Coop's Project X. Preparing the molds.

[cooperider]

Waaaaay back in 1990 I started designing a new deck for my Trimate II hull mold.

I build a hull from the mold, and used parts of another deck, and GALLONs of body filler to creat the shape of the boat I wanted to build.

 

[cooperider]

 

[cooperider]

Now after laying up the mold, it then sat on the plug for several years before I built a frame for it and pulled it.

You see, life got in the way. I closed up my little boat repair shop and went to truck driving school.


So the mold have sat in a storage barn since about 1990, out of sight out of mind. Collecting dust, and God knows what else.

 

[cooperider]

But now after sitting in a barn for 17 YEARS it is time to build one out of them.

They are now where they should have been years ago.


In my shop.

 

[cooperider]

But I have some work to do to them before I can build a boat out of them.


First I need to clean the rest of the debris out of them. Then I'm considering building a new frame for the deck. I might have made it too tall.

I also need to put new casters on them so I can move them around easily.

 

[cooperider]

Much less dust in the hull, but its still going to take a lot of work to be ready.

 

[cooperider]

I need to jack this up and put a good peice of wood under it to mount new casters to.


You can just see the itty bitty wheel under the front of it.

 

[cooperider]

Most of the stuff blew out on the way home.

 

[cooperider]

It looks like the molds are still good underneath the crap.

 

[cooperider]

The deck mold, its cover with crap too.

 

[cooperider]

Lots of room for deck graphics.

 

[cooperider]

 

[cooperider]

But with a little cleaner, its coming out nice too.


This mold has never had a part built out of it so there will be some repair work, before I can lay one up. But I'll post up as I go.

This is my winter project, so come along for the ride.

 

[cooperider]

The hull, its cleaning up nice also.

 

[cooperider]

Now here is something interesting in the hull mold. This is one of two area's that have been modified. It looks like hell, but its really very smooth.

What it is is a small little "hook" that was ground into the mold at some point.


I don't know if it worked or not, but I will leave it in the mold. Since I can always just sand it off of a part if I don't like the way it is.

 

[Boston Predictor]

Cool. Im gonna subscribe to this thread. Ive always wanted to see one built from scratch.

 

[cooperider]

Cool. Im gonna subscribe to this thread. Ive always wanted to see one built from scratch.

Thanks, its going to be several threads. This one has to do with mold work.


But hey, if you got the time, start working on some paint ideas for me.

 

[Boston Predictor]

Sounds good. My old printer **** the bed but I should have a new one soon I hope. Any suggestions on layout? Three or more colors? Less? Something over the top? (but do-able) Something basic but flashy? Im sure I could come up with a few good ones for ya

 

[cooperider]

Mild to wild. Its just paper.


stclairriverblaster has me thinking about painting one sublime green with black stripes.


The main thing is I want this boat to be seen from across the lake.

 

[stclairriverblaster]

oh yeah.. sassy grass green.. with flat black.. wiht pearl clear over the green.. woot woot