Another SN followed me home!

Gary,
I agree that we saw some better lumber back then but were seeing virgin lumber still. The grading system has not changed but today they will take defects all the way to the extreme and back then pass better quality as lower grades.

These are 2 angles of the drivers seat base (fiberglass) I mentioned that came from where? I plan to use them,I don't see any point in building wood ones.

They can all be saved, just depends on how much money you want to throw at it. I had my Mustang tank restored (cut open, sandblasted, welded up, and epoxy coated inside) but I'm not going to use it. The patches are visible and I have a nice spare. Some have changed over to plastic tanks. Vondy has a nice pictorial here scroll down to Vondy's post.
If you're interested my Mustang tank is listed in the "parts for sale" forum. I am asking what the repair cost.

I got the dirty cracked windshield off, and the instrument mounting pos particle board too. What were they thinking using particle board, it turned into a hairy, particle spewing mess that I broke off with my hands! So I'm wondering what to replace it with, perhaps black acrylic?
Looks pretty racy sans windshield.
I acrylic bonded the windshield 3 pieces together, but of course the broken lines still are there. Considering it's future too.

Much like wearing a Salmon colored shirt, only real men drive without a windshield ----

C-Bass wrote: cbr1000dude wrote: I got the dirty cracked windshield off, and the instrument mounting pos particle board too. What were they thinking using particle board, it turned into a hairy, particle spewing mess that I broke off with my hands! So I'm wondering what to replace it with, perhaps black acrylic? By "they" do you mean Correct Craft? Because that instrument panel above your windshield certainly wasn't original. I plan on mounting a single speedometer above the steering wheel with the rest of the instruments in the center of the dash. Just like this:

Do you really think so? I was wondering if it was possible someone other than CC fabricated an instrument panel, but it didn't seem likely. I've seen the single speedo like that and the rest of the instruments mounted where my glove box is on a Mustang of that era, but the Ski Nautique had 2 speedometers and instruments mounted in the same panel I thought. From the holes in the deck, it sure looks original.
Perhaps someone has a photo they can share.

I'm certainly not the expert, and I know there wasn't a lot of consistency, but that picture I posted is of an original 1st Gen SN. It's also how my boat was configured with the exception that at one point it looks like someone added a 2nd speedo over the center of the dash.

I am sure we can all agree hack and particle board on a boat go hand in hand

I repaired the windshield, and today made braces from aluminum stock (inside and outside) and ss machine button head bolts to hide the crack, and make the whole structure stiffer. The white rubber piece on the bottom edge needed lots of SOS and elbow grease, but came out pretty good.

Anyone know what color that red is actually called? My dad's other boat is a 1969 ski nautique not finished(not even close) is a nice red but it's faded. It looks similiar to cbr's SN deck.

NG,
Be careful with sanding the paint off especially on corners. Even though the gel is pretty thick, you sure don't want to sand through it. I suggest using some gel safe paint stripper first.

8122pbrainard wrote: NG, Be careful with sanding the paint off especially on corners. Even though the gel is pretty thick, you sure don't want to sand through it. I suggest using some gel safe paint stripper first.

I don't trust the "Gel Safe" claim from what I've read.
I'll be careful not to sand through the gel.
Long ago I did prep and finish sanding at a body shop for 4 years(when I wasn't driving the tow truck),seems like every ten minutes the painter yelled at me "watch the edges and corners"

Gary S wrote: This is the one that Corvette forum people use,so I bought and tried it on the Shamrock and it did eat the gel. Rereading their website I see now it only says safe for Corvette fiberglass even though they show a boat on the bottle-----

Actually, only the first Corvettes were laid up fiberglass, since then evolving composites known as SMC (sheet molding compound)have been used. They are pressed into shape in metal molds with heat. There is no gel coat involved, they are painted composite bodies.
My 2005 had a roof panel separate, and the new replacement (under warranty) roof arrived unpainted, and was painted by their paint shop.
Boat gel coat is sprayed into a polished mold and has a mold release of some sort. Then fiberglass is laid up over it, and popped out of the mold when cured. Totally different processes.
Even Corvette Forum owners(I am a member there also) don't know until they read up on it. I didn't.

Oven cleaner might be something to try,certainly easy to get and cheap enough to throw away if it don't. As to Vetts,Dad owned a couple and had gone to school with d*ck Doan of Doan Chevy here in Dundee. I've posted this before so I hope I'm not boring anyone but here's Dad with his first one.