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  1. F

    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    I guess with this template and material I’m just a buck away from fabricating a new transom. And with the old transom wood, which is solid but I decided to replace with one 1/8” thinner to try not to interfere with engine-drive alignment due to laminating this sheet in, I could make a reversible...
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    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    By the way, I paid $180 for a sheet of .090” 5052. I got quotes as high as $230 for a sheet of .080”. This is to expensive and to critical to waste material so in case anyone else needed to make a template and had no approach I thought I’d throw mine out there as one viable method. Someone will...
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    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    With bottom set down I marked the sides from the other side of the cardboard, this will not be the right dimension, but gives me a margin to cut away and get closer. I can also scribe off that edge since it’s the right shape.
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    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    Almost there.
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    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    One very important thing to know about scribing: the piece you are making will only go into the joint or corner or whatever in one direction, meaning it’s not going to spread out and fill the space: imagine a line connecting the scribe point and pencil, the line has to stay perpendicular to the...
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    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    When I’m done my template will be about the outside of the radius where the transom is folded into it’s seam, when I transfer it onto the aluminum I can use the same method to mark a consistent distance inside the template so my lamination ends at the inside of the bend radius- 🤞
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    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    I have about 6” of cardboard still sticking up above the transom, so I can keep taking little bits off and moving it down till it fits. This will take about 4-5 iterations probably to get just where I want it.
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    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    Then mark where I am still cutting:
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    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    This is how I measure how far I want to move my template where it fits or hits:
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    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    Pattern making this morning: I used to do finish carpentry and was taught to use the tool your math teacher called a compass instead as a scribe. It is the best tool I know for off setting a shape onto a board or template and it’s how we made things like base boards or crown molding fit...
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    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    I got a stainless cup brush and went over the transom inside and out where there was visible corrosion, it didn’t get every deep pit clean but took off a bunch. In the morning I’ll hit it with Starbright ultimate aluminum cleaner, a small wire brush, and a scotch brite pad and start in to...
  12. F

    82 Starcraft MR 180 floor, slight refit and leaks

    TVA. . . There is an outside chance I’ll relocated to Atlanta next year from California. May have to come see your boat. Congrats!
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    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    This is like defrosting a windshield.
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    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    The engine had a front row seat to the transom show. Almost like it turned to preach to the choir.
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    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    Nothing is soft or wet on the transom plywood. I have some remnant glass and epoxy resin from another project; is it terrible if I sand this down, glass it, and reuse it?
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    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    The plywood is actually in great shape aside from all the aluminum corrosion build up on it. I haven’t cleaned the transom skin yet to evaluate the pitting/ through holes. I think it’s probably minor enough to be dealt with pretty easily since I have left over 5052 sheet, an extra tube of 5200...
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    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    Can anyone verify that the “super structure” of this boat uses 5/32” rivets? I’m 99% convinced but not certain I’m not obstructed by my ignorance. Also, if you need to know how the panel above the transom is held on an islander, you can infer from these holes:
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    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    It wouldn’t really be a boat restoration otherwise.
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    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    It’s not sturdy enough for serving the drive on it, but it keeps it of the ground for storage. I may brace it up a little, it’d be nice to have a proper stand next time I replace my my sea water impeller. Also in the back ground is an out board stand I built two years ago, I needed a place to...
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    I didn't want to restore this 1997 Islander this summer

    Before I pulled the drive yesterday, I recycled one of my forward decks into this stand:
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