cloth over sharp corners so perhaps I'll run a fillet of thickened epoxy over every join to smooth the bend. Will take quite a while to do but I can't see many downsides. Also did some measuring and the transom is set up for a short shaft. All that needs to be done is the current transom be raised to deck height to gain the correct height. 6 Quote
dmulally Posted January 13 Author Posted January 13 Hmmm. Thinking aloud, do I really need to glass the floor as well as epoxy coat? It is nearly 70 years old and no rot in the sole stringers at all. It has lasted this long with asbestos/lead/dodo blood paint. Thoughts on no cloth? Or perhaps just the main stringers that will tie the transom to the bottom panel. Quote
Tiger Tamer Posted January 13 Posted January 13 I did the same as you are doing with my wooden boat. I thought it best to remove all the old paint and use thinned epoxy to seal the timber. I had the boat on woodworking forums in Australia as they have a boat building-repair forum as well. A retired wooden boat builder recommended to just remove what you need to and repair seal and paint. So where I had stripped it back to the bare timber I sealed with thinned west system and the rest I gave a good sand removed any flaky paint then used the epoxy primer over the lot. I didn't get any bad reaction. I only had to do the inside of the boat. It seems those old primers were pretty good at sticking to the timber really. Saved a heap of time. 6 1 Quote
dmulally Posted January 19 Author Posted January 19 #metoo Some decisions I'm yet to make is how the stern and deck look. I don't like a flat deck. But how much curve should be in the edges (I think that's the sheer line)? Should I make the stern more of a barrel back and blend the hull into the deck? Also do I have it as a utility boat, twin cockpit for skiing, or single cockpit? If single is the cockpit up front or more rear? Here are some pics for inspiration that I'll struggle to replicate. 6 Quote
dmulally Posted January 19 Author Posted January 19 Back in reality land, apart from the eternal sanding I modified an engine stand for the motor. It runs pretty well but it does need a service. 6 Quote
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted January 19 Posted January 19 Has anyone ever made a retro engine cover for period outboard cool factor? 3 Quote
Rhyscar Posted January 19 Posted January 19 First of all love your work. I think everyone at some stage dreams of having time to spend on a project like this and the sailing boat. You may or may not be aware of this, but there is a wooden boat parade every year at the real Lake Rotoiti (north island). We always happen to be there about the same time, and there are always some pretty sweet rigs. I'm a fan of the rear passenger compartment for pleebs in the back(or VIP's - whichever way you look at it hah). The other thing to consider here, is the single greatest thing about boating is that you can technically boat while drinking - as long as you're in control of your vessel. So I would highly encourage space for entertaining extra friends and storing a few extra cooled crate bottles on your sweet, sweet wooden boat. There are always some amazingly built boats that show up, but I particularly enjoy the ones that get used for skiing, picnicing and general lake shenanigans. Here are a few samples for inspiration; https://www.woodenboatparade.co.nz/shop/filter/category=31308/ 6 1 1 Quote
dmulally Posted January 19 Author Posted January 19 2 hours ago, Lord Gruntfuttock said: Has anyone ever made a retro engine cover for period outboard cool factor? I did speak to @ThePog about helping me out with the whaler cowling ages ago but didn't get further than that. The obvious choice would be to make it look similar to a classic merc but not sure how as the cowling has a bit of a curve to it and the old ones were straight. Open to ideas though. 1 1 Quote
Lord Gruntfuttock Posted January 19 Posted January 19 Sweet. Yeah I was thinking a moulded fibreglass type cover with stainless trim, just for looks. Obviously don't want to restrict access or airflow and add too much weight, but would really accentuate the aesthetics... Quote
xsspeed Posted January 19 Posted January 19 I don't think you can go wrong with the compartments on these if you're shooting for lush decking Agree with @Rhyscar re compartments, i like the dual compartment look, but also (and as per your earlier pic) having a massive long polished bow/phallic symbol with single compartment to the rear can be lush too, totally would not be assumed you are compensating 3 Quote
dmulally Posted January 20 Author Posted January 20 I think I have found what it was originally based on. Looks pretty similar and is exact same length. Pics of builds look to have the bulkheads in similar spots too. https://www.glen-l.com/15-Ski-Tow-runabout-and-ski-boat/products/359/ 2 Quote
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