Like my new bottom?

Well, after LOTS of messy, dusty grinding, it was finally time to put a new layer of glass in the bottom of the Southwind.With the help of a couple of friends that actually knew what they were doing it went very well..

The curtain is up and we're ready to start!

We did 1/2 of the bottom at a time, laying in both layers before wetting them out in place with resin.

Here you can see the layers. First layer was 1.5oz. chopped strand mat, second was 1700 cloth. And, no, that's not me holding the beer!

First half is wetted out, waiting for the resin to 'kick'. 

Looking good!

This was the jet pump intake hole before...

...and after! Now I can cut a new hole to accept a Berkeley pump rather than a Jacuzzi like it used to have.

This week I will cut the wood for the transom and floor, as well as side bulkheads. Next will be glassing those pieces in and cutting and glassing the stringers. Then to the outside of the hull!!!



aCuttin' and aGrindin'

Well, I've finally started the serious work on the boat project. This is the miserable part - cutting out the old floor, bulkheads and stringers, removing the bad wood from the transom, and grinding away all of the bad glass to ready the cockpit area for new floor, bulkheads, stringers and transom. The pictures tell the story....

First thing I did was create a work area that would allow me to grind to my heart's content without destroying my garage. The boat is in there somewhere!

My tools; air diamond cutter,small air grinder, large electric grinder, air 'finger' saw and 36 grit grinding discs. I love tools!

These two pictures show the area where the floor was removed. I used the diamond cutter to cut it out. Since the front bulkhead and floor beyond it were dry and solid it was decided to leave them be.

These last two photos show the grinding that now needs to be done - in the 2nd picture you can see the weave of the fiberglass cloth in the top half of the shot, that is bad glass that is delaminating. The bottom half is after grinding. This is what I'm after in all of the areas to be replaced or repaired.
  Can't wait to get past this part of it and on to the fun stuff!

The Fun Begins!

  Well, the old Southwind hull arrived today - let's just say I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. Thank goodness I have the help of some very talented fiberglass and gelcoat guys or I would be in a world of trouble.
  First order of business will be to strip the gauges, steering wheel etc. out of the hull and begin to grind all of the bad glass out of the cockpit area. Stringers and bulkheads will be cut out and replaced, and a new layer of 'glass will be laid into the bottom of the boat. Time to get dusty and itchy!

                                                 You have to visualize what it can become

                                    The transom will be replaced to accept a berkeley jet pump.                 

                                         I get to learn how to repair stress cracks in fiberglass.

                                         The original. 'Grumpy' circa 1975

Hi All!

   Welcome to my blog! A little background first; As a youngster growing up in Orange County, Ca. my   favorite time of year was summertime, and the highlight of every summer was the weekends at Lake Havasu. It was during this time of my life I fell in love with jets boats in general and Southwind Boats in particular.
    Our family boat back then was an 18' Southwind jet with a 455ci Olds motor and Berkeley Jet and it was a blast! The name of the boat was 'Grumpy' (after my dad, who tends to be a bit, shall we say, touchy...) and we had years of fun with it.
    Fast forward a very long time - I now live in Lake Havasu City with the love of my life Irene and we are blessed to be able to enjoy the wonderful lake any time. We have a decent, but well worn, 18' Cheetah jet boat that has served us very well for the last couple years but have been looking for a replacement boat.
    Like any good boat or car enthusiast, my quest began on Craigslist, where I found a bare 18' Southwind hull for....free! Now the fun begins - new gelcoat, new interior, and a lot of old parts from the Cheetah. The goal is an inexpensive, fun jet boat that will, I hope, bring as much joy as the one I grew up with.
    The name of our new boat?  Son of Grumpy
                             I hope you enjoy as I chronicle the project!