1966 Crestliner North Star project

Well, the rain never showed up as they said it would and I didn't waste any time waiting for it. I was up early and started putting the flooring in (nothing attached, just getting fit and measurements for the final aft boards).





Started cutting the aft two side boards and aft doors and put on the first coat of sealer. Next I decided since I had some floor to lie on it was time to get under the bow and install the "T" block (fuse box).





Once that was in, I started wiring everything to the instrument panel.





I finished today with the horn, fish finder, and bow spot lights functional.








The only setback I had today was Lowes was out of the carpet I need to finish the floor. They said they have another roll on the way so hopefully midweek. I hopped on the mower and raked up leaves to finish the day. Very productive day even though I got interrupted a few times by neighbors, had to install a new medicine cabinet in the boys bathroom, and had to shuck some oysters for the wife.


Dave
 
Dave,


Your boat is coming along nicely. What are you using to power this rig?
 
Thanks Ed. This mighty duck machine will be powered by a Johnson 40hp outboard with power trim.



It runs great and is getting all new seals for the lower unit and the power trim cylinder. I want it to be ready to go and I figured it was a great time to have it redone while I was getting the boat ready to accept it.


Dave
 
Looks awesome!! The room a forward console affords is the bomb. I like having a tiller, but at times I miss the console a little bit.


I keep forgetting to post pictures of mine :-/ I will have to do so today.
 
Ok......I got Waaaayyyyy off track the past two days. I am still waiting on some welding work but there is plenty of other things I could be doing. I went into the shop (which is shrinking by the project) and started to put the battery tender on a motorcycle project I have been working on for the past 5 months. I find bikes for free and then restore them.....I get bored! So, the next thing you know I have wrenches in my hand and I am fixing this...adjusting that....putting the final touches on a bike that hasn't breathed life for the past 8 years (so I was told). A little gas......and we have life again. I wont bore you with the whole project but just a few pics of the before and after and a couple other bikes I restored in the past two years.


1993 Kawasaki Vulcan




1985 Honda Rebel




1970 Honda CB 350




Not a one trick pony........ok....back to God's work! More to come on the boat soon!


Dave
 
Ok....back to it. Not huge progress......but plenty. My neighbor called and told me was going to be out of town for the next two and a half months and couldn't do the welding. I told him I understood and asked if he could recommend anyone. He thought for a minute and said...."can you be here in five minutes?"
Welds are done!




Transom is primed and painted!

I added 3M tape to the top of all of the floor framing thinking that it might help keep noise and squeaking down......couldn't hurt! It is rubber and is adhesive backed.

Next I installed the front flooring and secured it with screws.

I also did some touch up paint here and there after painting the transom. Next I worked a little on stowing some of the wires (still have more things to wire up) and worked on some labeling of the panel.

Enough for today.......getting the welds done last night was HUUUGGGEEE!!!!!!!!


Dave
 
Today......more progress! Installed the brace poles for the bow and added the fire extinguisher.



I then started routing wires and the steering cables to neaten up the interior.


The boat was made really well and I was happy to find these nice "hangers" underneath the gunwale to keep everything tidy.

Added the transducer.
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Finally finished all of the flooring, sealing, cutting, gluing, carpeting....blah, blah, blah! Here's a shot of the transom area.
[URL=http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/dcducks1/media/1966%20Crestliner%20North%20Star/0319161250_zpst7frbx9y.jpg.html]
I set the pedestals and seats in the boat to get a feel for how it will look.
[URL=http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/dcducks1/media/1966%20Crestliner%20North%20Star/0319161329a_zpsugzgvp9b.jpg.html]
Just so, you know.......not everything goes perfectly! First.......I spilled half of a Sam Adams "Cold Snap" beer into the new carpet. I guess that constitutes "breaking it in"! And sometimes....tools bite back!
[URL=http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/dcducks1/media/1966%20Crestliner%20North%20Star/0319161305_zpseznwitzm.jpg.html]
Rain is coming in......and I am taking a break!


Dave
 
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That last picture is all to familiar, sorry the first blood on your boat was your own. looks great should give you many years of fun on the water, and may the next blood on your boat be from fin or feather.
 
Thanks Troy...they are fun to tinker with. I don't ride anymore......I am more of a "test pilot" after the restoration to make sure that everything was put together correctly and tightened down.


Dave
 
Last few days have been just tightening this, rerouting that, adjusting this, touching up that! I did add the stainless hinges to the storage doors and I also installed the interior lights. This took quite a while to "daisy chain" 10 LED strips around this underside of the gunwales.


I pulled the front floor up and bolted the seat bases in rather than rely on lag bolts which would eventually loosen up and drop me on my ass. Started adding stuff to the forward compartment.

I managed to find some flat tan beverage holders and installed them so that they could "assist me" with more work.

The guy that is reworking my motor has been dragging his feet so, one way or another, I'm going to try and get the motor this weekend......even if I have to do the work myself.
The weather is gorgeous so I took the rest of the week off to hang with two of my sons and have lunch with the wife.
Dave
 
Dave what kind of conectors did you use to connect your led strips to each other. Got some to install myself in near future.
 
Roy, I didn't take a pic, but I stripped off the sheathing and wrapped the LED wires around the bare pos and neg wires. I soldered them and then heat shrunk them. It looks like it should be a good, solid connection for quite awhile. It took quite a bit of the day to get it done......i'm glad I waited until the floor and carpet were in.


Dave
 
Thanks, thought maybe you had discovered a good waterproof connector for led strips that would be quicker than soldering.
 
No, I thought of the "clamp" connectors that you put the two wires thru and crimp it down to make contact, but I just cant see them lasting very long or not getting corroded up. I took the extra time to try and do it right.


Dave
 
Yea, I,ve been trying to find something remotely waterproof but not finding anything. Looks like I,ll have to solder also. Had an issue with the adhesive backing not holding on first application so am going to try 3m molding adhesive tape to secure to side of my aluminum boat under top rail..
 
So.....back to action. I installed the boarding ladder yesterday but wasn't real impressed with the way it sits. The two support legs leave the ladder "leaning" under the boat. Not a big deal, I ordered a 12" piece of stainless steel tubing that I can cut new legs. One leg needs to be about 5 inches and the other around 6 inches. Should be perfectly aligned after the new legs.



The motor is till getting worked on, but I was able to get the controls and install them. I also got new throttle and shifter cables (needed longer ones) and installed them.
[URL=http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/dcducks1/media/1966%20Crestliner%20North%20Star/0326161150_zpscdzpnzri.jpg.html]
The last and final electrical component that needed wiring was the bilge pump and I finally got around to doing that today too.
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I went around and tightened a bunch of stuff, rerouted wires and cables, cut wires to proper lengths, used a ton of zip ties, and added plenty of the wiring tubing to protect my hard work. I finished by creating a PVC frame that I can put inside the boat to "tent" an old car cover I have to keep the rain out.
[URL=http://s1373.photobucket.com/user/dcducks1/media/1966%20Crestliner%20North%20Star/0327161558_zpsx3thz65x.jpg.html]

Getting close!
 
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