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Well I guess our boats are never really done. Here is the latest addition to the "blue dolphin" I have longed for a T-top since seeing all the nice ones installed on forum members boats. I talking with Jim Costa (Manasotamako) at the Destin get together he offered to sell me his old top from the "Ann Marie" a 2002 Mako 28(I think). It came with spreader lights, electronics box, overhead florescent, and 6 gold rod holders, and an enclosure. He really did a great job bolting it to a crate/frame. It came in motor freight(200 bucks freight) without a scratch. Today's adventure was to lower it 6 inches and repair a couple of cracks, (one of Jims reasons for replacing it) weld in a new cross brace, and bolt her down. we thru bolted where possible and used 5200 to bed every thing down. Again my thanks go out to Jim Costa, and especially to my friends who helped me weld and fabricate and install the top, Pete and Aaron your the best, I owe you a salmon adventure.
In a never ending quest to make the 'Dolphin a better boat I have done a few upgrades lately. I installed a hydraulic Seastar system from Fourson's marine. Great price and awesome service.
Also am installing a
power anchor windlass. While cutting the hole for the unit I discovered wet
soggy core material in the front deck. I dug out nearly all of it with a
flexible rod and now I am in the process of drying the rest of it out.
I am going to level out the boat, tape off the bottom of the deck and pour in resin and pack it with soaked cloth. its about a 1/2 inch void that should fill well. The alternative is to cut the front deck out and replace. The deck is still strong with no delamination. So want to try this idea. Mako used a balsa core in the front deck area. This got wet long ago from a loose lift ring. If its a failure you all will be the first to know.
Well time for a update, I leveled off the boat, taped off the bottom of the hole. and poured polyester resin in. I then poked small strips of wetted glass back into the void, I was able to push about 16 inches of material back in all around the opening. I then filled the opening with glass and resin. I whole deck was hot to the touch from the resin kicking. I did work out ok but if I were to do it again I would use less hardener. It was hectic to say the least.
