14' Arkansas Traveler Resto-Redo

Discussion in 'Boatbuilding' started by Piomarine, May 21, 2020.

?

Will this work

  1. Yes, sounds like fun!!!

    100.0%
  2. A lot of work but the best of best worlds!

    100.0%
  3. Not my cup of tea, but whatever floats your boat (HA)

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  4. Sounds like a colossal pain...scrap it and get a real boat

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
Multiple votes are allowed.
  1. Piomarine
    Joined: May 2020
    Posts: 5
    Likes: 1, Points: 3
    Location: Arlington, TX

    Piomarine Junior Member

    I acquired 6 years ago and immediately went to work putting her back together. A little back story, this boat was purchased NEW by my wife's great grandfather in 1956, and I named it after his daughter (my wife's grandmother) who gave me the boat.

    IMG953616.jpg

    It has been 4 years since I completed this mod and all I can say is...I screwed up...HARD!!!

    Here are some of my more egregious mistakes:
    Builders grade materials
    Being more concerned with getting it done than doing it right
    Not sealing the wood
    Improperly preparing the surface for paint
    Using the wrong paint
    And finally, not utilizing proper storage

    this time last year, the boat had deteriorated into a stinking, molding heap. Everything had to go! So here I am today bowing at your mercy and saying "Please forgive my ignorance and carelessness!" [​IMG][​IMG]

    But...that means I have a blank canvas from which to start again!

    IMG_3184.JPG

    So hear goes with the plan:

    My hull is a 14’ Utility by Arkansas Traveler, but I don’t want a utility anymore. I originally built it as a fishing rig, but never used it and really I just wanted a runabout. So that’s what I’m making. I am enclosing the hull with a top deck and front and rear cockpit soles. It will be a 2 layer deck with 1/4” ply over framing and cedar strip planks over that. I chose cedar because it is lightweight, easy to work with, cheap, and quite lovely when finished.

    Arkansas Traveler made a utility and a runabout both 14’ and the hulls were basically identical with some slight differences. So I will be building those differences. Put backs on the benches, upgraded transom, etc. I have an 1956 Evinrude Lark 30hp to power it (yet to see if the powerhead is still good, it’s locked up). The hull is quite stable. I’m a big boy and 6’ tall and with 2 big dudes standing in it it never felt unstable so I am not worried about the extra weight from the deck/ windshield.

    I know wood on aluminum is not a common mod but I want to try it. The way I see it, there is a 100% chance it will work or it won’t. Input is welcome, in fact, I will require your input to make this successful.

    Game on!
     
    bajansailor likes this.
  2. Piomarine
    Joined: May 2020
    Posts: 5
    Likes: 1, Points: 3
    Location: Arlington, TX

    Piomarine Junior Member

    Took some aircraft stripper and a power washer to the hull. Got half of it stripped down before I ran out. It did not get everything off though so next step will be to strip the remaining half and hit it with a copper wire wheel. Whatever remains after that I am going to say is well bonded to the hull and I will simply prep and paint over it!

    I am also starting to look at paints. I am tentatively looking at Kem 4000 primer followed by Sherwin Williams “Protective and Marine Coating” as a top coat. I talked to a guy tonight who swears by epoxy enamel paints for ease of application, longevity, and shear durability. Anyone have thoughts on these paint options? Or know how much they cost? I can’t find a price online.

    5BAF1386-5030-4812-AC8B-F0C2B08D6403.jpeg
     
  3. Piomarine
    Joined: May 2020
    Posts: 5
    Likes: 1, Points: 3
    Location: Arlington, TX

    Piomarine Junior Member

    Finally got the other half stripped today. Either tomorrow or later this week I will be taking a wire wheel to it and maybe a random orbital to knock down some of the uneven textures and get it cleaned up for priming.

    My questions for the forum are?: when I clean the surface for priming, what order should I go with? Degreased and then a vinegar wash or the other way around? Especially since I just used 2 cans of aircraft stripper. The aircraft stripper was definitely powerful enough to corrode the raw aluminum after the primer came off. What should I use to neutralize the powdery corrosion? Or is that what the vinegar wash is for? IMG_3263.JPG IMG_3264.JPG
     
  4. Piomarine
    Joined: May 2020
    Posts: 5
    Likes: 1, Points: 3
    Location: Arlington, TX

    Piomarine Junior Member

    I thought I would also post some pictures of what I am working with in terms of my trailer and motor. I have no information on the trailer other than it is not the 60 year old monstrosity the boat originally came with. I picked it up for $20...came with a boat on it too...then I put that 1965 Elgin Runabout on the old trailer and gave it away for the low price of getting it out of my driveway. This trailer will need a full axel off overhaul, new paint and primer, new wiring, new bunks and carpet, new winch, and most likely, new rollers. The vertical guides and rollers are going away as well, which means I need to find somewhere else to put the lights (suggestions welcome).

    IMG_3267.JPG IMG_3268.JPG IMG_3269.JPG


    Here is the motor I picked up specifically for this project. It is a 1956 Evinrude Lark 30HP, I bought it because the engine year matches the model year of the boat. I am certain there are better candidates out there for this project but this is the motor I have and I will not be allowed to buy another one lol. Unfortunately it is locked up so it will require a full rebuild and best and a new powerhead at worst, plus, it will be a learning curve for me! I have no experience in dealing with electric start motors, and this has a little more to it than my '57 sportwin 10HP. I am hoping to visually restore the motor as well, but let's get it running first! I will be posting about it in the motors page soon.

    IMG_3265.JPG IMG_3266.JPG

    Finally, I was doing a little playing around and this is a down and dirty rendering of what I am looking at for my final product.

    plan.jpg
     
    Last edited: May 31, 2020
  5. ondarvr
    Joined: Dec 2005
    Posts: 2,929
    Likes: 573, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 506
    Location: Monroe WA

    ondarvr Senior Member

    To the primer and paint question.

    Pick a brand with a good reputation and use their entire system, don’t mix and match products. Follow their instructions and procedures to complete the job.

    I only use boats for fishing, so the rest of my suggestions wouldn’t be of much help.
     

  6. Piomarine
    Joined: May 2020
    Posts: 5
    Likes: 1, Points: 3
    Location: Arlington, TX

    Piomarine Junior Member

    Thanks! I went to Sherwin today and talked to one of their specialists and he gave me some pretty good ideas in terms of price, performance, application, etc. and which topcoats will bond best with which primers, and which primers will best bond with aluminum. It was a wildly informative visit!

    It looks like I will be going with a alkyd acrylic urethane for the top coat. He said I should expect a minimum of 5 years of durable, quality color and sheen without fading, that would not peel up or chip out, but said I could get lucky and it lasts 20 years. Going off label and using it on a boat where it would be partially submerged means that no guarantees can be made, but said even with that type of use he would expect a minimum of 5 years before fading.
     
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