Plastic Classic Forum

Dan H

While sanding my topsides today, I noticed the sander seemed different suddenly. Then it started gouging the gelcoat. Found the bearings that the pad rotates on have already set up. I'm not even done sanding my first boat! I took the bearings out and found one bearing locked up with sanding dust. I ...

Dan H

Thanks for your help everyone. Two things helped out here. First, learning to flow the varnish on instead of painting it on. A lot less brush strokes and more just pushing the varnish along, sort of. Second, a little Xylene helps out tremendously. I still have brush marks but you have to look real h...

Dan H

I am having trouble getting even the most basic finish with Satin Varnish. I've tried Interlux Goldspar Satin and Epifanes satin. Both products leave brush marks. I don't mean a little brush marks; it looks like I applied it with a hairbrush or a rake. Tipping it off, even after 1 minute leaves the ...

Dan H

I have a question or two with regards to fiberglass repair. When repairing a hole in the laminate, after the area has been correctly beveled and prepared, fiberglass pieces are cut to fill the area. Each piece is a little larger to fill the tapered void. Jamestown Distributors has a video on You Tub...

Dan H

I'm getting ready to fair the topsides. This flexible longboard sander looks intriguing. Any comments?
Peter Ross really has me thinking about gelcoating the topsides.
eBay Link

Dan H

Chris, I'm afraid I don't have the answer, but the guy at Hi Tech Starters and Alternators do. This guy knows everything about them. He repaired my very obsolete alternator. It only took him 4 hrs. 269-944-4050 Ask for Steve. They are located in Benton Township, close to Benton Harbor, Michigan. The...

Dan H

Wicked weather. I flew into Bangor on Monday. Couldn't believe the flight wasn't cancelled. Plane was sure rocking and rolling. Looks like the Bayou up here in some places. Lots of standing water. What is the difference between a Bayou and Bog anyway? 1000 miles and gators? I did have the day off to...

Dan H

With regards to what Hirilond? said, I would varnish the teak plywood with a few coats first. This helps with the tearout of the grain. It also helps as you level the holly down to the teak surface. I plane the insert wood very close so there is very little to remove. Then I use the cabinet scraper....

Dan H

Figment, sorry I haven't been paying attention here.
I made a tool using a hardwood dowel and a pin. Works perfect. The thru-hull I have for my head has the screen made into it. You don't want to see the tool for it. It is ugly!

Dan H

I?m wondering what the reasons are for not replacing the gelcoat on the topsides as opposed to painting. It seems to me the prep time and labor is the same. The materials are not that much different in overall cost. If you have a boat that was damaged, the repairs are done with gelcoat, if it is a n...

Dan H

I actually bought mine directly from Forespar even though it said OEM only.

Dan H

One thing that Forespar doesn't say about their seacocks is that they can be through-bolted if you want to, but they don't mention that until you get the instructions. I know Tim firmly believes in through-bolting and that is why I specifically asked about that before purchasing them. I was afraid o...

Dan H

George,
Will this fit in your limited headroom? They aren't bronze but they might fit.
http://www.forespar.com/onlineCatalog/4 ... 2006.shtml
Dan

Dan H

I saw a beautiful old sloop in Muskegon Harbor last year with SOB on the transom. On the side of the boat it said "Sweet Old Boat". And it sure was pretty. I wish I knew what it was. I need an education. I am stupid but that's beside the point. Why do I see it written Glissando and then gl...

Dan H

The wet exhaust hose on my boat is twisted all over the place. It has bends in every direction and I hate it. It?s like trying to wrestle and Anaconda in there. I wonder if it would be possible to make my own epoxy and fiberglass exhaust elbows? I can find 90 deg elbows in the size I need, (1 5/8?) ...

Dan H

What is the best way to fasten wires to the inside of the boat. Some of the fiberglass inside the lockers has a very coarse texture. I was thinking about using the adhesive squares that you can lace a cable tie through. They seem to loose their grip sometimes and then they just end up hanging on the...

Dan H

Here is a conversion kit to go from 6" to 5"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004 ... e&n=228013

Dan H

. Obviously you don't want any spark-producing equipment in the fuel tank space. Is the shore power receptacle considered a spark-producing device? I would think not because there are no contacts to create a spark but I'm not sure. I am thinking I will move mine so it is not in the fuel tank compar...

Dan H

I bought these becasue they have the valves and caps on top of the tubes. First time I used them, the tube popped off the valve. They leaked where the tube fits on the valve. I slipped some Orings on the valve and jambed the tubes on with all my might. They work great now. http://images.AbsoluteHome...

Dan H

I used my right angle grinder with 1/16" thick wheels. Worked like a charm.

Dan H

Thanks Charlie, that takes more of the mystery out of it for me. There was something very different betwen the first can and the second can of varnish bought. I wonder how to know if one gets an old can of product? I don't know why I thought there was a difference between spar varnisha nd any other ...

Dan H

The first can of varnish I purchased was a Spar Varnish. It doesn?t work like the other type of varnish. It never really dries hard. It is difficult to sand . I assumed spar varnish was the same as regular varnish but it is not. The second can of varnish I purchased was Interlux 96. I?ll call this r...

Dan H

You watching that one slowly sink into "free boat - please come get it" status on the classic plastic list? Yup, that 's the one I'm watching. I figure I'll go look at it when he drops the price to that of the trailer. I like buying boats for the price of the trailer. It's not very far fr...

Dan H

You watching that one slowly sink into "free boat - please come get it" status on the classic plastic list? Yup, that 's the one I'm watching. I figure I'll go look at it when he drops the price to that of the trailer. I like buying boats for the price of the trailer. It's not very far fr...

Dan H

You watching that one slowly sink into "free boat - please come get it" status on the classic plastic list? Yup, that 's the one I'm watching. I figure I'll go look at it when he drops the price to that of the trailer. I like buying boats for the price of the trailer. It's not very far fr...

Dan H

Does any one have any information about Glander Cay sailboats? Are they any good or are they junk?

Dan H

No doubt this is totally wrong, but the few times I did fiberglass overhead, I layed the glass on 5 mil plastic and wet it out there. Then I carried the plastic and glass into the boat and put it on the overhead. I rolled the air out working from the center with my little fiberglass roller and then ...

Dan H

That's why it is so important for me to get it right. My wife gets very sick in just a few seconds being around diesel so there won't be any of those in my future, unfortunately.
Thanks for the replies,
Dan

Dan H

On my boat, I have re-installed the saildrive engine. I was not planning on installing a starting battery, it's only 15hp. The more I think about it, the better things would be with one. The main reason is because the engines electrical system is already factory wired to use it's own battery. The ho...

Dan H

Thanks for the reply Todd. Since I'm in no rush to get done, the varnish dries about 2 weeks before sanding and applying the next coat. I am using Interlux Schooner 96. Should I be using Epifanes varnish? Also Charlie J, I was wondering why your teak looks so dark compared to mine? Was that from the...

Dan H

Along the line of sanding varnish, what sandpaper works the best?
I have tried several types, but it all seems to loads up the paper pretty quick.
Maybe that's just the nature of the beast?
Dan

Dan H

Thank You. I have also found a site that has parts for just about every power tool made. It comes with a complete parts list and an exploded view. Makes it real easy. http://www3.sears.com Type in model # DW958K-2 TYPE 3 for example and try it, or any model number for any sander or any power tool yo...

Dan H

My beloved Dewalt drill/driver fell off the deck of the boat and hit the concrete floor. It landed on the chuck and now I cannot turn the chuck shaft at all. It's completely locked up. I'm bummed. I have removed the screw in the center of the chuck but can't get the chuck off. Anybody know how to ge...

Dan H

WOW, that router table is pretty! I also use paste wax on my table saw, except I use my propane torch to warm the surface before I apply the way. The cast iron will sweat out a lot of moisture. I wipe up the water as I go. It seems like the paste wax goes in deeper. My saw sits out in an unheated sh...

Dan H

We use a lot of these on industrial machines. You can get them in any material and temperature rating.
They are not cheap but I've only seen one fail in many years of using many of them.
http://www.amot.com/us/products/thermo.asp

We call them Amot valves.

Plastic Classic Forum

Search found 35 matches

Porte Cable 7336 Sander

More VArnish Problems but with Satin this time

Some Basic Fiberglass questions

21" FLEXIBLE LONG BOARD SANDER

Why Not Gelcoat?

Fiberglass exhaust elbows.

Fastening wires.

Garden Hose water level

Right angle grinder

Learning varnish the hard way

Glander Cay Sailboats

Electrical Question - Bilge Blower Wiring

Dewalt Drill Driver

Re: Retrofit Thermostatic mixer for Hot Water tank