The swim steps won't go all the way up the transom?

V.

Instead of just a swim step that does nothing to help float the stern of the boat, we will be extending the hull so there will be about 700 pounds add flotation and no holes through the transom to leak.

ahhhhh...

V.

Nope, dont think it will buff. Might have to use some paint too.

And yes, looks DAMN thin.

The fiberglass skin is less than an 1/8 of an inch thick.

Sounds more like a glorified waterproofing than reinforcement.

I think you have that one about right.

Thanks for sharing the progress so far, Femmpaws!

You are welcome

Ah... The merry buz of an Orbital Sander... Perfect for sanding orbitals I guess. So this is the Transom? It took me a few minutes to figure it out.

Yes that is the transom... All the stuff in the back has been removed up to that short bulkhead and we found all kinds if nasty stuff under the paint. We also found evidence that the boat had sunk and likely had an engine bay fire.

Sorry an orbital sander wouldn't cut it... it was more the scream of 5 and 7 inch right angle grinders... Rich took out about 1/4 inch of glass and the grease and crap that was in and under it. We got the glass put back in the boat before the weather turned south on us... So we will be picking up where we left off in the spring.

Poor Rich was grinding out voids in the glass and was wondering how deep he should go. You start one place and chase the void 4 to 8 inches, some of them going rather deep. He worried he wouldn't have any bottom left when he was done... Then we found the forward bulkhead is gone after he ground the paint off so we could glass it, so that will be replaced come spring.. It's a 44 year old boat that was not overly well taken care of for the last part of it's life it would seem.

Rich plans on working on the inside over the winter so it will be less to do later on.

That reminds me. I need to add him to my "List."

Him??? A grinder? The Harbor Fright grinders are not bad, Rich and I have yet to kill one of these http://www.harborfreight.com/power-.....der-69645.html grinding away on his boat. This one is a little more robust http://www.harborfreight.com/4-1-2-.....tch-65519.html I like that paddle switch for working in confined spaces... I have been chewed on by one that didn't have a safety switch while I was in a tight space.

Reading your account about Rich "Chasing the voids" proves the old addage, "A boat is nothing but a hole in the water that one throws money into." Actually I'm following Rich because he's been involved in several, exciting 3-D printing projects that I've taken an interest in. Heh... I wonder if the same could be said of the 3-D printing hobby?

Likely Rich is not the same Rich... And like anything I would bet it could well be I know RC aircraft can be a costly hobby.