The week following the visit by my Dad and Brother, I had the week off of work. With a spring in my step, I got a lot of work done. I continued where we left off on the trailer .JPG "Spring leafs after finish painting hammered bronze. I think they look cool, but I doubt anyone will look at the boat and say 'nice springs!'")
by first attacking that nasty leaf spring. I got it completely taken apart, clip removed, and the eye bushing pressed out. Removing the old spring eye bushing could be a blog all it's own. I wire brushed them down, removing all the rust, and tapered the tops of the lower leafs just a bit to help them slide a little easier. Then primed with Rust-oleum Rust Converter (just in case) and finished with some hammered bronze. Why hammered bronze, Alan? Because I think it looks cool. And it's my trailer. So bugger off.
In between coats of paint, I started back in on the cabin. I got the rest of the bulkhead removed, and gutted the cabin. Everything came out. The sink and toilet cover are in great shape.JPG "The cabin after gutting. All the bad wood (and wasp nests) have been removed. Relax, It will go back together just fine.")
and just need a little plywood underneath for some strength, sanded and painted. The most mold I found was in the seat next to the sink. There must have been a water leak at the window. I left the would strip in for now that holds the wrap around fiberglass shelf. I think I will replace it, as it is really swelled up and I don't think screws will hold in it again. But I want to wait to pull that until I have some plywood (and a scroll saw) to replace it. And I got the port side slider window frame removed. Only broke one screw. I haven't slowed down enough yet to see what that will take to repair. What is apparent, is the damage at the cabin bulkhead area. The bend in the hull is noticeable. I thought, after a brief discussion online, that I could perhaps save the stringers. Maybe cut then away from the hull in the high spots, and glass them back in after getting it all straight. I think now, the best option is to cut them out and start over. Sorry, Skagit lovers. But the hull is too far out. It looks like that bulkhead is a pretty important part of the shape of it. I need to somehow get a straight support under the hull, then push it down from the inside with a new bulkhead. Then install the new stringers. Or something like that. I haven't gotten that far yet.
The cool discovery for the week was finding the fresh water tank key for the fill plug! I could probably find something that would work, but It's really nice to have found the original.
I've made several shopping trips this week. One to West Marine for odds and ends to start playing with the epoxy, and one to a recycler up north that sells scrap steel by the pound. I found.JPG "New spring hangers fabricated and installed. Cross members, hangers, and hub are in Rustolium Rust Converter Primer right now; there will all be painted later.")
enough material to fabricate the spring hangers, install the cross members, and lengthen the tongue. I fabricated the spring hangers from 2-1/2 square tube, 3/16 wall. The holes took a little while to figure out. The old hangers were banged up enough it was hard getting a good measurement. I later decided for strength (and better weld area) to plate the inside of the hanger on each side with some 1/8" plate. This still leaves room for the spring, and gives me the entire width of the cross member to weld to. I have some galvanized u-bolts on order. After they arrive, I will cut out one u-bolt at a time at the cross members. All the steel will get cleaned, primed, and painted. Then replace the u-bolt with the new galvanized one. I'll get as far to the right side as I can, then repeat the entire spring removal and overhaul on that side.
This week promises 50+ hours at work for me, starting at 12:30AM, so I'm not likely to get any work done. Before I can do much, I need to clean up the garage, once again. Building a solar heater for the pool has left a big mess, and the dead Honda in the garage is taking what work space I had. I did get a good lead on a 100HP Johnson outboard, and I need to take advantage of this soon. I better get that car out of the garage. For the outboard, I have to take the boat and trailer that comes with it. Anyone want a boat?
.JPG "Spring leafs after finish painting hammered bronze. I think they look cool, but I doubt anyone will look at the boat and say 'nice springs!'")
by first attacking that nasty leaf spring. I got it completely taken apart, clip removed, and the eye bushing pressed out. Removing the old spring eye bushing could be a blog all it's own. I wire brushed them down, removing all the rust, and tapered the tops of the lower leafs just a bit to help them slide a little easier. Then primed with Rust-oleum Rust Converter (just in case) and finished with some hammered bronze. Why hammered bronze, Alan? Because I think it looks cool. And it's my trailer. So bugger off.In between coats of paint, I started back in on the cabin. I got the rest of the bulkhead removed, and gutted the cabin. Everything came out. The sink and toilet cover are in great shape
.JPG "The cabin after gutting. All the bad wood (and wasp nests) have been removed. Relax, It will go back together just fine.")
and just need a little plywood underneath for some strength, sanded and painted. The most mold I found was in the seat next to the sink. There must have been a water leak at the window. I left the would strip in for now that holds the wrap around fiberglass shelf. I think I will replace it, as it is really swelled up and I don't think screws will hold in it again. But I want to wait to pull that until I have some plywood (and a scroll saw) to replace it. And I got the port side slider window frame removed. Only broke one screw. I haven't slowed down enough yet to see what that will take to repair. What is apparent, is the damage at the cabin bulkhead area. The bend in the hull is noticeable. I thought, after a brief discussion online, that I could perhaps save the stringers. Maybe cut then away from the hull in the high spots, and glass them back in after getting it all straight. I think now, the best option is to cut them out and start over. Sorry, Skagit lovers. But the hull is too far out. It looks like that bulkhead is a pretty important part of the shape of it. I need to somehow get a straight support under the hull, then push it down from the inside with a new bulkhead. Then install the new stringers. Or something like that. I haven't gotten that far yet.The cool discovery for the week was finding the fresh water tank key for the fill plug! I could probably find something that would work, but It's really nice to have found the original.
I've made several shopping trips this week. One to West Marine for odds and ends to start playing with the epoxy, and one to a recycler up north that sells scrap steel by the pound. I found
.JPG "New spring hangers fabricated and installed. Cross members, hangers, and hub are in Rustolium Rust Converter Primer right now; there will all be painted later.")
enough material to fabricate the spring hangers, install the cross members, and lengthen the tongue. I fabricated the spring hangers from 2-1/2 square tube, 3/16 wall. The holes took a little while to figure out. The old hangers were banged up enough it was hard getting a good measurement. I later decided for strength (and better weld area) to plate the inside of the hanger on each side with some 1/8" plate. This still leaves room for the spring, and gives me the entire width of the cross member to weld to. I have some galvanized u-bolts on order. After they arrive, I will cut out one u-bolt at a time at the cross members. All the steel will get cleaned, primed, and painted. Then replace the u-bolt with the new galvanized one. I'll get as far to the right side as I can, then repeat the entire spring removal and overhaul on that side.This week promises 50+ hours at work for me, starting at 12:30AM, so I'm not likely to get any work done. Before I can do much, I need to clean up the garage, once again. Building a solar heater for the pool has left a big mess, and the dead Honda in the garage is taking what work space I had. I did get a good lead on a 100HP Johnson outboard, and I need to take advantage of this soon. I better get that car out of the garage. For the outboard, I have to take the boat and trailer that comes with it. Anyone want a boat?
