1980 HydroStream Vamp resto-mod

Ultrasonic cleaners are great tools, even if you just have a small one its worth it.

 

And now wire brushed to a nice clean surface. Im going to either paint them or anodize them. All depends on how many of the supplies for anodizing I already own.

 

Got to grind down some of the glass I put on the transom this morning, looks like I did just the right amount. So I just need to hit it with the DA on 50 grit sandpaper until its close to level, then I can block it perfect.

 

5 more interlocking layers of chop mat on the joints between the transom and beams. Then a single layer to seal up the family names.

The greenish stuff is kitty hair, its a fiberglass reinforced filler. Very similar to the filler that I would make myself with chop, cabosil and resin, but it sands better and has longer strand glass in it. Its a convenience item as its already made, thick and easy to spread.


So thats pretty much it, fiberglass work is done. I might have a couple of small patches on the outside of the hull, but I wont know until I get there. Im going to pick up a gallon of waxed gelcoat this week and do the inner hull. Thinking I will just roller it, its easier and doesnt get everywhere. But since I dont need to build up a thick layer, the roller will do the job of sealing everything and thats all I need.

 

Cleaned out the hull pretty well and put the fuel tank with both batteries trays in to test fitment. All looks pretty good, but I have decided to wait on gelcoating the floors. I want to finish all the sanding, pull the boat out and scrub the garage of all dust before I do any gelcoating. While I can just wipe it off, I would rather not have my fresh gelcoating covered in dust from sanding the outside of the hull.

I am going to finish pulling the rub rail, then get to sanding the top half of the hull. I have a good amount of it sanded already, but I really need to finish up the body lines at my cuts and block the splashwell down. The splashwell is never going to be perfectly flat, so I am thinking of putting teak planks down on it so it kinda looks like a old school trunk mounted luggage rack. There are a few places on the hull that have teak planks already (step on the nose, and one of the steps leading to the front lounge ***see picture at bottom near nav lights) that I need to replace, so it would be nice to continue the teak.








*****

 

To give an idea for the teak strips on the back, I made this little photoshoped picture, the green lines would be the teak beams, each one is 3/8 inch thick, and 7/8 inch wide like the factory front teak is. I would have 2 options, either side to side or front to back. Either way, I will be making it from cheap wood first to make sure I even like it before I dump $30 per 5 foot beam. Im not sure what version I like better. I think B would look better though.

A



B

 

I vote for B, it emphasizes the low, wide, muscular look if that makes sense.

Also I can envision where someone might put a foot on the splash well under different situations so it seems the cross orientation would give a better grip.

 

Nice work on the boat…I’d imagine that much time with resin would have me loopy.
This BMW is not particularly special but found it curious that it’s also a ‘91. My spring project is to dig it out of my parents garage and go through it, probably to sell.

 

Looks like you have the pre-facelift car, its got the small tail lights, different rear wheel arches and the US spec bumpers (diving boards) Thats the perfect car to do a euro bumper conversion on as they bolt right on.

I have a bunch of 1980s "coke dealer" body kits that would fit that car.

 

Cut out the seat bases, each one is 3/4 inch thick marine ply. This will let me screw the seats into the floor without screwing them into the deck. Having these rot out is fine, but the floors rotting out is a pain.

 

Lots of sanding today... sanding, and more sanding, and more rub rail removal, and more sanding....
I need to pull the boat out of the garage this weekend so I can finish pulling the rub rail thats up against my tool box. Also going to back the boat in straight since I took the motor off I have more room.

But, just waiting on UPS to show up with my steering system so I can get it bolted in and measure my seat location.


Also, got a new fly rod today, never fly fished, but I wanted to try it out. Then I have a ultra light travel rod coming friday to round out my "travel setup".

 

Steering is here and installed just enough to measure my seat locations.

While it doesnt matter a ton, I want to make a jig that fits on the floor to perfectly align the seat bases. Im going to cut some aluminum extrusion down to 40 inches (the width of the floor) and then put that down on the floor and press the bases up against that when bonding.

 

Stallion of the sea?

Spoiler

Sanding mark looks like a horse head to me.

 

It does look like a horse, lol

 

Seat base plates are made, and have brass inserts installed. Going to bond them to the hull tonight and glass them over.

 

Bases have been bonded with resin, cabosil and loose chop. Just need these to cure and I can undo the screws and I can glass over them.

 

So just bonded, no screws at all?

I guess being both bonded on the underside and glassed over pretty much makes it one with the floor.

 

Yep, just bonded and glassed over. I put a layer of chop on that wraps over the front edge and the inside edge. Going to put another layer that covers all 4 edges again shortly. So it will be 2 layers on the front and inner edges, those will have the most stress from leaning back and getting in and out.

 

OK, I put another layer over it, then covered it in tinfoil. The tinfoil will help it keep the sharp lines by pushing the glass against the wood until it cures. The tinfoil will also act as a surfacing agent for the laminating resin and let it cure tack free.

I am going to try to figure out if I can carpet these, or if I should just gelcoat them black and cut the carpet around them. But once the glass has cured I get the fun task of cleaning out the brass inserts. If the inserts end up being too gummed up I will just pull them out and put in a new set.

 

Also, I am completely out of resin. So, going to have to order another gallon for misc small things I might need. Might as well also pick up a gallon of black gelcoat while I am there. I would love to gel the underside of the gunnels and the transom area now.