Project "Blue Venom" (aka "Solent Viper")

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by keelhauled

I dont know where you get your willpower from. If it was me I would have to tape on a set of leads, hook it up to a fuel can and try it out. The suspense would kill me.

I know what you meen

I'll have the engine PDIed within the month and will try it staight after

[Hightower]

I spent a bit of time in the garage yesterday and tinkered with the battery carriers. I've drilled some fixing points for some self tapers in the bottom and fixed SS studding though the frame, held in place with nuts with penny washers with rubber grommets either side. With the clamp brace at the top I was planning to be a little adventurous and make something that covered the whole top of the batterys, however this was a little OTT I thought in the end and went for simple wooden braces.

I will fix the carriers in place with self tappers into the deck, however I can't penetrate the deck any more than 20mm as the fuel tank is located underneath, so I will fix each frame with 6 CSK self tappers shutter the outside of the frames with plasticine and float a layer of Poly resin under the base of the frames. That should hold them nicely in place.

I will then flowcoat the Alloy frames and wooden braces to make it all look nice

I also spent a bit of time designing the layout of my gauges and came up with some carbon fibre to use as a dash. This is a matt finish and a little scratched. I've still to finish the dash which needs some trimming.

Any Idea's on how to coat the Carbon fibre to give a deep gloss effect and a hard wearing surface. I tried varnish and that scratches too easily, is this another job for poly resin?

[nugent]

2k polyester car laquer tuff as old boots

if you get bored some time do me a favour and measure your boat
rear to nose end of trailer for me, curious to know if one would fit on my drive my 6.5 took the piss when it was at home

[Nasher]

Andy

Looking good, but I think you may struggle to flowcoat the alloy.

I seem to remember reading that most resins will not stick to alloy unless its specially prepared in some way, but can't remember what that is.

I'm sure somebody with better knowledge of it will post soon.

Nasher.

[nugent]

zinc chromate be the stuff ali etch primer mix de etch + acid reducer 50/50

Originally Posted by Nasher

Andy

Looking good, but I think you may struggle to flowcoat the alloy.

I seem to remember reading that most resins will not stick to alloy unless its specially prepared in some way, but can't remember what that is.

I'm sure somebody with better knowledge of it will post soon.

Nasher.

[Limey Linda]

One of the most useful, easy to use coatings I have used is Truck Bed coating, made by Duplicolor. Provides a textured finish, really tough provided you de-grease first. Available at auto parts stores in a spray can for about $6.00 over here. I like textured coating because I do not have to spend hours on surface prep. and they can be re-done/touched up and it never shows.

[Hightower]

Perhaps I'll leave it natural finish. No one will be looking at it on an every day basis as it'll be below decks. Just a thought could I glass it over first and then flowcoat?

Anyway, I did manage some fibre glassing today and didn't do a bad job. I bought some digital scales so that I could measure exact quantitys of Poly resin out (that way it goes futher with small batches).

I'll have to finish the ends of the holes....Any suggestions on how to thicken up the gel coat into a paste? I also fitted the fuel filler moulding, but because of either a warp in the moulding or a slight curve of the console I had to use the set-up in the photo to apply pressure to all areas whilst the resin cures. However I will be left with lots of gaps between the moulding and surface of console. Is mixing gel coat into a paste and forcing its way into the gaps a plan? How would I do this?

I also plan to fibre glass a couple of layers at the back of the fuel fill moulding, just to make doubly sure it won't fall out

I also cut some impact mats for the anchor locker and fitted a U bolt to the locker too.

Plan for tomorrow is to turn my attention to finishing the fuel moulding, filing the bow locker door to fit and fitting it. Lots of flowcoating, seat bases, mounting the isolator switch and mounting a new inspection hatch door the the console to access this.

Anyway some more pics:

[Endeavour]

Looking good....

Use aerosil or cabosil to thicken up the gelcoat. Some people use talc but this usually changes the colour of the gelcoat.

[Nasher]

Originally Posted by Hightower

could I glass it over first and then flowcoat?


Any suggestions on how to thicken up the gel coat into a paste?

Anyway some more pics:

Andy

The problem with Ali is most if not all resins will not stick to it, so glassing over won't be an option either.

To thicken up the gel coat you can add a filler, which is a powder made of tiny glass balls.

Nasher

[Limey Linda]

To thicken resin into a paste for joint filets add glass beads( actually it looks like a powder/flour)
Should be available from any FB supplier.

[Hightower]

So I won't be doing any filling tomorrw then

Still lots of other jobs to do

Off to the fibre glassers again on Monday I think. I have some plastic padding type filler in the garage but it is a couple of years old though.

I must say that I'm pretty pleased the way things went today.

[Downhilldai]

You could use Gelcoat filler in the gaps around the tank filler recess.

[Hightower]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

You could use Gelcoat filler in the gaps around the tank filler recess.

Thats what I meant by plasic padding filler

Perhaps I should have been more specific

[Nasher]

Andy

The marine superstore at Port Solent sell the filler beads.

They are open on a Sunday but will of course be a bit more expensive.

Nasher.

[Hightower]

might be a good excuse to have a stretch of the legs and incorperate a beer or two as well

[Hightower]

...The Anchor locker that is

Wasn't as easy as it seemed though as the Lid wasn't a perfect fit, which meant I had to back fill one of the corners using my new Fibreglass skills and then sand with the aid of an angle grinder the corner away till everything fitted OK, this was then flowcoated and sanded till it looked good. When I get some more time I'll do the bigger stuff like wiring, steering and control cable installation.

[Hightower]

Well what a busy day I've had!

Fed most of the wires, cables hoses though the under deck trunking, this can be incredibly difficult by ones self at times.

As you can see from the pics, it was a messy affair with cables and hoses everywhere.

I've also been handy with the Silkaflex too, it always amazes me how it gets every where you don't want it.

I'll show you what I've done inside the Console as I've now fitted the battery carriers and oil tank.

More pics in a moment.

[The Jackeens]

Hi Andy,

taking shape , looking good

When you hope to stick it on the water ???

mustnt be too far away !!!!!

Paul

[Nasher]

Looking sweet Andy.

You really are a lucky sod, new boat etc, and the bits you are doing now are the stuff I really enjoy.
Bet you are going to wire it up next, I find that strangely satisfying.
Sad bugger aren't I?

Nasher.

[The Jackeens]

Originally Posted by Nasher

Looking sweet Andy.

I find that strangely satisfying.
Sad bugger aren't I?

Nasher.

Yep

p