67 Glasspar project

[orphan25drakeanddiego]

And my transom is curved..

[BrianVic]

Hull shape (width)

I went through the same ordeal last summer on my "saved from the dump" Fiberform 16 footer. When you get around to glassing the new floor in, don't forget to squeeze the hull gunwales inward to the approximate width of the deck; like with several webbed straps around the whole boat. At least be sure to measure the overall width compared to the deck. The naked hull will relax slightly without the deck holding the gunwales in toward the centerline of the boat, even with supports under the chines. Once the new deck and poured foam is installed, the hull will become semi rigid again. I had to cut relief slots with a small circular saw along the edges of the new floor because we couldn't get the sides to flex inward enough to install the deck. Huge downer for sure; spent (wasted) two days on what should have taken an hour, or so.

Great looking family project

[TheBronze]

+1

FYI, a couple of sources for supplies locally:

Fiberlay
fiberglass supply

Don't go to West marine, they'll rob you all the way to the bank!

[orphan25drakeanddiego]

@Brian thank you great tip for my notebook, and John thank you for the supply leads.

[orphan25drakeanddiego]

this is what my boy feels like but I got tired so he had me sit down.


1st pic is what im thinking on the bow light one red one green, and some harley headlights for spotlights ...
the cardboard in pic 5,6,7 is what im thinking of building up on the bow to hold gps fish finder etc and going with two tiny windshields..

[Bflaherty]

I like your custom dash housing, seems like a cool stylish way to house all the electronics and protect them from weather. The "spot lights" on the sides is not a good idea, from experience with my ski boat and its hand held spot light at the windshield, the lights are going to light up your bow and make seeing flotsam in the water nearly impossible!! That's why you see newer boats with searchlights mounted way forward on the bow or even up on handrails. Or like the new ski boats people mount the lights down below the rub rail so that the light hits the water and not the deck...

[orphan25drakeanddiego]

Good call the boys wanted them on the side I wanted them up front more. I might ditch the Idea of the lights or see how they look up front more... Thank you for the tip...

[orphan25drakeanddiego]

how is this??

[orphan25drakeanddiego]

sorry about pic 4,5,6,7 they got named by accident. But that is my best friend Diego, one of Diego, me in my younger years, and my youngest boy and Diego helping out with the boat....

[orphan25drakeanddiego]

Didnt get alot done yesterday but get the boat floor cleaned out and smoothed out a bit then I had to go in. Getting a bench grinder today with a set of polishing wheels so I can start the trim work just to have it out of the way...

[Bflaherty]

So thats better, but I would only suggest moving inboard (toward center) enough so that potential docks won't wipe them off the deck. Spot lights / headlights are always a challenge to install because what looks aestheticaly pleasing is usually not functional and what is functional usually looks like crap...

Our Chris Craft has a dash mounted handheld spot light that we use a lot but I have to have my passenger stand up and hold the light as high as possible or it just lights up the windshield and bow so much I can't see the water...

[TheBronze]

Ask yourself this: How often do you plan on running at night? Once or twice a year would warrant a handheld. More often would warrant something on the deck. They do make lights that can mount in the bow that are flush. Might look at that. Or you could try to find a vintage piece that mounts up a bit.

On my Marathon, I don't use any lights. On the Bell Boy, when it is done, I'll have a single light mounted forward, mostly just for fun as I am not out at night much.

Regardless, whatever you do, make sure you use stainless steel components, or heavy chrome, or aluminum. Cheap pot metal from the auto parts store will just rust out here in the salt....

[orphan25drakeanddiego]

Thanks guys good advice, I dont even like the water but I have my lifetime passes to national, regional, and state parks disabled Veteran pass, to camp and have watercraft in for free, this is mainly something for me to do and for the boys to use most likely at lake perris. All the lighting im playing with is from a box of Harley parts.

[TheBronze]

lol. Its like Chief Brody in Jaws. "It's only an island if you look at it from the water"

I'd leave the lights off then. Keep the classic lines intact and enjoy it when the sun is shining.

[orphan25drakeanddiego]

Back been bartering for this and that told the wife I would not be spending money on the boat.
So far, FREE boat and trailer, I picked up my motor yesterday from a guy I traded an old big screen tv for it, getting my seats from trading a welder I got for a 9 person tent that I got from my neighbor. So far no money spent,(I know Ill spend some) but for now this all looks good in her eyes which is GREAT for me.
Got a 100hp johnson that runs, may need a tune up though but not right now it doesnt and its in great shape..Post pics of it later today right now im grinding on the floor.