My project Searider 5.4

[boatster_sr4]

Thought I'd share some pics of my current project searider. Since getting it in January I've completely torn it down to the individual components and will be putting it back together. So far: console painted, tubes patched, and motor had a go through (impeller, gearcase oil, thermostat, carbs, basic visuals, oil tank VRO/OMS to be removed ).

The floor paint is a one part Polyurethane with grip bits mixed in. This is the stuff used to spray in truck bedliners. I had a the color custom mixed. The test color in the middle of the picture is how the floor will look. It should be really nice.

The tubes look really beat but they hold air reasonably well. I haven't put any treatment like 303 on yet.

Much more to go. I'm taking my time.

[codprawn]

Keep the pics coming - will be nice to see it on the water!!!

[pathalla]

Looks like you are really tearing into it, the only way to really do it in my humble opinion, the deck paint should look really good! I thought about using the same stuff on our boat, I wasn't really confident on the adhesion to aluminum decking so I went with a conventional paint instead. If I had glass I wouldv'e used it. Keep sending Pics. Good luck with it!

[boatster_sr4]

Hi Pathalla,

Couldn't you primer the aluminum deck first? This stuff is extremely grippy, perfect for this application. If your interested I bought 1 gallon from http://www.grizzlygrip.com. I spoke with Ed the owner, very helpful guy.
You could ask Ed how to prep the alu for best adhesion.

[Tim M]

Did you roll the paint onto the console? Looks like youve got a very nice finish...

[boatster_sr4]

Hi Tim,

Actually I wetsanded the old gelcoat on the console then spray primed it. I then lightly sanded the primer with 600 grit by hand and then finally spray painted the primer with "real orange" Rust Oleum. This was all from spray paint cans. The finish came out just as good as it looks in the pictures. I am going to spray a clearcoat of Tempo paint which has UV inhibitors to protect the color from fading. For once I did everything as recommended and to my surprise the finish looks extremely professional.

I just painted the interior of the hull today. I mixed in a 1/2 a pint of red polyurethane paint into the original gallon to get more of an orange POP to the color. It actually came out exactly as the original hull color.

You can see the original test color is yellowish. I'm really glad I added the red.

[ADS]

Looking good Boatster! Im on the look out for one now!
Best of luck with it,
Alex

[dctucker]

Wow. That looks great. Makes me want to to the same to mine. Sounds like an awful lot of work though!

What about the exterior of the hull?

[boatster_sr4]

Hi DcTucker,

I have pics of your boat from Ebay! Your boat looks beautiful as it is.

I have tossed several ideas about the exterior but am going to put that off until I get some hours logged on the boat first. I was thinking of having gelcoat sprayed or even painting it with Awlgrip. Or really just leave it as it is. It is afterall just a boat (meant to be used, not beautified). I figured painting the console and coating the interior was simple enough. The practical reasons was for visibility as the original orange floor had faded. And the grip of the new material will make for more sure footed boating (its really grippy).

I like to make my boats ship shape if I can.

[dctucker]

Originally Posted by boatster_sr4

Hi DcTucker,

I have pics of your boat from Ebay! Your boat looks beautiful as it is.

HA! Pictures can lie. The interior of the hull is more than a bit faded and stained. The extra non-skid is a motivation as well. But, I probably won't actually do anything, as spending $$ on the RIB (coachboat) doesn't make the raceboat (sailboat) go any faster. And the focus is on the latter. On the 17th, we leave Massachussets for Florida, 1200 miles each way for a regatta. We did spring for a new impeller, gearcase lube and spark plugs for the RIB though.

My boat and trailer are off at the shop right now, as the trailer is being fitted with a new 3500 lb axle with brakes. Next week I'll post some interesting pictures of traveling with a RIB & sailboat on one trailer... Loading that up on Monday afternoon. Still have to build the cradle for the sailboat and install the hitch on my wife's car. Finally getting all the bits together now. I'll try to ghet some ribbing pics from St. Petersberg while we're down there.