Project Boat

Athene V30

Athene V30

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Joined
20 Sep 2001
Messages
5,451
Location
Playa del Ingles, Gran Canaria in Winter, the boat
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I may end up with a GRP project on my hands as my own boat has significant delamination on the port side as a result of insufficient floors / strengthening.

At this stage I am not sure I have the DIY capabilities to do it not because I am particularly cackhanded just because I haven't done it before! Ok I could get people in for some of the specialist works but funds are very tight so that will be limited!

Of you guys who have been there and done that on a project - can you advise is a lack of confidence in your own DIY ability at the start a common thing? If I go down the DIY route am I doomed to failure?
 
Belief in DIY ability at the start, about 80%, and believing in the capability to develop the skills as I go along. DIY confidence after all the cutting back? About 25%, serious questions over what has been taken on. However, I've got there in the long run, on 3 projects so far, all with the same progression of enthusiasm and despair. It can be done, just give yourself about 2-3 times as long as you think it will take.
 
The late Pete Culler used to say "Experience starts when you begin" I have rebuilt some real bad smashed up GRP boats and it is possible to rebuild or repair just about anything made of the stuff.
Be prepared for lots of grinding and mountains of dust for which a good respirator will be essential. If you are lucky there will be someone nearby with a far worse or rotten project and these are guaranteed to make you feel better! There was a post yesterday about GRP repair courses might be worth a look.
 
"The longest journey starts with but a single step".....you'll be amazed at what you can achieve especially with GRP as it is so much easier than wood to work with labour wise. So long as you get a good key, and I've used some very dangerous methods to do that including a blow torch and shave hook to scrape surface resin back to expose fibre to bond on to. Just be prepared to stamp out burning bits, it's harder to set the stuff alight than you think so long as you are careful. I guess a heat gun would be safer these days. Clean surfaces, good key and you can lay up bulkheads, additional stringers, bearers, floors etc dead easy. Fumes make your eyes water and head spin so good ventilation makes life bearable. Then again, Ive done some outrageous things with boats over the years, including taking a chisel and hammer to modify the transom on a brand new cruiser cos' I was too late in getting the moulding/mould altered at build stage (I didn't mould the hull) and had to make my changes after delivery.

I've stripped down to shell and re-built, including on one model cutting away the foredeck, splitting it down the stem, and wedging the hull apart and deck up and fitting a front end mould around it all to give a more rounded bow with some deck sheer. That was very successful. Whole thing strengthened by a cast in grp water tank right up in the bow where it also helped the trim.

I remember that Christmas with the family treading around transon hatch moulds and coach roof mould on the living room floor because it was too could to cure the resin outside.

Don't be afraid of it, get stuck in cos' unless you are a complete muppet with tools you'll do fine. Just arrange lots of flowers and choccies for SWMBO beforehand to guarantee a degree of acceptance.
 
Peter
If you do go down the DIY road, which I sincerely hope you do, at the end of it you could have a boat that you'll be so proud of you'll find it hard to shut up about it. Er, guilty as charged
When I first took on Sixpence I only had rudimentary woodwork skills, and a budget so low that even the smallest component had to be saved up for, or scrounged, or something else used instead. Anything just to get her done
I didn't have a clue about metalwork at the start, hated the stuff since school when classes ended up with me all hot and sweaty. But with the advice and help available on here I've managed it. From woodwork through to engines and plastic.
If I can do it, so can you, but remember one thing. Even with a healthy budget to start with, it's going to take a lot of blood sweat and tears before you get there
My little project is nothing like as good as Victorious (if it was I would have posted the project here as he did), but to me she's the best boat around.
Anything I can do to help, just shout, and best of luck whatever the final decision is
 
"When I first took on Sixpence I only had rudimentary woodwork skills."

That's true, and he still has only very rudimentary woodworking skills!

"I didn't have a clue about metalwork at the start."

That's true as well, and he still doesn't! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif


Now where's my tin hat and stab vest??? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Well fairly thick skinned anyway!

He probably wont be out of bed for another three of four hours, so I will just get on and enjoy what's left to me. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Oh I know how much I like sailing the boat, just not sure I can spend the next year getting her into a fit state to do so. Still trying to decide.

Seen there are 2 for sale in Devon. the other for considerably less.

Very tempting to get the cheaper one bring her to B'sea and put the best of the two together to make one good boat, then try and sell the rest as a project for whatever I can get. Full Circle is to blame for planting that seed of an idea!
 
/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
HOW MUCH ???? !!!
/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
Er
Peter
Thinking logically, it's going to take more than that to sort Flipper out, so yes, as so often happens when the big FC gets involved, that would make sense. Providing you don't find yourself in the same position again, of course
 
[ QUOTE ]
Thinking logically,

[/ QUOTE ]

Dave

Where does logic come into it? These are boats we are talking about - heart rules head for me everytime!

When I told my Mother about the problems with Flipper she said (as Mothers do) 'well at least its not a person' /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif What, not a person? Who have I been talking with, nurturing etc for last 6 years!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Regarding GRP materials & their use, Hugo Du Plessis book is not bad though rather old fashioned. For materials i use Glasplies in southport who are very reasonable on prices, they also give out free guides to the use of GRP materials that are very well written with the novice in mind.
 
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