Salt w/a little pepper. A Redo.

[bdumas35]

Well, it started like this.

Wife: We live at the lake it's time to get a boat.
Me: OK but I don't want a boat payment.
Wife:We could get a used one and you can "fix it up".
Me: OK. What kind of boat.
Wife:How about a Supra. I used to have a Comp.
Me: OK.
Wife: I found this Supra forum online. Some guy named Salty87 has restored a Saltare.
Me: Let me see. Woah. That thing has a BiG Bock Chevy in it. I'm in.

So she finds a Salt on Craigslist and we go to check it out. The guy leads us to a cow pasture outside of Dripping Springs.

I stepped in and went through the floor. Bad sign. Went ahead and bought it for what I thought the trailer would be worth. So, here we go with the "fixing up" part.

Got it home and dug in. Some before shots.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/boatpics2.jpg
Built an A-frame
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/boatpics92.jpg
Out with motor.
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/boatpics152.jpg
Nice eh!
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/boatpics162.jpg

[bdumas35]

A little more before.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/boatstringersandbrokensprinkler004-1.jpg

I pulled the motor mount bolts out be hand.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/Saltare%20Project/boatstringersandbrokensprinkler002.jpg

[bdumas35]

I decided to do the stringers one at a time. For one it gave a good reference as I went along and it helped to have the remaining stringers holding the hull shape.

Materials;

Epoxy: US Composites. 635 Thin Resin with Medium and Slow hardeners.Depending on the temp.

Cloth: Infinity Composites DB1700. (US Composites doesn't stock DB1700 only DB1708.)The 1700 does not have the mat.
6 oz. E-glass for misc. stuff

Fillers: Aerosil(Cabosil) for filets and attaching flooring and stuff. West Systems 410 fairing compound.

Wood: 3/4 and 1/2 marine plywood. Stringers and motor mounts are sandwiched 3/4 ply. Floor is 1/2 ply.


Here is the rack I built for my cloth.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0766.jpg

And the mixing station.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0003.jpg

Two of my favorite tools for this project.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/Saltare%20Project/IMGP0767.jpg

[bdumas35]

The stringers were bedded in using PL Premium Construction Adhesive.
The cloth was pre cut and wet out on a table.

I used a storage bag with the corner cut off for the filet mixture and a large spoon for my filet tool. Works great.

The outer stringers got 3 layers of 1700 and the inner 5 layers.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/Saltare%20Project/IMGP0764.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/Saltare%20Project/IMGP0763.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/Saltare%20Project/IMGP0761.jpg

[bdumas35]

The flooring was cut and pre laminted in the shop. One layer of DB1700 on top and 2 coats of epoxy on the bottom. I used stainless steel deck screws and epoxy/cabosil to glue it down. The edges are tabbed to the hull with the 1700.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0006.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0004.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0056.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0055.jpg

[bdumas35]

Bilge Area.
The rudder and steering and mounting pads were soaked and had to be replaced.

The bilge is coated with epoxy tinted white. Probably would go another route if I was to do it over.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/Saltare%20Project/IMGP0051.jpg

Oh yeah. I put limber holes everywhere.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/Saltare%20Project/IMGP0053.jpg

Dripless Shaft Seal.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/Saltare%20Project/IMGP0052.jpg

[bdumas35]

The pepper in this rebuild. The motor.

Pulled the heads and found things to be better than expected. Good heads, good crank and block.

So off to the machine shop. Here's what the machine shop (Northwest Performance Machine) did.

Bored .030 over.
TRW forged pistons
New cam,rod, and main bearings
Polished crank
Comp Cam and valve springs
Timing gears and chain.
Headwork

Other Stuff

Edelbrock 750 Carb.
Edelbrock Performer Intake
Mallory Electronic Distributor
Mallory Coil
Mallory Cap and Wires
Mallory Electric Fuel Pump
Fuel Pressure Reulator
New Circulating pump
DB Electric Alt. and starter

Motor guy is saying it should make about 425 hp but it wasn't dynoed. Whatever.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0059.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0058.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/Saltare%20Project/IMGP0061.jpg

[bdumas35]

Anything and everything that was wood was completely rotted. Here are some of the misc.

Built one of these. BTW the angles were 37 deg.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0050.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0049.jpg

Drink holders and Speaker panels

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0750.jpg

Before

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0752.jpg

[DAFF]

So what do you do in your spare time ?????

Another quality build and inspiration for another Supra owner to bring one more back from the dead. It is amazing how many people comment on these old boats. Simpilly worth every bead of sweat your first time out in the water.

I know someone who will be loving the name on you power tools !!!!

[mapleleaf]

Absolutely amazing, absolutely amazing.....I always wondered how those Jet saws were....any complaint's??
Love the grey and white Salty, looks like you've got a lot of pepper in your grinder.....

[bdumas35]

Absolutely amazing, absolutely amazing.....I always wondered how those Jet saws were....any complaint's??
Love the grey and white Salty, looks like you've got a lot of pepper in your grinder.....

Jet= good. No problems at all.

[haugy]

HOLY WOODWORKING MASTER!!!!!

Jeez man, spent some time with wood I see. That's my flaw with these things. I have no wood skills at all. Give me steel and I can make you anything.

That thing is going to be build better than it ever could have been from factory. Man, you will definitely have to keep the pics coming, and the details in the info is how you're supposed to write a thread, great job. Those details will be crucial to others learning.

Can't wait to see how this boat looks when you're done. I'm digging the gray.

[Salty87]

bdumas, thanks for the honor of inspiring you. you really knocked it out the park. i'll take any credit i can get for that work and be happy. i can't wait to see more and hear how your engine mods run. what prop are you going to use?

too bad there's so little water around here.

[bdumas35]

Salty,

I bought a used 13x13 to try as a baseline. The motor should make a good amount of torque considering the cam profile we chose.

What prop do you use? Did you experiment with anything else?

[bdumas35]

Got some buff on. On the top cap. I tought the wife how to wet sand.:p

Hooked her up with an air powered DA. We started with 600 then up 1000.
I take over with buffing.

I spent about 8 years of my life as a custom surfboard/windsurf board designer, shaper, builder. I've buffed more than I care to remember so that's my job.

I am buffing with a Milwaukee 7" with wool pads. Start with 3M super duty compound follwed by 3M Finess It. Lastly Carnauaba wax.

The grey takes considerably more effort than the white. We really don't have to sand most of the white. Just start with the Super Duty. It's pretty aggressive.

Starting to put some hardware back on also. I'm beginning to see the light.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0080.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0074.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0075.jpg

[bdumas35]

Got the floor covering put in. We're using Sorm Grey Nautolex. This stuff is used alot in pontoons and fishing boats. I'm hoping it is a low maintenance alternative to carpet. Trying to eliminate water retention in the boat wherever possible.

Nautolex makes their own adhesive but I went with indoor outdoor carpetadhesive from Lowe's.

The good: The adhesive goes on with a notched trowel. There is ample time to work out air and reposition if you need to.

The bad:The adhesive splooges out as you are rolling the air out. Pretty messy. It took at lease 2 to 3 days to set. Had a couple of edges lift. They were reglued with PL Premium. I will be trimming the edges with aluminum hatch trim anyway.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0079.jpg
http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0078.jpg

[bdumas35]

Top cap went back on this week.

You can see the lifting beam in this shot. The balance point was way forward . Up by the cockpit area. But with it well balanced, my wife and I were able to do the whole process by ourselves. She has been a trooper on this project.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0082.jpg

Cap on. Big Day!

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0083.jpg

[Blackntan90]

Some people just have it all figured out! Amazing! Keep the pic's coming-I am truly inspired! My hats off to you AND your wife!!

[jeffreyk573]

BDUMAS35
Brother you are a true inspiration. I would have just set that thing on fire.

[bamafutbal]

man you have serious skillz

[bdumas35]

The SuperTrapp and swim platform holes were in really bad shape.
I ground down past the gelcoat into the glass. Then filled the holes with epoxy and cabosil putty. Then glassed over the entire grey area of the transom with 6oz. e-glass. The hole locations got an extra patch of 6 oz.

West Systems 410 fairing compound and a long board sander were used to make it flat and happy.

Mixed up some neutral gelcoat and Duratec High Gloss Additive (US Composites) adding black pigment to make the grey. Just kept adding pigment until I got the match. I tried to find the factory grey but had 0 luck.

I bought an inexpesive HVLP spray gun from Northern Tools that came with a tip suitable for high viscosty fluids. It worked real well. The Duratec helps to thin the gelcoat and allows for sanding and polishing without using a wax additive. Mixes 50/50.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0002.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0001.jpg

Better Now

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0088.jpg

Oh Yeah. Polished the SuperTrapps and sealed em up with 3m 5200.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0089.jpg

[Ptownkid]

Damn man, you are doing a fantastic job!!!

[Okie Boarder]

It's looking really good. I like where you've added limber holes...especially up front in the bilge...that's a cool idea since you closed it back in some. On my Sunsport I left that whole bilge area open so I'd have room for a ballast bag, but when I tore it all out the foam in there was bar far the wettest in the whole boat.

The cutting table for the glass is nice. I wish I would have had enough room to have a seperate cutting and wetting area. I had to use the same space and keep switching back and forth.

Good job on the rear area around the exhaust. I might hit you up for some advice on that. I have an area that was cracking and found there was a void between the gelcoat and glass how it was laid over one of the bends. I've removed the bad material and filled it in with epoxy, but still need to go back and gelcoat it to make it look purty.

Good to hear the wife has been involved. Mine was too and it made the project so much better.

[bdumas35]

Thanks Okie,

The plastic cutting table really worked out. I cut the glass directly on the table with a Fisk rolling cutter using a 72" straight edge. A lot cleaner edge than scissors.

I'd be glad to give you whatever info I can.

Bobby

[Okie Boarder]

I used the rolling cutter too...man was that nice. It was cleaner and faster than scissors.

[sybrmike]

Thanks for the rebuild pics - great work all around. Yeah, kudos to Salty87 for his rebuild thread - inspired me as well to embark on this insanity.

The gray hull is killer - never seen that on a Supra before. Coupled with the gray Nautilux flooring and gray/silver dash - it's gonna be a real looker for sure. Sounds like that engine's gonna perform to match.

Great job on the transom. I ended up shooting gel over most of mine as well - cracks at the exhaust flanges, new platform mounts, unused turnbuckle & pitot holes, etc. Also by masking at the corners, color matching wasn't as critical.

I noticed the limber holes - did you go foamless or use Salty87's foam-in-a-bag trick? I left my front bilge open like Okie (not for ballast bag, but ballast pumps & so nothing could get trapped down there), but looks like the front limber hole is big enough to reach into if needed. I like how you left the large rectangular openings for the exhaust to enter below the floor. I wasn't as smart & spent the weekend fighting exhaust hoses since my pipes are fairly constrained & the angles of the manifolds and pipes don't line up well.

I hear ya on the bilge color. It might be a little harder to keep clean, but sure makes that new engine pop. I thought about redoing mine after realizing the can of gel marked "gr" was seafoam green, not gray, but I'm probably the only one that's ever gonna see it - never heard the comment, "hey man, nice bilge". At least now I'm not the only one with a unique bilge color.

Do you have plans for a tower? Are you doing anything different withe the interior layout? Keep us posted.

Again, great job & continued progress.

[wotan2525]

Great thread. Beautiful boat. Love seeing these rebuilds go so well..... The only downside to that you've made it look so easy. Most of us know how much work this actually was! Congrats!

[bdumas35]

Thanks for the kind words guys.

No Foam. I never want to see foam again in this lifetime. Salty87's method looks like a good one though.

I will be installing 2 bilge pumps. A 750 and a 1200 gph. Hopefully those will handle any emergencies. Of course anything can happen so we'll get some insurance.

Interior. I bought 4 of these. http://veada.com/product/22_9-Helm-Seats/352--DISCOUNT-Large-Bucket-Helm-Seat.html.
Grey of course.

As you can see in the stringer pics, i added some plywood supports across the stringers. These are seat pedestal supports. I plan on using 4 swiveling pedestals.

Tower. Yeah. Will probably go with a tower at some point but the boat will be used mainly as a surfer and cruiser. I like the board storage and tower bimini options. Any recommendations on towers guys?

[bdumas35]

Here is my battery box project that I'm working on. The box is the built in ice chest.

Went with the Blue Sea Systems Add A Battery with VSR. A couple of Optima Blue Tops. That's the Neg. Buss Bar on the side. Gotta go get some cables tomorrow.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0091.jpg

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0092.jpg

I never liked the idea of a built in ice chest anyway. Can't roll it down the ramp!

[haugy]

I'm sure you are way ahead of me, but I figured I'd say it. I hope you reinforce the heck out of that ice chest with those batteries in there. I just see the bottom falling out under serious chop and abuse.

Again man, you are really stepping up the bar. Bravo.

[bdumas35]

Haughy,

You're right, the box was pretty wimpy and only held in with screws on the sides

I glassed in a piece of plywood on the bottom inside and added some ribs on the outside. It will be attached to the floor.

[ngavchris]

Awesome rebuild. How much time do you have invested in it so far? I really like the carpet less approach. A friend just bought a new boat with gel coat flooring, sprays out the inside, ready to go. Keep up the good work.

[bdumas35]

Thanks.

Two years on the calender but I don't have a clue how many actual hrs.

Winter and work travel slowed me down several times. I'm working outside.

Did put up some shade this weekend though.

http://i175.photobucket.com/albums/w147/bdumas35/IMGP0090.jpg

[TitanTn]

It's already been said, but unbelievable. Great job and I look forward to seeing more. The transom gelcoat job has inspired me and and I may tackle something like this at some point. Please quit your day job and finish the boat so we can see how great it turns out.

[Blackntan90]

TitanTn, HAHA!! With the quality of workmanship I have seen on most of these re-builds, these guy's probably could quit their dayjob's! Awesome- even outdoors no less!

[lively]

This was buy far the best i have seen yet ... great job man !

[TitanTn]

Any updates on your Salt?

[bdumas35]

Any updates on your Salt?

TitanTn

No recent updates YET. I got side tracked by work and work related travel. Besides, our epic drought here in Central Texas (Lake Travis) has left all of our launch ramps high and dry.

But, more to come very soon I hope.