Introduction - New Owner - 1968 Thunderbird

[maglinvinn]

hello all! i was hoping to get some tips and tricks from some folks in the know. I'm hoping that that might be you folks

my 1968 Thunderbird needs a bit of love and work, and i'm still trying to find a fix it up motor for it.

i feel that pictures are worth a thousand words, so here's something like 30 thousand words worth:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151095690870449.481203.505425448&type=3

its a public gallery, so you should be able to see it....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhA09dsi1B4&feature=plcp

and a video, (second one is still uploading), showing my progress and highlighting some of my concerns.

i was looking at stuff like this:

http://www.westsystem.com/ss/repairing-machined-holes-in-fiberglass/

to solve my assorted little problems, (and some of the big ones)

i also have access to a sponsorship from rustoleum

http://rustoleum.com/CBGBrand.asp?bid=13

and i can easily get my hands on products from this page. i was wondering if any of you have experience, opinions, or even insights regarding those products.



my goal right now is to repair the one stringer, cut a new deck peice, attach it, fiberglass / seal it all together, find a motor, and float it hopefully before the snow falls here in Michigan.


My future goal is to replace the missing trim where teh top meets the hull, replace the windshield, and generally make the boat pretty again.


I am looking for help in figuring out the size ofthe motor for this thing, and finding a handmedown-ish priced solution (you're all going to laugh, i know, but used and cheap, i am handy with motors... and would rather spend less than a few hundred on something that needs love than spend a half a grand or more on something thatbolts on and runs.)

i'm also looking for help finding solutions for the aluminum trim and stainless steel hardware, and the aluminum to make up a new windshield.

i could also use someone to look at the pictures and point out issues that i might be ignoring in ignorance.

... btw - hi. i'm dan. i'm a year shy of 30 and this is my first venture into owning my own watercraft.

 

[maglinvinn]

http://www.westsystem.com/ss/assets/HowTo-Publications/Fiberglass-Boat-Repair-and-Maintenance.pdf

i also found this resource, detailed and illustrated instructions on repairing problems like my own. considering i have no experience withthis, if anyone spots anything in this document untoward, let me know. i'd rather make mistakes do to ineptitude, than misinformation

 

[landlockedpirate]

Great 1st post and welcome to the forum.

I would think that you are looking for motor of between 50-90hp depending on usage. Smaller for just general cruising and bigger for watersports.

The woodork doesnt look too bad for a 44 year old boat, the bits you are talking about on the video are 'stringers'. Please make sure the transom is sound before you bolt the motor on, or it might up getting a bit wetter than you planned.

Can't help with where to get a cheap motor, most of us on this board are based over the pond.

Good luck, and keep the pictures coming, we love a build thread.

 

[maglinvinn]

thanks for the reply.

i'm aware of that transom and am going to do a very detailed video as i inspect it... prolly this wednesday. i keep hearing 'seacast' from the www.transomrepair.com guys, but i'm staring at it wondering just how i'm supposed to 'pour' a new transom if ithe fiberglass shell itself is cracked and blistered.

if anyone here has any experience with seacast, i'd love to hear what you know about it.


i'm also trying to figureout how to 'patch' gel coat... and trying to figure out how to put paint on it. i'm at a poitn here that either i strip it ALL off, and do fiberglass primer and paint from rustoleum, or something. i'm not sure.


my goal is to understand the process at least a little before i start tearing into anything aggressively.

the westcoastsystems epoxy guys gave me a great document for fixing that stringer, and i'm excited to utilize it and put it to work... but before i do that i'd like to know i'm not compounding an issue buy neglecting it in ignorance.


i am currently planning on tearing out the deck under the rear panel, the material that creates a space under the motor as it hangson the transom. having a name for that part would be spiffy too, if you got a name handy ... anyways that material, down right along the top of the well, is very flimsy, and i doubt it'd hold batteries or gas tanks.

i'm also looking for information on adding floatation foam to the the space under the deck, between stringers... i don't want to add foam if it offends the boats displacement naturally, but having it because i'm a novice boater, and quite frankly could cause the thing to capsize in ignorance, i don't want o wave goodbye as she sinks to 40ft under.

... i do have scuba gear, and air bags... i could prolly bring her back up, but ugh. hahah

what can i say... i'm thorough and a realist.