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View Full Version : My '87 F-33 about to be born again!



Fishinado
07-22-2011, 11:13 AM
Well, after 12 years of owning this F-33, my first real boat, and much pain and suffering, it became obvious that the entire boat is rotted out in the usual fashion of this model and vintage. I recently became aquatinted with a fellow who some believe is the best structural/fiberglass/paint guy in southern CA, "Nacho". He re-did my down east boat magnificently, and when it came time to make a call on the Donzi, I decided to go for it, so here it is!
The entire boat is going to be gutted, all new engineered transom that you could park a truck on, all new balsa core stringers, new fuel tank that will be powder coated, new deck, LP white inside and red outside, new cuddy interior, etc, etc......
Question is, AM I NUTS?! I'm probably going to have the most perfect, tricked out F-33! Am I doing the right thing. Damn this sentimental attachment thing!!!!!!
What do you think?
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o132/philippress/Donzi7-21c.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o132/philippress/Donzi7-21a.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o132/philippress/Donzi7-21.jpg
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o132/philippress/Donzi7-21b.jpg

Ed Donnelly
07-22-2011, 11:19 AM
Its only money and you can't take it with you...............Ed

Walt. H.
07-22-2011, 12:12 PM
Its only money and you can't take it with you...............Ed
So you might as well spend it on yourself before the current Govt, takes it from you to give it elsewhere.:yes:

Hope you document the progress to the very end. :crossfing:

All the best,
WH

Fishinado
07-22-2011, 12:31 PM
So you might as well spend it on yourself before the current Govt, takes it from you to give it elsewhere.:yes:
Hope you document the progress to the very end. :crossfing:
All the best,
WH

My friend, that may be the best motivation I've heard yet! Glad to see there are some like minded people on this board!!

RockyS18
07-22-2011, 01:51 PM
Good luck on the project, that's definitely going to be one sweet F-33! :yes:

pipnit
07-22-2011, 02:14 PM
I think it's great, that you should do it and feel GOOD about it.

Obviously you can afford the undertaking otherwise, you wouldn't be doing it. You probably also know that you'll never recoup what you're spending but that's not why you're doing it.

Again, I think it's cool and I bet in the end, she'll be everything that you want her to be. G'luck! :boat:

Walt. H.
07-22-2011, 02:26 PM
My friend, that may be the best motivation I've heard yet! Glad to see there are some like minded people on this board!!
Oh Yeah' they're many among us.:wink:

hmcboat
07-23-2011, 08:14 PM
awesome project! looks like it will be better than new,so nice to see more fish boat restorations.I 'm just finishing up a 89 F23.proud to run a Donzi!

Fishinado
08-26-2011, 10:03 PM
Well, here we are a month in. It's amazing what you learn about how a boat is put together when you see being ripped apart. Anyway, I had ripped down to the hull, pulled out all the foam (all wet), and the muddy "stringers", gas tank was fully pitted, and replaced with a new powder coated version. The new "real" stringers are 3/4 balsa with 2 layers of glass and vinyl ester. The transom is completely re-engineered with new multiple stringers, and reinforced with G-10. It's so solid, that when you stand on it, and stomp your foot, it feels like concrete! No vibration whatsoever. SOLID!! The electrician is starting today, and we're designing the new deck and hatches as well. As you can see, we eliminated all of the side hatches, as now we have an amazing amount of room below the deck. That added another 30+ Sq' to the cockpit. We also moved the back wall of the cockpit back another 7", even more room! Here are a couple pics. Whatcha think?
(http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o132/philippress/Stringsbf.http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o132/philippress/Stringsbf.http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o132/philippress/Stringers.jpg)
http://i119.photobucket.com/albums/o132/philippress/Stringers.jpg 67638

Fishinado
08-26-2011, 10:12 PM
So it's been a month, and here we are so far. New "real" stringers, new powder coated fuel tank, we removed the side hatches as we have a ton of room under the decks now that all the foam has been gone. We gained another 30+ sq' opening up the sides. We also moved the back wall of the cockpit back 7" for even more room. The transom has been totally re-engineered with extra stringers, and re-enforced with G-10. It's so solid that when I stomped on it, I thought it was concrete! The electrician started today. Hopefully next month we could be back in the water. Whatcha think?!
67639 67640

Mrbonafide
07-15-2013, 07:00 AM
I just bought the same boat but I went through the whole thing to check for structural integrity and everything checked out. I did find a soft spot in the floor but not a big deal I am pretty experienced in fiberglass but was wondering if you had any more pict of your progress and how you decided to set it up?