If you’ve been around the site since forever you will recall my beloved 13 whaler “Flatty”. I’ve caught a million fish on her. When I was a pre-teen my family had one just like it. This isn’t the same, but I bought it from a guy in Daytona I think in 2010. A couple years ago I decided to do a full “resto-mod” to it. Basically, I’m making it into a flats boat layout with a simple design but front and back casting decks. I should also add, I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing, but I like to figger things out so I’m having fun learning. If you have any ideas on doing something similar, look up Chris Morejohn on microskiff.com and read everything he has written, trust me. I also do most of my work looking at a computer screen so this is a good way to work with my hands. I’m enjoying it a lot, but it’s taking me forever! Instead of a full build thread, here are some progress pics to date.
I chose to add a few layers of glass to the outside, since grinding the gel coat ended up thinning the glass a bit. I felt better beefing it up a little bit. I’m using epoxy instead of poly resin.
Next steps will be to finish fairing the outside, then apply one or two coats of primer. I was gonna take the outside all the way to final Alexseal paint, but I changed my mind and will flip her and finish the inside first then will do the final paint all at once.
It’s not a good time of year for working on the boat but I’m chipping away a few hours a weekend. It will be so cool and rewarding when its done. I can’t wait. It keeps me motivated to keep going. I might die before I finish it
That’s cool Dave. The best thing is, you are doing it for fun so no pressure to be in a hurry. I redid the inside of a fiberglass jon boat several years ago, paint, Kiwigrip, built a small deck on the bow with storage. It now sits covered in my garage. May trade it to a contractor that wants it for some work.
No, Ricky. I’m going to have some fun with the inside. Consider the inside a blank slate
It will be somewhat inspired by what High & Dry Boatworks is doing on the old Navy base (see below). I visited them and they were super helpful to me, a random walk-in with tons of questions.
Really cool build, I think you’ll fall in love with it again all over once it’s done, too! Thanks for the progress pics, looking forward to seeing it on the river before too long as well. Good stuff
Yeah Dave, good stuff indeed, and worrh th of its own thread too IMO.
My son has been big in offshore since age 12 or so, now 52, he wants to come inshore, so I am going to send him to see you and Ralph at your store toward the fall.
Best of luck, and be careful, please we need you around for many more years of advice, and fun stories, like we used to have Chris V. at Charleston Marine.
Thanks guys. I gotta say, I’m glad that CF.com has been brought back from ICU. This new forum software is really easy to use and it sure is nice hearing from the old guard. I started CF.com in 2006 and I know a lot of y’all have been here a lot longer. I forgot to add the real up to date pics (Below) which are progress on knocking off the high spots on the fairing. It’s already looking pretty good IMO. I’m not gonna really get into the long board until I’m mostly there with power tools on slow rpms. What looks like streaks on the transom are just where I ran the shop vac, its actually very smooth.
Good luck @Optiker! To do it right you have take your time so I hope you get plenty of time to work on it. I hope to be able to do a Glasstron dual console with a 1980 115 Merc. I grew up fishing out of one with a good neighbor.
Next, I drilled hardware holes oversize and filled with thickened epoxy, then drilled out again. This keeps water from getting into the foam and also provides some resistance to crushing when tightening the hardware. For now, the holes will remain until the inside work is done. Note that I did not use the classic whaler hardware as it sucks IMO! This is a resto-mod anyway…
Added guide coat and have it 90% sanded. Got my paint from Hanckel now and after a bit more sanding next step will be 2 coats paint, final sand, then final paint.
