Lone Star Medallion and 70's 70 horse Johnsons

Itsalonestar

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 15, 2010
Messages
37
Brought home an Aluminum Lone Star Medallion yesterday. It came with a middle 1970's 70 horsepower Johnson and a similarly aged 65 horse engine
in sections which the previous owner had for parts. Any of the resident Johnson/Evinrude dudes here know if these motors interchange parts (65 horse and 70 horse)? I also have a 76 Johnson in storage that is rebuilt which I will probably use if only for sentimentality's sake. Spirit of 76 and all....:) I think most if not all the parts from the 70 that came on the boat will interchange with that one...just not sure about the 65 horse parts...all 3 are within a couple years of each other.

I have the deck torn out and down to the bones and pressure washed. I read in other posts that the majority recommend GluvIt for seams and rivets from the interior side. The bottom section of the hull interior is unpainted, but the sides are painted down to where it rivets together. I suppose that will have to go down to bare aluminum along the seam for the GluvIt to adhere properly.....I will hit it with 4000 psi pressure washer with the cutter nozzle and see what happens...think that might remove some of whatever sealing material they used in the seam where it was riveted together. Do you generally just hit the seams/rivets with the Gluvit, or is it recommended to do the entire hull section since it is unprimed and unpainted?

The exterior paint is either badly oxidized and turning to powder or someone used some latex house paint on the thing. Appearance-wise the hull is darn near perfect, so I'm wanting to do this so it will last a couple decades.
(After that, one of you youngsters can have it.) HAHA
The windshield is glass. And it has a middle section that slides down flat and an access hatch like a sailboat. This is a cool old boat!
Pressure washing has taken the exterior paint down to bare aluminum or nearly so in some places....starting to see gray. Is this something to spot prime, or would you blast off all the paint possible and prime it all with something?

Previous owner had stuffed some 3/4 inch sheets of builder type sheet foam
between the floor braces, but I am not crazy about that. I was wondering if anyone had ever used pvc pipe cut to length and capped for flotation under the deck?

He had also gone to a lot of trouble to fit plywood on the deck/floor, but it was starting to deteriorate after a couple years and I don't want to put it back. I have a sawmill and some cedar logs, and was thinking maybe some cedar slats that would lift out for cleaning might be a good way to go instead of plywood. Never had much luck with anything plywood that's exposed to the elements. If anyone has used cedar with spar varnish on a boat I'd be interested to hear how it went. I was also considering some of the composition planks they are using for decks now...some kind of plastic stuff.

Transom wood looks iffy, so I guess that will be on the to-do list. Previous owner had built up an epoxied plank of plywood for it, but I don't really see how a whole piece can be forced in there. I'm thinking I will do two pieces that overlap and glue the laps after they are in place. He had also put in a 25 gallon aluminum fuel tank complete with screw on fuel filter canister. Won't use that either due to the room it takes up. An item for Craigslist.
 

Stykbowhntr

Seaman
Joined
May 20, 2010
Messages
54
Re: Lone Star Medallion and 70's 70 horse Johnsons

Welcome to iboats. I'll be the first to tell you....we want pictures. The guys here are great and have been an encouragement to me. I had the same thought for my transom, but finally figured out how to get it out and back in as a one piece transom. I don't actually have it back in yet...that's another story. Keep us updated on your progress.
 

Itsalonestar

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 15, 2010
Messages
37
Re: Lone Star Medallion and 70's 70 horse Johnsons

Yes, was just reading about your transom situation. Sounds like a similar scenario, except this boat has some blind riveted side panels over the splash pan to heighten the drama. HAHAHA

There has to be a better way than messing with wood for this. A frame of thick walled square tubing maybe 3 inches wide by whatever the required thickness for the motor to bolt through with angle brackets to the sides of the boat would seem sufficient to me. Not set up to weld aluminum, but I think wood is a little last century for this application.
 

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Itsalonestar

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 15, 2010
Messages
37
Re: Lone Star Medallion and 70's 70 horse Johnsons

This is an all-around good site for coatings info, but I'm thinking this may be
the way I'll go for primer or maybe even final coat. I like the "aluminum" work boat look and the fuss and prep is minimal. Do a little seam work, maybe throw in an accent stripe, and I'm outta the shed and onto the wa-wa. :)

http://www.epoxyproducts.com/aluthane.html


Welcome to iboats. I'll be the first to tell you....we want pictures. The guys here are great and have been an encouragement to me. I had the same thought for my transom, but finally figured out how to get it out and back in as a one piece transom. I don't actually have it back in yet...that's another story. Keep us updated on your progress.
 

Woodonglass

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 29, 2009
Messages
25,929
Re: Lone Star Medallion and 70's 70 horse Johnsons

Welcome to iBoats! Never heard of that Paint but it looks and sounds impressive. Your boat is exceptional. Gluvit is NOT UV ray tolerant so you will need to coat it with something to protect it but I assume you will be puttin a floor in the boat so that will do it. Keep us posted with more pics and updates on the paint. Lot's of "Tin" boaters on here and I'm sure they will be interested on the durability and easy of application of the paint.

I'm just sayin...:D
 

Itsalonestar

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 15, 2010
Messages
37
Re: Lone Star Medallion and 70's 70 horse Johnsons

Hey! :)

The more I think about it, the more I like it. Have used similar aluminum- based coating over the years for various things, and have always been impressed with the results in terms of application, appearance and longevity.
I have both airless and compressed air spray equipment but I totally despise dragging it all out and cleaning it up, and I suspect this will do just fine with
the right roller...if not, well a little sanding between coats probably won't kill me. As long as I stay in the shade, anyway......over 100 lately here in Tx.

I'm not sure the boat leaks, so am undecided about what to do with the seams. I used the blaster tip on the pressure washer yesterday, and was able to cut out the material they used to seal the seams, so it's ready for something..just not sure what. It's a good day to play in the water again, so may fill er up and see if anything leaks out after I do some more blasting on the paint...still getting some fine residue off both interior and exterior. I would definitely recommend using a pressure washer on these things...can't believe the crud that blew out of all the little cracks and crevices, even after mulitple passes. This one puts out 4000 psi, but half that would do the job with the right nozzle. Gotta be careful with those things in a confined area though....can literally blow holes in flesh. (been there, done that!) HAHAHA

I am still leaning towards using some cedar slats that lift out for floor and benches. After I saw what had accumulated under the recent (2 year old)
plywood floor and the moisture related paint problems, I'm thinking a little circulation and an ability to lift out panels for cleaning might not be a bad idea.

I do like aluminum boats. I guess some object to the noisy hulls, but having spent childhood learning to ski behind a Naden, and paddling an aluminum canoe, it's kinda like music to me. Can't wait to get her on the water. :)


Welcome to iBoats! Never heard of that Paint but it looks and sounds impressive. Your boat is exceptional. Gluvit is NOT UV ray tolerant so you will need to coat it with something to protect it but I assume you will be puttin a floor in the boat so that will do it. Keep us posted with more pics and updates on the paint. Lot's of "Tin" boaters on here and I'm sure they will be interested on the durability and easy of application of the paint.

I'm just sayin...:D
 

Itsalonestar

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Aug 15, 2010
Messages
37
Re: Lone Star Medallion and 70's 70 horse Johnsons

Well a few more hours and another bucket or two of sweat got the boat hanging from the ceiling of the carport with the engine off.....the bow seam in the middle leaks profusely, so very glad I tore out the interior to do a thorough job. I'm guessing a cup a minute with no pressure, just gravity. Woo woo!
Mama would have been sooooooooooo pi$$ed at me!!!! HAHAHAHA She gets all irritated and what-not when sailboats heel over more than 90 degrees and motorboats fill up with water unexpectedly. Girls are a picky bunch. Give em a dry, level place to pee in privacy and they do pretty well on the water, though. Workin' on it, honey!


Welcome to iBoats! Never heard of that Paint but it looks and sounds impressive. Your boat is exceptional. Gluvit is NOT UV ray tolerant so you will need to coat it with something to protect it but I assume you will be puttin a floor in the boat so that will do it. Keep us posted with more pics and updates on the paint. Lot's of "Tin" boaters on here and I'm sure they will be interested on the durability and easy of application of the paint.

I'm just sayin...:D
 
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