Recent content by VessalVassal

I have at least trimmed the plywood so I am not walking on the stringers.. still looking for info if anyone has knowledge about these. After a more complete inspection I see I will need to do some work on the transom. Anyone know where the drain plug is lol? Does it exist?

Missed out on a Lone Star Crestliner for 1k a while back and have been looking for one since. My lady kinda told me no... but we kinds split and my birthday is Sunday... so... I may or may not have a $700 1960 Lone Star Crestliner outboard vs. In the driveway. :) Right now, the RAID is soaking...

Thanks everyone for the kind words! Updates: I was given an old Evinrude 4HP twin for Christmas, need to fix the pull start and replace the impeller. I purchased the service manual and the impeller is on the way. Also purchased the owners manual and a replacement cowl for the Ted Williams (1973...

Since the motivation for this build is my daughter, (and as my helper/supervisor she is invested in it too!) I thought she should have her very own seat. The big ones I ordered were... well, big. I needed something that would fit in yet was obviously her size. Found a little school chair at a...

Took the trailer to DMV and Highway Patrol, got the title, registration and a VIN. Got some Harbor freight ratchet straps, put the boat on, (MAN! That looks GOOD!) went back to DMV and got it titled also, got a Hull number and a CF number. Didn't know the make and model so they put "Valco" on...

For the Hull paint, I got a gallon of black Rustoleum for $25, spent another $25 at Tractor Supply for Hardener and Reducer. Got a quart of white too. Painted the Hull black - it came out really nice considering the dents etc... I sprayed it with my Harbor Freight sprayer. Saved just over a...

A little sanding - $10 in paper, a roll of painter's tape - $5 for the good kind and about 11 cans of self etching primer (@ $6 each) later I was thinking about naming her "Optimus Primer." Took the kiddo fishing again and she got her first Lunker! That ladder rack... makes a great work stand...

About this time, I started worrying about how I would get papers on the boat and the trailer. The boat had no hull number, the trailer never registered before. I was also wishing that I had a little rowing dingy to go out in - something I could just put in the truck and go without having to be...

Now, I had (have) no idea what make and model the boat is. The guy selling it told me it was a 13ft. unknown. Tape measure says 14ft. Semi-V, riveted. Pretty thin aluminum, quite a few dents. I filled it with water and there were a couple small leaks (tiny) so I re-bucked those rivits, then wire...

Next... I needed a boat. Now, I had been expressly forbidden from getting a boat for financial reasons etc... But I found an ad (Craigslist again!) for a 14ft. aluminum boat, no history or papers, AND a ladder rack both for the princely sum of $100. Of course, I wanted to run up and get these...

Next was picking up a free trailer from Craigslist. It was an old "built" boat trailer that had since been converted for hauling trash etc.. - the deal was that it was free if I hauled it off full of garbage. It was in Stockton so I made sure to check the "garbage" for any bodies or contraband...

Since it's raining today, I thought it would be a good time to start my thread. This build is on a fairly tight budget so spreading out the cost and finding the best deals I can is more of a priority than getting it done fast and between work, family and fishing there are only so many weekend...