18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

[Slacker411]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

I think you guys are right. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Rick-101]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

We have twins!! I bought a bonito last summer,1988 18ft bow rider with a 140 i/o your thread might be the most pictures i have seen for the rare make. Once launched we discovered the transom was rotten after quite a few engine/mechanical issues were solved.

For the side compartments, i don't believe they have much structural support. After pulling the carpet, i discovered they are not tied to the deck, there was a fabrication void that would accumulate water under the carpet. I believe they are storing skis since we do not have a ski locker and the boats are equipped with tow rings/tower. Do you have any pictures of your interior before the tear down?

The very best of luck!
*subscribed*

 

[Slacker411]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

I think mine is a 1984 I forget. I will have to check the title later. I recently had to format/restore my computer and lost a lot of pics. I did manage to find a couple of old pics from my old place.

 

[Slacker411]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration



Another pic where you can see the aluminum plate that was put on to support the old rotten transom.

 

[Rick-101]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

Thanks for the pictures Slacker411,
I think your layout might be a little simpler than mine, the devil is in the details. Ive got side panels that literally drove me nuts to remake. I will have some more pictures up in the next weeks, might give you some ideas.

Are you considering redoing the gel coat? My bottom was pretty beat up, but managed to roll some white and buffed the rest, after some polishing the blue came back to life.

We only wish metal plates could be more than a mere band-aid.
Here is the link to my thread: http://forums.iboats.com/boat-restoration-building-hull-repair/transome-rot-570022.html

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

I cannot see hooks or unwanted curves in the hull and seems well supported.

Just keep a sharp eye on all of your dimensions and check often, we've seen several big boo-boos on this forum from folks that got into too big of a hurry and neglected to check behind themselves until the damage had already been done.

It sounds and looks like you have a good plan and handle on everything that needs to be done, this should turn out to be a fine restoration.

 

[Slacker411]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

From the pics I provided it is really hard to tell there are side panels there. The wood on those panels was mostly glassed in except the part that actually formed the box. I will provide another pic in a bit might help me explain what I'm trying to. If standing in the boat looking at the side wall where it meets the deck there was what I think was a 2x6 glassed flat to the deck and up against the side wall and 2 other small pieces of 2x6 turned upright that were glassed against the long 2x6 against the deck. The shape of it was something like this: |____| What you cant see in the pic because it is removed is the piece of 2x6 that was not glassed in that formed the outside wall of the rectangular "box" it formed. That piece of wood was just wrapped in carpet and screwed in to the 2 pieces that were glassed to the hull. It ended up forming storage "boxes", with no lid mind you, on either side of my boat.

To answer your other questions I think I might use gelcoat on the interior of the boat since I can apply it directly to final layer of unwaxed resin and fiberglass..then just add wax to the last layer of gelcoat and sand it down on the sides and maybe add some silica sand or something so I have a non slip deck. Part of me is thinking of painting the interior though instead, but I have a feeling this means that I will have to add wax to my final layer of resin/glass layup so I can sand it and apply primer and then paint.

For the outside of the hull: Since I have to fill/fair, and sand the outer skin on the transom I figured that a full gelcoat or paint would be best. I suppose it would be best to go with whatever I use on the interior to avoid purchase of even more materials.

I suppose I am still a bit undecided. I want to know if I decide to go the gelcoat route on the outside of the boat will I be able do a rough sand with something like 180 grit on an orbital sander or will I have to sand completely through the old gelcoat down to the first layer of fiberglass substrate. It is my understanding that at least with the primer/paint I don't have to sand completely through the gelcoat.

 

[Slacker411]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

So I just got back from Lowes and bought two 16oz bottles of Titebond III. That was the largest size they had. I hope that is enough to do the transom. When I glue, I was thinking of making sure there was at the very least one good solid bead about 1-2 inches from the entire outside border of the transom to make sure there is a good seal all along the transom when the wood is clamped together. I will then try to evenly disperse the rest of the area of the transom to get as much coverage as I can. Before I even start does anyone think that it would be overkill to completely cover the entire surface of one piece of the transom wood and use a trowel to get a sort of ribbed surface. I have seen that done with PL glue but decided not to buy PL due to the container saying it was only water resistant and not water-proof. I also read it takes a long time to cure.

Jig N grub thank you for your advise. It is one of my biggest worries considering I took the cap off without building a cradle for the hull. I will say though that using the adjustable rollers to support the hull is working really well. It is very sturdy and I can keep the hull level at the bow and stern from the starboard and port sides.

I adjusted the trailer so that the plane of the deck is level. I figured this would make it easier when I suspend template to do a scribe and post measurement of the stringers. I got some tongue depressors from work (basically popsickle sticks) that would work great to lay under the stringers to keep them about 1/8 inch off the hull. With the popsickle sticks in place I plan on tabbing the stringers in about 3 or 4 different spots just to hold them in place. Then let that cure. The stringers will be clamped to the overhead support and held there slightly suspended by the 1/8 inch with the popsicke sticks that I will remove when it is all cured. Once tacked in place like this and with popsickle sticks removed I was planning on putting a mix of peanut butter into a Freezer bag and cutting one corner of it then shooting the peanut butter like a bead of caulk into my small 1/8 inch gap between the stringer and hull. This will both bed the stringer and help me make a fillet at the same time.

Any thoughts or suggestions I would be glad to hear.

Here are some pictures of the wood for the side "boxes" I previously mentioned as well as some more progress on grinding.

 

[Rick-101]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

You might want to lower the cap back onto the boat to make sure everything is lined up before glassing the stringers, transom and deck. It would be the a real shame doing all the work and then discovering that the boat's shell nolonger fit together.
Keep at it.

 

[Slacker411]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

Got to grind for almost an hour today before I burnt up Cheapo Harbor freight grinder #5. Thank god for protection plans!

 

[Slacker411]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

In the morning when i get off work I am going to pick up another grinder and try to finish up with the grinding. There is not that much left before I can start placing new materials in the boat. Rick, I think I will recruit some friends to help me lift the cap back onto the boat just to check placement of everything. I will do it once I have cut my center stringer that goes furthest up the bow. You can see that the front seating area on the cap sits up against the deck. That all has to be good for me to fit the cap back on as well. My biggest concern is glassing in the stringers and deck and there being an unwanted curve or hook in the hull. Like I mentioned previously I plan on measuring the width of the cap at several spots and using ratchet straps on the hull to pull the side walls in just the right amount. This way I do not glass in the deck with side walls that are flared out too far.

 

[Slacker411]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

If anyone reading this thread has any thoughts, suggestions, or constructive criticism I would love to hear it.

 

[Slacker411]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

I want to know if I decide to go the gelcoat route on the outside of the boat will I be able do a rough sand with something like 180 grit on an orbital sander or will I have to sand completely through the old gelcoat down to the first layer of fiberglass substrate. It is my understanding that at least with the primer/paint I don't have to sand completely through the gelcoat.

Considering that I am installing a new deck I would think that I would be saving a step of sanding if I were to go with gelcoat on the interior and just sand my final layer of gelcoat to the finish I want. Really curious about using gelcoat on the outer part of the hull and whether to completely sand away the old gelcoat or just rough/scuff it up.

Another thought: If I lay my final layer of CSM over a finished deck with or without wax added to the resin, could I primer over unwaxxed layup, or primer over waxxed but unsanded layup?

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

You can primer over unwaxed. So far I've sanded a little unwaxed csm and its not so bad.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

Really curious about using gelcoat on the outer part of the hull and whether to completely sand away the old gelcoat or just rough/scuff it up.

Scuffed, but any cracking may telegraph thru the new gelcoat, unless they are ground out & repaired 1st. The more imperfections you leave in the existing gelcoat or repairs, may require additional build layers of gel to prevent sanding thru the new geloat on any highs, while trying to sand out orange peel in the lows.

Another thought: If I lay my final layer of CSM over a finished deck with or without wax added to the resin, could I primer over unwaxxed layup, or primer over waxxed but unsanded layup?

No I wouldn't primer over waxed or unwaxed resin w/out sanding. Anywhere you intend to use gelcoat, shouldn't get primer.

 

[Slacker411]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

Maxx and JBCurt. I really appreciate the advise be it mixed or not. JB I may not have been very clear. I realize not to primer and gelcoat, I was just curious if I was to go the primer/paint route would I have to worry about adding wax to my final layer of glass/resin and sanding before primer, vs. adding wax and not sanding, vs. not adding wax at all. Maxx mentioned being able to primer un-waxed but kind of sounds like sanding is needed beforehand? Can anyone else chime in on this or either of you clarify for me. Thanks guys.

-my only experience with glassing so far was repairing a buckled surfboard which came out good but required buku sanding

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

If anyone reading this thread has any thoughts, suggestions, or constructive criticism I would love to hear it.

Get a free Photobucket account for posting your pics, nice big pics that you don't have to click on:

Considering that I am installing a new deck I would think that I would be saving a step of sanding if I were to go with gelcoat on the interior and just sand my final layer of gelcoat to the finish I want.

Applying gel coat or paint to new glass that hasn't been faired and sanded doesn't look that good to me because you can see the weave of the cloth or matt. This doesn't matter to some people as I've seen quite a bit of it on here, but the job looks hurried and incomplete to me. Fairing and sanding before gelling or priming will give you a nice smooth professional looking job.

 

[Slacker411]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

As always, good advice Jig. Thank you. It can be done but looks like crap was the answer I was looking for. I think I will take your advise.

 

[Slacker411]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

By the way is that grey carpeting in that boat or some sort of spray finish? My eyes are playing tricks.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: 18ft Bonito Bowrider Restoration

By the way is that grey carpeting in that boat or some sort of spray finish? My eyes are playing tricks.

It's actually storm gray Nautolex marine sheet vinyl.