Thanks for the well wishes. Still hurts, but still smiling from the outing.
Some pics as promised.
Attachment 7830Attachment 7831Attachment 7832Attachment 7833
Printable View
Thanks for the well wishes. Still hurts, but still smiling from the outing.
Some pics as promised.
Attachment 7830Attachment 7831Attachment 7832Attachment 7833
She FLOATS!! thats all that really matters. lol. Jet
Nice! I'm not sure about that thing you're towing though. ;-)
After a much needed break from the boat, recent rains got me motivated again (there might eventually be water in the lakes sometime). Finally getting going on the interior. Stripped everything off the doghouse & glassed over some cracks. Also replaced the rotten wood around the perimeter & put some spreader bars across the sides while it sets up since the sides were bowed in a bit. Fabbed a new glove box liner and ski locker out of 17 oz and coremat since the originals were cracked beyond repair. My limited experience vacuum bagging shows, so I've got more fill & finish work to do on the inside surfaces (wouldn't ya know the backsides turned out great:(). Ended up having to tear apart the forms I made to get the parts off, so sorry - there won't be any more production pieces coming off the assembly line.
Attachment 8082Attachment 8083Attachment 8084
Nice! I have always wanted to replace the glovebox with a teak one. I have some teak ply that a buddy gave me a few years ago- still wrapped in plastic from the day it was bought, he found it in his garage when he bought his house and said I should have it 'cause I'm a boat guy. So now I need to find some teak hardwood to make the lip of the box- after visiting the local hardwood shop, I will not be buying teak any time soon! I have been looking for people throwing away wood patio funiture, dumpster diving, and visiting the local Re-store in hopes I will find enough to get this project started. It seems odd to me that for all the teak that is in these boats, they put some cheap plastic boxes and hatch frames in them also. Keep posting pics of your work- it is very inspiring to alot of people!
Sybr, I am burned out too! Help me! I worked 7am-11pm for 4-months this year, plus all the other crap that I do. Any xtra time was spent riding with my friends but my cars, my boat and house projects have suffered. I have all of this fun new shiny stuff to put on her and Im just not motivated. Help! Jet
I'll be up in Dallas later this week - want me to swing by & kick you in the a$$?:p Seriously, there are times when life will take priority & breaks are necessary. When facing a large task (like my complete rebuild) - just break it down into smaller steps. Or simply choose one off your existing multiple to-do list. Either way, just pick one & get it done. The satisfying sense of completing even just one small step can be enough to keep or get you going again.
Even after the excitement of the successful lake test, I had a hard time getting started again after my time off with the knee because I knew the daunting task of rebuilding the interior was next. But just like setting that first stringer or building that first dash panel, pulling the glove box of of the mold inspired me to tackle the ski locker next. I know that getting the doghouse & ski locker set will allow me to move to the rear bench. etc. etc.
Yea it's gonna take time (hey, I've got a life and family too), but like any good rehab program - one day or step at a time...
Thanks B&T - your beautiful, like-colored, little sister to my Salt (along with some other great boats here) has been an inspiration all along. Good luck with the teak glove box. After pricing teak, I struggled with what to do with the bow storage hatch since it's pretty trashed too. Think I've settled on a combo of old and new. I'm building the hatch out of black starboard (still pricey, but cheaper than teak & matches the black on the hull well), but will add the teak trim pieces that are salvageable from the original for accent. Maybe you can figure out a similar combo of materials for the glovebox?
Looking good sybr. I' thinking about experimenting with some vaccuum bagging this winter just to get the feel of it and see if I can make some cool stuff in the future.
Finally getting a start on the interior. Engine cover base is complete and carpeted. Spent waaay too much time trying to figure out details for a traditional rear bench that can convert to a sundeck and accommodate the two X-2 fatsacs. Finally decided to shoot the project engineer (me) & just build something & hope it all works out. PT 2x2 frame with 1/2" PT plywood skin. I can already tell things are tighter than anticipated & plumbing the sacs is gonna be challenging.
Attachment 8228 Attachment 8227
You can do it!!
Looking good.
Yeah I like it, I could only wish for that much space in the Mariah.
Well, been away for awhile. Job change last Nov/Dec has me working crazy hours. Had a little break & made a little progress. Finished all the seat bases, redesigned rear bench back, ski locker cover, drivers seat, and cup holders. All PT plywood with 2 coats of CPES - I don't want to face wood rot again! Still need to finish the base tops and cover the bases with carpet and make the seat backs before I can take it to the upholsterer.
I wanted the larger s/s cup holders, but couldn't make them fit in the original plastic pods - so fabbed new pods from scratch. A PITA, but think they'll work well. Also thinking I'll run some fiberglass tape around the seams of the driver's seat just to reinforce the PL, s/s screws and staples. I added some backers behind the skirt in a few places so I can through bolt the bases - no screws into my new floor.
Attachment 8706
Attachment 8707
Attachment 8708
Attachment 8709
I haven't forgotten about you guys, but will probably be spending what little free time I have these days trying to get her finished up & will get back here when I can. Thanks again to all - your experience & advice have been invaluable.
Good looking stuff. I'm very interested to see what it looks like after coming back from the upholsterer.
I'm not sure how to take that last paragraph, it almost sounds like a good-bye, but I hope that's not the case. I've really enjoyed follow your restoration for quite a while, and your input on every topic in this forum has been invaluable. I certainly understand that time is limited and you need to set priorities, but I sincerely hope that you'll have time to stay in contact through this forum.
And I'm really wanting to see the final result of your restoration!
Thanks - I really want to see the end result too! Not a goodbye, just won't be around here as often for awhile. After all your collective help, didn't want ya'll to think I had bailed. Wish I could keep up regularly (looks like I've missed some good stuff going on here), but yes priorities must prevail. Hopefully things will settle down to more manageable levels for me soon.
I'm excited to see how this turns out with the standard rear bench and ballast. I'd love to do similar on my Saltare and have at least some built in ballast front and rear.
Ready to head to the upholsterer - once the better half blesses the colors and design (could be a major delay). Carpeted the seat bases & bolted in. The rear bench is "convertible" like the Outback so it can sit down on the base as a seat (with room for ballast bags half full), or raised up level with the ski locker lid for double the sundeck (full ballast underneath) - hence the funky looking arm rests. The rear bench ended up being too wide to handle & clear the cupholders and engine cover - so, split it in half. Once the interior is done, I'll fab some hinged supports under each half to support the middle cut edges in the "up" position.
Attachment 8908
Attachment 8909
Here's the rear facing chaise. The base is 72" long for ski storage. The backrest is hinged at the top to access a small storage pod. Made new speaker/cup pods so I could use 3-1/2" s/s cup holders (gotta fit coozies to keep the beverages cool...)
Attachment 8910
All my original corners were rotten where the seat back bottom met the base, so I went with separate bases and backrests to let things breath (plus I probably couldn't have matched the factory angles). Kept the loveseat design, but put it on slides on a box base with storage underneath.
Attachment 8911
Attachment 8912
Kept the backrests high in the bow as well so the bottoms will slide in underneath (another rot spot for my originals).
Attachment 8914
Attachment 8915
Fabbed a new bow storage locker out of black Starboard -hinged and slam latch. Thinking about pulling the trianular teak trim pieces off of the original and putting on the new. Would help keep a little of her heratige bow to stern (pod trim, doghouse hatch, swim platform) and keep the black from burning bare feet as badly. Wadda ya'll think - teak or no?
Well, that's a lot of wood! Looking good. I'd definitely vote for moving the teak over, but that's me. I like having a connection to the vintage of the boat.
looking damn good sir !! i just might grab that corner seat idea from you for the sunsport .. is that going to be a two piece design ?
Yep, it's a lot of wood - but I think I'm still lighter than before with all the saturated foam and rotten wood. Be curious to see how she sits in the water when it's all said & done. Maybe just some additional permanent ballast? I'll see how the bow teak trim cleans up & make a decision then.
By corner seat, do you mean the rear facing observer's seat? It's a separate base, seat bottom, and seat back (like all the rest) so no water is trapped anywhere.
Yeah, I'm a composite junky at heart, but on a timber budget at this stage. Does treated ply with 2 coats of CPES count as composite (should last as long)? - hey, at least there's some epoxy in the matrix... As much as I picked Jim's brain & experience early on in my rebuild, he can have the rear bench idea (the angles were a biatch!)
Maybe this'll help you visualize
Attachment 8919
Attachment 8918
I had to make the rear bench seat back and armrests extra wide to support the edges of the seat bottoms when "up" since the hull tapers out at the top. Once the final height is set with the upholstery, I'll add some hinged panels to the underside of the seat bottoms that fold down to support the inner edges - fronts will remain open. I've got 2 MC X-2 sacs (450# each) that fit underneath - half full with the seat bottoms down, full sacs in the "extended sundeck" mode.
Love it. This is one of the best interior redesigns I've seen on one of our old boats. I'm looking forward to seeing the end result. Are all of the interior panels that attach to the inside of the gunwale through-bolted (so they'd install like the original back seats)?
I love it!!! Sybrmike, you have done an excellent job redesigning your interior. I really like the rear facing bench. I have thought about doing that on my Salt but could never decided if I woul like not having foot room for walking. I would love to knbow how it works out for you during the summer with all the traffic in an out of the boat. I cant wait to see all this covered in upholstery. Speaking of which, what are the bosses design ideas on upholstery?
So what size ballast bags are you putting in the rear? I was planning on doing something similar to what Vette over on wakeboarder.com did with his. Here is a link to his thread about hidden ballast http://forums.wakeboarder.com/viewto...light=#1086434
I was thinking a 12x12x60 or something similar to that size
sybrmike. TRULY the "BEST OF CLASS" and "BEST ENGINEERED" I have seen. Thats how you do it man. Take the old and mix in the new. love your ski locker/rear facing seat idea (does anybody ski anymore? just kidding skiers) Still the rear facing idea is great. be sure and add some steel bracing to your back bench seat. Most boats that have done that have a huge sagging problem. Nice job man, pat yourself on the back. Jet
Should be sweet Mike. I'm still not seeing how that folds up and down with the armrests/cupholders in the way.
Will, thanks for the link to that thread! I wanted to hide some ballast and I think that may be the route to go for me. Not sure where I'll store gear if I fill the locker, under seats, and bow.... But I'll figure it out. I wonder about all that room under the dry storage on the port side dry box in the walkthrough. There would be no access to that when bags are full and it's not convenient anyhow. Maybe I'll move my batteries from under the spotter seat to under that compartment... Then I'd have storage for ropes and small stuff under the spotter seat, as well as the cooler if not in use.
Thanks guys, weather permitting she's going to the upholsterer tomorrow. Boss didn't put up too much of a fight - decided on mostly light gray, white bolsters wrapping all the edges and some accents, black piping around each piece and color change seams.
TT - Yes, all the side panels are t-nutted on the front and bolted with locks and washers from the back. The two side vanity panels will still have buttons like the original. For the bases, I PL'd backers on the inside of the liner and through bolted w/ t-nuts so I don't have any holes into the new floor. My arms are still bruised and fiberglass scarred from all the reeeaaaccchhhing through the speaker and access holes...
WS - Hopefully the new layout is functional - I wanted lots of seating for family & friends, but still needed storage and room for hidden ballast. In my previous experience with DD's, the space behind the driver usually ended up as just storage anyway. I made all the seat bases 10" tall, so the rear bench base will hold two MC X-2 sacs (450#, 18x20x32 each) half full with the bottom down and full when up. One 400 in the ski locker, one 400 port bow, one 400 starboard bow, and an optional 750 that can go on the floor portside of the engine or on the starboard chaise seat to help her list for surfing. All will be individually valved - two bow 400's and surf 750 on the front reversible pump, ski locker 400 and two rear 450's on the rear reversible pump. Probably swamp if all were filled at once, but I'll have the flexibility to find out...
Jet - hey, I still ski till my bum back gives out & then switch to the boards. The rear bench back/armrest assembly is a 1/2" ply and 2x2 truss, glued & screwed, then through bolted to two 2x4's that span port/starboard and to the sides - hopefully, it won't sag!
Cad - Originally I had planned on a one piece rear bench bottom that lifted up like on the Outback. However once assembled, I couldn't move it up top because the armrests, cupholders, and engine cover had it trapped like you said. I had to split the seat into two pieces, but that left the center unsupported. Once the final elevations are set from the upholstery, my plan is to add some support panels hinged to the bottom side of the seats that fold down from the inner edges to support them off the floor. Adapt, improvise, & overcome (I hope?). I moved my batteries up under the port storage like you mentioned - cut an access panel behind the observer seat base and glassed in a wall to separate the batteries from the remaining bow storage and sac that will be underneath that dry storage area. The backside of my observer seat base is mostly open & could probably reach the batteries for a jump if I needed to, or now that the bases are separate from the seat backs - remove 2 bolts and the base lifts out for full battery access.
I ski, my whole family skis. Mom, Dad, two brothers and my sister. I have 20 cousins on my mom's side of the family and they all learned how to ski or are learning how to ski. I am personally hoping to really work on my slalom skiing this year as I got back into it with the purchase of our comp a few years ago.Quote:
Originally Posted by ngavdba
I'm sure Jet was just pokin' fun, but I'm with you - slalom's in my blood. Got old 8mm of me skiing on my dad's shoulders at 2, trainers at 3, big skis at 5, and slalom at 8. My grandparents skied into their 70's, my late 60's parents still slalom, so there'll always be skis on board. Buuuuut, my kids are more into knee/wakeboarding & fancy themselves as displaced Cali surf chicks (just cause they can ride the little waist rollers on the Texas coast) - so had to make room for ballast too. The Salt was never a slalom queen (& possibly worse once I'm done turning her into a crossover boat), but sure beats my other options - 17' outboard, bumming from friends, or watching from shore...
I'm sure to be thinking of you & that sweet Comp wake and yearning for my old SN the first time I crash into my yacht-like wake (well, o.k. it's not that bad)...
I grew up skiing behind various stern drives and grew tired of skiing because of the wakes. Got the comp and the first time out with my dad, a few cuts in without all the "skipping" over the wake and it was like, "Hey! This is fun again!" And because of that, I will probably hold on to the comp even after we upgrade to a wake boat. Good work on turning the old boat into a "new" cross-over boat though, should be interesting to see how it all turns out.
Looking great! Some really good ideas and very well implemented...can't wait to see the finished product.
fantastic project. a beast of a job...how many pieces to the upholsterer?
you're def setting the bar higher.
Too many to count, but at least if I look at the price per piece, it doesn't seem too bad. While they're working on the interior, I'm finishing up some remaining details - refinish remaining teak, complete the new glove box, etc., and doing some prework on the stereo.
Finished carpeting the amp rack last night - 1/2" treated ply coated with poly resin (I ran out of CPES), painted back, & carpeted front. The amp rack will go on the starboard side of the driver foot well and fasten to a flange I built into the new throttle panel and to the new bracing under the bow. Cut out the backs to aid cooling the cheap A/B amps. I hope to mount & prewire the amps, fuses, dist block, PAC LC-1, etc. this weekend.
Attachment 9173
Yes, Im poking the old bears, lol
signed: The Ex Skier
Old bears? I bet I am younger than you and I am still glad to ski. :pQuote:
Originally Posted by jet
Cool idea with the amp rack.
Finished loading up & prewiring the amp rack. All that's left is connect the pos, neg, and speakers. Well, and mount the radio, build the sub box, mount the speakers, run the tower wires, etc, etc, etc. - but gave me something to do while they work on the interior foam & vinyl.
My eBay special Tsunami kit had a voltmeter, so figured why not mount it - kinda cool I guess. I made an angled mount for the PAC LC-1 (that will control the towers on the top amp) to point the knob towards the driver for easier adjustment. The bottom amp is a 6 channel - 1,2,3,&4 for the cabin speakers and 5&6 bridged for the sub. Yeah, they're cheap Pyle (pile of s%$#) amps, but for 100 bucks at a close out sale - what the hell... Have no idea how good it'll sound, but at least the kids will dig the little power level led's and think dad is cool. Since the speaker/power connections are down by the driver's feet, I'll probably make a bolt on plexiglass cover for that end so nothing unexpectedly exciting happens :)
Attachment 9237
Attachment 9238
Nice sybr, very clean look. Keep at it, we want to see more pictures of this beast! What tower are you puttin on her?
Amazing interior upgrade ! Can't wait to see the final result :o
Thanks, Will. I've had a Titan II leaning up against the garage wall for a over a year just waiting to go on (soon??). Still too much in-and-out of the boat for a folded tower to be in the way.
Sdc- if only my interior had looked like yours... Hopefully the upholsterer can make it work like I envisioned - although they're already having to redo parts of the seat bottoms since they put the wrong color on the front edge :(
I finished plumbing the ballast vent hoses and fresh air ducts (single 4") last night. Now on to refinishing teak, new glovebox, and some more stereo and courtesy light wiring...
sybrmike, I was the first one surpised when the old owner uncover the boat, when I visited him the first time. We have no very hot summers here, so boats keeps in good condition if well covered.
What I really like is your seat behind the pilot, and the convertible back seat. A big sun bed is what is missing on direct drive boats.
I keep watching with big interrest ;)