1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

[GT1000000]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

Hope all is well...Man, I thought the turkey ate you...what's been happening...I been jonesing for an update???

 

[ncnjeremy]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

Lol.... yeppp. That darn turkey got me!!!! Been busy moving somewhere I am alloud to work on my boat/and any future boats! I will post some more pics this evening after work! . I got all the glass/floor done! Had a few biddies come over and help put the cap back on. It isn't mounted... just sitting on a couple boards. I gotta hook up a couple livewell hoses and I can drop it down.!!!!!! It is getting exciting!

How ya doin there GT!!?? Ill hafta check your thread and get an update!

 

[ncnjeremy]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

Hey EVERYONE!!!!! It has been some crazy weather here in Bowling Green, Kentcuky! It is warm as heck! Work has had me working from 6AM till round 8 or 9! I got some time off finally! It is warm and I should have my boat ready for SPLASH DAY!..... And that is sooooo thanks to all of you guys help and support! I got the cap back on. I been having problems with my uploading. But I have pictures for you all! I just put the silicone on tonight. I am off this weekend. THE FIRST IN A LOOOOOONG TIME! Im gonna take a trip to West Marine in Nashville. Gotta grab a few little things. AND.... I got the carpet orderded! The GOOD stuff! ! And i had to get the glue from a diff site. It took me a friggin day of research to find out what I wanted to use for the carpet glue. I have read so much on the subject. I Finally made a decision. I got the glue and the 20 oz carpet. It is "charcoal" color. Im gonna put some pictures up so y'all will see whats up.

P.S. I think I have a name for it now. I am going to first off pull the wildfire logo off the side. It looks like crap. And the boat name will be..... "BULLETPROOF"

I think it is actually bulletproof after all the fiberglass that I put on it. If y'all have any suggestions let me know

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

S'up Brutha...
Glad to see ya pokin around...
I like the name..."BULLETPROOF"...
Also glad to hear you been busy...busy equals boat money, yeah!

Hope the twisters have stayed away from you and yours...
stay safe...
L8r,
GT

 

[ncnjeremy]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

oh yeah! got a heck of a stock for the boat now! took a trip to The West Marine to pick up a power distribution box for everything. it beats the fuse links and wire nuts everywhere that was on there. I got a 12 block for like 60 buck. well the fuses and the terminals and the marine wire (I just feel like I have to get the best now) was 115! But it'll B nice!!!

Also GT your project is looking NICE!!!

 

[ncnjeremy]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

Hope the twisters have stayed away from you and yours...
stay safe...
L8r,
GT

Yeah it was kinda nasty. only for a bit tho. Lots of cable down in the city. (my job) Had to re hang lots of lines!!

 

[bartborchardt]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

What's the latest on the Tidecraft? Have you had a chance to work on it lately?

Bartman

 

[EANTUNEZ_USMC]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

Hello, im new to the site and i have a wildfire xv150, you sure did alot of work on your boat! i was just wondering if you remembered how much material and exactly what material did you use for your transom and stringer repair, i just got done grinding out all of the rotted material on mine and im down to the bare hull.. any suggestions?

 

[ncnjeremy]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

Hey everyone!!!!! I have been MIA for a while! I missed ya'll!
First off, to EANTUNEZ_USMC... I would suggest www.uscomposites.com. Get the Fiberglass resin and Its kinda your choice on the Glass used. I used on the stringers, Chopped strand and woven over that. In any ares that you want very strong hold (like the transom) us the 1708 biaxial. With the mat on back or not is also choice. the mat needs to be laid down before the biax so I just got the kind with mat already on it.....DBM 1708 Biaxial. Let me know if you need any help or have any questions about it. Ill tell ya what It was a worthwhile project!

But I have been out of town for a while. When I got back I took the boat out to the water to check for leaks and run it!
SPLASH DAY WENT WELL EVERYONE!!!! I still have lots to do on it but at least i know I did a good job. Im gonna post some pictures up today in a lil bit.

 

[FlaCowboy]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

I still have lots to do on it but at least i know I did a good job. Im gonna post some pictures up today in a lil bit.

And...??? We are still waiting to see some pics

 

[ncnjeremy]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

Well, I hate to take these pics and put em up cause there is so much more to do. Still have carpet to put on the back... had to order more. I was a bit short. And a couple of the compartments i have not hinged down. I still have yet to get the seats. I think I'm gonna make my own seats. Also I'm gonna make a new dash panel. And i still need to trim the edges of the carpet a bit. Engine is running good besides a few adjustments i gotta do. I believe the rectifier is bad cause its not charging and the rpm gauge is not working. Also i need a new trim tab. I also have yet to rubbing compound the whole boat and wax it so it is still oxidized. Im sure there is more but here are some pics for everyone who has followed me thru this and helped me. If anyone has experience with these mercury inline 6 engines let me know. I have a few questions.

 

[ncnjeremy]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

my new fuse panel I put in. Still have lots of things to hook up to it and a cover goes over it with all labeled.

I put a ground bar in and i apparently need a bigger one cause i had to double up on a few things. I rewired all of everything and heat shrink on everything. The wiring was a mess of coarse before. They had all the ground wires spliced together and taped up with one wire going to battery. I ran a 8 gauge to the battery to the ground bar and attach everything to that. Also I have the thing right beside the ground bar I found I'm not sure how good they work but it is a auto reset fuse for the trolling motor. Any input on that would be awesome.

just a few fish i caught when I took the boat out for a test run.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

If anyone has experience with these mercury inline 6 engines let me know. I have a few questions.

Hi Jeremy,

Still got some catchin up to do on everything you've been up to, but the "Wildfire" is looking AWESOME!

Glad to see you have gotten it mostly together...don't sweat the finishing touches...after everything you've done, they will be a piece of cake...

BTW, as far as getting all the info you need on that Tower of Power...look up these two guys in the Mercury engine forum...faztbullet and clams canino, if they don't know what's up...I don't know who...

Best Regards and Happy Boating!
GT1M

 

[ncnjeremy]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

Thanks!, I worked my butt off on this boat. I really need to get it shined up and seats and all the goodies. It will look so much better. OH!!!! I forgot to mention! I took it out the other day to do some adjustments on the engine.... Well, water patrol got me. I had me and a buddy on board adjusting idle on engine under bridge on barren lake. They pulled up and checked us out and asked for all the goods... fire ext... lifejackets....whistle.... all the goodies. Anyways, I got a ticket for 50 for one of the lifejackets being too small. I just threw 2 on the boat before I left. I didn't check the size of em. Oh well.... They can't get me down. Was still smiling that my boat was floating! hehehe.

And GT your resto is looking great man! U need any help let me know. Ill holler at the guys over at the merc forum and see what i can find out. I want to so bad to get those backlights in the rub rail all around the boat. The front I wanna put red on the left and green on the right to replace the light up there. and some cool white in the center (moon glow). There is a website that sells the whole kit for like 800 but I found where to get the lights for em. If anyone needs them or interested here is the site and the original site is here

 

[ncnjeremy]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

Well everyone, Back on the working on the wildfire hard. I had a few spots under the boat that I had to gelcoat in white. Got those all done. I really have to figure out a good battery situation. If anyone has any suggestions please do tell. I got a cranking battery and a deep cell for the trolling motor. This is what I am trying to figure out..... Is there some relay or some sort of deal that I can hook up to where I can have the motor charge both batteries while the boat is running? Or will the motor not put out enough juice to charge em both? I figure there is a way... Like maybe how in a car u can get a beefy alternator. If anyone has any help in this dept I would love ya forever! :> Well... I love ya all forever anyways!! You have all been awesome in helping me! No way I would have been able to do it without y'all helping me! And it just makes it more exciting when you have a bunch of boat pros watching your restore and telling u your doing a great job! :> Nothing better than being on the water on the boat and knowing all the fiberglass i inhaled to get it water ready! Very satisfying!!

Another question, I need to rubbing compound it. I got some 3m rubbing compound that guy at west marine said would work. I tried it by hand in a small spot and it looks like a new boat where I tried it out. Im assuming wax goes on after the rubbing compound?..
The main question.... I have not ever used an actuate "buffer". I read they are a slower rpm. I can't find one anywhere. Where can I go about finding one of there? I have the waxer/polisher but it don't have a speed adjustment and it has a high rpm. I went to loses and they said I need to go to a auto store. I went to Advanced Auto and Auto zone and neither had. Unless I don't know what I'm looking for.. :-/

Other than that..... I hope everyone had a great 4th of July!!!!!!! I went to my local lake (Barren River Lake, BG, KY) and took my ole wildfire out and watched the fireworks. caught me a few fish while i was at it!

 

[ncnjeremy]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

Oh, Also if anyone has installed the backlights in the rub rails of their boats please chime in. I want to put them in my boat and found the site for the LED's for somewhat cheap. If someone else knows a better place to get them for cheaper please tell, THIS is where I found to get the lights only. Kinda need to know maybe where or what kind of switches to use or what someone else has used also. Im sure any will work but anyhow. There is a website that does the full kit, but it runs like 800 bux for full kit. That site is HERE

The WFLB96 series 96-LED Waterproof Flexible Light Bar UV would be the backlight. I was going to put a red and green strip on each side in the front and I could do away with the pole Navigation lights. Then a couple bright lights "moon glo" on the sides near center to be able to see out a bit. I would wire the red and green into the current switch and a separate switch for the backlights and "mood glo". Any help on this would be awesome!

Oh, i did find THIS site that is a china supplier for these lights and more but can not reach by email or phone.

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

Hey Jeremy,

Glad to hear you been getting the Tidecraft wet...sorry the water popo got ya, but oh well...

Try and get a couple of answers for ya...

The buffer you are probably looking for is one of these...

Either a Random Orbital Polisher...like one of these...

Or you could be looking for a Variable Speed Polisher, kind of like this...

The Variable Speed is the my choice because it is easier to use for the initial cutting/compounding and then for the final polish...although it is a lot harder to get the hang of using it, and if you are not careful, you can burn through the surface finish if you are at too high a speed or stay in one place too long...

The other two are better at keeping the swirl marks down to a minimum and are a little more forgiving, but are really only good for the final polish...

As far as the LED lights, check on E-Bay, under waterproof LED lights...this is just one of many listings to check out...
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=waterproof+led+lights&_sacat=0&_odkw=led+lights&_osacat=0

Hope this helps...

Later,
GT

 

[ncnjeremy]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

I would say the variable speed would be the way to go. Do they sell a cheap one at harbor freight? Also, Is that the kind of pad I need on for the compound and wax, or are they different? Thanks man, I never really got into the waxing/painting situation. lol

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

I would say the variable speed would be the way to go. Do they sell a cheap one at harbor freight? Also, Is that the kind of pad I need on for the compound and wax, or are they different? Thanks man, I never really got into the waxing/painting situation. lol

Not sure if HF has any, but you can look on their site...

As far as pads are concerned...

There are a ton available for different cutting/buffing/polishing purposes...

You can usually get away with a couple...

One is the wool bonnet, which is very aggressive and usually used with rubbing compound to cut through the top layer of oxidation quickly...
And the other one can be a foam waffle type for the final buff and polish...

Here is a link to the 3M site where they have all the different kinds and what they are used for...

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/...ECIE20S4K7000000_nid=GS4MRNDDGTbe9NQK7NZ8TZgl

Also, my personal choice for all of your cut/buff/polish you stick with 3M brand compounds, they cost a bit more than other brands, but I find that their products give a superior finish, work as advertised, and for the small amount you will need for your boat, I think it is worth the extra expense to get the best...

Just my 2?

 

[ncnjeremy]

Re: 1986 Tidecraft Wildfire Restore/ All Rotted

Alrighty!!!!! I am gonna be back at it now!.. I been working out of town and me and a partner got a custom shop opened. We are installing backlights in rub rails and custom speaker fiberglass speaker boxes in car trunks. It is up and running so I believe its time to make the finishes on my boat! I had to get some $ together! If any of y'all need any lights and are near kentucky let me know! Company name is Plain Sight Customs. We are getting a website up but I am not the greatest at html coding so don't laugh! lol. I will post some pics of the wildfire ASAP. Even though i took the wildfire off the sides! hehehe