New project....not a 4x4 but still a money pit.

[MuddyPaws 3.0]

OK, I got this boat last year and even though we didn't have a great summer last year, I still used it enough to find out some things need to change for the way I use it.

2 things bothered me.

First, the carpet was impossible to keep clean looking and vacuuming it all the time sucked. Also after fishing the big lake and putting a bunch of salmon and trout in the boat, it was all slimed up and stunk bad after being covered in the heat. Besides that, it was dark blue and made the bat very hot.

Second is the back to back seats that sorta fold down to a bed that no one really ever uses. The backward facing seats took up bunches of floor space and left no room for a cooler or walking around on the boat. The seats are also only about 4 or 5 inches off the deck and were uncomfortable.

Project at hand.....

Rip out the carpet, sand the floor down, apply fiberglass resin and then paint with a textured boat deck paint. A light gray color will be used.

Seats, remove and basically cut in half. Remove rear facing seat and only have the forward facing seat. Also going to raise the base of the seat to 10 inches and make it a storage area for added storage. Even with the rear facing seats removed, I have 4 seats in the cabin and whole bow for seating. I normally don't have more than 4 or 5 people on the boat anyway.


So here is what I start with....

http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/timstrader/Family/regal/regal-007.jpg

Here it is gutted and carpet gone and sanding started. Sanding fiberglass sucks. Itchy son of a pup.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs514.ash1/30294_1334868084842_1025266232_30816135_6630288_n. jpg

[Evil Queen]

Won't raising the seat deck change the center of gravity..ya know the thing that keeps you more upright than turned over :hehe:

[whiterhino]

Tim,
I did a bunch of fiberglass work years ago. Wash your arms with COLD water. Pores close up. Then wipe your arms with Vaseline intensive care lotion. Covers your pores and grabs fiberglass particles. When you are done wash again with COLD water.

[MuddyPaws 3.0]

hehehe...I used a lint roller on my arms. Next time I wear long sleeves.

You just want to see me lathered in Vaseline.

[Mongo]

You just want to see me lathered in Vaseline.

:popcorn:

[thrca]

Tim,
I did a bunch of fiberglass work years ago. Wash your arms with COLD water. Pores close up. Then wipe your arms with Vaseline intensive care lotion. Covers your pores and grabs fiberglass particles. When you are done wash again with COLD water.

Talc also works incredibly well

[Mclovin]

cold water alone works great for me. sucks taking a cold shower but it beats itching all day..

[MuddyPaws 3.0]

Got all the glue sanded off. Floor leveled and a couple repairs done. Then filled the larger impurities and screw holes in the deck with resin and sanded that down.

http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/timstrader/Family/regal/DSC04198.jpg

Then got the front half and the sides under the pockets coated with the first coat of resin.

http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/timstrader/Family/regal/DSC04200.jpg

[kickstand]

looks good, nice to see a solid floor under the carpet

[Beefy]

:hehe: you said resin

[rentalrider]

what kind of boat is that? looks real similar to mine.

[LuckyCharm4x4]

you should have just stained the wood... CLASSY!!!

[MuddyPaws 3.0]

what kind of boat is that? looks real similar to mine.

it's a '88 Regal 18.5'

you should have just stained the wood... CLASSY!!!

It's a fiberglass boat. Only two spots of actual wood showing. Cover on the center of the storage compartment and on the rear swim deck.

[MuddyPaws 3.0]

All sanded and first coat of non slip paint down. Got the seats mostly done, just no pics of them yet.

http://i588.photobucket.com/albums/ss321/timstrader/fbb88a6e.jpg

[Beefy]

you know its summer?

[MuddyPaws 3.0]

Yea, WAY too many projects going on right now. Gotta get this damn thing done.