Using a Shop Smith Mark V on a Chris Craft Roamer refit

roamer46

Sorry if it wasn't clear in my article, but the manufacturer rejects any blame for making the frames too big. They blame me for it all. So returning the windows isn't an option at this point. I may have to cut the clamp rings apart, cut and reweld them so they'll fit in the window openings, then powder coat them. I've put a hold on my payment to them. We'll see if that changes their minds.

JPG

roamer46 wroteSorry if it wasn't clear in my article, but the manufacturer rejects any blame for making the frames too big. They blame me for it all. So returning the windows isn't an option at this point. I may have to cut the clamp rings apart, cut and reweld them so they'll fit in the window openings, then powder coat them. I've put a hold on my payment to them. We'll see if that changes their minds.

Caution! They may sue to get you to change your mindset.

Seems to me that the 'proprieter' is a flake! But word of mouth is a poor way to 'communicate' scope of work and the details. Detailed drawings are supposed to assure proper adherence to intended results. Patterns are good, but not useful unless it is known how to use them.

This too shall pass!!! :)

roamer46

They can sue all they like. The contract, drawings, and written communications are clear. I'll happily pay them when they deliver the contracted items. Their unprofessional response has already cost them two window jobs. Word travels fast online...

ERLover

Sorry for your pain, a payment hold should get there attention, and social media wow, I emailed a company that we were going to hire to help care take for mom, they did not follow thru with somethings, I did a time line on it in the email, closed with, "social media is such wonderful and instant thing". No poop, I hit the send button, the phone rang in 2 minutes, full of apologies and what can we do to make it right.

roamer46

ERLover, the payment hold has indeed gotten Motion Windows' attention, and at least two big boat owners have thanked me for the review. They were planning to replace their windows and were considering Motion, but won't be using them after seeing the company's response to my complaints about oversizing the frames.

In other window news, I'm installing the bow seat windows. These are the ones that Motion made a couple years ago, and 2/3 of those were oversized, too. I had to adjust the paint a bit to get two of them to fit (that's after I sent them back Motion for being waaaay too big...now 2 of them are just slightly too big). But before the windows could go in, I had to install the interior panels that the windows clamp to. I gotta say...it's looking pretty good.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Installing the Bow Seat Window Mahogany Panels

Cheers,

Q

roamer46

I got the last mahogany panel and bow seat window installed. We'll put a big ol' fat check on the punch list next to bow seat windows. For a rookie wood whisperer, I gotta say these complex mahogany panels fit pretty darned good. Next, I've got to get back into the tent-building business. I'm expecting lots of snow this winter, and Tent Model X took a big hit from the boat next to mine that exploded back in July. There's no way it'd hold up to a snow storm in its current condition. Anyway, I'm just real glad the bow seat windows are done. The sooner the exterior is waterproof, the sooner I can wash all the dust off!

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Completing the Bow Seat Window Installation

Cheers,

Q

skou

"After the way things have gone with most of the highly paid professionals on this refit, it feels good when a rookie like me does a better job than the pros."

The ONLY difference between a "professional" and a decent amateur, is the "professional" is getting paid.

Most of the time the amateur does MUCH better work, but is slower. (I don't think I'll be getting any argument, in THIS crowd!) :D

Oh, been following this for a few years now, and am REALLY impressed!

steve

roamer46

Thanks, Steve!

I am definitely much slower than the pros. But the fact that I can only work on this on weekends may be as much of a factor in my slowness as anything else. Having the right tools around makes an enormous difference. ;-)

roamer46

I've been taking advantage of the great weather we're having to transform Tent Model X into Tent Model XXX. The best change for the new version is re-using old shrink wrap plastic as a vapor barrier between the gravel below and the tent above. That should cut down on condensation drastically. I figure it'll take 4-5 days total to reconfigure it. Hopefully this will be the last tent I ever build.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Tent Model XXX

Cheers,

Q

skou

"Finally, the goddess of the seas is smiling upon me. Either that, or the b**** is setting me up for another zinger like she’s done so many other times on this project. :-)"

OK, "someone" owes me a new keyboard.

Milk, even "adult" milk is NOT good for keyboards, especially when deposited by a "spit take,"

or a "nose-spit" take.

Seriously, keep it going, "Q!"

steve

ERLover

Steve what was that, hanging out and doing Martinis with WBB?

roamer46

Sorry about the keyboard, Steve! I've lost one or two myself over the years!

I got the tent uprights moved out on the stbd side and hung the skirt/side plastic all the way around. I've got three sunrise-to-sunset days into the tent transformation, and I figure I've climbed the ladder equivalent of halfway up Everest so far. This would go so much faster with a 4wd articulating high lift or, since there's no room between the boats to the right and forward, maybe a magic carpet with a strong winch.

The vapor barrier is looking good--I can see big drops of water forming all over the under-side of the clear plastic. That's good news, because my ShopSmith has been taking a real beating from condensation-related surface rust pretty much all over. Anyway, the skirt plastic is hung all the way around...I'm getting too old for this cr4p. :p

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Tent Model XXX 2

Cheers,

Q

roamer46

I finally wrapped up the tent remodel. I thought Tent Model X was pretty good, but XXX is a lot better. The vapor barrier made a huge difference, and using battens all the way around is keeping the shrink plastic film tight as a drum. My ShopSmith is in a much drier space. I'm ready for winter. Time to get back to making progress on the boat.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Tent Model XXX 3

Cheers,

Q

roamer46

BTW, it was eight years ago that we really started digging into the project. Here's my post documenting what the missus and me did on New Years Day 2008. While on the one hand it's pretty wild to see how far its come, I can't help but wonder what the heck I was thinking. lol

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Aft Deck Enclosure Demolition — Enter the Chainsaw

Cheers,

Q

algale

Reading this makes me feel so much better about my 2+ year canoe build!

It looks like you are doing great work!

roamer46

Thanks, algale! And Happy New Year!

Keeping up with tradition, I'm headed to the boatyard today. At this point, I don't see anything that will stop me from splashing the boat this year. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that there won't be any asteroid strikes or alien invasions to throw me off schedule...again. But first, I've got to get the exterior sealed up, so today I'm going to take measurements for all of the new tinted glass I need. I also customized a data inlet to seal up another hole on the bow.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Making a Data Inlet

Cheers,

Q

Before

After

roamer46

I fired up my Miller Trailblazer welding machine and made myself a set of steps going into the engine room. I'm too old and don't practice enough to develop a smooth welding hand, but once I got the machine settings sorted out the old spoolgun started making that hissing sound and...it may not be professional weldor-grade, but it's good enough for a set of steps.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Engine Room Steps

Cheers,

Q

roamer46

In other news, I started putting my portholes back together. I'm ordering new tinted glass soon, but first I need to get the screens in. I figured it'd be an hour or two job. Little did I know all of the screen and glass flanges are drilled differently. I didn't realize that when I took them apart, so figuring out which ones go where was a tedious PITA. Got 'er done, though.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Installing Porthole Screens

Cheers,

Q

roamer46

It took a ridiculous amount of time to measure the window and porthole glass and record the dimensions. Out of 26 panes, only 2 had 90° corners. I was hoping to buy a fancy new tool to make the process easier but couldn't find one that gave me confidence in its accuracy. But I got the job done and sent the order off to the glass shop yesterday. Hopefully, I'll have the new glass in the next two weeks or so.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Measuring For New Glass

Cheers,

Q

roamer46

While I'm waiting for the glass to come back, I dove into the engine room for a bit of fun. My Cummins engines come standard with intake air heaters that help reduce white smoke on cold starts. Since I installed oil pan heaters in mine, and the Cummins units are known to be fickle and even harmful to expensive alternators, I got rid of mine. Good thing, too, since on the underside of one of the solenoids, totally out of sight, one of the solenoids was in the process of dying.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Removing Unnecessary Cummins Parts

Cheers

Q

Bad solenoid

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