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  1. tpenfield

    Custom Fiberglass Extended Swim Platform

    Slight change of plans for the weekend . . . In addition to doing the resin flow/gel time testing, I will probably have some extra time on my hands. When I inspected the first hatch mold, it initially looked OK, but upon cleaning it, I realized that it had a few areas of resin void and the...
  2. tpenfield

    Custom Fiberglass Extended Swim Platform

    I have a bunch of stuff on order to test out for the gel time reduction. Norax MCP catalyst - extends gel time to about 2X TBC - can be used to extend gel time 2-4 times normal by using 200 - 500 ppm. Probably best to stay 300 ppm or less. I plan on setting up an 8" x 18" test of 3 layers of...
  3. tpenfield

    1995 Larson 174 SEI Complete Rebuild

    FWIW - I think the vinyl could use some 'tightening up' . When I made new vinyl for my Formula 242 seat, I put in a 1/8" foam backing to the vinyl, which tightened it up a bit without getting the seams out of alignment with the main cushion contours, etc. They came out pretty much the way...
  4. tpenfield

    Price check - 2001 Crownline 248 BR

    I get $14,000 - $15,900 on Bucvalu.com , but that is in average condition with the 6.2 engine. So, if you go +15-20% on condition and add maybe $2K for the 496 HO Mag, then it puts you in the $20-21K range. If I do NADA, and add the engine and trailer, I get . . . . So, I think $20K is your...
  5. tpenfield

    Custom Fiberglass Extended Swim Platform

    I found a vacuum pump that has very good ratings and seems to pull about 25-30 Hg according to the reviews. It seems to fall within the spec's recommended on the fiberglass web sites, in terms of capacity, etc. for this size of job. I have this pump, some extra oil, and a gauge on order for...
  6. tpenfield

    Custom Fiberglass Extended Swim Platform

    Just checking my material estimates on the platform mold . . . These online calculators are pretty handy. I plan on using 3 layers of 1.5 oz CSM, which should yield me about 1/8" thick glass. . I'll be using the 50" wide mat. I noticed that the catalyst calculation is for the resin and...
  7. tpenfield

    Custom Fiberglass Extended Swim Platform

    Trying to work through a couple of issues . . . First is that the tooling gelcoat does not seem to be curing properly. Note the traces of gelcoat left on the plug. The gelcoat in the mold is a bit tacky and seems to remain so. I am letting it set-up.cure for about 90 minutes, then doing the...
  8. tpenfield

    Custom Fiberglass Extended Swim Platform

    Sunday afternoon update. Ladder Hatch mold #2 . . . Success . . . at least much better. I put down 2 layers of CSM, then a partial layer of 24 oz WR, then peel ply. The resin was fed under the peel ply. The resin flowed pretty well, but I did coax it along with a roller. Here are a few...
  9. tpenfield

    Custom Fiberglass Extended Swim Platform

    I decided to remove my 'failed' mold attempt from the plug, considering that I may need to re-do it. Well easier said than done . . . It took all of my wedges and a few other tools to pry the mold off of the plug. Bad news is that the plug took some damage in separating the mold from it . . ...
  10. tpenfield

    Custom Fiberglass Extended Swim Platform

    Quick update . . . It tried the vacuum infusion on one of the ladder hatches as 'practice' . . . hopefully useful practice. Well it looks like I got to keep the day job, because it was an epic fail :facepalm: Everything started off OK, but things went downhill once I started to infuse the...
  11. tpenfield

    Custom Fiberglass Extended Swim Platform

    Speaking of the molds . . . I have been ordering supplies and will be going to a fiberglass supply shop tomorrow (Friday) to pick up the bulk of the glass and resin. My shopping list looks something like this . . . Mold Release Wax PVA Mold Release wedges Tooling gelcoat (gallon) 5 Gals...
  12. tpenfield

    Painting out drive

    My rules on re-painting outdrives . . . 1) Don't take off any more paint/primer than you have to. 2) Use a primer that is made for underwater use on aluminum. (Like Interlux Primecon) 3) Don't spend a lot on the topcoat paint. A can of Rustoleum Black (for Mercury) will do fine. I...
  13. tpenfield

    2019 Winterization Test for Mid-west/Northern Central USA

    Looks like boat owners in those areas of the US are going to get a good test of their (or their boat shop's) winterization procedures over the next few days. -20 F to -30 F in the Dakotas and Great Lakes areas, wind chills in the -40 to -50 range. :eek: :faint2: Should be a good test of how...
  14. tpenfield

    Custom Fiberglass Extended Swim Platform

    The plug is done . . . I sanded for about 5 hours today and got all the surfaces smooth. The non-skid takes up most of the real estate, so it was a matter of sanding what is left . . . 100, 120, 220, 400 grit :rolleyes: Lots of dust, but it is not itchy like fiberglass dust. I put a thin...
  15. tpenfield

    Custom Fiberglass Extended Swim Platform

    Quick Update: Since the Patriots are not playing again until next weekend, :) I'll be working on the ESP 'plug' this weekend, hoping to finish it off and keep on my schedule. I have factored some of the information that I have learned about how Formula attaches their ESP's into the design...
  16. tpenfield

    Capri 1750 Complete Restore :) & 9 Months to do it too!

    Here are a couple of pictures with a bunch of dimensions. Feel free to round-off as needed. . .
  17. tpenfield

    Capri 1750 Complete Restore :) & 9 Months to do it too!

    This is about the best I can do . . . rounded the edges and re-tapered the portion in front of the windshield. . . . This was good practice for me in working with curves shapes. :) I think you could start out with a basic design 'on paper' and then add curved shapes as you fabricate it.
  18. tpenfield

    Capri 1750 Complete Restore :) & 9 Months to do it too!

    Here is a slight revision with a couple more curves . . . .
  19. tpenfield

    Capri 1750 Complete Restore :) & 9 Months to do it too!

    Here is something I came up with . . . some curves, but more straight portions than what you had done originally. You may be able to build the straight portions out of wood and the curves surfaces out of foam, then glass over the whole thing to make it strong and durable. . .
  20. tpenfield

    Custom Fiberglass Extended Swim Platform

    I did get someone from the Formula Owner's forum to post a couple of pics of their platform underside . . . . . This platform has the foldout step, rather than the ladder. Not exactly sure of the structure and the mounting from these pictures, but it seems to be largely surface mount, but no...
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