Mezzanine Madness!!!

[Capt. Tobb]

I am cutting down my bait station cabinet by 10" (cut horizontally out of the center) to make mezzanine seating. I am using epoxy to glass the top and bottom back together and to fill in where the cab doors were. I am using System 3 quick fair epoxy filler over west system.

Christmas day I decided to see how difficult it was going to be to remove the cabinet, turns out it only took about an hour and a half.

Here I was measuring and marking to make the cut.

This is after the cut before the sink was cut out. I will have no doors just access from the top....

 

[Capt. Tobb]

]

I put the two peices of the cabinet face down on MDF covered with wax paper. Then I layed the glass and sandwiched with plywood wraped with wax paper.

Now for the fun part..... fairing. The MDF mold thing worked well but I still had a good amount fairing to do. I will spray primer in the next couple of days and really see how my fairing job is....

I got rid of the latch and had to make a finger hold using a router and jig, turned out nice.

If anyone has any tips or suggestions please let me know, I am kinda new to this glass and paint stuff. I will keep yall posted.... Todd

 

[ThirdHatt]

That looks GREAT! I can't wait to see how your winter projects turn out. Very ambitious. Keep up the good work!

 

[REBrueckner]

Are you leaving he engine controls in place??

 

[Capt. Tobb]

Thanks Byron, still working on the interior too. I hope to have all of this done for OB.

REB, I disconnected the controls a while back because people seem to think that it is the perfect place to put hats, shirts, etc.. I will keep the start, stop and parallel because I use them often but hardly used the controls. I will disconnect in the ER before cabinet goes back in.

 

[86Hat41]

Awsome! I think about taking on that exact same project about 10 times a day...it's on the list. Still working on getting my boat to run right.

 

[Glory]

Are you leaving he engine controls in place??

If they are lowered he will need Tatoo for a mate.

JM

 

[Capt. Tobb]

A little more progress on the seat. I was nervous about spraying Awlgrip but to my suprise it was easy. I first primed with 545 sanded then put on the finish. Next I will get the boat ready to put the seat back, and get cushons made. I am thinking of using Sunbrella like they do on the new boats.

this was taken right after I sprayed the last coat.....

 

[bigbill]

lookin good capt. tom

 

[Captned]

Good stuff! More pics please.... Now you can make your window lower / bigger and see out when sitting inside!

Captned
MBMM

 

[Capt. Tobb]

Thanks Billy....
C'mon Ned! just when I thought I was almost done you have to go and that idea in my head...... wheres my sawzall???

It would be nice to have one of the windows that open like the ones on the new Riverea SF....

 

[CTdave]

Eagerly awaiting installation pictures!!!!!!!
Ya know, I wasn't even thinking about doing anything on my 50 conv but now you had to go & do this. Thanks!!!

 

[Capt. Tobb]

Welcome Dave, I am envious of your ER access, I looked at a couple of 50's before I got the Viking. Give it a whirl "nothing like the smell of fiberglass in the morning.......smells like itching!" Hope to install this weekend, will show pics....

 

[JimmyB]

Make sure you put soft padding so as not to damage the pretty things that will sit there.
Great idea and execution.

Jimmy

 

[Capt. Tobb]

Thanks Jimmy, like they say, mo cushon fo mo, well, you know the drill....

did you get a hole in the water yet? there are some deals around...

 

[JimmyB]

The house sold New Years eve and I am wrapping up a few other issues. I ramped up the search and have a much better idea of what will satisfy my needs.
I saw a really nice 50 in Texas and have also seen a couple of Trawlers that would work. I think it will come down to the best value when I make the move. I also am looking for water to put a hole in.