16ft GW Invader retoration (pics)

**gw1250** · 02-22-2008, 08:25 PM

Ok, here are a few updates, I have been out of town so progress slowed a bit, but this week should be very productive. Here are the new stringers, frames, and transom. The set of stringers are screwed and epoxied together. Next I will blend the blocks on the knees into the knee so the cloth will not pull away, then I am planing on screwing and epoxying the knees to the stringers then to the transom and then gluing it all to the floor with an epoxy/ silica blend. After which it will all get glassed in. Here are a few new pics.

**gw1250** · 02-24-2008, 12:22 PM

Alright I got the transom in place, clamped it in and layed a piece of glass in behind it yesterday, it is acting as a cradle in a way. I went back today and glassed in the front half. I am going to go over it with another layer of biaxial that will go across the whole width of the inside of the transom.

**gw1250** · 02-26-2008, 08:03 PM

Alright, got the second layer of biaxial on the inside today. The knees will get glued and screwed in tomorrow, along with the stringers and frames. She is coming along good! I overlapped about 10" past the first layer of biaxial on the inside which should make it pretty stout. There is also a picture of the knees that have been blended into the blocks that will accept the screws that go through the transom. Let me know what you think!

**Streamin101** · 02-26-2008, 09:31 PM

Did you add height to the transom? Nice fillet on the knees.

**gw1250** · 02-26-2008, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by Streamin101

Did you add height to the transom? Nice fillet on the knees.

Thanks, I am waiting to set the deck back down on the boat, then I am going to cut the transom down to its final height. It only needs about 1.5 inches taken off the top. I've been following your build, nice work, good luck with the rest of it!

**gw1250** · 02-27-2008, 01:36 PM

Got up early today and made some good progress. The stringers and knees are in. The knees got four screws each, through the transom from the backside. Before that I spread a silica / high density filler mixed with epoxy over all the matting surfaces then set the wood in place and made little fillets with the extra filler.

**Streamin101** · 02-27-2008, 05:40 PM

Looks good, wow those are some thick stringers plenty strong.

**gw1250** · 02-27-2008, 06:55 PM

Thats how thick the originals were. This thing is going to be tough! I won't be intimidated about jumping any wake once this thing is done.

**gw1250** · 03-02-2008, 12:37 PM

Well, I made a little more progress. I have the stringers partially glassed in, I have to go back and clean up the top of them and lay another layer over the top, that will most likely be mat. Mat is alot cheaper than biaxial and I have alot more of it. I also have the bottom half of the floor sealed up with 6 oz cloth and epoxy. I think some people over look this when putting in a floor. Floors can rot from the inside out even if covered on top by glass and resin, because people neglect the fact that the floor can accumulate condensation from exposure to the bilge which then soaks into the wood. So here is a few more pics.

**gw1250** · 03-08-2008, 02:24 PM

Got the stringers cleaned up, put another layer of biaxial cloth over the top to seal them in and build up strength. Also did the frames. The knees and transom will be next, it is so strong without the knees even glassed in, I bet it could hold a v-6 right now! The knees will get a little attention, then the floor will go in. I am going to glass the knees in for the final lay-up once the floor is in and gets glassed down.

**rjdubiel** · 03-09-2008, 01:19 AM

whats the easiest way to wash off the amish blush (spelled wrong i thing) off the cured epoxy. i use a scrub pad and water and is seems to work good. you are on your way to being done!! or ready for paint at least... i should be where your at by april i hope!

**gw1250** · 03-09-2008, 07:04 AM

I use water with a stiff bristle brush, then I wipe it down with acetone. I am sure your way should work fine as well. It is getting closer to paint time! I cannot wait to get the floor in and the deck on. Now I have to find the right paint / gel coat and learn how to use it.

**gw1250** · 03-09-2008, 09:51 AM

Went back and did some work this morning. I set the floor in place to see how I liked it and decided it needed to slope towards the center a little more. I built up two layers of mat on each side to "lift" up the outside edges of the plywood in order to channel any water toward the center of the boat. Also there is a pic of the underside of both floor panels, coated with 6 oz cloth and epoxy.