Project: Trojan 10 Meter Express

gardnersf · Post by **gardnersf** » Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:00 am

That is incredible work. Did you replace parts of the throttles and shifters? One of my plastic tabs on the throttle mechanism is half broken and the whole assembly is pitted. I would love to refresh that.

Natchamp · Post by **Natchamp** » Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:06 am

I took the controls all apart (as seen in the pics) and cleaned everything up. I had the levers and top plates chromed. I machined some new knobs and simply reassembled everything as well as installed new cables.

yorklyn · Post by **yorklyn** » Tue Feb 28, 2012 9:44 am

Mark, You have no idea how happy to see someone else doing a complete remodel . im still working on the"guts" of my boat and cannot wait to get to the fit and finish part of my project . Its not often that i see stuff that truly impresses me. Great attention to detail! Do you have a plan for the interior yet? I've been looking everywhere for ideas to really give my boat an updated interior but yet keep with something traditional that won't be out of style in 5 yrs. please keep the pics and updates coming! looking at your work has inspired me to " raise the bar" So to speak on my project . keep up the good work!

Natchamp · Post by **Natchamp** » Tue Feb 28, 2012 10:27 am

Todd,

Thanks so much for the compliments. I love designing things with my own "flavor" and I'm fortunate to have resources like CAD and CNC equipment. I also have a mental disorder that impulses me to do everything myself and learn about new techniques in the process. I don't know what the term is for my disorder but I'm sure I have it! A good example of this is what I've been working on lately (shown below). I'm working on the design of the deck furniture and new arch system. I'm designing everything myself and now I'm planning on doing all the canvas and upholstery work myself which I have never done before. See what I mean? As for the cabin interior I'm not sure yet what I'm going to do. I'm trying real hard to get this boat in the water this summer for fishing and enjoying. I would like to really do the complete interior with my "flavor" but time and budget don't look good. So, I might have to postpone the interior revamp until next year because I could do that while the boat is in the water.

yorklyn · Post by **yorklyn** » Tue Feb 28, 2012 11:03 am

I have the same disorder as you! LoL! It drives me crazy not understanding how something is done so i research and teach myself. you are killing me with that top! I just got a quote from Atlantic towers for a hardtop. they can build it off of measurement from previously made towers. Quoted me Miami boat show special price that expires today naturally! $6600. it is the same desi gn as yours with a lite fiberglass top. i have thought of trying to build my own hardtop off the existing arch but not sure i want to attempt something that large on my first attempt. i own a sprayfoam insulation business and have a project coming up with 3lb roofing foam. im thinking of spraying a rough shaped top out with foam then shaping it with sanders to form a mold. figure is i place some aluminum in before i spray for support it may work. i may attempt the foam part as it won't cost anything but time .
im quite jealous of your cad and metal working capabilities . very impressive !
I have also looked at used commercial sewing machines for the same reason! my wife would never let me live it down if i took a sewing class!!

Natchamp · Post by **Natchamp** » Tue Feb 28, 2012 3:33 pm

A lot of my "sickness" is due to the fact that I'm too poor to pay someone else to do it. But the learning and self satisfaction is really where its at.

The top has some challenges to it, mostly its sheer size to deal with especially with a 13' beam. Even transporting it is a challenge. You might notice by my pictures I decided on a modular approach. The sides are separate from the top. This 3 piece design should help with the issues. I'm also going to make it out of steel tubing instead of aluminum. Yes, I've done my homework so don't all you nay-sayers start chiming in. Mig welding is a lot easier than TIG and I'm only giving up 100 lb's. The material cost is only @ $270 for steel and @ $1k for aluminum.

gettaway · Post by **gettaway** » Tue Feb 28, 2012 5:04 pm

Mark,

the top looks great, have you considered stainless for the frame ? I made an aft deck frame from thin wall 304 ss that was very similar to your design for my old trawler, it wasnt all that heavy, you can MIG or TIG, ( I chose TIG ) as you dont need a high frequency machine to TIG it.

Also, I do all of my own canvas and upolstery. I bought a Thompson walking foot sewing machine years ago, looks just like a "Sailmaker"
it sews Sunbrella and vinyl like a pro. as you all have stated in the provious posts, do your home work and buy the right finishing products such as welting, hidem and edge banding and your projects will look great.

I also have two fold out banquet tables I set up in parallel to create one big table to sew on, it makes handling large pieces of fabric easier.

Another trick is to use a standard office stapler to "staple" your project seams together before you start to sew.

I too am either too poor or too cheap to pay someone to do what I "think" I can do myself !

alexander38 · Post by **alexander38** » Tue Feb 28, 2012 6:42 pm

Gettway....that work is MONEY...that's some nice work..

RWS · Post by **RWS** » Wed Feb 29, 2012 6:20 am

we're all probably in the same boat regarding the "work"

Otherwise we might not afford to do what we do with these old boats.

Last weekend I replaced all the calift cables on my 16,000 lb lift. A tough, all day job to do all four properly, not to mention the climbing and hanging off the boat anchored off in the canal.

Hey Mark,

on the aluminum top a couple of comments:

please onsider extendingthe leading edge beyond the top edge of the windshield, otherwise you'll be in the direct sun and then the rain when it happens.

make that top HIGH ENOUGH so you can stand on the helm step while underway and that you have good visability

It will LOOK GREAT but you will loose the option of having a true convertible, as I do.

Nice when it's not too hot, or at night toopen upo the sky, or whn we go to the Airshow, or anything else when you want the sun and open feeling.

Too hot

too much sun?

rain?

close her up.

Cold?

zip in the side curtains

RWS

Natchamp · Post by **Natchamp** » Wed Feb 29, 2012 3:01 pm

gettaway wrote:Mark,

the top looks great, have you considered stainless for the frame ? I made an aft deck frame from thin wall 304 ss that was very similar to your design for my old trawler, it wasnt all that heavy, you can MIG or TIG, ( I chose TIG ) as you dont need a high frequency machine to TIG it.

Good call on the ss option. I kinda forgot you can MIG ss and I really didn't want to TIG the thing. I'm checking on some pricing now for 304 ss. Thanks!

rvrrunner · Post by **rvrrunner** » Thu Mar 01, 2012 4:04 pm

Natchamp did you make your gauge pods or buy them . the whole dash looks great makes me want to update mine.

gardnersf · Post by **gardnersf** » Thu Mar 01, 2012 8:13 pm

Todd, for the $6600 hard top, was that accomplished by removing the arch entirely or using the arch as part of the top? We would also like a hard top (In 4 years I have never run the boat with the top down other than haul out and in) I was figuring $10K for a hard top, $6600 sounds better as long as I could mount my array radar on it.

Scott

Bobbo · Post by **Bobbo** » Thu Mar 01, 2012 9:31 pm

yorklyn wrote:Mark, Its not often that i see stuff that truly impresses me. Great attention to detail! your work has inspired me to " raise the bar" keep up the good work!

+1
And continue to keep us posted. Great thread!

yorklyn · Post by **yorklyn** » Thu Mar 01, 2012 9:53 pm

Scott just sent you a PM. Don't want to hijack marks post too much!

Natchamp · Post by **Natchamp** » Thu Apr 05, 2012 9:33 am

Well gents, I've started the painting stage of the project. My arms are already rubber. All I can say is I'm not the young buck I used to be.

Here are some pics: