So I currently have two builds going on at the same time. The Gheenoe is priority right now to get up to speed with the Carolina Skiff. I want to get the glass work done on both at the same time so I can start fairing them together. Trying to minimize dust and/or cross contaminating one with the others dust. Anyways, I picked this up for $180, its completely trashed in terms of the transom, holes in the keel, and a really really poor repair job. I literally cut the perimeter of the glass and it all pulled up. The plan with this boat is to give my boys (twin 15 year olds) their first boat so they can go fishing and cruising with us on ours. They really like the “Carolina Flair” that alot of poling skiffs have here as well as having a tunnel (not sure if its gonna give much benefit) so that is the foundation of the plan.
Mocked up the front to start with. I extended the bow some to add the flair and deck. Not sold on the final deck look. I plan on having atleast one gutter/lid/compartment in the front for the batteries.
I’ve gotten pretty good at making molds with so the plan was to spray foam the flair, then sand it down and shape it, then coat in bondo and fair it out, and finally epoxy it. Next up, the plan was to wax it up and lay it up with glass, creating a mold of the finished product that can be glassed directly into the hull. Then the cavity will be poured with 6lb closed cell foam.
I post alot of “How-to” video’s on my Instagram if anyone is interested in checking them out or learning from my mistakes. My IG name is the same as my name in this group (Lost1nz). Not trying to plug another app but I started there and will continue until I cave in and create a youtube.
I coated the whole hull with packing tape before I sprayed the foam. This way the mold will theoretically pop loose once the glass cures.
The mold and plug popped loose really nicely. There is alittle repair work needed but If I needed to lay this up again, I could in a relatively short period of time.
Then glassed it in place. Started with a fillet of peanut butter around the perimeter and then multiple layers of tabbing, growing in size with each layer.
Sorry for the delay in progress posts but I’ve gotten alot done since the last post. The transom core is completely epoxied in, 1/2” fillet around all the edges, and then tabbed in. The tunnel is done as well. I got the old bench removed and a new wall installed along with the top deck. I was going to use a mold I already have from the Carolina Skiff for the gutters/latch but I miss-measured and cut it too big so now I need to make a new mold for this. The underside of the deck is glassed (top is foam until I get the mold made for the gutter so I can glass it in flush). I also installed a new front wall that is glassed and tabbed in as well. Finally, I mocked up the side console (started off on the left hand side but decided to go with a right side, side console. It’s currently mocked up in foam and will be un-screwed and glassed as individual parts before I epoxy them together and tab it all it. I’m still working out the details on it but the base is done. *Note: If you see anything I should add, let me know! I’ve never been on a boat with a side console nor have I seen one in person so I’m just going off pictures and what I think it should look like.
As always, I post alot of build video’s on my Instagram. Most of them are tutorials so if you have any questions, head over to my page and give me a like or follow. If you have any questions too, I have been making videos to help those who ask. Thanks for the support and I hope to have the console glassed up by this weekend and the mold for the rear gutter done. Let me know what you think!
