Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 20 of 33

Thread: Boat Rebuild

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Fort Kickass
    Posts
    50,993

    Default Boat Rebuild

    Against my better judgement, I picked up that busted up 12' Riverhawk from Oliver a few months back.

    I cut out the front seat, cut out the busted fiberglass on the side, and made sure there was no damage below the waterline...

    Started out small and built on little patches to rebuild the side, grinding out some gummy resin I didnt get hot enough, (been a while since I did glass work). I've got maybe a week of afternoons working on it so far.

    Ended up filling in the big voids with chopped up glass matting, mixed in with Bondo. Yeserday, I mixed some dust from the sander and grinder in some resin, and used it to fill in the wavy repairs on the outside. I'll add one more sheet of thin matting to the starboard side where the seat was glassed in, some roven on the deck to support a seat and pedestal base.

    I called Mitide to get some green gelcoat and those crackheads want $75 for a quart, picked up....so...I am going to gelcoat it with $25 white, and rattlecan that bisch.

    Last weekend, I picked up a 15hp Evinrude from a neighbor, and am toying with adding stick steering considering where the boat sits in the water with my big ass, and that motor. I've been recommended to a forum on those little boats for build ideas, but welcome suggestions from this pack of jackals too...

    I dont want the front seat back, I will add flotation, but it will be under the deck in the bow, where I will put a gas tank, trolling motor battery, and a trolling motor. I'll add lights and some bigger tires on the trailer.

    I cant wait for this project to finish. I cant wait to get this baby bloody...

    Ya'll pipe up with suggestions, or snarky comments. I'll have to wait until I have the gas tank, front deck, and battery in place to determine true weight distribution in the boat and how she runs...but I like the idea of stick steering in this thing.

    I probably could have documented this a little better, A few pictures of the progress:

    21618055_1657918624219299_119177583306101372_n.jpg

    21687749_1657918614219300_6720489387377612555_n.jpg

    21686139_1657918667552628_1041132881964875986_n.jpg

    21687629_1657918620885966_2905290910087345797_n.jpg

    21558829_1657918864219275_1935671367040590096_n.jpg

    21616195_1657918780885950_5953097761831426803_n.jpg

    21617785_1657919117552583_2264259687024656109_n.jpg

    21559069_1657919160885912_7520761513959093076_n.jpg

    21761920_1657919084219253_8047671120892497276_n.jpg
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by BigBrother; 09-20-2017 at 10:00 PM.
    "Rivers and the inhabitants of the watery elements are for wise men to contemplate and for fools to pass by without consideration" -Izaak Walton

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Fort Kickass
    Posts
    50,993

    Default

    "Rivers and the inhabitants of the watery elements are for wise men to contemplate and for fools to pass by without consideration" -Izaak Walton

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    In the thick of it.
    Posts
    6,348

    Default

    More meat than the butcher shop in that last shot. Nice boat buddy!
    Quote Originally Posted by ecu1984 View Post
    Go Tigers!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Fort Kickass
    Posts
    50,993

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by SaltMuck View Post
    More meat than the butcher shop in that last shot. Nice boat buddy!
    TWSS and thanks. I'm excited about it.
    "Rivers and the inhabitants of the watery elements are for wise men to contemplate and for fools to pass by without consideration" -Izaak Walton

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2001
    Location
    Columbia, SC
    Posts
    47,894

    Default

    you aint never done nuttin' by the book, have ya?
    Ugh. Stupid people piss me off.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    10,551

    Default

    only suggestion i have is to wear a life jacket

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Fort Kickass
    Posts
    50,993

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by 2thDoc View Post
    you aint never done nuttin' by the book, have ya?
    Depends on which book we are talking about...

    Quote Originally Posted by dixiedeerslaya View Post
    only suggestion i have is to wear a life jacket
    Yeah, I was talking to a buddy about it...if I hit a tree or log, it will be very unforgiving. The boy wont be allowed to run this one.
    "Rivers and the inhabitants of the watery elements are for wise men to contemplate and for fools to pass by without consideration" -Izaak Walton

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    10,551

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by BigBrother View Post
    Yeah, I was talking to a buddy about it...if I hit a tree or log, it will be very unforgiving. The boy wont be allowed to run this one.
    yea, it would be like getting in a head on collision with an 18 wheeler....... while driving a prius.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Fort Kickass
    Posts
    50,993

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by dixiedeerslaya View Post
    yea, it would be like getting in a head on collision with an 18 wheeler....... while driving a prius.
    Another reason beyond weight distribution to want to run it from the front with stick steer so I can see. I'd imagine getting on plane, there will be a lot of boat in my face before she drops.

    I keep wanting to add a layer of heavy roven glass to the sides, but that would defeat the purpose of the boat. The sides arent anything but a light 6oz matting with gel coat. If you take the gunnels off, dont lean against it, or you will be working more repairs.

    The purpose of the boat is I want something light to drag across stuff, and fast enough to get there without towing something behind my boat. I am tired of hauling pirogues in and out of the big boat. I have tons of opportunity on public land with this rig...Almost think that if I hug the hill from poleyard or SI Ferry I could use it to hunt the Delta...
    Last edited by BigBrother; 09-21-2017 at 07:58 AM.
    "Rivers and the inhabitants of the watery elements are for wise men to contemplate and for fools to pass by without consideration" -Izaak Walton

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    10,551

    Default

    my father in law had a river rat, he had an 8hp 2stroke merc on it. hes a pretty good size fella, probably 6'1", 245lbs, with just him in the boat, that motor didnt have enough ass to get the front to lay down. even with the gas tank up front. yes, weight distribution will be key!

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    greenville
    Posts
    1,550

    Default

    I have a 15ft in slightly better condition than yours but needs a similar revitalization. I just do not have the time to take it on at the moment. I love those boats though.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    4,992

    Default

    I still stand by my previous suggestion of a 2 cyl Yamaha 25...

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2013
    Posts
    4,992

    Default

    Only weighs 12# more than the 15...

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Posts
    10,551

    Default

    i would be less worried about the weight and more worried about the strength of the transom

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Location
    Florence, SC
    Posts
    2,602

    Default

    Not sure you could tow the mayor with this one. Awesome.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    Lexington County
    Posts
    5,230

    Default

    Great rebuild!

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Fort Kickass
    Posts
    50,993

    Default

    .
    Last edited by BigBrother; 09-21-2017 at 11:55 AM.
    "Rivers and the inhabitants of the watery elements are for wise men to contemplate and for fools to pass by without consideration" -Izaak Walton

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Johnston
    Posts
    22,409

    Default

    How does the 15 do? I've got a 13' Gheenoe that i wanna put an outboard on but can't decide what size to go with......
    Quote Originally Posted by Mars Bluff View Post
    Only thing we need to be wearing in this country are ass whippings & condoms. That'll clear up half our issues.

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Carolina Backcountry
    Posts
    12,265

    Default

    i'll give you 500 for it and save you the future headache. I'll just leave it there so when I come to stay I can have a boat and you can use it in the meantime.
    "Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.
    I am haunted by waters" Norman Maclean.

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Blythewood
    Posts
    16,975

    Default

    I love this thing, dude.

    I will advise against the stick steer. The boat isn't long enough to not be able to see... You can just look over the side. Also, too much weight in the front of that ride is gonna suck, too. Not to mention steering issues caused by too much weight up front.

    I would, however, move my driver's seat a bit forward. With the wing span you (and I) have, you'll be able to reach the tiller from nearly halfway up that boat.

    Those little Evinrude motors are bullet proof. I had one on a boat we kept at Harkers Island for year. My papa bought that thing new when I was like 5 (I'm 30). My cousin just stole the whole rig, rebuilt the bottom of the boat, rebuilt the starter on that motor, put gas in it and said it hasn't missed a beat at his new place in Michigan.

    We can make that transom to where you won't need to worry about it.

    Just keep the shallow drive lever up all the time and you won't have any trouble.
    Last edited by turbo; 09-21-2017 at 09:45 AM.
    "Freedom Isn't Free"
    _Spc. Thomas Caughman
    1983-2004

    Quote Originally Posted by Dook View Post
    Go tigers!

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •