The Uniflite Project

[Kelly]

The thread title sounds like a movie..

Carried over from my Intro thread, here's my "project":

Bringing her home. Pit stop to remove the canvas sides while in tow[ATTACH]14884[/ATTACH]
After a little cleaning
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Really digging the bow lights, but they need some touching up
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To my surprise, the windows don't leak...must be all the tar residue...
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I understand the desire to have a fuel fill on the outside of the boat, but the reality of having a fuel fill nozzle in the cabin area doesn't sit well with me
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Fresh air
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Scratched, marred, just plain ugly
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Missing the badge of honor
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Side shot <you didn't need me to tell you that =) >
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Gel coat needs help
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More on the way...

[Kelly]

Too much clutter back there
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The business area
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Stern
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El Capitan
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Current controls
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The other business area (PG please, PG...)
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Haven't committed to keeping the bow rail off, but seriously thinking about it
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Cool...wonder if I can get it going again?
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[Kelly]

My science project?
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Vintage tires...
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[Kelly]

There it is. As she sits now. Looking forward to the maiden voyage someday.

[Helmar]

Nice looking...
The color brown on yours should be original. I decided to go a tad dark on mine.
Looking Good

[61_express]

She doesn't look in too bad of shape. Cleaner than mine was on the first day for sure. My grandpa parked it in 1984 and it didn't see light again until he gave it to me in 2009. Luckily it was always stored inside. The last picture is after about 6 hours of hard scrubbing. Looks like the 19' are quite a bit bigger inside for only the 2' in length. Do the 17's come with a table and toilet or just v-birth?

[Helmar]

When I got my first Skagit 20 foot express, I thought the Skagit 17 was just three feet shorter.
I looked it over and thought, huh, they must be stubby looking
Then when I got up to one Close, I seen it. Its not that they just added a few feet to the stearn, they whole boat was Scaled Up or Scaled Down in size.
Meaning Wider, taller, longer...

Later on, I seen a Lady Clipper wooden boat. One was shorter than another one I seen by about a foot and a half. All they did was extend it out.
But, for the most part, they Scaled the boats Up in size and started throwing a bunch more fiberglass and framework at the skagits anyways.

[Kelly]

Do the 17's come with a table and toilet or just v-birth?

Just a v-birth. I'm considering adding a removable table, either in the cabin or in the stern. Something I can stow easily but if we want a lunch outing or dinner cruise I can quickly attach it and use it. I have some ideas, just have to start implementing the plan.

[Kelly]

Nice looking...
The color brown on yours should be original. I decided to go a tad dark on mine.
Looking Good

All signs point to original colors. I'm usually a stickler for original color classics, mostly cars though. I'm on the fence as to keep it this color or go with something else.

[61_express]

I guess the guy that bought my boat only towed it in parades behind his '59 Ford Skyliner. Matching colors of course. It didn't even hit the water until my grandpa bought it in 1964. Wish I had the car now too. But then again I am more of a mopar guy.

[Kelly]

That's a cool story. My brother is a serious Mopar freak...mostly 64-65 Dart stuff.

Well I reluctantly sold my little trailer. Now I'm ready to get some movement going on the boat. I'd like to start off with getting the Bearcat and go from there. I know I don't want pulley's and cables for steering so I'm looking into upgrading the steering. The funny part, I haven't even float tested the boat... I'd like to at least get it on the water with an outboard before I start tearing into it.
Next would be to get to the floor and transom.
There was a guy in town advertising fiberglass repair work...out of curiosity I called him to see what his price would be for a floor and transom...$5000 then I asked what it would be to do the exterior...another $3000-4000. Granted he said it could go down a little after he looked at it, but that means it could go up also.
So I hung up with him and immediately wondered if I am in over my head?? I imagine a lot of newbies go through this anxiety, hence so many projects left undone out there on planet Craigslist.

Those are just some random thoughts tonight.

[Helmar]

That's a cool story. My brother is a serious Mopar freak...mostly 64-65 Dart stuff.

Well I reluctantly sold my little trailer. Now I'm ready to get some movement going on the boat. I'd like to start off with getting the Bearcat and go from there. I know I don't want pulley's and cables for steering so I'm looking into upgrading the steering. The funny part, I haven't even float tested the boat... I'd like to at least get it on the water with an outboard before I start tearing into it.
Next would be to get to the floor and transom.
There was a guy in town advertising fiberglass repair work...out of curiosity I called him to see what his price would be for a floor and transom...$5000 then I asked what it would be to do the exterior...another $3000-4000. Granted he said it could go down a little after he looked at it, but that means it could go up also.
So I hung up with him and immediately wondered if I am in over my head?? I imagine a lot of newbies go through this anxiety, hence so many projects left undone out there on planet Craigslist.

Those are just some random thoughts tonight.

Yes, you can spend money like that in a shop. Depends on how fare you want to go before you get into it yourself.
We can walk you through every step of the way on doing your own work. Take lots of pictures, ask a lot of questions.
I think we have a few people that have learned from others here.
Stringers can be a little tough due to the angles but a laser level will do the trick.

If my shop gets empty when you get ready for the hard stuff. I can help you with layup.
Did I send you the link about making patterns and stuff ?
I can show how to take your epoxy resins and turn it into a peanut butter type consistency and you can trowel it in for filler.
You can even use fiberglass insulation and that solution to fill boo boo gaps.
Ever mix epoxy, if so, you can do this. West Systems epoxy and hardener can do most of it.
Fiberlay Laminating resin goes a long way and does a super job as well.
I got to pass this off to a younger generation some how.....

[Helmar]

Oh yeah, No feedback steering...I can show you how t measure that and order it too.

You get done doing a few parts of this and you will get that feeling of accomplishment that, well, its a good feeling and you will really like it.

[Helmar]

Oh Yeah...
I was setting on these ..

[Kelly]

Thanks for the offers Helmar. I'll let you know when I'm ready.

where'd you get those pics? Old CL ad? That's before the guy I bought it from removed the outboards off and sold them. It looks a lot better then...funny how downhill it can go in a few years.

I'm not trying to sound impatient, but I definitely don't want this to be a year or two project. In the past I've taken things from non usable to usable and reliable, but never finished the project entirely. I want to get this one looking good soon