85' Trawler Rebuild/refit

[Mako]

@billblack she'll be a gorgeous expedition boat when you're done, but that's a huge undertaking.

Manpower, sandlbasting, welders, steel stock, industrial coatings (epoxies and chlorinated rubber), basic carpentry skills, diesel mechanics on old school engines... seems like you could knock out about 80% of your rebuild in an affordable location with mediocre-skilled labor, then bring it back home (Ft Pierce) to really kit it out.

Are there any shipyards on the east coast of Mexico or in the Carib where you could affordable go for this work?

 

[billblack]

Thanks, Mako. I appreciate the kind words and yes, she will be a great boat for remote locations when she's done...and even before she is 'done'. A project like this is never really done, there are many levels of 'done' which start at "Good enough to use for a trip to the Keys" and end the day that I hand her off to the next caretakers whether that is my family or yours.
I have friends that have connections in yards in both Mexico and Colombia and if I were younger, I'd just head that way and get 'er done

 

[billblack]

Nope, I have not faded into the ether...I apologize for not posting, but it has been a little busy here. There is little earthshaking news, but some forward progress. Sampson is on the dock in Fort Pierce which is an hour's drive one way, so we get 20-25 hrs a week to actually work after the 2 hr commute. We (I have my treasure boat captain held hostage for the winter. He's 33 and good wherever you put him as long as there are no spiders). spent a couple of weeks doing some more demo in the wheelhouse and salon as well as gutting the lower deck head and starboard aft cabin. Fortunately, the forward 3 cabins and the captain's quarters are still in a usable form and will just require a good bit of paint, new flooring and the services of a mattress cleaning outfit.
We then put in about a week of repairs to the systems in the engine room while doing some triage in the cargo hold/workshop/dive locker. Add a whole lot of holidays, selling the three outboard boats and some extra gear AND homeowner chores on a house that is WAY too big for 2 people...suddenly it is January! We dove into January with a determined mindset, a couple of needle guns and a bunch of Ospho to do battle with The Rust.
Sometime when I have had a couple of drinks I shall expound on neglectful steel boat owners, but the rum bottle is empty tonight.
The fun we have been having most lately is needle gunning, wire brushing, Ospho'ing the deck in the salon, the aft deck, doing some repairs with Red Hand (Intergard 822) etc. I shall add photos. We fully intend to have the salon floor and a good bit of the deck primed with Intertuf 262 2 pack epoxy primer by close of bidness on Friday the 17th. That swim platform...that's going to have to be re-skint, as we'd have said in Kansas.
I hope you all had a pleasant holiday season!!!
These salon pics were taken before Ospho and a rinse.

 

[Mac2]

I’m not familiar with the International brand. How did you land on them? I’ve been using Interlux products, but always open to new epoxy systems.

 

[billblack]

I’m not familiar with the International brand. How did you land on them? I’ve been using Interlux products, but always open to new epoxy systems.

As has often happened with me, I wandered into it. Intergard and Interlux (as well as Intershield, Interthane, Interplate, Interyadda yadda) are all sold by International. Products | International-marine
International is owned by AkzoNobel. AkzoNobel
International's products are popular with commercial marine folks and were being used on the boat while I was having a few things done in Freeport by a friend who works for Bradford. While Sampson was still over there, I bought 10 gallons of 262 primer and a couple of quarts of 822 Red Hand filler that someone had surplused at a reasonable price. The Red Hand is great for fairing up those pitted areas that aren't quite bad enough to need new steel. Pettit's Splash Zone epoxy is equally good for doing that job as well.
On the Bertram that we refurbed last, we used Sherwin Williams marine products [ Marine Coatings | Sherwin-Williams ] and were very happy with both performance and the price. We will be using S-W Seaguard 5000 epoxy primer and a S-W epoxy topcoat. I try to avoid anything with a 'yacht' price. I have found that industrial coatings offer the same or better performance (other than a perfect glass-like finish) at a massively better price.
I hope that helps answer your question.

 

[Mac2]

As has often happened with me, I wandered into it. Intergard and Interlux (as well as Intershield, Interthane, Interplate, Interyadda yadda) are all sold by International. Products | International-marine
International is owned by AkzoNobel. AkzoNobel
International's products are popular with commercial marine folks and were being used on the boat while I was having a few things done in Freeport by a friend who works for Bradford. While Sampson was still over there, I bought 10 gallons of 262 primer and a couple of quarts of 822 Red Hand filler that someone had surplused at a reasonable price. The Red Hand is great for fairing up those pitted areas that aren't quite bad enough to need new steel. Pettit's Splash Zone epoxy is equally good for doing that job as well.
On the Bertram that we refurbed last, we used Sherwin Williams marine products [ Marine Coatings | Sherwin-Williams ] and were very happy with both performance and the price. We will be using S-W Seaguard 5000 epoxy primer and a S-W epoxy topcoat. I try to avoid anything with a 'yacht' price. I have found that industrial coatings offer the same or better performance (other than a perfect glass-like finish) at a massively better price.
I hope that helps answer your question.

Thank you! Great info. I prefer the industrial products as well.

 

[billblack]

So we made about 2 gallons of progress today...

 

[SIBERNUT]

You know and use "Boats &Harbors" ?
Haven't seen it mentioned.
Love your posts & progress !

 

[slowgoesit]

Looking good! I salute you for taking on the project. Can't wait to see more posts on your progress.