It pained me to cut the splashwell out of a virgin Virage but knowing that hanging a 280 hp Merc on the back would most certainly crack the inside corners.
Putting a flat deck where the splashwell was originally is the most popular way to go, however, once I spotted Aaron Walcholz's Virage, I really liked his splashwell delete design. I will be running a 15" motor and it will work with the full height transom but the 2" drop will ease the rigging hoses when the motor is fully tilted.
This is Aarons Virage
This is what I started with
I replaced the transom wood and beveled the top edge 45* so I could get fiberglass as far back into the joint as possible. This will reduce any possibilities of future cracking on the outer edge seam.
I used two layers of 1 1/16" marine grade plywood.
I made my mold from 3/4" partical board. I made a rotisserie so I didn't have to work upside down.
I beveled back the cut edge of fiberglass for a smooth transition and minimal air bubbles. I used powered sheetrock rock (hot mud) to round and smooth out the mold. A hot glue gun filled the air gaps in the very back.
I put on two coats of floor paste wax as a release agent being very careful not to get any on the existing fiberglass that I want to bond to.
I brushed on two coats of gelcoat.
I put down a couple layers of mat and let dry. This stabilizes the mold and holds the gelcoat in the corners.
After that dried, I added another mat, a woven roving, and another mat. I used scrap mat pieces to build up the drop off area between the old and new fiberglass. Once that dried, I trowled on core bond putty and bedded in foam and balsa core (which I primed with resin before installing)
Over the core, I put down a mat and two layers of stitchmat.
That's all I had time to get done while at our property for the week. I'm only allowed so much time to play with the boat
Next visit I will grind the edge and glass the rest of the transom.
Wondering how to post images or maybe change your avatar or maybe something else?
You can find that and a lot of other useful tips for using the forums in the HydrostreamForums Knowledge Base.
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You can find that and a lot of other useful tips for using the forums in the HydrostreamForums Knowledge Base.
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Splashwell delete
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Splashwell delete
Last edited by alaskastreamin on Jan 28, 2014 5:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Ron Pratt
Okanogan, WA
Viper/ 2.5L 200 Merc (SOLD)
1991 "the last" Virage/ 15" 280
2003 9’ Mini Virage/ 15 hp Honda 4-stroke
1989 Voyager/ 300 Promax
1989 HST / 2.5L 200 Merc
http://www.prattcustoms.com
Okanogan, WA
Viper/ 2.5L 200 Merc (SOLD)
1991 "the last" Virage/ 15" 280
2003 9’ Mini Virage/ 15 hp Honda 4-stroke
1989 Voyager/ 300 Promax
1989 HST / 2.5L 200 Merc
http://www.prattcustoms.com
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- Site Admin
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Re: Splashwell delete
Looks great Ron. Cant wait for more updates!
-Kevin
Project Vulture | Project Vector | Project Vamp | Project Vixen
The Vulture Wish List | Project CobraJet
1977 HydroStream Vulture - Worlds longest ongoing project.
1982 Hydrostream Vector
1982 Hydrostream Vamp
1973 Hydrostream Vixen
1976 CobraJet Jet Boat - Outboard conversion project
1976 Pontoon - aka The Family Truckster
Project Vulture | Project Vector | Project Vamp | Project Vixen
The Vulture Wish List | Project CobraJet
1977 HydroStream Vulture - Worlds longest ongoing project.
1982 Hydrostream Vector
1982 Hydrostream Vamp
1973 Hydrostream Vixen
1976 CobraJet Jet Boat - Outboard conversion project
1976 Pontoon - aka The Family Truckster
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- Hydrostream know it all
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Feb 10, 2012 8:01 pm
- Location: Sitka Alaska / Okanogan,WA
- Has thanked: 5 times
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- Contact:
Re: Splashwell delete
You bet Kevin!! I just edited the last pict as it was a repeat of the previous one and not the finished layup.
It looks like I will be back down in late April and again in May so the transom and bulkheads should get done then.
Times like this I wish the boat was up here. High 40's to low 50* temps in January!! Must be global warming.
It looks like I will be back down in late April and again in May so the transom and bulkheads should get done then.
Times like this I wish the boat was up here. High 40's to low 50* temps in January!! Must be global warming.
Ron Pratt
Okanogan, WA
Viper/ 2.5L 200 Merc (SOLD)
1991 "the last" Virage/ 15" 280
2003 9’ Mini Virage/ 15 hp Honda 4-stroke
1989 Voyager/ 300 Promax
1989 HST / 2.5L 200 Merc
http://www.prattcustoms.com
Okanogan, WA
Viper/ 2.5L 200 Merc (SOLD)
1991 "the last" Virage/ 15" 280
2003 9’ Mini Virage/ 15 hp Honda 4-stroke
1989 Voyager/ 300 Promax
1989 HST / 2.5L 200 Merc
http://www.prattcustoms.com
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- Site Admin
- Posts: 3980
- Joined: Mar 25, 2009 7:31 pm
- Location: Nowthen, MN
- Has thanked: 353 times
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- Contact:
Re: Splashwell delete
Must be rough. Our forecast has been nothing but sub zero for weeks other then like 3 days in the last few weeks. Yesterday was like -17 with -35 deg windchill and right now the temp is SLOWLY climbing and its zero but feels like -11. Tomorrow is supposed to be 20 deg but then 7 on Thursday. Screwy weather we got going on here big time.
-Kevin
Project Vulture | Project Vector | Project Vamp | Project Vixen
The Vulture Wish List | Project CobraJet
1977 HydroStream Vulture - Worlds longest ongoing project.
1982 Hydrostream Vector
1982 Hydrostream Vamp
1973 Hydrostream Vixen
1976 CobraJet Jet Boat - Outboard conversion project
1976 Pontoon - aka The Family Truckster
Project Vulture | Project Vector | Project Vamp | Project Vixen
The Vulture Wish List | Project CobraJet
1977 HydroStream Vulture - Worlds longest ongoing project.
1982 Hydrostream Vector
1982 Hydrostream Vamp
1973 Hydrostream Vixen
1976 CobraJet Jet Boat - Outboard conversion project
1976 Pontoon - aka The Family Truckster
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- Hydrostream Addict
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- Joined: Jun 22, 2010 5:22 pm
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Re: Splashwell delete
ron more details on the rotary system if u could make new post about it ive been wanting to do same thing so i can redo bottom of vking and buff it with ease every yr
[ Post made via iPhone ]
[ Post made via iPhone ]
79 vector missing in action!!!!!
2006 vking center steer
2006 vking center steer
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- Hydrostream know it all
- Posts: 512
- Joined: Feb 10, 2012 8:01 pm
- Location: Sitka Alaska / Okanogan,WA
- Has thanked: 5 times
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Re: Splashwell delete
Sorry Bud, I just now saw your post here. (I don't remember getting a notice)
I'll do a post on my version and add some pictures of Aaron's much simplier one.
I'll do a post on my version and add some pictures of Aaron's much simplier one.
Ron Pratt
Okanogan, WA
Viper/ 2.5L 200 Merc (SOLD)
1991 "the last" Virage/ 15" 280
2003 9’ Mini Virage/ 15 hp Honda 4-stroke
1989 Voyager/ 300 Promax
1989 HST / 2.5L 200 Merc
http://www.prattcustoms.com
Okanogan, WA
Viper/ 2.5L 200 Merc (SOLD)
1991 "the last" Virage/ 15" 280
2003 9’ Mini Virage/ 15 hp Honda 4-stroke
1989 Voyager/ 300 Promax
1989 HST / 2.5L 200 Merc
http://www.prattcustoms.com
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