1wk. to make, 3yrs. to rebuild, MoNaH launched

[Stargazer14]

After 3 years of weekends I finally launched my '68 Trojan Bimini yesterday. One fella, Don, at the marina used to build this boat back in the days, he ribs me about how it only took them a week to make them.
It was a long but rewarding road for me and I could not have done it without the help of the forum, who I truly thank.
"I love this place!"
The boat was to be burned and if I had looked hard enough I probably could have found one ready to roll for 6 or 7 grand and been in the water years ago, but instead I chose to replace 3/4 of the hull and all the starboard oak framing, which had rotted from rain water coming in the 1in. gap along the entire front of the cabin.
Replaced all the deck, cabintop, and now building a dinnette inside before a sanding and varnish of the mahogany interior.
There was of course a few thousand other items to attend too, but you know the routine.
Runs great, took her for a small test, fast, and nary a drop of water inside after 5 hours on the water.
Thanks again to all who helped with their posts these last 4 years that I was asking dumb questions.(1 year to prepare myself, 3 years to get dirty)
There is a Trojan Boat Rendezvous for older boats in August here on the Chesapeake, I will proudly attend.

For some rebuild pics, go here. (http://www.dplus.net/stargazer/monahrepair.jpg)

Yesterdays launch -

http://www.dplus.net/stargazer/boatmove2.jpg
http://www.dplus.net/stargazer/boatmove3.jpg
http://www.dplus.net/stargazer/boatmove5.jpg
http://www.dplus.net/stargazer/boatmove4.jpg

[Venchka]

When do you step the mast? :D

Nice work! Lovely boat!

Wayne
In the Swamp. :D

[Garrett Lowell]

I love the lines and the simple colors of blue and white. Elegant simplicity. Beautiful boat, and a job well done!

[JimD]

:cool:

[wyndham]

Feels good don't it? Congratulations, beautiful job.

[Dale R. Hamilton]

Very smart! I know you are enjoying the pride of accomplishment.

[Wild Wassa]

There have been good looking boats posted here over the last few days ... congratulations for posting another.

Top effort Skipper. She looks great.

Warren.

[WoodenBNut]

StarGazer14 -- Very Nice!!! When you get a min. - please give us a run down / info on the materials / techniques that you used in the rebuild. Like, kind of caulk used, paint used, deck material & technique used, etc. Maybe we could learn something - you bet!! Thanks

[Meerkat]

http://www.dplus.net/stargazer/boatmove2.jpg

That's one hell of an I/O drive you have there! What kind of milage do you get? ;)

Niiiice boat! smile.gif

[Skiff Junkie]

Gorgeous boat!! :cool:

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

GREAT job..... glad to see you finally enjoy it. :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool: :cool:

[Tom M.]

That boat gives me a little smile smile.gif

[Dave Fleming]

ACES, simply ACES!!!!

Those before photos tell it all.

[patito]

Great work. You must be very proud, and rightly so. Congrats.

[Paul Scheuer]

Beautiful. Especially after looking the "before" pic on the link.

[Stargazer14]

Thanks for your comments, the ones I hear at the marina are:
" You lost me some money Boy , I had bet it'd never float again."
Being one of very few wood boats at our good sized marina, I heard alot if interesting comments over the years.
This was all new to me, I did my reading, hooked up with the forum and asked questions if I couldnt find the answer. One of the bigest things I leared early on in redoing a boat outside is START FROM THE TOP DOWN. The hull was so bad it was about to break in half and I thought I should start to reframe and add new laps...mistake. Rain coming in from the top(the cause of its demise) was rotting the boat awat faster than I was fixing it. I had to regroup and start over - replacing the cabintop(was vinyl over ply, both in bad shape, recoverd with new wood, glass and epoxy) and the deck - which really wasn't connected to the boat very much at all. I used the best marine ply I could afford and taped all my seams on the deck.
The frame is white oak with 3/8 mahogany ply laps(on the chine its 1/2") and that was tricky because I couldnt just ripp out the bad as the boat would have gotten so out of shape and possibly collapsed all together.
The underside of the hull is 1/2 ply also(not lapped)
and this was all replaced with batten blocks on the joints inside and taped on the outside - all 5200 and screwed with bronze. I tried to take out all the SS screws that were put in during past repairs, there were many. The laps are bronze ring-nailed with a few screws thrown in now and then.
All laps were also 5200'd. Paint was Kirbys white on the hull(I really liked the way the paint went on) and
a cream on the toerails and cabinsides.
The cabin top I did in 2-part Interlux white - twice - it didnt work out for me.
I did not screw down the deck hard inside as I knew the boat would change shape a bit when splashed,
I was right. It would have ripped my deck apart.

Michael

[WoodenBNut]

Stargazer14 --- Yes, I plan to use Kirby's on my CC Seaskiff hull - I have heard a lot of people liking the Kirby's hull paint.
Question - why didn't you like the Interlux 2 part cabin top paint?? Did you use Interthane Plus or the new Perfection 2 part? What would you recommend to paint the cabin tops with if you had it to do over again?? I plan of rolling and tiping the cabin tops. Thanks

[Stargazer14]

The Interlux was not the newer version, I went by the instructions, prepped well, but the finish did'nt gloss(except on the verticle sides of the top) so I waited for perfect weather again and tried a second time.
It turned out worse than the first time. It has a rough, mat finish to it, I'm thinking this was caused by atmospheric conditions such as a dew or something overnite, tho I painted early in the day.
I am going to repaint it with white epoxy paint which I have been using for a few years on other projects
and holds up well.
I am a happy boy today as I went to the boat and the bilge is still dry after 5 days.
May the nay-sayers eat my wake. :D