Posted: November 01 2011 at 12:06 | IP Logged

Boatman,

Thanks for the kind words!

Jim

Posted: November 01 2011 at 15:13 | IP Logged

JIMINFLA, beautiful job on the hull !!!!!   What did they do with myour nonskid?  I am getting a buffer this winter and need Capt. H to put out his magic recipe again he did soem pages back.  Know was 3M pads and products.  Smile's hull is pretty good as have used an orbital polisher last few years but seeing your results gives me new aspirations.

RickP, the seat is terrific!  I do hope to visit your workshop tihs winter and get aquainted.

Sorry to hear you East coast guys got slammed wiht the early snow - could have easily been Wisconsin.

Seawolf, just curious, what is the beam on the 251? Is it 10'9" liek the 280?

Brad

Posted: November 01 2011 at 15:53 | IP Logged

Restin well,ahhh Cabin fever

Jiminfla, I like the polish job they did,looks great.Is that a canvas liner over your swim platform? Never seen that,could save alot of weathering issues,but does it cause heavy mildew so close to the wateline?

Posted: November 01 2011 at 17:14 | IP Logged

Brad... They just cleaned it and buffed it. It doesn't take much sanding to wear it away all togther. I know, I did it making some repairs. At some point, I may re-do the non skid. It's not so much non-skid any longer. One of the guys in my marina has a Tiara. His non skid is in a slightly contrasting color and a diamond pattern. Looks amazing! They actually wet sanded with 1500 and then compounded, and then waxed an buffed to get it to look like that. I would have never done as well.

Dewy... Yes, it is canvas. It hasn't molded so far, but the previous owner told me that water moccassins like to hide up under there. Not sure if he was kidding or not.... When I took it off (probably for the first time in 5 years) the teak underneath was in pretty good shape except for the impact damage. If you go back a page or two you can see it. I have to think it was the cover that kept it in the shape that it was.

Boatman... You can bring that Teak back. Hit it with some 80 grit, then go to 220, maybe even 440 depending on the finish you want. I used a finishing sander (the one with the triangular head) to get in the corners and cracks. Worked great in the tight spots and made the job easy.

Lonewolf... I love the seat! I wish I could do that kind of work, but that's going to get outsourced since I don't have the skills.

Jim

Posted: November 01 2011 at 19:55 | IP Logged

Brad...

Don't by a buffer/polisher. I usually go to Menominee once or so a month as we shop at Mighty Pet. They have a better selection for bigger dogs than Petco or Petsmart so we take the drive, plus I buy a few things from Nestegg Marine on occasion. I just bought this Makita polisher/buffer a few weeks ago. For the few times a year it'll ever get used, your welcome to it.

Posted: November 01 2011 at 20:58 | IP Logged

Capn's:    Was reading a U.S. Navy magazine recently, and come across this photo.   WOW!!! 

Fly Bridge----Dan

Posted: November 02 2011 at 15:08 | IP Logged

RickP,

that seat looks amazing.

Posted: November 02 2011 at 15:51 | IP Logged

RickP, thanks for the offer of use of the buffer.  May take you up on it but was thinking of putting this on Santa's list as have a deck baot up norht would use it on as well.  What did you decide - rebuild or repower?

JiminFla, did they actually wax the nonskid?  I clean mine wiht brush and softscrub but would like a way to protect it better so does not get so dirty and easier to clean.

FlyB, love the pic!

Posted: November 02 2011 at 17:44 | IP Logged

I probably really only need to replace the Starboard engine, but...I've decided to replace both with 350's. It might sound crazy, but since I'm pulling one and going through the effort, I decided it's not that much harder to pull two, besides. From what I can tell, the Port side is also original, so at nearly 30 years old, it's not a matter of if, it's when it'll need tlc.

Posted: November 02 2011 at 20:46 | IP Logged

Good Evening All , Well I picked up the Happy Hour III with her brand new 350 strb motor and her perfect port 350 . I can not even begin to tell you how amazing she ran home smooth quiet  . It  was everything I expected  and much much more . I cant wait to took her out again this weekend. Better than when I did both motors over . Perfect ! I am so happy! I did spend a lot more than I wanted too , but it is a boat .Everything is new on that side . He checked the port motor and that checked out perfect . I am set for a few years now I hope.

Tom , I so agree with the no swim platform , how we swim a lot in Florida so I do like having it . I like the no having it look . How it works well for us.

JimFla _ Boat Looks amazing - having mine done next week cant wait.

Rick - I promise that first ride with the 350's is better than the first ride you took with the boat when you got it. Because it really does feel like a new boat. Best of luck to you. Tell Santa 2 350's please .

Found a great new toilet at the boat show . I ordered it . Comes out in Jan of 2012. I will get the info you guys will love it .

Going to clean up the HHIII on Saturday. She sat with her back cover off for 4 weeks amazing how the tweak rails  now look like it was 4 years . Amazing how the back cover helps protect everything . Will Post Pictures

Posted: November 02 2011 at 20:52 | IP Logged

Tom I really dont know what happenend to the Words "ever " in How ever in my post ??? I guess I typed to fast sorry guys .

I meant how ever we do like to use our platform. I do like the look with out one how ever.

Posted: November 02 2011 at 23:47 | IP Logged

Hey, Gang. Great posts by all!. Jim in Fl. nice shine!! looks brand new.

JimHH. Congrats!! on everything. Best of luck to you and Sunshine and glad HH3 is back together. all we need is some good weather.

Boatman, I know the rain is killin' you also. Bossman wants to go fishin', but wind and rain are keepin' us tied to the dock. Stuart Air Show comming soon, right over the St. Lucie River. Always a good time. JimHH, what are you and Sunshine doing that weekend??

 Planning on fishing in the Stuart Sailfish Club Tournament on Saturday with friends, but I hope wind goes away.

Mike, hope all is well up in Ft. P.  Nite, all, Capt. H.

Posted: November 03 2011 at 08:53 | IP Logged

Congratulations Jim!!!  That is great news, all the best to you and your family!

Glad you got HH3 back and she is running better than ever.

We were going to head down to FL for Thanksgiving from the Saturday before but postponed the trip till Easter as my oldest will miss too much school, specifically his AP classes.  The plan was to meet up with my parents and my brother and his family at South Seas on Captiva for a few days then back to my parents house for Thanksgiving.  Tried to switch the airfare to Christmas or the February break but it was outrageous $$$...so Easter it is.  Instead of Captiva, we will be renting a house in Cape Coral, a nice waterfront, newer pool home, the kids will love it.  We also have a trip planned for July where we will drive down I95 and hit a few sites along the way.

Posted: November 03 2011 at 10:27 | IP Logged

So I know everyone likes pictures, how do you all feel about video?

http://youtu.be/bh5caXSvx6g

Jim

Posted: November 03 2011 at 11:05 | IP Logged

yes Jim...we love videos!

she looks GREAT!  Fiberglass and gelcoat up until the mid 80's was much thicker than the newer stuff.  These Cats were built using the "old" methods where too much weight was less of a concern...but for me was always a plus because she handled rough water much better than similar sized newer boats.

Some of those forklifts are rated for 12,000 + lbs so 8k lb Cats are no issue.  The boat yard always hauled mine that way, never an issue.

Posted: November 03 2011 at 12:12 | IP Logged

H3, congrats!  Will it now be H4 ??????

JiminFla, I love seeing the boats out of the water as much as in.  We rack and the forklift can pickup to 36' footers.

RickP, who doing the replacments?  Are the motors out yet?

Capt H when you get a chnace please post your buff recipe with pads and polish you reccomend.

Posted: November 03 2011 at 16:48 | IP Logged

Congrads Happy hour....kids are the best! I'm getting old though as my only daughter will be turning 29 on the 8th! She still loves boating though!

Green Bay area guys..on November 16th the Green Bay Yachting Club is having a Wednesday night smoker. This is a guys night, was meant for cigar smoking, but now you have to smoke outside of course. They'll be serving Prime Rib so if anyone is interested, let me know. I'm a member there and will get our little group signed up.

Brad...I'm leaning toward Bay Speed of Green Bay building them, then doing the removal/install myself and I've already line up 2 350 cores of the same year (2 piece rear main) in case I go this route. I've had them build engines for me in the past for a Jeep used for mud drags and a Blazer I once owned with good luck. Otherwhise I was looking at Rapido Marine in Florida.

Posted: November 03 2011 at 17:19 | IP Logged

Boatman,

Where are you? He works all over North Florida.

Jim

Posted: November 03 2011 at 17:23 | IP Logged

Smile 'n Wave,

I got to tell you, seeing that much weight, 25 feet off the ground, was pretty scary though!

Jim

Posted: November 03 2011 at 20:11 | IP Logged

Guys thank you so much for the great wishes . Tom I know you know this this you and your family are welcome to use the Happy Hour III if you come to stuart Florida. You can captin it anytime. We did the 95 trip last summer and the summer before that is a long trip..... 

Jimfla - Great video very impressive . do they travel to the treasure coast of Florida ???? 

Smile Great boat picture .

Posted: November 03 2011 at 23:17 | IP Logged

Hello, All. Jim, nice video, she looks great. I brought Mystic Diver to Florida by truck from Md. (33 ft. corinthian flybridge 13000 lb EMPTY) they off loaded it with a forklift. I could not watch, turned my back till it was over, fork lift was lifting near capacity. all went ok.

Smile, this is what I use and like. First off, buffer, 1500-2000 rpm or there about. Chraftsman, Millwalkee,  others ok. Orbital buffers a waste of time for old finish. 3M superbuff pad. double sided, 7" the best, just ask a pro. worth every $$$. Will last longer than your boat. I like 3M products. If finish is REALLY bad, 3M super duty compound. Carefull, it's very aggressive, will burn thru gelcoat. 3M Imperial fast cut. GREAT Stuff. safer than superduty. Apply and buff till gone. No residue. follow with wax. Great shine. If gelcoat slightly oxidized, 3M restorer and wax. All in one product. Apply, buff till it dissapears, coumpound and wax in one step. If gelcoat is in good shape and shines, I use Maguires cleaner wax by hand. This is more of a maintenance wax than anything else. If gelcoat is really bad, wet sanding, compounding and waxing is called for. My arm hurts just thinking about that. Clean supperbuff pad often.  Nite, All, H.

Posted: November 04 2011 at 07:37 | IP Logged

hello all!

So not sure if you all have the aluminum rub rail around your chrissy's but if so does anyone know where to locate any of this if I were to want to replace it. mine is in absolutly horrible shape. I am not even sure that I could get it back to good with a sanding polishing. there are alot of dings and deep gouges from docks and what not.

thanks

Sean

Posted: November 04 2011 at 11:35 | IP Logged

Sean, Captain Mark restored his, page 62 of this thread shows some pics and a few threads below it, describes what he did. It may or not be what your looking for, but..here it is. Thanks Mark for posting this information and much more, very valuable info!!!

The screws that hold the deck to the hull are in addition to the screws for the rub rail.  Both sets of screws were loose on the Rob Roy.  The rub rail screws were constantly backing out and when I took the rails off, the deck screws were 2-3 turns loose all the way around the boat. 

When I put the rail on(soon I hope)I'll use a bedding compound such as Rule marine sealant

To shine the rails up I started with 50 grit sand paper and worked up to 220 then used 0000 steel wool with Johnson's rubbing compound.  Then I took my Milwaukee buffing wheel with a foam pad and wheeled them out using Johnson's polishing compound.  I screwed the rails to the saw horses to hold them in place.

I have put new paint on the color band and waiting for weather to turn nice to paint the pine stripes.  Photos to come.

link to the thread and his pics....

http://www.boatus.com/boatgroups/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8 28&PN=1&TPN=62

Posted: November 04 2011 at 14:45 | IP Logged

Capt H, thanks for the tips on the buffer.  Gelcoat on smile in good shape and spring waxing gets her shining.  First year we had her we did a complete hand rub wiht meguiars marine/rv oxidation remover liquid. I thought it was a very good product.  follwed that with wax and the orbital buffer.  Think wil try the variable speed buffer though and the 3M pad/products to try and bring the shine up even more.  What do you do on the nonskid areas?

RickP - your recall of Capt marks rub rails brings up soemthing I thought about today. We are now 171 pages into tihs forum and was easy to find stuff when was 30-60 pages.  There is wealth of knowledge on the 171 pages and have tackled all kinds of subjects.  Was thinking would be good to start at page 1 and make some sort of a directory or spreadsheet listing the problem/maintenance item then the corresponding ideas/fix/remedy and the page numbers that go with both.  That way when someone had a question on say window replacement, could look at the sheet and go right to the corresponding pages.  Anyone up to the task???