Posted: December 05 2006 at 17:51 | IP Logged

HEA Williewiskers,   Condrad.  You got your self a good boat.  Post some photos of the boat.  It would be nice to watch the work in progress.  I have a 42' with Detroits also.   I might be able to help you as where to get some of the parts, etc.

Sounds like we have simular layouts.  If I can be of help let me know and I'll post some interior photos.

Good luck and chine in soon!

Posted: December 05 2006 at 18:58 | IP Logged

Hi Conrad,

Im going to meet with the owner this Friday evening. Im going to commit to it then. He told me on the phone today that the port engine was rebuilt a year ago and the starboard engine was 100%, that it didnt even smoke. I have a list of things i want to go over with him, but it looks like its a go. Ill post pictures this weekend.

I found this picture of the boat on the internet

Thanks,

williewiskers

Posted: December 09 2006 at 15:02 | IP Logged

Hi Conrad,

I took pictures of the boat, some are a little dark, most came out. I got more details on the boat on Friday. The port engine was fully rebuilt in place, all the way down to the bearings; this was done because it was seized. The starboard engine was not rebuilt because it was deemed to be good (claimed it didnt even smoke). Both transmissions shift perfectly and most of the gauges work (he said the oil pressure gauge shows nothing when it starts running and slowly comes up to about 20 lbs). The hot water heater is shot, it needs fresh water and sewage tanks/systems installed.

I am going to go over every system in the boat, inventory the work to be done and price it out right after Christmas.

http://picasaweb.google.com/williewiskers/42UnifliteMagnum

williewiskers

Posted: December 10 2006 at 10:46 | IP Logged

Willey,  Thanks for posting the photos.  Now that's what I call a project boat!

You sure have a lot of things to sort out as where to start.  Do you have all the manuals for the boat, epically the wiring diagrams?  Yours is 20 years older than mine, but maybe much of the wiring is similar.   Unfortunately my wiring diagrams are on the boat (250 miles from home).  When I get back to the boat in mid April I would be happy to copy anything I have that might be useful to you.

I like the lines and layout of you boat.  I'm sure by the time you're done you will be a expert at teak refinishing. I've done a old boat once but not to the extent of what you have.  So when I look at your photos I can see the finished boat standing tall.  The rewards of a project boat are great.  You will enjoy working on it and seeing the progress.  When it's done and in the water you will be amassed at the folks commenting and asking questions.  One just doesn't see old classics like this any more.

Keep taking photos for us.  Ask as many questions as you want, we all want to help if we can.  When your done yo u will be the expert!

If I'm not to personal, what did it set you back?  Where do you live? When do you expect to have it done?

Boy, I sure ask a lot o questions.  Finally, I admire your determination to save a old classic!

Posted: December 10 2006 at 11:03 | IP Logged

Yea i know i have alot of work ahead of me. I am taking two more classes next semester and then graduating from college. Its in the water now, i am going to start living on it after Christmas while im doing the work. I will have no TV so i know the work will get done. I bought the boat for the back rent owed on it when the current owner didnt want it anymore, he had committed to paying through the winter so it cost me $4500. The boat is all fiberglass, the teak on the inside is cosmetic venier, so i dont have to deal with any structural repairs, just refinishing. I am feeling really good about getting this done, your right, i cant wait to have somthing to be proud of. I did restore a 1974 Luhrs Flybridge, but it was a fiberglass hull and wood deck and cabin (most of which was replaced). I made it strong (really strong) but it is by no means as pretty as im sure it once was. I live in Newark, NJ where i goto school and i plan to have the boat completed by the beginning of the summer.

Ill have to check on the manuals, i know i have the ones for the engines

thanks,

williewiskers

Posted: December 14 2006 at 21:43 | IP Logged

Hi Bob,

Your Uni 34 is in great shape, you really lucked out on that one, were you able to buy it close to your home and avoid shippping? I cant belive the inside is as well kept as it is for a boat that is pushing 50 years old. The hull looks really good, i hope i can get mine to shine like that with some (alot of) buffing and polishing. I am thinking i will just trash the accessory wiring system and run new, it would be easier for me since most of the acces. system that needs replacing is in the main salon, but well see. Aside from the elec system i needs new floors in the salon, water and waste tanks/systems, and refinished bathrooms, so anyway you put it ive got more than a little bit of work to do. Im going to get on it right after Christmas. Ill post pictures after i complete each phase.

goodluck with your new baby

williewiskers

Posted: January 07 2007 at 17:35 | IP Logged

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to update everyone. I purchased the the 42' Uniflite Magnum today. The battery cables were corroded and needed to be replaced. Both 6v53 fired up with no trouble and only the smallest puff of smoke for only the first second. The oil pressure was over 40 psi from the beginning. Everything else i have already planned for repair in the restoration. When i have codified the restoration procedure i will post it here, any suggestions for improvement would be appreciated.

williewiskers

Posted: February 18 2007 at 18:05 | IP Logged

Hello to all,

I know it has been awile since i have posted, but i have been working on the 42 Mag and finally have some news to report. New pictures with captions have been posted to the link below...

http://picasaweb.google.com/williewiskers/42UnifliteMagnum

Here is the list of things done so far, in the order that they have been done

1.       Cover the boat with tarp to stop water coming in from flybridge mount holes

2.       Installed construction light string and 18,000 btu propane heater

3.       Cut back salon floor where rotted

4.       Cut open salon walls to expose broken deck drains and moldy insulation

5.       Finding mold, cleaning and removing mold

6.       Connected and made shore power operational

7.       Remove old unused machinery from bilge

8.       Removed rotted water heater

9.       Remove asbestos tile and lead sheeting from top of salon floor

10.   Trace 120v wires, disconnect and removed dead and unused wires, cables and conduit

11.   Trace 12v accessory system supply wires, energize 12v system and identify active circuits

12.   Trace existing engine starting/charging/supply cables

13.   Drew schematic wire diagram for new starting/charging/supply wiring and ordered necessary cables, connectors, shrink tubing, crimper, and a 2alt/3 bank isolator

14.   Replaced manual head in v-berth stateroom

15.   Drew schematic water diagram for running all new 1/2" plastic cold water lines charged with a 4.3GPM Jabsco Quad 4 demand water pump @ 50 psi, insta-hot water heater at kitchen sink, and insta-hot shower water heater in aft bathroom (no water heater tank)

Next steps to be taken are...

1.       Complete starting/charging/supply wireing

2.       install flybridge and seal leaks

3.       change engines/transmissions oil, pencil zincs, and filters

4.       Check, repair, or replace gauges

5.       Check/maintenance hydraulic steering system

6.       Check/maintenance cable throttle/shifting system

7.       Check/repair running lights and windlass

8.       Take boat on a 25mi run to Tottenville Marina to be hauled, cleaned and painted

9.       Jack floor level (it was cracked removing port engine for rebuild), replace bad area of floor, install floor supports

10.   Complete troubleshooting 12v accessory system

11.   Refinish alot of teak

12.   Replace main salon windows

13.   Install new water system

14.   Move A/C to bilge

15.   install waste holding tank and connect it to aft cabin electric toilet

16.   Install boat gutters over windows

17.   Install carpet and linoleum throughout boat

If anyone has any comments please let me know.

williewiskers

Posted: February 18 2007 at 19:24 | IP Logged

WOW!  And I thought my boat was a project!  Looks like you've come a long way.

A dumb question, but since we don't deal much with ice here in the NW, but did the ice cause any other problems?  I noticed it is not really up against the hull.  Is there one of those "bubble" machines or such that will keep the ice away?

Posted: February 18 2007 at 20:45 | IP Logged

Hi Dave,

The boat was in the water for 7 years before i got it. The boat yard only ran a heater in the engine room in the winter to protect the engines. There dosnt seem to be any damage to the waterline of the hull. Here at this marina the boats sit in the mud for half the day so that helps to break up the ice. Furthermore i run an electric radiator in the bilge between the two engines, and electric heater in the rear or the boat, and an 18,000BTU propane heater. The propane is set in the bilge right under the engine room cover with the cover off so it pulls cold air from the bilge, heats it, and then rises to the main salon. The result is i keep the boat warm enough to melt the ice around the boat so i dont get icelocked or have any concerns about ice pressure crushing or marring the fiberglass. I dont breakup the ice around the boat so i dont have any rough ice edges refreezing. The result is i have a space of about 6" around the boat that is not frozen and when the boat does blow around (and it does) the hull is hitting smooth strait ice and not being damaged that i see from the pictures or in person.

To respond to your question about a machine to prevent ice, i would buy them, but since they "hang" under the boat they would be useless because of the mud and would get destroyed.

Its supposed to be above freezing and in the 40's this week so maybe the ice will melt and it will give me a chance to get on the roof, lift the flybridge, clean it, install the weatherstripping, lower it, and bolt it down properly.

Well if im going to do that i should go rip down the vinyl ceiling and moldy insulation from the salon.

Do you know what that vinyl with the holes in it is called and where i can order it?

Thanks for the reply and thanks for being interested in my baby.

williewiskers

PS.- the bedroom is UNDAMAGED and i have it very nice with flannel sheets and a down comforter and i am sleeping in there almost exclusivly because its so comfortable.

Posted: February 18 2007 at 21:02 | IP Logged

I see about the ice now.  I have only read in magazines about how people handle ice issues.  Seems like there are a gazillion different gadgets that supposedly tackle the problem.

Some 20 years ago, we had a whole week here in Seattle where it was well below zero the whole time.  I was moored on Lake Union, a freshwater lake.  About 3 days into the cold snap, we were actually starting to see ice form along the shoreline of the lake.  I had plenty of heat on the boat and the engine room.  But, an ice storm hit knocking down quite a number of powerlines - including those to my marina.  Needless to say, my engine froze up and the block cracked.  Time for a new engine, and fortunately insurance took care of it.  But it took 2 months as I was not the only one in the boatyards with the same problem!

We recently had a bit of a cold snap here in Seattle, though not as bad.  But, I was on board Gizmo everyday - sometimes twice - making sure the "twins" had plenty of heat.

I'm not sure of the name of the name of the vinyl you are talking about, but I have seen it advertised a time or two in a couple of boating magazines.  Perhaps someone else here might know?

I'm glad the down comforter made it OK so you got a warm spot to snooze in.  Keep us up to date!

Posted: February 18 2007 at 21:58 | IP Logged

THe down comforter makes it comfy, but the boat is masterfully insulated. I have a 1500 watt heater that i cant run over "low" or i sweat. I dont know if its all Uniflites, or just mine, but this boat holds heat like a house, even in the freezing water! Its only insulated with thick fiberglass, two inch fiberglass insulation, peg board, and 1/2" teak plywood!

williewiskers

Posted: February 19 2007 at 13:58 | IP Logged

Now I see what you are talking about - Headliner!  There are a couple of places hear in Seattle that deal in headliners.  Let me get back to you.

I actually replaced the white-with-holes headliner last year with a bone colored material which I like a lot better.  We bought the material - yes it is marine grade - from a local fabrics shop.  I'll talk to Mrs. Gizmo and see where it came from as they had the good ol' cream colored with holes as well.

Posted: February 19 2007 at 14:18 | IP Logged

Willie,

     Got the headliner from Seattle Fabrics - (206) 525-0670, or http://www.seattlefabrics.com/products.html .

They were great to deal with.