I’ve got a lot more things done on the boat than I’ve posted to this blog, so I’ll try to get caught up and post more.
One of the major must-do items on my pre-launch punch list was to weld in the new main engine raw water intakes. I’ve got 2″ Buck Algonquin 70RWS200 stainless steel strainers in the engine room, but I want scoop strainers on the bottom. GROCO ASC-AL hull strainers are what I went with. I considered welding them to the bottom, which is how Chris Craft did it. But welding them on means there are spots on the hull that have no barrier coat or bottom paint. The boat does have an impressed current cathodic protection system (CAPAC) installed, but I’d rather not have bare aluminum exposed to salt water. Fortunately, Groco makes these so they can be installed with screws, too.
Groco ASC-AL hull strainers
I coated the scoops inside and out with Barr Rust 235 epoxy barrier coat, then topped that with the Pettit VIVID I had left over from repainting the bottom.
Drilling and tapping holes in the hull
Well…that sucks
A brand new tap snapped off clean just a few turns into the hole.
30 minutes later, I got the broken tap out of the hole
Vix hinge bit perfectly centers the drill in the holes
All the holes are drilled
I’m using 316 stainless screws, so each hole got a dollop of Tef-Gel
Next, I taped off the area…
…and applied Sikka 291 LOT caulk
Good squeeze out
I like the fact that I can pull the pin and open the little access hatch on the back of the scoop. That makes it easy to keep the inside of the standpipe clean.
Repeat the process on the opposite side
Done
That’s a wrap for my below-the-waterline punch list.
Next up in our 1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Swim Platform Rub Rail
1969chriscraftroamer46 