1975 Checkmate Vmate restoration

[nathan]

looking good will

 

[Will Switzer]

My new stainless trim pump bracket came . Now I just have to fab up something and glass it to the hull to mount the bracket and pump

 

[Will Switzer]

Got the stringer all glued in place with PL Premium yesterday .

 

[Will Switzer]

Found a bad side brace under the deck so I cut it out . While I was at it I decided to cut the board out behind the dash too . The hole for the steering helm was all chewed up and NOT ROUND . My helm wouldnt go through . So Cut a new piece of wood and fitted it in place . Than started glassing in the helm area .

Side brace removed

New piece cut

Removal of the dash board

 

[Will Switzer]

Test fit

Fits really good . Just have to drive new holes

 

[Will Switzer]

Here we are filling in the helm cut out . Took quite a few fiberglass patches to fill it up and it sure soaked up the resin . But its getting there ...

Back side glassed in place for support .

 

[Chris]

Looking good Will!

-Chris

 

[nathan]

Looking good Will!

 

[condorsun]

What a great job and hard work look forward to seeing more.

 

[Will Switzer]

Its been a bit since ive posted last and alot has happened since than . I keep my thread updated on the Checkmate forums and sometimes for get about the one here . Here are a few pics for your viewing enjoyment

Steering cut out completely fixed

Filled in all the holes in the side of the boat where both parts join together .Some one really hacked it up years ago

What it looked like before

 

[Will Switzer]

Got the floor and seat boxes all glued and glassed in

Rebuilt the forward bulk head

 

[Will Switzer]

Here I put the seats in to see how every thing lined up since it had all been replaced .

 

[Will Switzer]

Than I got bored and built the base to mount my power trim pump and also built my rear seat bench

 

[Will Switzer]

The more I look at this with out the windshield the more I like it with out it . So its most likely not going back on . I cant believe either how much room is inside of this little V-mate . I can sit in the rear seat and stretch my legs all the way out . Checkmate really made use of every available space with this hull ....

 

[Will Switzer]

Well on this day it was transom rebuild day . Got the seacast all poured and is now set up and VERY SOLID !!! To me this is the best way to go . Total time from time bucket was open till it was all in the transom 35 mins and your done and next day you have a solid transom ready for the motor ...

Had to give it a quick mix before the hardener was added

 

[Will Switzer]

Hardener added and the fiberglass was being added . This gives it its super strength ...

 

[Will Switzer]

Here is a short video I took of it being mixed up

 

[Will Switzer]

And here is goes in between the transom skins to become my new transom . My cousin shovled some of it in and than I picked the bucket up and poured it in while my dad guided it down when a sheet of flexable plastic

My dad smoothing it out

Last pic I took just before it was all filled it

 

[Will Switzer]

Here is the new set of decals I had made . Went with the new style Checkmate font . Rob (ezstriper) on the checkmate forum did these up for me and they turned out awesome cant wait till the boat is painted and I can get these on

 

[Will Switzer]

Well It has been a while since I have posted . But i have had the boat back home for a week now . On tuesday I stripped some of the paint on the bow Trying to get it ready for paint . I also have the paint for the bottom and the primer for the top . Ill be getting back to it on sunday since that is my next day off !!!

Here is a picture from last sunday when I brought her back to the house ...