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SCWHALER posted 08-07-2005 09:15 PM ET (US)
Here are some pics of my Whaler Project that I started 2 1/2 years ago. It is an old Navy boat ( as you can tell from the Haze Gray). 90% of the parts and pieces are new or have been sandblasted and powder coated. The entire boat has been torn apart and put back together. New gas tank as well. Well as probably most of you have been through my wife finnally likes it. We went out for the first time today. The before pics is what it looked liked when I first brought her home. She was horrified to say the least.
Thanks to all who provided help throughout this process.
Enjoy the pics!!!
http://photobucket.com/albums/a61/simmonsbj/
BobL posted 08-07-2005 09:41 PM ET (US)
Awesome! That is an inspirational restoration. I hope you can post some additional photos that document the restoration process. Nice job!
minitauk85 posted 08-07-2005 09:43 PM ET (US)
scwhaler-nice job! She looks brand new! Very clean! You did some serious rehab on her-nice to see a hard working military boat get a well deserved retirement! From now on it's fun in the sun! enjoy-k
Chesapeake posted 08-07-2005 09:51 PM ET (US)
Gorgeous. Did you re-gelcoat or Awl-grip the fiberglass?
swamprat26 posted 08-08-2005 01:07 AM ET (US)
Were did you get the t-top? Very fine work!!!
STEPUP RACING posted 08-08-2005 08:08 AM ET (US)
That, my friend is freaking awesome! Nice work!
Is that PEPSI bottle holder OEM?
Take pride, you did well.

All the best,
Ronnie
WhalerMark posted 08-08-2005 08:17 AM ET (US)
Wow, that's a beautiful job. You should be quite proud.
hardensheetmetal posted 08-08-2005 08:44 AM ET (US)
SC-
I have to tell you that I am usually a purist when it comes to whaler restorations, but yours has changed my opinion. i love the contrasting non skid. Everything on your boat looks very 'yacht'. Nice job.
Dan
dnh posted 08-08-2005 09:18 AM ET (US)
I saw you yesterday with that boat and told you it looked great!
SCWHALER posted 08-08-2005 09:37 AM ET (US)
When I first bought it I thought I was going to re gelcoat, but I figured that since this wa my first boat I did not want to try that. After taking everything apart fuel tank and all I noticed that there where alot of spider cracks in the original gel coat (can someone tell me why) After sanding and gouging and filling with epoxy and filler and sanding more I got about 85% of all of the spider cracks out. I know they will comeback eventually. After prep I used a seal primer sanded, then used a high build primer, sanded then used a seal primer again, then sanded. AWLCRAFT 2000 White and Ice Blue.
The pepsi bottle was extra add-on. Just to see if it would stay in place!!!!!
The T-Top was created by my best friend and brother-in-law who I owe alot to. It is a custom top by Carolina Custom Rigging (843-478-6706 - Marc Googer). This guy is excellent with designing these tops. Powder Coated White along with the aluminum gunnels. Even though I have the blue top I am going to actually put a white top on today and rig my antennas up as well, so the canvas will be a little tighter.
As I did all of the labor, Marc was the "Ask Jeeves"
CFCAJUN posted 08-08-2005 09:41 AM ET (US)
That's a beautiful job! Can you shed some light on the process you used to inspect the boat when you decided to purchase it? What steps did you take to check for a dry hull and other things?

Thanks,
Jamie
devildog posted 08-08-2005 09:51 AM ET (US)
You Rock!
That is one sweet Whaler.
SCWHALER posted 08-08-2005 10:17 AM ET (US)
The only process for buying the boat was its cost. I knew I could not find a 22' boat much less a Whaler for 2K. Thats right....$2000 with trailer, but no motor. The boat was prety wet when I got itso after I removed the fuel tanks I drilled a couple of holes in the tank area and on the bottom to get sometype of air flow for drying. 2 years later she was almost dry. filled holes in with epoxy and reglassed.
I do want to say this about the boat if you notice in the old pics the bow was damaged. I had to cut that out and build a new bow. To say the least that was the hardest to do and with it being my first time ........really hard to make it look original, but I think i got it close.
bsmotril posted 08-08-2005 10:40 AM ET (US)
What an amazing transformation! Thank you for sharing with us. It is an inspiration for those of us with our own projects sitting in the back yard. BillS
15ftlover posted 08-08-2005 03:06 PM ET (US)
Awesome job on the boat! you have some serious sweat equity and it shows. I've seen an 18ft outrage hull in my neighborhood with the same exterior paint color-looks like it is in the process of restoration. Perhaps your boat was the inspiration? Look forward to seeing you out on the water!
Hen
17 bodega posted 08-08-2005 05:29 PM ET (US)
The boat looks flawless. "Better than new" comes to mind. It would pass the white glove test for sure. Congradulations on the fantastic work and thanks for sharing it.
Steve
SCWHALER posted 08-09-2005 11:36 AM ET (US)
Thanks guys for all of the comments. I do have one question that i did not get a response from. This is about the gelcoat spider cracking is this a common problem with Whalers from CPD?
Red Rippah posted 08-09-2005 02:28 PM ET (US)
Wow! Nice, Nice work
Buckda posted 08-09-2005 02:52 PM ET (US)
There were likely a lot of spidercracks in the gelcoat due to heavy stress on the deck. It could have been from running the boat heavily loaded with gear, etc. It really depends on how the government used the boat.
You are fortunate in that many Guardians pull severe duty requirements and are pretty tired when they are retired and sold at auction. Our military takes good care of most equipment, but they use it hard. There are many used Guardian hulls out there that are sold while they are still in great shape, but there are some that are nearly (and some that are completely) destroyed when they're retired.
You did a great job on this restoration, and I wouldn't worry too much about the spiderwebbing. It is largely cosmetic.
Dave
hardensheetmetal posted 08-09-2005 04:19 PM ET (US)
Regarding the spider crack or 'crazing'...I have had this in every gelcoated fiberglass boat I have owned. I have seen it on 1 year old Whalers. The cracks usually radiate from a screw driven through the gelcoat into the glass or the back up wood. I am assuming that since these are not structural, that the galss has more 'give' than the gelcoat. When installing fittings into the gel/glass, I have tried to drill a slightly larger hole through the gelcaot first, to give it some room... but that is anothet topic in itself.
Dan
TexasWhaler posted 08-09-2005 04:27 PM ET (US)
Fantastic looking boat! That military Whaler had no idea how much fun it would be having after it left active duty!
Mike Brantley posted 08-10-2005 07:02 AM ET (US)
Nice!
bigjohn1 posted 08-10-2005 07:44 AM ET (US)
You are the man! My hat is off to ya as that is sooo sweet.

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Author	Topic: My project is complete
SCWHALER	posted 08-07-2005 09:15 PM ET (US) Here are some pics of my Whaler Project that I started 2 1/2 years ago. It is an old Navy boat ( as you can tell from the Haze Gray). 90% of the parts and pieces are new or have been sandblasted and powder coated. The entire boat has been torn apart and put back together. New gas tank as well. Well as probably most of you have been through my wife finnally likes it. We went out for the first time today. The before pics is what it looked liked when I first brought her home. She was horrified to say the least. Thanks to all who provided help throughout this process. Enjoy the pics!!! http://photobucket.com/albums/a61/simmonsbj/
BobL	posted 08-07-2005 09:41 PM ET (US) Awesome! That is an inspirational restoration. I hope you can post some additional photos that document the restoration process. Nice job!
minitauk85	posted 08-07-2005 09:43 PM ET (US) scwhaler-nice job! She looks brand new! Very clean! You did some serious rehab on her-nice to see a hard working military boat get a well deserved retirement! From now on it's fun in the sun! enjoy-k
Chesapeake	posted 08-07-2005 09:51 PM ET (US) Gorgeous. Did you re-gelcoat or Awl-grip the fiberglass?
swamprat26	posted 08-08-2005 01:07 AM ET (US) Were did you get the t-top? Very fine work!!!
STEPUP RACING	posted 08-08-2005 08:08 AM ET (US) That, my friend is freaking awesome! Nice work! Is that PEPSI bottle holder OEM? Take pride, you did well. All the best, Ronnie
WhalerMark	posted 08-08-2005 08:17 AM ET (US) Wow, that's a beautiful job. You should be quite proud.
hardensheetmetal	posted 08-08-2005 08:44 AM ET (US) SC- I have to tell you that I am usually a purist when it comes to whaler restorations, but yours has changed my opinion. i love the contrasting non skid. Everything on your boat looks very 'yacht'. Nice job. Dan
dnh	posted 08-08-2005 09:18 AM ET (US) I saw you yesterday with that boat and told you it looked great!
SCWHALER	posted 08-08-2005 09:37 AM ET (US) When I first bought it I thought I was going to re gelcoat, but I figured that since this wa my first boat I did not want to try that. After taking everything apart fuel tank and all I noticed that there where alot of spider cracks in the original gel coat (can someone tell me why) After sanding and gouging and filling with epoxy and filler and sanding more I got about 85% of all of the spider cracks out. I know they will comeback eventually. After prep I used a seal primer sanded, then used a high build primer, sanded then used a seal primer again, then sanded. AWLCRAFT 2000 White and Ice Blue. The pepsi bottle was extra add-on. Just to see if it would stay in place!!!!! The T-Top was created by my best friend and brother-in-law who I owe alot to. It is a custom top by Carolina Custom Rigging (843-478-6706 - Marc Googer). This guy is excellent with designing these tops. Powder Coated White along with the aluminum gunnels. Even though I have the blue top I am going to actually put a white top on today and rig my antennas up as well, so the canvas will be a little tighter. As I did all of the labor, Marc was the "Ask Jeeves"
CFCAJUN	posted 08-08-2005 09:41 AM ET (US) That's a beautiful job! Can you shed some light on the process you used to inspect the boat when you decided to purchase it? What steps did you take to check for a dry hull and other things? Thanks, Jamie
devildog	posted 08-08-2005 09:51 AM ET (US) You Rock! That is one sweet Whaler.
SCWHALER	posted 08-08-2005 10:17 AM ET (US) The only process for buying the boat was its cost. I knew I could not find a 22' boat much less a Whaler for 2K. Thats right....$2000 with trailer, but no motor. The boat was prety wet when I got itso after I removed the fuel tanks I drilled a couple of holes in the tank area and on the bottom to get sometype of air flow for drying. 2 years later she was almost dry. filled holes in with epoxy and reglassed. I do want to say this about the boat if you notice in the old pics the bow was damaged. I had to cut that out and build a new bow. To say the least that was the hardest to do and with it being my first time ........really hard to make it look original, but I think i got it close.
bsmotril	posted 08-08-2005 10:40 AM ET (US) What an amazing transformation! Thank you for sharing with us. It is an inspiration for those of us with our own projects sitting in the back yard. BillS
15ftlover	posted 08-08-2005 03:06 PM ET (US) Awesome job on the boat! you have some serious sweat equity and it shows. I've seen an 18ft outrage hull in my neighborhood with the same exterior paint color-looks like it is in the process of restoration. Perhaps your boat was the inspiration? Look forward to seeing you out on the water! Hen
17 bodega	posted 08-08-2005 05:29 PM ET (US) The boat looks flawless. "Better than new" comes to mind. It would pass the white glove test for sure. Congradulations on the fantastic work and thanks for sharing it. Steve
SCWHALER	posted 08-09-2005 11:36 AM ET (US) Thanks guys for all of the comments. I do have one question that i did not get a response from. This is about the gelcoat spider cracking is this a common problem with Whalers from CPD?
Red Rippah	posted 08-09-2005 02:28 PM ET (US) Wow! Nice, Nice work
Buckda	posted 08-09-2005 02:52 PM ET (US) There were likely a lot of spidercracks in the gelcoat due to heavy stress on the deck. It could have been from running the boat heavily loaded with gear, etc. It really depends on how the government used the boat. You are fortunate in that many Guardians pull severe duty requirements and are pretty tired when they are retired and sold at auction. Our military takes good care of most equipment, but they use it hard. There are many used Guardian hulls out there that are sold while they are still in great shape, but there are some that are nearly (and some that are completely) destroyed when they're retired. You did a great job on this restoration, and I wouldn't worry too much about the spiderwebbing. It is largely cosmetic. Dave
hardensheetmetal	posted 08-09-2005 04:19 PM ET (US) Regarding the spider crack or 'crazing'...I have had this in every gelcoated fiberglass boat I have owned. I have seen it on 1 year old Whalers. The cracks usually radiate from a screw driven through the gelcoat into the glass or the back up wood. I am assuming that since these are not structural, that the galss has more 'give' than the gelcoat. When installing fittings into the gel/glass, I have tried to drill a slightly larger hole through the gelcaot first, to give it some room... but that is anothet topic in itself. Dan
TexasWhaler	posted 08-09-2005 04:27 PM ET (US) Fantastic looking boat! That military Whaler had no idea how much fun it would be having after it left active duty!
Mike Brantley	posted 08-10-2005 07:02 AM ET (US) Nice!
bigjohn1	posted 08-10-2005 07:44 AM ET (US) You are the man! My hat is off to ya as that is sooo sweet.