Country Dave’s Lowe 1752 modification/restoration project.

[Badbagger]

She's taking shape. Just hooked mine up to the back of the Tacoma after playing around and marking up the storage area and anchor box for the fabricator with a Sharpie Marker :mrgreen: Off to fab at 9 in the morning and don't know what kind of time frame I'm looking at but no rush. Still need to come up with close to $2500 for the paint and Linex work. The $6k balance due on the engine is in the bank so good to go there.

 

[Country Dave]

She's taking shape. Just hooked mine up to the back of the Tacoma after playing around and marking up the storage area and anchor box for the fabricator with a Sharpie Marker :mrgreen: Off to fab at 9 in the morning and don't know what kind of time frame I'm looking at but no rush. Still need to come up with close to $2500 for the paint and Linex work. The $6k balance due on the engine is in the bank so good to go there.

Ok brother sounds good. Waiting on those pics.

 

[Gators5220]

Man that boat is lookin sick dave!

 

[Country Dave]

Man that boat is lookin sick dave!

Hey thanks gator,

I’m pretty happy with the build so far. I can’t see anything I would have done different to this point with the possible exception of the large float pods instead of the medium ones. I was concern about having enough clearance for the motor sweep.
Mid March to the end of March is still plausible for completion. :LOL2:

 

[lbhansford]

what brand float pods did you go with, im lookin at adding a set to my 16footer.. was looking at boyd and beavertails....

 

[Country Dave]

what brand float pods did you go with, im lookin at adding a set to my 16footer.. was looking at boyd and beavertails....

I went with the Beavertail’s. They look like they are well made. I'm happy with them.

 

[Pweisbrod]

Great looking build. All of you floridians make we want to get back out in Tampa bay! I've fished the ocean twice, them saltwater critters are tough fighters.

 

[Country Dave]

Great looking build. All of you floridians make we want to get back out in Tampa bay! I've fished the ocean twice, them saltwater critters are tough fighters.

Thanks Pweisbrod,
We are spoiled for sure; Florida fishing is some of the best in the world, fresh and salt.

 

[bigwave]

what he said :fishing2: I think my snook is bigger.

 

[Country Dave]

what he said :fishing2: I think my snook is bigger.

LOL :LOL2: I take big snook, tarpon, Jack, right here in the inlets 20 minute from my house.

 

[Country Dave]

God I take awful pics, I’m so much better looking than that. :LOL2:

 

[Country Dave]

Ok well before this thread gets too far off track :LOL2:

I got her flipped back over on the trailer last night. I’m at the office today and tomorrow I have one of my grandson’s birthday parties but I will try and get the transom bolted in between tonight and the end of the weekend.

Then prepping for paint. Pics to follow.

 

[andrax]

Hey Dave, did you wire wheel on a grinder to prep? I am afraid to get the wrong kind of wheel and cause more issues on my Duracraft. Your boat is looking nice.

That is a huge Snook:shock:
Andrew

 

[Country Dave]

Hey Dave, did you wire wheel on a grinder to prep? I am afraid to get the wrong kind of wheel and cause more issues on my Duracraft. Your boat is looking nice.

That is a huge Snook:shock:
Andrew

On my transom I used a wire wheel and just wired the crap at of it so I could fill in any voids with JB weld. I did use a girding wheel to remove the excess. As far as prepping for the steelflex and paint just sand paper. 80 grit for the bottom and up to the rib for the steelflex. That stuff likes a little bit of a ruffed up service to bond to.

Not the case however for paint. After sanding with like 220 grit I will scrub it down with alumiprep 33 cleaner and a red scotch bright pad. Then I spray on a good coat of etching primer. Then I use a good sealer on top of the primer, then I spary on the base coat, and then clear over the top of that. I like my paint to have some good luster and a little pop to it. It’s a lot of work but to me it’s worth it. If you look at the pics of my 1448 that’s the same process I used for it.

 

[Badbagger]

Looking forward to seeing the finished project! I'm a bit behind ya with the Ark. Sometime this summer we may take a run down to Broward to see my daughter and if that works and the timing is right for ya, maybe ya can take the wife and I and chase a few on the flats. Been a good minute since I've fished down south. My Son In Law to be just bought an older Mako and getting some work done on her too.

 

[Pweisbrod]

what he said :fishing2: I think my snook is bigger.

LOL :LOL2: I take big snook, tarpon, Jack, right here in the inlets 20 minute from my house.

So you're going to take me on the country Dave tarpon and snook tour when I'm in April, right? That is a beastly snook.

 

[Country Dave]

Looking forward to seeing the finished project! I'm a bit behind ya with the Ark. Sometime this summer we may take a run down to Broward to see my daughter and if that works and the timing is right for ya, maybe ya can take the wife and I and chase a few on the flats. Been a good minute since I've fished down south. My Son In Law to be just bought an older Mako and getting some work done on her too.

Give me a heads up when you’re going to be down. I’ll try and keep it open and we’ll go spank um. :LOL2:

 

[Country Dave]

Ok quick update and a couple of pics.

Transom is bolted in, I just have to put my eye rings in. I have them but ran out of the stainless steel nylon locking nuts so I will put them on tomorrow. Next task, build a couple of transom supports. Hard to explain but I will take pics.
Steel flex has fully cured and I’m happy with how it came out. I know I’ve said it before it’s a pain in the butt to work with but good stuff and I wouldn’t run a tin without it.

 

[hoosier78]

Awesome build! You are not sparing no expense on this one. going to be following your build.

 

[Country Dave]

Awesome build! You are not sparing no expense on this one. going to be following your build.

Hey thanks hoosier 78,

I’m just trying to build this boat so it will be functional for my specific needs. First and foremost it needs to be light. That’s why I got an aluminum hull in the first place. A lot of the flats guys are going in this direction. A fiberglass hull the same length would way about 3 times as much. So having a really light boat lets me get super shallow. I also want it to be rigged, tuff, durable.

I need to run at a pretty good clip and I’ve got the motor for that. And all though I’m not building a showroom peace if it comes out looking good, it’s a bonus. I’ll take it. :LOL2: