Rebuilding Questions

[Laserll]

Ok it is about time to start project LASER rebuild. My first question is where to look for rub rail? Are there different kinds and sizes? What is the best flooring material? and last for now has anyone ever seperated the deck from the hull and put it back together with any luck? Better to paint or repair the gel coat?

[Scott]

Best of luck to ya! I've had a blast workin on the Baja. I would have loved to separate the top n bot of the Baja but decided not to. Took off old rub rail and filled and patched rivit holes. BoatUS has a rub kit ordered for your boat length, many styles some with color inserts made by D.I.Y. Marine. Looked at working w/ gel, but after reading an art. in Hot Boat Mag. (Skater rebuild) I decided paint would be ok for my "weekend warrior" style of boat use. Never left in the water for more than a night etc.
We started bottom up in the garage. Sleekster came down and discussed blueprinting the bottom. We decided to do it and it came out well. It's on to the topside! Now the fun starts!

[apreston]

Scott,

I have seen several posts aregarding your BAJA project. I am curious what steps you took to blueprint the bottom and what the level of difficulty was. Is is something that you feel was worth while. Are there any major risks in permanently damaging the hull if mistakes are made early in the process.

I would be very interested to hear what your experiences were.

thanks in advance /

[Instigator]

Whats up Zack??
Rub rail at West Marine and I think I have info to go direct at D.Y.I., I need it for my Stream too.
I think your deck is glued to the hull so it can be seperated, don't think I'd do it, but its possible.
The Laser I had, had this done but it was by the factory.
Lots of issues with doing this. Re-alignment, keeping the hull true, how much damage is done durring seperation etc.
Did this on a couple of old race boats and if not done properly the boat will never run the same aftrewards!!
Seen a lot of discussion on this board lately about some of the new "miracle" products that replace wood.
I'd be carefull with this too.
I did a post a while ago asking about alternatives to the balsa core in the bottom of my Stream.
Most was much easier to use which made it very tempting.
But someone (sorry I don't remeber who, Techno maybe??) did a reply with links to stories done by very knowledgeable Marine surveyors/engineers etc. about these alternatives.
Those stories were very enlightening to say the least!!!
Wood is tuff if not impossible to beat. Its down falls are mostly from improper installation/sealing.
I did a floor (and motor board) in an old 19' Glastron Carlson years ago using two layers of 1/4" exterior ply with the joints staggered and epoxied (laminated) together.
This boat was origianly rated for 150 HP's and I installed a filed 2.6 XP (JohnRude) with about 230-240 HP's and ran (ran 77 with the XP and dead on 80 w/a new Looper) it at and across Lake Erie almost every weekend.
Never broke twisted or cracked anything.
Reggie Fountain still uses wood stringers in his boats!
Be glad to help how ever I can when you get ready, I have some descent pictures from those past projects that might help.
I only charge beers!
e-me if you need anything.
Good Luck!
P.S. There is some guys at Buckeye that have re-done some Laseres that might be a good resource also.

[Scott]

It is a relatively simple process, I didn't go so far as to add to the pad, which would add a degree of difficulty to the process. I had a pad I was happy with, approx. 4 inch wide, could be wider but...

The rest of the process is as easy as laying out ang. lines from the aft edgd of the chines to the centerline of the hull. These lines will incompass(sp) the area the boat should be on when on plane. The edges of the strakes and chines within these lines should be SHARP. I used West Systems filler and epoxy then took a single edge razor blade and "scraped" until I got a sharp square edge.

Go to "Features" on the top page of the board, 77 Baja, has some great pics of his blueprinting process, and he did do the pad.

Damage to the hull? Probably, if mistakes were made when attaching forms or other pieces to the hull. Were I to do a pad, IU would dig deeper into the process of attaching forms etc.

Was it worthwhile? Time will tell, it should be worth 2 to 4 mph and for me I'll need all I can get! Didn't cost much, was relatively easy to do, so it gets the official thumbs up from me!

I'm a novice so it would be wise to solicit help from all on the board with reguard to the process! Always willin' to chime in if I can help. Wishin ya luck, Keep us posted!