Elbow grease

[Rosscoe]

I thought I'd post some pics of the clean up process on the 175. I have been fairly impressed with how it is cleaning up but also thought some would clean up better. Maybe I'll post pics of the areas of disappointment for the wet sanding crowd to see and they can comment on whether they think it would help?
I love this boat more, over time. I love the color too. Not the interior so much but the exterior. Not white.

[Rosscoe]

More
Some before and afters.

[Rosscoe]

What do you think of the $140.00 washers?  

The tires I ended up buying are General Altimax RT's and have a load rating of 1653 lbs but only on this size (205/70R14) which worked out almost perfect.

[Rosscoe]

couple more. Sorry Gregg. That whole photo hosting may not work out for a guy with dial up.

[CVX Fever]

Looking good Ross! Try wet sanding a small area w/800 or 1000 grit and then compound buff and see if it gets you the results your looking for. I'm guessing your trouble spots are the brown above the rub-rail. When I did my CVX18 I pulled off most of the hardware which made it a lot easier as I had zero experience with a rotary buffer when I started.

[Rosscoe]

Looking good Ross! Try wet sanding a small area w/800 or 1000 grit and then compound buff and see if it gets you the results your looking for. I'm guessing your trouble spots are the brown above the rub-rail. When I did my CVX18 I pulled off most of the hardware which made it a lot easier as I had zero experience with a rotary buffer when I started.

That is exactly the right areas Kip. Not improving anymore so I need to try something different. I will try that.

[CVX Fever]

OK- I see you are removing the hardware. Gel-cote is amazing stuff from a durability standpoint, isn't it?

What do you mean $140 washers?

[Jason]

Loks great Ross. Nice to see it moving along. The wheels look good too.

[Rosscoe]

OK- I see you are removing the hardware. Gel-cote is amazing stuff from a durability standpoint, isn't it?

What do you mean $140 washers?

I found these old Shelby wheels on Craigslist for 25 bucks (4) with no lugs and they are unilugs so they have a recessed oblong milled out spot for lug washers. This allows several different bolt patterns. Once I found someone on line that sold lugs and washers, they set me up with the closest thing they had. I ended up grinding them down to fit. Figured I should have them replated after the grinding. Sent them out thru my work to platers and since they had to "strip" prior to replating, they ended up costing me 140.00 for 10. That one still hurts.  

I've taken off some hardware, mostly because of need repair. The vent had a rusty piece of steel under it taht I replaced with a stainless washer. The spot light was  shot. Not sure what I'll do with those holes. The fuel filler I pulled because the chain for the cover was disconnected on the inside of course and that made me a little uncomfortable.

[Rosscoe]

Taking off some hardware is probably not going to happen. As you probably know, most of it is backed up with nuts, not screwed into wood so it requires it to be held on one side and removed from another. That requires 2 people, and on the rare occasions I have company, I dont want to ask them to help on my boat, not to mention the cleats up under the bow would be tough but not impossible. I did manage to tighten up the bow ring with a few extentions on my ratchet.

[CVX Fever]

OK - Yep I rememeber those after market wheels(Keystone Classics) with the uni-lugs.  I hear ya on the hardware stuff that needs two people. I know better than to ask my wife for help on something like that....LOL   I guess that's what nice about these CVX's is the windshields and most of the hardware, lets face there is not a lot to begin with, is easy to remove.

[Rosscoe]

I asked my ex to help me once when I was working on my snowmobile trailer. I was underneath and all she had to do was run the cordless drill from the top. Being in her common state of inebriation, she was worthless.  I had to figure out a way to do it myself and send her on her way.

[MarkS]

She's looking much better Ross, good job.  It's soo hot in my garage right now, I have to work really early in the morning, stays too hot until midnight or after...(Got up at 2:30AM to finish up a water pump job the other morning!)

As you probably know, most of it is backed up with nuts, not screwed into wood so it requires it to be held on one side and removed from another. That requires 2 people, and on the rare occasions I have company, I dont want to ask them to help on my boat, not to mention the cleats up under the bow would be tough but not impossible.

If you ever HAVE to get something like that loose, I use vise grips on the nut then loosen from the top.  Just don't clamp down too hard.  (Sometimes you have to use two pair, one to hold and the other to keep the first from turning.)  Spoken by a man used to working on the boat without help.   

[Rosscoe]

Good tip Mark.
Yeah its been hot and humid here most days I was off last week. I am guessing not as bad as GA but we get 90 degree days and 70% and its uncomfortable.


  It's soo hot in my garage right now, I have to work really early in the morning, stays too hot until midnight or after...(Got up at 2:30AM to finish up a water pump job the other morning!)

Now that is dedication. Rolling out of the sack to work on your motor!