‘76 Sea Nymph FM-160 Fishing Machine Boat Rebuild

[JZTIRF]

Edited

Edited April 23, 2020 by JZTIRF

[JZTIRF]

Update, Covid-19, social distancing, getting parts in the mail, and the need for supplies has caused us some delays.  
 

I think we used about 10-12 cans of Rust-Oleum Self Etching Primer on all the Aluminum exterior of the hull, the console, and some other  misc. painted parts.  
 

Just waiting for the Top Secret Paint from North Brunswick NJ.  I was told there was a plant shut down due to the Corona virus.  I hope everyone takes care and stays safe, it’s a very difficult time.  
 

Pics attached:

[JZTIRF]

More Pics of the A+++ Primer Job by my Fishing Buddy.  
 

We still need some more Spray cans of Primer for the interior.  

 

I have our 7.5HP Johnson 4 Stroke kicker at the Marina for a tune up.

 

Some of the Stainless Steel Hardware purchased for the Transom and side walls.  
 

 

[JZTIRF]

[JZTIRF]

Update,...  

 

I had wanted to use Top Secret Paint Co from Northern New Jersey, but the Covid-19 virus shut the factory down.  I had my order in and was waiting for delivery, total bummer. 
 

I had also wanted to do a Clear coat finish over metal flake.   It turns out trying to find a good clear coat is more difficult than expected.  My head was spinning looking at all the brands and prices.  
 

Since I couldn’t find what I was looking for,...  I decided to use Rustoleum Gloss Black Professional.  In my opinion, the choice of colors is very limited for Bottom paint on an Aluminum boat.  Although this paint is not advertised as a Marine paint, Rustoleum quality is legendary in my book, and I am willing to bet on it lasting as long as anything else.

 

See Pic,...  

[JZTIRF]

These are pics with the first coat after the primer.  We are planning to sand and repaint with about 2 or 3 more coats.  
 

If you look close, there is some “Orange Peel” effect, but it’s minimal after the first coat.  I’m really pretty happy with it.  
 

I was originally thinking of having the Boat professionally painted, but a couple guys suggested that it would cost (even after we did all the prep).  One garage didn’t even want to be bothered.  

Edited April 23, 2020 by JZTIRF

[JZTIRF]

Harbor Freight 

6x 4in rollers 

1000 grit 

1200 grit 

[JZTIRF]

Check out this brand new Garelick kicker motor bracket I purchased off Craigslist for $75.  It can hold up to 30HP and 180lbs.  It looks like it’s a heavy duty-top of the line unit made for 4 stroke motors.  

[JZTIRF]

Update pics of work in progress. A combination of the rainy Spring and the C19 Pandemic has slowed the rebuild.

My fishing buddy has been instrumental in the whole process as this guy has proven himself invaluable with his skills, tools, and the time that he has put into the project.  
 

I highly recommend the Kingspan R10 insulation - foam board from Lowes.  It’s absolutely choice.  I purchased 6 total sheets which is, probably overkill.  Sandwiching the slabs vertically is ingenious and the 401 on how to.  My Buddy is the foam ninja slice’n and dice’n, No wasted foam, finding a spot for everything.  
 

As you can see in the pics, we went heavy with the Gluvit and chose not to sand or paint the inside of the hull below the deck line.  It saved us time and I like the way the Gluvit covered the seams, thick, impenetrable.

[JZTIRF]

The Transom is 2x3/4”=1.5

3 thick coats of epoxy

 

[JZTIRF]

[JZTIRF]

Fitting the floor, watching placement of the seams to create jig saw puzzle fit with the largest pieces of plywood possible.  After we fit the floor we used Dark Grey TuffCoat. 
 

Note:  Our experience with the Tuff Coat has been a learning experience.  I had originally purchased the Light Grey for the Deck but then decided to do the interior of the Boat in Tuff Coat as well.  One issue was that I wasn’t really clear on the fact that Tuff Coat makes 3 different kinds of product - Light, Medium, and Heavy (which is for business - Industrial purposes like pools and playgrounds).  The UT100 is the gritty stuff.  
 

Well, in shopping on line, all the ridiculous price differences, shipping times - delays, availability, and free shipping options, I got the Dark Grey Floor in Light whereas the Light Grey inside was UT100 Medium.  
 

To quote my buddy, “The UT100 applies like chunky car tire whereas the light stuff applied like skim milk”.   We stirred the hell out of it with an electric drill.  
 

I had to buy a third Gallon of Dark Grey Tuff Coat to make sure we have enough for the upper decking.  I made sure to get the UT100.

 

Therefore, if you look at the pics of the Floor, the Tuff Coat lacks the rubberized - anti slip look.   
 

I’m still thinking that we can put on another coat of UT100.  The Dark Grey looks like Black.  My opinion of the Tuff Coat is still TBD.  I was a little disappointed at first considering the cost, but, it’s looking a little better as things are coming together. 
 

We painted the bildge white so we could more easily see down there, keep that area debris free and clean. 
 

Reattaching the interior - stern sections.

[JZTIRF]

[JZTIRF]

The Floor on this boat was originally 1/2” and we redid it in 3/4”.  It took a little extra work to reattach in the interior, stern sides, rod locker, and console.

 

Work in Progress,...

 

 

 

Edited June 4, 2020 by JZTIRF

[JZTIRF]

[JZTIRF]

Work in progress; Redesigning the Stern. We decided to shorten the rear deck while maintaining a fuel storage area underneath.  I ordered some stainless steel vents off Amazon.

[JZTIRF]

[jcirigliano3]

Looking good!  I sprayed Tuff Coat on my new floor (after two coats of epoxy).  Surprisingly easier to do than I thought it would be (keep the air pressure low or the rubber bounces everywhere.  Keep up the good work!

[Beagler]

Keep it coming.  

[JZTIRF]

The boat had an undersized console area, so we decided to build an extension to reposition the steering wheel, make more room for a switch panel for lights and bilge switches.  
 

I think it’s difficult to see what exactly we are trying to do, but the before and after pics will put things in better perspective.

[JZTIRF]

Front live well going back in,...  straightened out the old hinges with a little touch up.  The live well has a nice lip on it so that it can lay flush with the deck.   No concerns about standing on the lid.  It makes for a stable fishing platform.  

[JZTIRF]

[JZTIRF]

Installation of the bilge pump, out flow, tubing, and live well pump,...  still working on the floater switch.  

[JZTIRF]

[JZTIRF]