BigTerp's Tracker Sportsman 16' O/B Jet build

[panFried]

Terp, when you installed the rivets, did you place 5200 on the heads or as is?

 

[BigTerp]

panFried » 21 minutes ago[/url]"]Terp, when you installed the rivets, did you place 5200 on the heads or as is?

I put a bit around the "shaft" of my solid rivets. Once you push them through the hole the 5200 creates a nice seal in the hole and around the heads. A little goes a long way though. The first few rivets I set I put a bit to much 5200 on them and as I was setting them alot of the 5200 came out around the head. So much that some of it even ran a bit before it cured. I used the non cotton end of some small cotton applicators to apply my 5200 around the rivet shafts. A tongue depresser or something similar would work well also. All turned out very good.

 

[BigTerp]

Was able to get a bit accomplished over the weekend. My buddy brought over his HVLP gun and we got the outisde hull painted with the base coat. Spraying it was definitly the way to go. Turned out as well as I was hoping it would. We thinned the Parkers duck boat paint with about 15% paint thinner. Ended up using about 1/2 gallon of paint. I have an extra quart, so hopefully that plus the 1/2 gallon will be enough to do the rest.

Sanded and ready for primer. Used a palm sander and 220 grit paper to rough up the existing paint and smooth out all the bare aluminum spots.

Primed and ready for paint. Had 3 cans of self etching primer which wasn't quite enough. There were a few spots on the middle bottom of the hull that could have used some primer. I figure those spots won't be seen and are going to get dinged up rather quickly anyway.

Painted!! I'm extremely happy with how well it turned out. A new paint job REALLY makes a difference.

Got her back on the trailer last night after I lowered my bunks all the way down. Need to adjust my bow and stern rollers as well as the side bunks. Sits nicely lower on the trailer now. Didn't realize how high it was before. Should make loading/unloading a bit easier now.

FINALLY feel like I"m making some progress. Now I just need to find the time to get my aluminum cut and sized for my floor and deck. Hopefully can get moving and get her done sooner than later!!

 

[panFried]

Are you putting 2 coats on? I was planning to roll exterior and spray interior. But... it sounds like 1 gallon might not be enough? I have 1636... Hmmm.

 

[BigTerp]

panFried » 14 minutes ago[/url]"]Are you putting 2 coats on? I was planning to roll exterior and spray interior. But... it sounds like 1 gallon might not be enough? I have 1636... Hmmm.

It got 2 coats already. I'm not sure if rolling uses more or less paint than spraying. There is alot of overspray when spraying with the HVLP gun, but we also thinned the paint so it would spray better which makes the paint go further as well. I would guess 1 gallon is going to be enough to do yours. If not, it should be pretty darn close.

 

[panFried]

Thanks BT! I may put in order for a quart just for security. There's always touch ups. Boat looks really good. How did it dry out. Flat like you expected? I wasn't sure if thinner caused it to glossy as paper work suggested.

 

[BigTerp]

Yeah, it is nice and flat. Parkers actually reccomends thinning with paint thinner or turpentine to keep it flat. Can says to NOT thin with linseed oil as it will produce a glossy finish.

 

[bigwave]

Looking good Big terp...... =D>

 

[BigTerp]

bigwave » 48 minutes ago[/url]"]Looking good Big terp...... =D>

Thanks!! After looking at the faded and spot primered old paint for almost a year now, the new paint job makes her look like a new boat. I'm more than happy with how it turned out.

Still have a few things to pick up to get things finished. Need to get batteries, seat bases, wire and foam for under the floor. Have everything pretty well planned out and ready to go. The only thing I still need to get figured out is how I'm going to raise my transom to accomodate my 50/35 Johnson Jet. Needs to be raised about 6" or so. Thinking of making some sort of bolt on riser.

 

[BigTerp]

Adjusted my bunks, stern roller, bow roller and winch assembly last night. She sits so much better on the trailer now. The PO had all the bunks, rollers etc. set on the highest bolt holes. I lowered everything down as far as I was able to. Boat should ride better and load/unload easier. Need to reinstall and adjust my fenders and side bunks. Going to wait until after the camo stenciling is done though.

Ordering my captains seat and pin mount seat bases today. Next up is to get the floor cutout and framing installed for the floor and deck. Heading on a camping trip over the holiday, so might not get much done until after that. Planning on using large pieces of carboard to make a template for my floor/deck. What have you guys done that's worked well for templating the floor/deck?

 

[panFried]

Looking good! Looks brand new

 

[catmansteve]

Looking sharp man! How much paint did you end up using on the outside for two coats, half a gallon? I'm going to roll and tip the outside of mine so I'll probably use a little more paint, but I think a gallon will be plenty then.

 

[BigTerp]

Thanks guys!! The pictures actually don't do it justice. The lens on my phones camera is pretty scratched up, making pictures look hazy. I ordered and put a new one on over the weekend. Takes MUCH better pictures now. I'll have to get some better ones up when I get the chance.

Catmansteve - I used right about 1/2 gallon, maybe a hair more. It was thinned with about 15% paint thinner so it would come out of the gun better. Did 2 good coats, and some touch ups on heavy use areas (rails, transom bottom, etc.) I would say 1 gallon should be plenty for you to do 2 coats with a roller. What paint are you using?

 

[BigTerp]

Picked up 2 batteries for my project. An Exide group 27 dual purpose for my cranking and accessories battery, and an Everstart group 27 deep cycle for my trolling motor. Waiting on my captains seat and pin seat mounts to come in. Only a few things left I need to get, switch panel, radio, anti-skid for my floor paint and all my electric stuff. Hopefully I can get my buddy to help me get the deck framed out and floor cut within the next few weeks. Anxious to get this done!!

 

[catmansteve]

I'm considering going with Rustoleum Topside. Navy gloss on the outside and light grey non skid inside. What are you doing for your floor?

 

[BigTerp]

I've heard good things about the Topside paint. Never used it myself though. Those colors should look good together as well. The grey will be nice and cool during the summer. As long as you don't go with navy and yellow/gold (WVU) I won't complain. :lol:

I'm using the same Parkers duck boat paint for my entire boat. I'll be laying .125" thick aluminum sheet for my floor and front deck. Everything that will be a walking surface (floor, front deck, tiny elevated bow deck, rear bench and rear deck) will be getting a coat of the Parkers then sprinkled with SoftSand and then topcoated with the Parkers.

https://www.softsandrubber.com/

Not sure if I'm going to go with the softsand or their asper grit. I need something that will provide decent grip during sub freezing hunting conditions, but also something that will be soft enough to not tear up hunting waders or bare skin during fishing season.

 

[catmansteve]

Man, that kinda talk is considered high treason on this side of the river :LOL2: Maryland might technically own the Potomac, but I think it's safe to say that the Mountaineers own Byrd Stadium :mrgreen:

I've never heard of the soft sand, I might look into that for mine. I work at US Silica, so I've got the hookup for any type of silica sand you can imagine, but I used it on the paint for a previous boat and it's not the most comfortable thing for going barefoot.

 

[BigTerp]

HA!! I must admit, I have a deep hatred for WVU. I played baseball at Maryland graduating in '04. Although I should hate Duke (which I do) there is just something about WVU that puts them on the bottom of my list. Not sure if it's from growing up in Hancock, playing baseball at Maryland or what, but WVU is like a four letter word to me.

That's funny, my cousin works at the sand mine as well. Been there for a number of years now. You guys have turned him into a WVU hater as well :mrgreen:

I've never used sand with paint, but I've heard that sand will wear down over time. Especially on high traffic areas. If you shoot an email to softsand they will send you samples of their product. If for some reason they don't and you want to check it out, let me know and I'll mail you the samples they sent me. I need to dig my samples back out and decide which one I want to go with.

 

[BigTerp]

Finally got my wife on board with wanting to get my boat done ASAP. Mostly because I've turned our rec room into a boat supply depo. Not to mention our shed which has 2 5'x10' sheets of .125" aluminum, motor cowl, anchors, life jackets, etc. and tools laying everywhere. She gave me a hard time last night. [-X

There is a pool table somewhere under all this stuff.

Got my seat mounts in the other day. I highly reccommend checking out Springfields scratch and dent site. https://www.springfieldmarinescratchanddent.com/servlet/StoreFront
I got a $200 pedestal with seat base that swivels and locks for $75!! Also picked up 2 stainless steel pin mount bases for $13 each. Was only $26 shipping, so the savings was significant. Was going to add an 11" pin mount pedestal for $9, but that shot the shipping up to $48. I'm sure they calcualte shipping costs by weight.

Here is the manual adjustable (11-1/4" - 15-1/2") pedestal I'll be using for the captains seat.

Here is what made it "scratch and dent". I probably would have done just as much damage installing a new one.

Only other damage I could find on it.

Here is the pin mount bases. They look in perfect condition to me. Can't find anything on them that makes them "scratch and dent". They'll be getting painted to match the boat regardless. I'm using the standard base for the rear bench/deck and the offset base for the bow deck. Figuring the offset base will alow more leg room when fishing from the front deck.

Shot of my NOCO Gen2 on board charger, Exide group 27 dual purpose battery and Everstart group 27 deep cycle.

Going to try and get my radio, switch panel and battery trays ordered today. Only a few remaining odds and ends to pick up. Then the challenging part of trying to find the time to get everything put together!!

 

[panFried]

I just wanna thank the Mountaineers for the fine receivers they have groomed for the St Louis Rams!

Hopefully I be celebrating Austin's first NFL TD during the home opener.