Restoring 18ft Storm Craft

[Raven9]

Started with a small project that got big very quickly so i decided, I might as well document this.

Little bit of history

My dad's neighbor bought this boat in Langebaan, back in 2003, ugly yellow with 85hp motor and worn trailer. A little project for the 2 of them. So they got it resprayed, swopped the 85hp for 2x55 Yammies, built a new trailer(used plates and disc from some other trailer on the farm) and off they go.

So for the next few years the boat trips (FISHING? trips) varied between Langebaan, Breede Rivier and Witsand with me occasionally tagging along (Always loved the sea).

Then 2007 i think - the laws got stricter or changed. Now suddenly everybody had to have a skippers license, so i decided to get on the bandwagon as well and also went to go and do the "open book test" for Cat C.

Then in 2008 the boat failed buoyancy test - no foam - OK so they drilled a few holes in the deck, got the 2part foam - send the pics to some SAMSA guy, got their COF and all was well again.

After that everybody got busy and the boat stood for a year at Witsand. Then we finally got together for another trip - got to the boat, the one gearbox was seized.

This was enough for them - so after a few jokes and beers, I ended up with the boat in Cape Town.  After that i fixed the gearbox and did one trip to Langebaan, where the gearbox failed again. So the boat got parked in my backyard where it got forgotten.

Now 3 years later I finally decided to restore this old baby.


 

 

[Raven9]

side view

 

[barryfish]

cool, don't know the boat, looks more like speed boat style what u planning to do?

 

[Raven9]

The idea

Get it restored brand spanking new for under R25k

Pros: Good hull although unknown make - apparently Strom Craft ( they don't exist anymore) and two engines that never really gave any problems except for gearbox seizing.  Got my own furniture factory with CNC machine and very handy - can do everything myself .

Cons: Unlicensed trailer!!!! and not really knowing that much about boats, except driving it and fishing.
Only after-hours and on weekends time to work on this project.

So first things first. Research - about 2 weeks of you tube videos and forums and American sales videos for inspiration.

Game plan

a) Boat - 1. Deck - replace complete and new foam
    2. Modifications - level fish box, replace windscreen, panel up the sides, re-design console, built back bench for batteries and petrol tanks to be hidden away, stainless ski-bar with capsize bottle, new rubrail, new storage compartments (weather proof).
    3. Paint - gelcoat top to bottom and deck with anti-skid pattern in gelcoat on deck
    4. Upholstery - driver seat (swivel), front seating cushions, back bench, passenger fold down front/back seat
    5. Bemini Cover
    6. Accesories - replate all fittings, remove unwanted fittings, new stainless deck railing etc.

b) Trailer - new or refurbish, but only after boat is done, to get proper weight.
c) Motors - fix gearbox, do some proper electrical and semi-permanent fuel lines, respray.

 

[Raven9]

started with this project 3 weeks ago so just catching up on posts ---

28/07

windscreen on - completely measured boat and everything - busy with 3d-CAD model to see if i can change any of the lines - want it more modern, maybe raise and tilt the windscreen

 

[Raven9]

started stripping everything - fish box off, removed old fiberglass patches

 

[Raven9]

gel coat tests

went to hardware store called bri---s, didn't have top coat in stock and according to sales person you don't use hardener with gel coat and they can't sell me loose hardener, so had to go to my factory to get some hardener - gonna go back there and complain next time   - will get directly from fow--es for main project.

Wanted to test out for myself so 4 samples - .

a - plain gelcoat, no hardener (as per sales person??????)
b - with hardener
c - with hardener and release agent mixed-in (my attempt at top coat)
d - with hardener and release agent sprayed over after touch dry

----- next morning ---- D is the winner - single coat about 2mm thick and it is drying nicely.  Idea is 2 coats ( can't decide between spray or roll and tip) but first coat is gelcoat with hardener and then only release agent on top of second coat.

will do some more research into this

 

[Raven9]

finally caught up on my posting ---

sunshine before the rain starts again  ---- so inspecting the hull

looks like something died in there - old foam, new foam and some oily crap

- didn't want to lift the deck originally, but glad i decided to just do it.

Need some help ? Getting mixed reviews on encasing all the wood completely in glass, stringers and underdeck. Some say the wood must stay open to be able to dry out otherwise if it gets wet again, it will just rot. Going to use epoxy or laminating resin, not polyester, depending on price.

Any experience regarding this?
 

 

[barryfish]

If you have business reg you can buy direct from NCS. U may have to adjust your list, 25K does not go far, with boat projects. You will spend at least 12 on materials (resins / gels / mat etc)

From experience the gel coat is a long, long process, do some research on Dura Tech hi gloss additive for gel coat. you are going to need a cup gun (_+ R 1800.00)

Spray on 3 coats un waxed gel coat, in final coat add dura tech hi gloss, then no need for PVA etc, sands beautiful with the Dura tech added. have to do when touch dry, when the temp is good, do not try in winter unless you have large oven.

good luck, keep us updated.

 

[barryfish]

Oh! stay away from that epoxy. if that is a grp boat that is, keep it grp, epoxy / grp do not mix well, and cannot coat epoxy with gel coat, without a proper primer (just extra work). I found that out the hard way.

 

[Raven9]

thanx barry

questions -

do i just stay with normal polyester resin or rather the laminating resin?

Also on the cup gun, does it have to be the G100 gel coat gun (4mm nozzle) - I do high end furniture and have all the guns i would ever need - going to first try and thin the gelcoat with styrene or acetone and then use a 1.8 or 2mm nozzle on a HVLP gun - might just have to do a few more layers if i spray it on thin.

 

[barryfish]

Raven9 we in similar industry, been down the thinning route with HVLP 2.5 nozzle, trust me, get a cup gun, see you are local sure we can make some plan. I do plan to use mine again.

The HVLP is too thin on the base coats to get thickness you want 2 - 3mm, you cannot spray thick enough to cover. many many many coats required, then you get orange peel, and orange peel on top of orange peel. On verticals it just makes runs if you spray slight too heavy / thick, which when you sand inevitability leads to show/discoloration, gel coat is heavier than Plascolac type laquers, i found the more coats the more orange peel, when you sand the grits 80 / 120 / 150 / 220 / 320 / 500 / 1000 wpaper / 2000 wpaper get a show through too easily.

Also colour is affected and by thinning and many coats. have to sand wax layer, acetone wash etc if you leave to cure for a day, so has to be one shot operation.

The cup gun sprays with a different texture to hvlp I did 2 coats on hull and was able to sand, to excellent result, I think where i have a small bit of show was from being tired and my spray work rather than the system.

I did the top a few times with the HVLP route and finally just broke down and got a cup gun and did the hull with the cup gun.

The best thing about the cup gun, is you buy a standard 25kg sprayable gel coat you can choose/order the colour, or get std white, and you will get the same colour again! (made for the gun - viscosity wise) from NCS. catalise and shoot, MUCH easier.

If i was to spray again, is simple. 2 proper coats with spray gel in cup gun, final coat HVLP with 30% dura tech / 10% styrene and 60% sprayable gel coat. you will have no curing problems and the dura tech binds with the gel coat and adds shine and ensures hardening so you can sand easily.

check my thread on my rebuild. - DO NOT SPRAY TILL HOT SUMMER! unless you have a heated spray booth that the boat can fit into.

Laminating resin / polyester resin, same thing, unless its epoxy laminating resin, gel coat is also a resin, just with different properties.

I got lost with all the technical stuff. flock / microfibers / silica / glass bubbles / etc etc there are so many.

Found use mostly for fillets - microfibers / fairing filling - glass bubbles.

B

 

[Mahi mahi]

Hi Raven, nice thread!

You mentioned the unlicenced trailer been a problem, ive heard that there is a way to get that sorted out. Contact priclo caravans, they apparently licence unlicenced trailer for people, they apparently check for roadworthyness then stamp the trailer and do all the paperwork for you. They somewhere in Cpt, should find them in the yellow pages

 

[Raven9]

Hi Mahi

Trailer is another headache but thanks for the pricolo tip, we hire alot from them, didn't know they do the number thing also - I got another guy who was willing to do this (+_ R1800), but it sounded a bit dodgy, but if more people are doing this, then it must be semi-legal.

My other option was to wait for a licensed trailer with similar specs on gumtree and then just modify to fit mine.

On the current trailer i still have to upgrade a lot, - first is to get temp license to be able to take everything to weigh bridge, weigh both, then take the boat off the trailer and go and weigh the trailer again to get the boats weight-  think with everything on it is gonna be around 1200kg - So i need new axle (braked) 1600kg and new coupler 2000kg and new leaf springs. After that, sand and spray, weighed and then number - all together hoping to get away for under R10k - heard burquip is cheapest for trailer parts.

Also just for interest - i send out an detailed email to about 11 trailer companies around cape town for - either refurbish mine or a new trailer explaining exactly what requirements i have and what needed to be done. Only 2 replied with some explanation or gonna have to come and see them wada wada wada... without any proper quotes - just wanted to see if i am gonna save anything or if i should go straight for new trailer. Getting tired of the way people do business in cape town.

My main idea is to finish the boat first to get correct new weight, then tackle the
trailer.

 

[Mahi mahi]

Raven9 wrote:

Hi Mahi

Trailer is another headache but thanks for the pricolo tip, we hire alot from them, didn't know they do the number thing also - I got another guy who was willing to do this (+_ R1800), but it sounded a bit dodgy, but if more people are doing this, then it must be semi-legal.

My other option was to wait for a licensed trailer with similar specs on gumtree and then just modify to fit mine.

On the current trailer i still have to upgrade a lot, - first is to get temp license to be able to take everything to weigh bridge, weigh both, then take the boat off the trailer and go and weigh the trailer again to get the boats weight-  think with everything on it is gonna be around 1200kg - So i need new axle (braked) 1600kg and new coupler 2000kg and new leaf springs. After that, sand and spray, weighed and then number - all together hoping to get away for under R10k - heard burquip is cheapest for trailer parts.

Also just for interest - i send out an detailed email to about 11 trailer companies around cape town for - either refurbish mine or a new trailer explaining exactly what requirements i have and what needed to be done. Only 2 replied with some explanation or gonna have to come and see them wada wada wada... without any proper quotes - just wanted to see if i am gonna save anything or if i should go straight for new trailer. Getting tired of the way people do business in cape town.

My main idea is to finish the boat first to get correct new weight, then tackle the
trailer.

i know of quite a few guys that have just taken licences from one trailer and put it on another.

As for Priclo, i heard they charge almost half of what you were quoted by this other guy, he might be just taking it to them and slapping on a markup though!

 

[Raven9]

and the work continues...

had a big push this weekend with a little bit of sun? deck, deck and more deck

the back is completely rotten - lucky thou that my stringers are fiberglass moulded and not wood, also cut a hole in them here and there and they are completely dry and also have foam in them - big relief.

found lots of water in the foam till about midway of the deck, also two pockets next to fish box with no foam, completely filled with water. probably drained about 150 liters of water. 150kg of extra weight!!!

got through about a third of the deck in 6 hours, but i am gonna stop just short of the console area - wood and pockets and foam is completely dry, so i am not keen to struggle with the front section if it is not necessary.

Still going to struggle getting in under the splash well at the back, but will leave that for a sunny day.

 

[Raven9]

my two laborers (brother 1 and brother 2) helping with the stripping - grinding and breaking off rusted bolts and cleats and other non essential stuff

 

[Raven9]

water-filled foam

 

[Raven9]

trusty fireplace spade - fits wonderfully into small sections

- need to look at close cell foam next time, don't know what foam they used, but i don't think it was the right stuff

 

[barryfish]

and it smells like old red wine...?