1968 Mustang Resto-mod Jax, FL

Glass and foam is bedded in bow. Cut some sheet fiberglass and made my first Rondo bulkhead. Came out great, very easy.

turningpoint84 wrote: You'll be very happy you put in a ski platform, such an awesome improvement to my 1970, honestly it also looks natural to the boat even if it's after market.

"natural" ?

Wow.. strong words! but admittedly made me laugh!!!   

dangerwil wrote: I actually found a fine thread 3/4" piece of threaded rod for the bow lift.

I never realized this was a problem. However, you can't walk into your local home improvement store and find it. If you posted the problem, sorry I missed the issue since I would have suggested where to get it. BTW, what grade thread rod did you end up with? Important for a lifting application!!

8122pbrainard wrote: [QUOTE=dangerwil] BTW, what grade thread rod did you end up with? Important for a lifting application!!

Grade of nuts too!!!!

turningpoint84 wrote: You'll be very happy you put in a ski platform, such an awesome improvement to my 1970, honestly it also looks natural to the boat even if it's after market. Look into getting extra large SS washers for the bolt up. I might take mine apart again and place in even larger washers, or even better put in a 1/8" 3"x5" plate to just help with relieving stress when being on the platform. I have a strict rule, 1 person on it at a time lol.

I'm torn between platform and no platform. Grew up without platform and just the ladder on our SN. As an adult bought a '76 that a PO added a platform on and whoa, life got easier. Way easier to slip into my bindings while on platform and makes a great location to put the cerveza cooler when you have a full boat. No platform is way more vintage looking but I think the platform is a non original item I'll have to stick with.

Sand, sand sand,sand... I tried stripper but that paint was EVIL. Strippers didn't even touch it. I burned up 2 harbor freight electric da palm sanders and the black and decker I just bought from Wal Mart is on its last legs. I clogged up 3 disposable respirators from HF. I tried every kind of sandpaper. Gator grit is total crap. The best sandpaper I found was called Sandblaster from 3M. I found it at Wal Mart. Expensive but worth it.

Surprisingly the gel coat is in decent condition for 45 years old. I doubt it would polish out ever again. There have been plenty of chips and spider cracks, but overall I think it will make a good substrate for the new gel coat. After all the little blemishes are ground out and filled with fiberglass and chop strand, I will shoot all new gel coat, top to bottom.

Bill, are you saying that the original gel was dark blue on the deck and light blue on the hull? What an oddball combo, never seen that before?

You might want to buff it out as-is before you go through all the trouble of re-gelling... a few patina cracks dont look so bad and are almost imperceptible when the rest of the gel is shining real nice!

Wow, Ive never seen a light blue/dark blue combo before. Weird! Hows the hull look?

The dark blue on the NH boat is (metal flake) paint, can't remember if the gel underneath is taffy or light blue.

damn that looks like a lot of work, but it's coming along nicely. I know who to call if I ever need to replace my stringers.

Well today I brought home a heavy load. Its put away nice and safe in it's storage area now.

Also here is a pic in better lighting of the rondo bulkheads.

Winch Stand!!!??

The trailer is ready for powdercoat next week. I managed to do some work under the boat. Ground out and filled spider cracks and some hull damage.

Im interested in the jack if its original.Could you post a picture of the front of the jack by the handle and also where it mounts to the trailer thanks