aeviaanah
Well-known member
Hows it goin everyone? I'm glad i stubled across this forum, seems like a great community.
A little about myself...my name is Steve and I am new to the whole boating thing. I just bought the 12' Valco aluminum boat which was built in the mid 80's...i think. The boat and trailer was bought for 400 dollars. No motor yet. Here are a few before starting the outside....
Ive been refinishing the aluminum using a circular scotch brite pad on a grinder. I will then hand score with a regular scotch brite pad. I filled it up past the first rivit line with water, noticed the main seam on the side of the boat was leaking with the addition of a few rivits. I bought some 3m 1500 series caulking. I plan on taping both sides of the seam and smearing a layer of the stuff on the seam and peeling back the tape before it dries....not sure how well that will work but ill try a test piece first. Any ideas on the matter? Id like the caulking job to turn out real nice....I am not sure how high the water will actually go...can someone estimate whereabout i need to worry about sealing? This is an image of the first pass which was using a hand scotch brite only.
I have also removed the old wooden seats, i got the new ones cut and they will be put in after the exterior and interior is complete. I went with 5/8 ply wood called sandeply....I plan on staining and sealing and will need to know a good water resistant/proof sealer....know any? Ive also ripped out the wood that is used to stiffen the back of the boat. Looks like they double stacked 5/8 plywood in a T shape....not sure how critical this wood is but if there is something I should know please dont hesitate.
I bought a special paint that speckles gray and white together...the stuff looks real cool and i plan on using it for the interior. It is soft to the touch, strong and non reflective. Would it be a good idea to seal the inside of the boat as well before painting?
The boat also had what i think are bimimi mounts, if there are any good DIU links out there for a little bit of shade, let me know please! I also have some cracked aluminum in some spots, i bought this special putty at a boating supply store. Its a two part and is made for aluminum. Do you recommend using this on the gusset which supports the back of the boat and at the top of the back of the boat? Not sure how strong this stuff really is. I have a few of the bimimi parts and handles that are going to get sand blasted and remounted.
I also plan on adding plywood over the front seat and extending it (on the plane of the existing seat) towards the front of the boat. Not sure exactly how im going to support it, but I am a steel worker and can make anything out of thin or heavy steel/alum. I like the idea of having it hinge after the seats and possibly an access door on the side of the existing seat....if you have any ideas or have done this before please let me know what you can think of.
Oh, and i also bought a vintage valco decal from ebay, this will be replacing the worn logo. What you think? Im curious to hear from some experts on the matter!
A little about myself...my name is Steve and I am new to the whole boating thing. I just bought the 12' Valco aluminum boat which was built in the mid 80's...i think. The boat and trailer was bought for 400 dollars. No motor yet. Here are a few before starting the outside....
![P7090035_800x600.jpg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/074/074775ff72f2530cd20dc090b240041f.jpg)
![P7090037_800x600.jpg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/a64/a64a5c9192a2f42bab61501d866324c4.jpg)
![P7090036_800x600-1.jpg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/658/65861e7106938eb9d2e6d965f441dc80.jpg)
Ive been refinishing the aluminum using a circular scotch brite pad on a grinder. I will then hand score with a regular scotch brite pad. I filled it up past the first rivit line with water, noticed the main seam on the side of the boat was leaking with the addition of a few rivits. I bought some 3m 1500 series caulking. I plan on taping both sides of the seam and smearing a layer of the stuff on the seam and peeling back the tape before it dries....not sure how well that will work but ill try a test piece first. Any ideas on the matter? Id like the caulking job to turn out real nice....I am not sure how high the water will actually go...can someone estimate whereabout i need to worry about sealing? This is an image of the first pass which was using a hand scotch brite only.
![P7130042_800x600.jpg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/f1e/f1e710cc8427be8886c501c3bc35d978.jpg)
I have also removed the old wooden seats, i got the new ones cut and they will be put in after the exterior and interior is complete. I went with 5/8 ply wood called sandeply....I plan on staining and sealing and will need to know a good water resistant/proof sealer....know any? Ive also ripped out the wood that is used to stiffen the back of the boat. Looks like they double stacked 5/8 plywood in a T shape....not sure how critical this wood is but if there is something I should know please dont hesitate.
![P7130040_800x600.jpg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/523/523ec2fb9e92b433a20cc3dd79356f71.jpg)
I bought a special paint that speckles gray and white together...the stuff looks real cool and i plan on using it for the interior. It is soft to the touch, strong and non reflective. Would it be a good idea to seal the inside of the boat as well before painting?
![P7130041_800x600.jpg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/98f/98f886868e6b43218c2177767e7efcea.jpg)
The boat also had what i think are bimimi mounts, if there are any good DIU links out there for a little bit of shade, let me know please! I also have some cracked aluminum in some spots, i bought this special putty at a boating supply store. Its a two part and is made for aluminum. Do you recommend using this on the gusset which supports the back of the boat and at the top of the back of the boat? Not sure how strong this stuff really is. I have a few of the bimimi parts and handles that are going to get sand blasted and remounted.
![P7130039_800x600.jpg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/381/3811ef40b2d097d41f7e14a521fed5da.jpg)
I also plan on adding plywood over the front seat and extending it (on the plane of the existing seat) towards the front of the boat. Not sure exactly how im going to support it, but I am a steel worker and can make anything out of thin or heavy steel/alum. I like the idea of having it hinge after the seats and possibly an access door on the side of the existing seat....if you have any ideas or have done this before please let me know what you can think of.
![P7130038_800x600.jpg](https://proxy.imagearchive.com/a8f/a8f3b507b21b4da8dd850bb035884612.jpg)
Oh, and i also bought a vintage valco decal from ebay, this will be replacing the worn logo. What you think? Im curious to hear from some experts on the matter!