1981 Shadow Cat Restoration thread
#32
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From: Mine Hill, NJ/Lake Hopatcong, NJ
Thanks Chris, I will.
Spent some time today really just poking around and finding more "good" news. Not 100% yet but seems the transom ill need replacing. I've been told that its balsa but won't know until its being ground out. Plan on replacing it with either exterior ply or marine..
Started removing the shag carpet from the headliner and 80's blue carpet from cabin. Already knew the floor in the cabin sponsons was rotted but pic 2 shows what a couple hits with a screwdriver can do. Hopefully the weather breaks soon so I can get some more done.

Spent some time today really just poking around and finding more "good" news. Not 100% yet but seems the transom ill need replacing. I've been told that its balsa but won't know until its being ground out. Plan on replacing it with either exterior ply or marine..
Started removing the shag carpet from the headliner and 80's blue carpet from cabin. Already knew the floor in the cabin sponsons was rotted but pic 2 shows what a couple hits with a screwdriver can do. Hopefully the weather breaks soon so I can get some more done.

#34
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From: Mine Hill, NJ/Lake Hopatcong, NJ
July 23rd
What a sh!tty day to grind away... Spend a lot of the morning 6am-12 grinding away at old tabs, sides of boat looking for the "bad" spots. Found lots of wet balsa so I'm starting to realize that a transom is in my future... How is that done with spashwells anyways?? Cut the last 6" of deck? The whole well? Anyways, luckily I still had a tool I bought in my mechanic days to strip paint (pictured), Its a slow rotary tool with sharp angled pin like fingers which basically rips the old wood out but doesn't seem to affect the glass. Couldn't ask for a better tool for removing rot/wetness. Now all I need to do is pick up a compressor that can handle the air load. After giving up on being covered in glass I took a few hour break to get some things done that have been forgotten since I took on this mess.
My goal for the day was to get the 6ft high motors off the transom which around 6 I finished. After another hr+ cleaning up, I covered the boat till tomm. Enjoy








What a sh!tty day to grind away... Spend a lot of the morning 6am-12 grinding away at old tabs, sides of boat looking for the "bad" spots. Found lots of wet balsa so I'm starting to realize that a transom is in my future... How is that done with spashwells anyways?? Cut the last 6" of deck? The whole well? Anyways, luckily I still had a tool I bought in my mechanic days to strip paint (pictured), Its a slow rotary tool with sharp angled pin like fingers which basically rips the old wood out but doesn't seem to affect the glass. Couldn't ask for a better tool for removing rot/wetness. Now all I need to do is pick up a compressor that can handle the air load. After giving up on being covered in glass I took a few hour break to get some things done that have been forgotten since I took on this mess.
My goal for the day was to get the 6ft high motors off the transom which around 6 I finished. After another hr+ cleaning up, I covered the boat till tomm. Enjoy








Last edited by prostock85; 07-23-2011 at 10:12 PM.
#39
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From: Mine Hill, NJ/Lake Hopatcong, NJ
July 26th
Planned on cutting out the deck from the transom to the cockpit today but the rain came and killed that idea. All I need to do now is cut from the seam up and into the cockpit area and lift the back 4ft of the boat. Finally got the aluminum plate off the back and got to see the mess left behind. Different motors plus tunnel tab makes a lot of extra holes to fill!!
What kind of tab was originally used on this boat? Was the transom cut out like this stock? T2x?





Planned on cutting out the deck from the transom to the cockpit today but the rain came and killed that idea. All I need to do now is cut from the seam up and into the cockpit area and lift the back 4ft of the boat. Finally got the aluminum plate off the back and got to see the mess left behind. Different motors plus tunnel tab makes a lot of extra holes to fill!!
What kind of tab was originally used on this boat? Was the transom cut out like this stock? T2x?









