1979 Checkmate Predictor Project

**Instigator** · 07-03-2023, 05:34 AM

That looks really good.

**Check_Jo3** · 07-05-2023, 05:25 AM

The cradle is 95% complete. I put in about 6 hrs yesterday and boy was it hot (90+).. I just need to put a few more supports to connect up right under the cap. Not bad for a 1 man show. I had a small 'oh chit!' moment as I was standing on the hull lowering the cradle down onto the floor with the rope when my foot slipped. Next is to get the hull in the cradle and gut the inside.

I have seen some recommendations for US composites for getting glass on here.. only thing is that they are in FL and I am in MD.. shipping would kill me unless I pick it up when I am in FL in October. I am also not sure how much 1708 and CSM I will need. I was thinking of just getting full rolls and having some left over for the next project (if there is one). I have been humbled a bit so far. This took much longer than expected but then again I can't work on it every day without getting in trouble

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**Check_Jo3** · 07-09-2023, 02:50 PM

Got this thing right side up again.. definitely was quite the process. Messed up the cradle a bit so it has a bit of hotrod rake to it. I may fix that with a rolling dolly that goes under the whole thing. The supports that come up the sides have pulled away some just from the weight being off. I can push down on the cap and get the sides to move quite a bit. Seems like I may need to core the sides to fix some of that flex.

**Check_Jo3** · 07-24-2023, 09:42 AM

Got the rub rail off.. lots of rivets. I have to assume the top has been off before going by the number of holes in the seam. Also drilled out all the rivets holding the cap and hull together plus a few bolts and screws. The cap is just held on by what looks like some kind of silicone type stuff now. Just need to think up a good way of lifting it off and where to put it. Started gutting what is left of the floor. Plus started to remove the foam. It came up easier than I thought it would.

Also looking for places to get fiberglass. I have seen people get stuff from US composites in FL. I am going to be down there in Oct and could pick it up to save on shipping. I was thinking maybe 30 yds of 50" 1708 and 20 yds of CSM. Going to go with Vinylester for this project. Also I found a place here in MD that sells coosa board for the transom and floor.

**Check_Jo3** · 07-27-2023, 05:22 AM

Got some foam out that was below the floor. It was drier than I thought it would be but the bottom was still moist. After some cutting to get a better look, signs are pointing to a wet core. Any second opinions would be great. The seat pedestals did not fair well! I am not sure that my work on this thing will be 100% professional but I have to think that the work done on this thing before I got it was questionable. Since I am digging this far into this boat I was already planning on putting new core in the bottom. The dark areas near the seats have given me some confirmation. I'll cut into soon it to be sure.

**skialot2** · 07-29-2023, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by Check_Jo3

I am not sure that my work on this thing will be 100% professional but I have to think that the work done on this thing before I got it was questionable.

I have redone 3 boats. Judging by the way all three boats were put together by the factory. I am sure anything you do will be much better than factory. The stringers of my Glastron were installed with 3 -18" wide strips of woven roven loosely laid over the top of the stringers. there was 1 foot wide gaps with no fiberglass covering the wood stringer at all. My Checkmate Spectra I just did, the stringers look like they were tabbed on to the floor first. Then the floor and stringers were installed as a unit by just gluing the stringers to the hull and tabbing them to the hull on the inside of the stringers only. There was no fiberglass covering the outside of the wood stringers at all. I cant believe it lasted 34 years and there is not even stress cracks on the transom of the boat. If you are like me, anything you do will be overkill.

**Check_Jo3** · 07-31-2023, 04:36 AM

Some more cutting. Sweaty work with a full-face respirator and tyvek suit! Also, the fiberglass eats normal cutting bits on my oscillating saw pretty quickly. Wish I could just get it done in one go but 2 kids under 2 keeps me busy. Still need to figure out where the cap is going to live while it's off. Any tips on popping caps? There are some spots that are still pretty glued on.

**89LASER** · 08-01-2023, 08:53 AM

Put a couple of hooks to the ceiling of the garage and hoist it up directly over the boat.

**skialot2** · 08-03-2023, 01:58 AM

I used a carbide tip blade on my oscillating saw. It lasted the whole job and still looks new. Your garage looks high enough to do like 89LASER says and hang it from the ceiling. The cap is only a few hundred pounds. You should be able to lift it with a couple of ropes and block and tackles.

**Check_Jo3** · 04-22-2024, 08:52 AM

Got the cap off back in January. Have not been able to touch it since. Still have lots of cutting to do. Found out that the sides seem to be 'cored' with thin foam but is not bonded to the hull sides. Easier to see that the core is black in some spots now.