Cruiser restoration and wheelchair adaption

Daibheid · 20-08-2016 11:50am

The "problem" with kids these days is not that they don't want to learn and do creative stuff but that they simply don't have access to the people who could act as role models , mentors, teachers, etc. Simey is lucky to get to see how to prepare and paint a hull properly and to see the satisfaction of how it'll look when done.
There are a lot of reasons kids don't get the opportunities to learn things to do with their hands and heads and the self confidence that comes with that. A lot of manufacturing is gone from the West and with it the skills and knowledge which, while shown in abundance in these threads, are generally becoming scarcer. There's also the risk of liability which cripples people with fear and makes it much safer not to even let someone watch while you're cutting, shaping, welding, spannering etc. But everyone misses out as there's also real satisfaction in sharing and teaching skills like that.
So good for you Fergal , you're getting some much needed help and this kid is learning and experiencing the satisfaction and skills he'd never have accessed sitting in front of a screen.
Btw your platform material should prove an excellent choice when you see what it'll withstand flooring a horse box with half a ton pounding horsepiss into it via steel shoes year after year!

Stheno · 20-08-2016 12:05pm

Excuse my ignorance but what's a weed box?

fergal.b · 20-08-2016 12:22pm

Stheno wrote: »

Excuse my ignorance but what's a weed box?

It's a sealed box/hatch inside the boat that you can open and remove any weeds or lobster pot ropes

that get wrapped up in the prop, with my large swim-platform it would be hard to reach the prop from the outside of the boat . It's not a box that I keep my weed in

sogood · 20-08-2016 3:43pm

A little bit off topic, but, many many years ago when I was still at school, I used to "work" part time with a carpenter/joiner who did a lot of general building work also. It was mostly holding this or that, mixing plaster, cleaning up etc. etc.

He did excellent work and was something of a perfectionist and I learned an awful lot from him, particularly a love of DIY and it encouraged me to "have a go" and start tackling little jobs around the family home.

Now, many years later, I've lost track of the number of "jobs" I've done, including a lot of salvage/recycling/restoration projects. I'd be lost without my sheds, my hobbies and the great sense of satisfaction from having "done it myself".

The confidence to tackle such jobs is priceless and I take my hat off to all such individuals and in particular to anyone who has the opportunity to pass on such an invaluable lesson. Well done fergal, on all fronts!

fergal.b · 26-08-2016 9:02pm

This week I put in some ply to take the floor stringers as there is not much down force in the door opening.

I'm using this handy little tool a lot it's a vitrex 10 1030 profile gauge used mainly for tiling.

You just push it down over the shape you want to copy and then just mark it out.

Most of the floor stringers done using 6 2x6.

Now I can set the swim platform, it's a big one

I'm also going to build a plate that will take a winch as Old's Cool will fit nicely under here to tow in when I find her

Think I'm going to need a few sandbags up front to balance this out

ted1 · 27-08-2016 8:48am

Will the platform affect the speed? Will the wake or rudder wash not be hitting off it?

fergal.b · 27-08-2016 8:59am

ted1 wrote: »

Will the platform affect the speed? Will the wake or rudder wash not be hitting off it?

My top speed is about 7 knots :eek: so not much to be affecting

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Tow · 28-08-2016 8:42am

fergal.b wrote: »

Think I'm going to need a few sandbags up front to balance this out

Build some sort of frame to hold them in place. We took out one of the Tara Cruisers back when the boats were only a year or two old. The trim was way off to the port. I lifted up some of the forward bunks to find bags of gravel just plonked there, they had obviously shifted to one side.:eek:
Reminds me of what can happen when a car ferry gets a inch or two of water slopping around on its car deck.

sogood · 28-08-2016 6:56pm

That's some swim platform fergal! You could put a small swimming pool on it and make it a proper swim platform! Just kidding of course, as I understand the very particular needs involved in your refurb.

I was wondering about your sunken treasure. Any developments or plans to try to find/raise it?

Keep up the good work.

fergal.b · 28-08-2016 8:07pm

sogood wrote: »

That's some swim platform fergal! You could put a small swimming pool on it and make it a proper swim platform! Just kidding of course, as I understand the very particular needs involved in your refurb.

I was wondering about your sunken treasure. Any developments or plans to try to find/raise it?

Keep up the good work.

I'm landlocked at the moment so not much searching going on with me, the others are still keeping an eye out when they are in the area. This cruiser will be fitted with all the gear and there will also be mounting holes for a winch in the middle of the swim-platform and a hole to drop a cable down she can then be winched up under the platform and brought to shallow water to re-float

the platform will also be filled with foam for extra buoyancy and I will use an old inflatable or truck tubes to add a bit more and to protect Old's Cool from hitting it.

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fergal.b · 02-09-2016 5:31pm

There is something not right about cutting a hole in a boat but I just cant put my finger on it

The hole was cut rectangular but as I cut it at an angle to hepl seal it and the different thickness it looks a bit off but should be fine. It was quite thick so I'm not too worried about loosing any strenght in the strut and rudder but I will build up a good bit of fiberglass around the box to be on the safe side.

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Made up templates first and then copied them to the box.

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I will be putting a wooden rim around the inside and epoxeying some bolts to make a seal in the lid and where I cut out the hole in the hull, the top of the box is about 8 inches above the waterline hopefuly that will be enough.

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Cut out the plywood for the back deck just have to give it a few coats of epoxy and cut out a hatch.

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Looks like she got a right bang on the nose, I was going to leave the bow protector off but might just put it back after seeing this

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sogood · 02-09-2016 8:19pm

So, what am I missing? You seem to be cutting out a hole in the hull and building it up on the inside, yes? But why?

fergal.b · 02-09-2016 8:48pm

sogood wrote: »

So, what am I missing? You seem to be cutting out a hole in the hull and building it up on the inside, yes? But why?

It's a weed hatch so I can untangle any weeds,rope.plastic bags or shopping trollies that get wrapped up in the prop

saves me having to swim under the boat, I'm getting too old for that crap

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pedroeibar1 · 03-09-2016 12:02am

fergal.b wrote: »

Thi

Think I'm going to need a few sandbags up front to balance this out

Pity the sand has to go in the bow..... a sprinkling of a bit back there and you'd have your own private beach!:cool:

sogood · 03-09-2016 9:09am

fergal.b wrote: »

It's a weed hatch so I can untangle any weeds,rope.plastic bags or shopping trollies that get wrapped up in the prop saves me having to swim under the boat, I'm getting too old for that crap

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Yes, forgive me, just a senior moment on my part! I remember you discussing this further back in your post.

fergal.b · 03-09-2016 9:13am

Or I could go bigger again and have my own mooring for Old's Cool,

fergal.b · 09-09-2016 9:01pm

A bit of rinoplastie

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Put in two deck drains the one on right will drain out on the left and the left will drain to the right so there will always be some where for the water to go if the boat is listing.

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Here I covered the piecce I cut out with cling film and forced it down on some fiberglass I spread around the edge of the hole this will give it a much better fit when I make up the seal. I'm also fitting a pump and tilt switch in this compartment as this is where the hatch in the floor will drain and just incase something goes wrong with the weed hatch, it will also set of an alarm and light on the dash when the pump is running.

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A bit wet out today so I started wireing up the dash it's a bit boring as most of my info will be on the Garmin but it's nice to have the 4 in one as backup.

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pedroeibar1 · 09-09-2016 10:30pm

Nice understated lights F, but wrong way round (port/starboard & all that....)

I know, it's ocd, it's just me and having to have things in the right order

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fergal.b · 09-09-2016 10:42pm

pedroeibar1 wrote: »

Nice understated lights F, but wrong way round (port/starboard & all that....) I know, it's ocd, it's just me and having to have things in the right order .

Your dead right I will swap them around

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fergal.b · 15-09-2016 4:45pm

Whoo Look what I just won and €500 couldn't have come at a better time

:D:D:D

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moonshadow · 15-09-2016 6:11pm

IF it's meant for you it won't pass you !! Well done mate .

HeidiHeidi · 15-09-2016 6:38pm

fergal.b wrote: »

Whoo Look what I just won and €500 couldn't have come at a better time :D:D:D

No more worthy recipient!!!

Stheno · 15-09-2016 6:47pm

fergal.b wrote: »

Whoo Look what I just won and €500 couldn't have come at a better time :D:D:D

Deadly

fergal.b · 15-09-2016 6:49pm

Cheers

It's a battle of the sexes now I'm up against the Queen of DIY next :eek: should be fun but I have no idea what we will be doing.

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HeidiHeidi · 15-09-2016 6:51pm

fergal.b wrote: »

Cheers It's a battle of the sexes now I'm up against the Queen of DIY next :eek: should be fun but I have no idea what we will be doing.

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Jaysus..... is it a spectator sport? Can we get tickets???

Stheno · 15-09-2016 7:14pm

fergal.b wrote: »

Cheers It's a battle of the sexes now I'm up against the Queen of DIY next :eek: should be fun but I have no idea what we will be doing.

.

Did you have to do stuff to win?

fergal.b · 15-09-2016 7:36pm

Stheno wrote: »

Did you have to do stuff to win?

You Just had to post in photos of your DIY projects, I think this got it for me

sogood · 16-09-2016 5:20pm

Well done and much deserved. A very worthy winner.

fergal.b · 16-09-2016 8:07pm

Lights fixed

I also made a new hub out of mahogany for behind the steering wheel, looking a bit better now with a proper captains wheel.

Simey still scraping and sanding away and doing a fine job, the top coats come off handy enough with the heat gun but the primer is a real pig to get off it's like a latex paint as for the antifoul

below the waterline was not too bad with only a few coats but above the waterline where someone could reach while she was still in the water it's about 1 cm thick. :eek:

A bit of work done on the wheelchair lift I will fit it back in the boat now to workout how much room I have for the hydraulic ram and where to place it.

fergal.b · 23-09-2016 4:36pm

Ok it looks like the final vote is up to you for DIY the person of the year, you can pick between Old's Cool or a very nicely painted shed it's up to you

Click the link, Cheers

http://www.arro.ie/The-Ultimate-Battle-Of-The-Sexes

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HeidiHeidi · 23-09-2016 5:02pm

fergal.b wrote: »

Ok it looks like the final vote is up to you for DIY the person of the year, you can pick between Old's Cool or a very nicely painted shed it's up to you Click the link, Cheers

http://www.arro.ie/The-Ultimate-Battle-Of-The-Sexes

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Vote gone in. You're a shoo-in so far!

Can we vote more than once???

fergal.b · 23-09-2016 5:24pm

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Vote gone in. You're a shoo-in so far!

Can we vote more than once???

I have no idea but I'm sure once is enough :cool:

Thanks for your vote

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fergal.b · 23-09-2016 7:36pm

Back to business

Paint stripped off with the heat-gun, now time to get sanding.

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With the help of Simey and Keith we were able to fly through it even though we ended up looking like Jack frost

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Just the top left to do now.

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All the holes scratches and dings filled and sanded.

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Boxed in the platform this will all be coated in fiberglass cloth and sealed so that even with the weight of two people and a wheelchair it should stay above water, Hopefully

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No I'm not using it as a rubbish bin

I'm going to fill the sections with expanding foam and empty bottles with sealed lids this will help cut down the cost of the foam and will help pervent saturation of the platform, the foam will be done in stages with the first one just to hold the bottles in place and stop them floating up the foam will also stiffen up the platform and add strength.

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HeidiHeidi · 23-09-2016 11:01pm

fergal.b wrote: »

Ok it looks like the final vote is up to you for DIY the person of the year, you can pick between Old's Cool or a very nicely painted shed it's up to you Click the link, Cheers

http://www.arro.ie/The-Ultimate-Battle-Of-The-Sexes

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Also - I'm assuming (maybe unfairly, but maybe not) that she didn't buiild the flipping shed before painting it!

I think that should be made clear!!!

pedroeibar1 · 23-09-2016 11:28pm

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Also - I'm assuming (maybe unfairly, but maybe not) that she didn't buiild the flipping shed before painting it!

I think that should be made clear!!!

Agreed. If she did not make them (and I mean MAKE, not assemble!) her skills are limited to holding a paintbrush. That is not DIY, it is pandering to the sponsor ( a paint company FFS!)

fergal.b · 24-09-2016 12:01am

Nothing against her but I did think some of the other girls projects were a lot better, I know one of them that did upscaling of old furniture and they were very good with a lot of work put in to them, if I had to go head to head with her with a project it would be close. Going down to the vote I have an advantage with you guy's /girls but still she is not far behind :eek: maybe I shouldn't have voted for her

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HeidiHeidi · 24-09-2016 12:06am

fergal.b wrote: »

Nothing against her but I did think some of the other girls projects were a lot better, I know one of them that did upscaling of old furniture and they were very good with a lot of work put in to them, if I had to go head to head with her with a project it would be close. Going down to the vote I have an advantage with you guy's /girls but still she is not far behind :eek: maybe I shouldn't have voted for her

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There should be a bit of a back-story to your projects! Those pictures don't do justice at all - people might be fooled into thinking you just varnished that boat (no mean feat in itself!) or stuck the steering wheel onto it, or something.

And what's this "I (shouldn't have) voted for her" - are you MAD??? :eek:

Stheno · 24-09-2016 12:07am

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

And what's this "I (shouldn't have) voted for her" - are you MAD??? :eek:

Sick in th e head I'd say

Mad as a box of frogs

BowWow · 24-09-2016 10:30am

fergal.b wrote: »

No I'm not using it as a rubbish bin I'm going to fill the sections with expanding foam and empty bottles with sealed lids this will help cut down the cost of the foam and will help pervent saturation of the platform, the foam will be done in stages with the first one just to hold the bottles in place and stop them floating up the foam will also stiffen up the platform and add strength.

What about using 100mm wall insulation with expandable foam around the edge to hold it in place?

fergal.b · 24-09-2016 11:08am

BowWow wrote: »

What about using 100mm wall insulation with expandable foam around the edge to hold it in place?

I did think of doing that with kingspan or the pink or blue insulation boards even swimming pool noodles

but I just couldn't find any proof that in the long term they would not absorb moisture, even with closed cell foam it's not the cells that take on water but the little spaces in-between the cells, with the sealed bottles they should last a life time and the bigger the air pocket the more buoyancy.

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fergal.b · 24-09-2016 11:14am

Stheno wrote: »

Sick in th e head I'd say

Mad as a box of frogs

You could be right she is ahead of me now :eek:

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Thargor · 24-09-2016 3:18pm

Stick the voting link in your sig in big letters in bold and bump a few of your old project threads, they'll have hundreds of subscribers to see it, should scrape a few more votes that way. Painting a shed is a joke next to that boat.

Sleepy · 26-09-2016 10:07am

Voted there, you're currently looking to have a comfortable lead but everyone reading this should vote anyway!

connel42 · 30-09-2016 12:33pm

Just voted - best of luck.

hardCopy · 30-09-2016 12:53pm

Voted, good luck. Thanks for all the updates, I know nothing about boats but lurk here regularly as it's a very interesting and impressive project.

fergal.b · 30-09-2016 8:07pm

Back to business, a few repair jobs to the bow as it's a little untidy looking.

All ground out and filled with fibreglass.

The other side was a bit of a mess with the bottom half about 2" out from the top :eek:

The gap was filled with silicone .

And some rough looking fibreglass.

To get it back into shape I drilled some holes for coach bolts and then using blocks of wood on the inside I just tightened them up till I got it in position.

I filled the outside with fibreglass and used mat on the inside just have to leave it over the weekend before I sand it down.

Simey started on top with his little sander collection

I also showed him how to do a bit of welding, for someone that had never seen a welder before he soon got the hang of it.

Daibheid · 01-10-2016 8:40am

Terrific progress Fergal. You're cleaning up some real ugly bits but I'd be a bit concerned on the overlap. You're obviously not leaving the brace there but you will leave a lot of stress in that repair so I'd suggest layering in a lot of GRP on the inside and maybe at least one layer of woven roving on the outside. I know it'll make more work to get a faired finish to your standard on the outside but it'll reduce the risk of an ugly split line out through your handiwork in a year or sooner when smacking into some steep lake chop.
Nosing ahead in the DIY vote too!

fergal.b · 01-10-2016 11:55am

Daibheid wrote: »

Terrific progress Fergal. You're cleaning up some real ugly bits but I'd be a bit concerned on the overlap. You're obviously not leaving the brace there but you will leave a lot of stress in that repair so I'd suggest layering in a lot of GRP on the inside and maybe at least one layer of woven roving on the outside. I know it'll make more work to get a faired finish to your standard on the outside but it'll reduce the risk of an ugly split line out through your handiwork in a year or sooner when smacking into some steep lake chop.
Nosing ahead in the DIY vote too!

There will be a timber running the length of the split on the inside that I will screw into top and bottom from the outside and then fibetglased in place that should hold it in place and keep the clean line on the outside where I might also have a timber rub rail to cover up the join.

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fergal.b · 07-10-2016 6:16pm

This week I wired in the shore power.

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There will be a storage space/seat here for a generator

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Used fiberglass cloth to seal the platform.

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Drilled out for some fancy blue LED lights

to get a good seal I drill oversized holes and fill them with fiberglass then drill the hole for the lights sealing them in with silicone.

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I do like blue lights

Shame they won't be shining on crystal clear water.

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With all that done I filled the platform with 2 part expanding foam and some of the canned stuff with one or two bottles, not the prettiest but whatever floats your boat

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Fitted the transducer into the keel and fiberglassed over the cable to protect it.

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A bit more sanding done, starting to get close to the end now.

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Daibheid · 10-10-2016 2:48pm

I'm sure you'll have a reason and I know you have done with it now Ferghal but why didn't you mount the transducer inside the hull for less through holes and ease of fitting?

Cruiser restoration and wheelchair adaption

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