Air powered longboard for bottom blueprinting (my homemade gadget)

[Mr. Demeanor]

Not being able to flip the boat over and not wanting to spend hours laying on my back under the boat, I came up with this. It works great and is arrow straight.

I used a Harbor Freight inline sander and removed the stock rubber pad. I bought a super straight oak plank and attached two pieces of angle iron to stiffen and straighten it to near perfect.
I am using Harbor Freight 2-3/4" wide emery cloth for the initial work but will need to buy a roll of good stuff in 400/600 grtit for final sanding. The Harbor Freight stuff is $8 per roll and works well.

I scribbled all over each sponson with pencil and then sanded with 80 grit. Found I had a hook in each sponsons at the transom and a high spot about 16" forward. The hook was pretty bad on the port side and I am through the gel at the transom. The high spot forward was worse on the starboard side.

I have now filled the low areas with a couple coats of gel rolled on and will be going back at it this weekend.

Anyway, this little beauty worked great and saved me some pain.

[Mr. Demeanor]

Heres the sander if you want to build something. $36.
http://www.harborfreight.com/2-3-4-quarter-inch-x-15-3-4-half-inch-air-inline-sander-280.html

[albypine]

Not picking on ya at all, but any good body man will tell ya that hand blocking is way truer then a machine block is . Machine blocking will get it close and be a major improvement from what you have .guide coat will help ya a lot more then pencil . If bottom is white take black spray paint and just mist with light coat more like over spray and it will show any imperfection . I usually guide coat as I go threw all the grits .. When in doubt block it again :D keep up the hard work as it all ways pays off

[1FASTLASER]

+1 on the guide coat Mr Deameaner. Good ole $1 a can flat black rattle can spray paint.....it and a GOOD quality hand board ....crap I forget how long they are 12 or 14"s long will get it as flat as glass.

[Mr. Demeanor]

I don't think i need a longboard longer than my boat guys :D

[baja200merk]

I need something like this for the paramount bad...

[toyomirage02]

then ya have to use it lol..(the tool lol ) not boat

[Mr. Demeanor]

I need something like this for the paramount bad...

Will loan for beer!

Just picked up some more paper to finish the job.

[olboatman]

Hey Mr Demeanor--What is the overall length of the board--It looks like 3 to 4 ft? At least its a good start to save some elbow work then finish blocking by hand. Ya get an "atta boy" for inovation! Gary

[Mr. Demeanor]

Its 4'.
Thanks.

[baja200merk]

then ya have to use it lol..(the tool lol ) not boat

Im sure Ill find someone to use it, Im sure the guy living in the van by the shop would like to make a couple bucks :D

[Mr. Demeanor]

The bottom is done and I hope to run it tomorrow. it is LASER straight for 4'. I literally put a laser on it. Final grit was 400.
I have a couple thin spots in the gel where you can start to see the shadow of glass. I may roll on a final coat once I know I dont have to add some hook back in.

Cross your fingers for me that the hook a good thing!

If all is good, I need to lift the boat off the trailer and do the inside vertical sides of the tunnel.

What sucks is this boat floats so bow high it almost always beaches transom first. Now thats its straight ir should be easy to touch up now and then though.

[stokernick]

[B]with that same ingenuity I would think you could have flipped or raised the hull to do the bottom, but whatever works!! Good luck!/B]

[Mr. Demeanor]

[B]with that same ingenuity I would think you could have flipped or raised the hull to do the bottom, but whatever works!! Good luck!/B]

I did raise the boat. I had the trailer and boat sitting up on jackstands to give me some wiggle room. Next I have to raise the boat off the trailer to do the side of the tunnel or move the bunks in. The bunks are right against the sides of the tunnel now.
If I had to make another one of these, I would have used pine and aluminum angle to make it lighter. It would probably sand faster and be a little easier on the arms laying under the boat on my back. Hey....it was just a prototype :)
I did pick up some speed. At least 1.5mph but also changed gearcases so I need to put the old case on and see for sure.

[LaveyT]

Is this why you were banned?

I heard he wanted a sub forum for boaters with four cylinders or less with Yamaha's named Mr Demeanor. I guess it was too much for the Mods to take.

[Mr. Demeanor]

Is this why you were banned?

I heard he wanted a sub forum for boaters with four cylinders or less with Yamaha's named Mr Demeanor. I guess it was too much for the Mods to take.

Im back. It was a mistake. I guess my name got cloicked on while banning some spammers/

[LaveyT]

Welcome back:)