BBSB REBUILD dodger is all done

I have been working on the sneakbox over the past few days. I have filled all the gaps and filled the screw holes. I then put a coat of epoxy over the whole hull so the wood can soak it up. When that dried i dry fit the cloth to make sure it was wide enough so i can do the hull in one piece of cloth. The hull is 57" inches at the widest point and i got 60" cloth. This way I will have less wasted cloth and won't have to over lap the cloth anywhere on the hull. Things finally feel like they are moving along. I felt like I was at a stand still for a bit and wasn't making much progress. Tomorrow I will sand the deck and hull with the orbital and see how it looks. I will fair and fill in some low spots if need be. Then next week its on to the glassing. I will be doing 1 layer of 6oz cloth on the deck and 2 layers of 6oz cloth on the hull. Any thought coments or input are welcome. Thanks.
View attachment 017.jpg

View attachment 013.jpg

View attachment 006.jpg
This last picture looks like the hull is all lumpy. I think its the dark color of the filler and epoxy under the cloth
View attachment 004.jpg
 
I glassed the deck yesterday with the help of a friend. It went really well. I have to admit I was really nervous about fiberglassing. I started at about 5pm last night and put the last fill coat on at 2am. I am really happy with how it came out it is really smooth and the time spent fairing and sanding paid off. I did one layer of 6oz cloth on the deck. I did it in 4 pieces one piece on the fore deck one piece on the aft deck and one strip on each side of the cockpit. I overlaped the pieces by about 4inches. I used a bondo spreader and chip brushes to wet out the cloth. Then waited for that to tack and put on a fill coat. I put on 3 fill coats to make sure the weave was impregnated with the epoxy. I waited about 2 hours between coats. I will wait about a week then do the hull and clean everything up over the feather edge and overlap the cloth> I also plan on putting a strip of fiberglass tape down the featheredge for added protection against bumps and scraps. Here are a few pictures of the deck. These pictures are of the deck before I did any fill coats. Any input or comments are welcome. Thanks Chris

View attachment 006.jpg

View attachment 008.jpg

View attachment 009.jpg

View attachment 010.jpg
 
Last edited:
Here are a few pictures after the fill coats and the epoxy had time so set. It looks and feels smooth. What do you guys think does it look ok? Is this how it is supposed to look. I think with a light sanding it will be nice and smooth for a coat of paint. Next week I will be working on the hull and trying to get that glassed. I can't wait to get her in the water.

View attachment 016.jpg

View attachment 020.jpg

View attachment 019.jpg

View attachment 017.jpg
 
Last edited:
That looks great! Will that take paint or will you scuff it first ? How many hour do you have in it so far? How long did you look before you found this rebuild ?
 
Thank you. I will sand it lightly before i paint. In NJ we have high humidity so I am getting blush on my epoxy so i wash it fifst then sand. I have no idea as far as hours. I bought this sneakbox back in Feb and did a lot then with boat builder Bill Simonse's help like decoy racks floor boards new motor board grass rails. A new canvas dodger. Then didn't like the fiberglass (polyester resin) how it was delaminating. I ripped it all back off to reglass with epoxy. Then i will put everything back on. I did everything bass ackwards. In the end I will have a great boat that with the right care will last a long time and that what matters to me.
 
I would like to find one of those boats but in the midwest you just don't see them. How ruff of water can you hunt with that boat?
 
Ummmm that I guess depends on the person. I am sure she will see 2 to 3ft waves in the bay this season. The bay has a lot of open water to cross to get to some spots. With a good spray dodger and a displacement hull like I have I would feel ok in 3 foot swells. Some people may say not to but I would feel ok doing that. If you are looking for a sneakbox type in your area check the mighty layout boys chuck huff sneakbox. I never had one but I hear they are great boats and are out your way.
 
Last edited:
Chad,

You do realize there is a San Hunt BBSB for sale, in the classifieds, that's located in MI? You should at least go check it out just to see one in person. Adn this one is special as it is rigged out for sailing like the originals. Summer fun and a great one man hunting boat when the season kicks in.

Chris, She's looking great! Keep the pics coming.

Scott
 
I would say about 3 to 3.5 gal I used a bit more when filling the gaps and waste as it was my 1st time doing epoxy work.
 
I put the last fill coat on last night at about 1:30 am. I didn't plan on it taking that long. Yesterday was the coolest it has been all month so it took longer for the epoxy to tack up between coats. All and all it is coming along. I feel like I am over the hump and will be down hill from here. Everything else is done and made already I just have to put it all back on like grass rails motor board oar locks decoy racks. All I have left is making the new skeg and ice runners. I have the old skeg as a starting pattern. Duck season is coming up fast. I wanna get this baby in the water
View attachment 20110721160606.jpg

View attachment 20110721160619-1.jpg
 
Last edited:
Here are a few pictures of what the sneakbox looked like when I brought it home. Thought I would share. It was rough looking. It has come a long way. The last picture is funny. I cant think of why someone would put that UGLY block of wood up there for handles. The smart guy who did it used regular screws that were rusted almost through. The screws he had we too long so he cut em and used em that way. Old rusty half cut screws.
View attachment 011.jpg

View attachment 012.jpg

View attachment 013.jpg

View attachment 010.jpg
 
Last edited:
Thanks Brad. I can't wait to get her finished and in the water. Soon I hope. As far as the birds on the bow we have 85 days till the opemer I can't wait
 
Chris, sorry I'm late telling ya this, but the over hanging cloth is easly trimmed with a ulity knife when its partally cured. Beyond tacky, but not hard cured yet. That said, tis a great lookn job your doing on this fine duck boat. You will have many years of enjoyment out of it.
Dennis
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top