The Walkers' Arctic Renovation: 1967 Tradewind

[Atomic_13]

Nice work, Dan! You now have a clean slate to work with. In my opinion, this is a major milestone that’s represents the start of an enjoyable phase of a renovation. So much of the (important) work done to this point is hidden to others. Now it’s time to strut your stuff.

[Slats]

Good job, Dan. No, make that great work. You may, at this point, feel a little anxiety about cluttering up all that pristine open space with the necessary interior accouterments. At least that was my experience. Your mileage my vary.

[Dwwalker18]

Not much to report over the last couple months; work, holidays, and weather have kept me out of the trailer.

While visiting family in Florida, we took the opportunity to visit Airstream of Tampa. The visit was helpful to see various layouts, and solidify our vision for Otis. I was particularly fond of the new Caravel.

In other news, I discovered that my “restored” tub fell victim to a saboteur. I suspect a squirrel infiltrated my shed, made its way into the tub, and then had to claw its way out. Thankfully, I was able to smooth out the claw marks with some wet sanding. Not perfect, but good enough. Now just have to make sure it holds water...

Also spent some time sketching the various cabinets and drawer layouts, and our route out of here in 6 months. I sure have a lot to do. Is 6500 miles too ambitious for a maiden voyage?

[Dwwalker18]

Our cat, Stella, approves of my drawings, so long as they are only used for her sleeping pad. I suppose it’s about as good of a reaction as I could have hoped for!

[badpaddler]

Glad you are doing anything at all. We have been stalled completely given the weather. Even the furnace doesn't want to keep up with this. :-/ I have done some fiberglass work on boats, so if you need a hand patching the tub let me know!

[Slats]

Dan -


I like Stella's silent commentary about plans. I've been running plumbing lines of late. While my plans and drawings certainly helped in a general way, the actualization of them sometimes took a different path.

[Dwwalker18]

Well, you know what they say about plans...

I fully expect my experience to match yours.

[Dwwalker18]

Not a huge accomplishment to report, but it is something to report at least after months of silence. After working off and on with the tub, I finally was able to install the drain so that it didn’t leak. One less thing to worry about later at least.



My next steps are to: tape out the floor plan, frame out the rear bulkhead walls using metal studs, and then start with all the plumbing. Depending on the weather, that all might take a back seat to trying to remake the front end cap insert.



I put it back together once already, and then someone hit it with a weed-wacker so... yeah it’s dead. I’m thinking fiberglass. Anyone else have any luck remaking these before?

We’ve got about 3 feet of snow on the ground still, with more on the way and temperatures expected to drop back below zero again. At least we have normal amounts of daylight now.

[Dwwalker18]

Ok, my first experiment in fiberglass is complete. Is it beautiful? Is it good? No. But it is good enough? Yup.



Honestly, it wasn’t too hard. Much was learned in the process and the next iteration will be much better. All possible with some help from badpaddler.

Started by making a mold using the original and spray foam. I used soap as the “release agent.”




Then covered with a couple of perpendicular layers of packing tape



Next came fiberglass!




This is where it started to go downhill a bit. I realized I should have included some aluminum flat bar along the top and bottom edge to prevent my fasteners from tearing out of the fiberglass. Adding it after the fact was sloppy.

I ended up painting it with some extra spray paint I had. I used textured paint in the inside to try to hide the many imperfections. It was moderately effective.

It was 3 degrees this morning, and we received another 6 inches of snow since my last post. Otis remains trapped in his snow-tomb for the foreseeable future.

[PatLee]

I think it's lovely!

[Slats]

What an inspiring illustration of ingenuity! Thinking outside oval, for sure.

[KZGoodchild]

Nice job, overbuilding is the way to go, esp. Up There !!! Klondike Mike'd be proud. Keep on it.

[Landshark]

Dan, just read your whole thread: amazing and amazingly fast work! Otis should be very pleased with himself, he is a work of practical art!

Can't believe you have been able to get so much done, so fast, in such long, cold weather. Good on ya!

Looking forward to following your work on the interior, the fun part of the whole, long process.

Good luck! Vivian

[Dwwalker18]

Thank you all for your kind words!

I was hoping to have a more interesting update today, but Murphy decided come out to play, and interfere with my plans.

I was in the process of sprucing up the overhead cabinets when my sander had a meltdown. I did complete a few boards at least. You can see original, vinyl removed, and then sanded below.



I’ll be reusing the plywood core, and getting new hardware. Wood is expensive up here, so I am glad I can reuse this. Plus it’s already the right size!

I’ve already reinforced and refinished the upper cabinet frames, so once I get the faces done I’ll post another update.

[Dwwalker18]

Ok, back in business! And first cabinet face complete!



I hope to have the rest done by the end of the week. We’ll see...

[PatLee]

Nice!

[Bubba L]

Dan, got a question. Did you use glass mat with the epoxy on the front overhead cabinet? Reason I ask, I’m finally making a shower pan for the 55. Since all the sides will be at 90 degrees, I’m making the substrate out of 1/4” hardwood core leftover plywood. Then I will epoxy and use glass mat? Just wondering about your thoughts. Thanks

[Dwwalker18]

Originally Posted by Bubba L

Dan, got a question. Did you use glass mat with the epoxy on the front overhead cabinet? Reason I ask, I’m finally making a shower pan for the 55. Since all the sides will be at 90 degrees, I’m making the substrate out of 1/4” hardwood core leftover plywood. Then I will epoxy and use glass mat? Just wondering about your thoughts. Thanks

Bubba, I used the basic Bondo glass mat and resin from the box stores for the insert. The face of the cabinet is the original wood, just refinished. They will be joined by some sort of faster once it’s all installed.

From my one attempt with fiberglass, the side in contact with the form comes out much cleaner. The edges of sheets are blended better and it’s generally a smoother surface. If I understand your approach correctly, you may be better served by making a mold out of scrap with some release agent, and then forming the fiberglass around it. Once cured, pop it off of the mold and mount it to your substrate. That will give you the better surface to finish. As an added bonus, if you mess up you just have to start over and have only wasted some glass mat and resin!

Anyways, I hope my unsolicited advice and incomplete answer to your question are helpful!

[Bubba L]

I’m with you and that makes sense. I worked on surf boards 50 years ago but forgot a lot. I plan on fiberglassing then sand. If it looks fair at that point, I will try a gel coat with a colored pigment. Like you said, if it doesn’t turn out to be usable, I’ll start over. Thanks

[badpaddler]

I would go with a 8.5oz twill E glass cloth. It will lay out easier in the sharp corners, but maintain strength.

Significantly stiffer to work with than the 4 oz e cloth for boards (excluding guns, eggs, fish and LB's).

Originally Posted by Bubba L

I’m with you and that makes sense. I worked on surf boards 50 years ago but forgot a lot. I plan on fiberglassing then sand. If it looks fair at that point, I will try a gel coat with a colored pigment. Like you said, if it doesn’t turn out to be usable, I’ll start over. Thanks