borgie,it looks like it is coming along nicely,keep up the good work.

Looking great..... You're on the down hill slide now and summers right around the corner (Oh wait you have summer 24/7)...LOL.

Mike T- Thank you, I really appreciate the compliment! I've learned a lot doing this thanks to members like yourself.

Inspector- thanks man! Yeah can't beat 300+ days of SUN!!! Only miss the NW in August! But fortunately we are lucky enough to have a cabin up there, so we leave Africa hot here and go to where the temps are a bit more manageable. Just bought gel coat today, so hoping to wrap up the glassing portion soon!

Love it when I have boxes on the front door step from Marine Kinetics! It's like Christmas in April.

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...psauvuvvlo.jpg

You're selling it ?

http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/boa/4420402353.html

Yes after I finish the project the boat will be available. We decided as a family that we needed an open bow boat, so I found a Nordic Rage MCOB to satisfy that requirement. My plan is to install the low hour 502 mag MPI into the mirage. After it's had sea trials then it will be ready to sell. Hate to see it go, but the wife said no to two boats.

Whoever ends up with this boat is going to have one of the most stout, overbuilt 232's out there documented fully here and with receipts and hundred of pictures.

When are you planning on doing the engine swap?

Going to finish glass work this and next week. After that I need to make a decision based on interest of when to swap in the 502 Mag EFI and gimbal assembly. We are having a new home built that's slated for completion by July, so if I decide to rig and sell it prior I will need to take some time off of work. Somebody is going to get a great deal.

This thread will continue for those wondering.

Made some good progress over the weekend!

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...psvenstyzk.jpg

This is what you see user the class (corebond fillets) and it looks like air, however it's the light pink color that contrasts with the class. You can see where it feathers out from sanding. Very happy with the layup. Keep in mind these are just filler layers prior to full wrap of 3-4 layers of biax.

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Good luck on your new boat, started following this later on, looked like a cool project, happy boating!

Finally doing the fun stuff.

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Cut the holes for exhaust and gimbal assembly and sealed with resin. Used 1708 on the outdrive cutout. I'm really loving 3M Corebond for making all my fillets. Did some wet layups and if timed right, is obviously the only way to roll.

You can see that wood is no longer surrounding the drain plug, instead pure corebond with PVC pipe bonded in. Going to seal the drain housing with 4200.

Put down one initial coat or VE prior to laying 1708. Very pleased with the way this transom turned out!
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...psez2vjbis.jpg

You can see the fillet work I rubbed by fingers raw sanding perfect. When you do longer sections all the fillet work is well worth it. You don't want air pockets! Note that this is the opposite side and just prior to placing full overlays of 1708.

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...psk3kubf8v.jpg

Here's the fillet prior to overlay with 1708.
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2dn2uru3.jpg

This is the opposite side but you get the idea

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...psrnx0yjbx.jpg

Wet on wet layup! All the pink underneath is corebond.

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...pstin8lqmw.jpg

Planning to overlay the motor mounts with about 4 layers full length sheets of 1708.

Appreciate the compliment and thanks for following! This thread is alive and well and as such, I will be continually updating with more pics. I have about 8 hrs remaining to finish the final layup, then it's on to gel coat.

The new boat is beautiful! I almost hate to remove the 502 mag lol. And for those following, the Mirage will be for sale upon completion.

Did some gimbal assembly test fitting today, after glassing the opening. All holes were coated with resin as well.

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Nice new HP assembly!! Somebody is going to get a real nice boat once its for sale!

Thanks! I'm actually going to put the HP onto the Rage, and the mint Bravo unit from the rage onto the mirage. Fit was perfect, so I'm pretty pleased.

Been a while since I updated this thread so here it goes...

Doing final work this week including Fabbing the rear decking, and reinstalling the floor. Gel coat is 50% complete. Buyer has placed a deposit, and is taking delivery on the 1st of December. Pics to follow!

Are you doing a split or one piece rear deck? Keep posting pics!

It's going to be exactly as Mirage built it(split) except I utilized Marine 3/4 plywood glassed to the transom/rear compartment, and the large laminated ply/fiberglass decking that I cut out to access the the inner stringers. I glassed/screwed in 4 tabs to locate the flooring right where I need it. I will be using 1708 and VE to bond them back in. I will be sure to post a bunch of pictures along the way. Stay tuned this week for the completion of this project.

Here is what it looked like originally:

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...psi8jkcjk0.jpg

It's only the rear most compartment that isn't connected to the rest of the inner liner. All compartments feature drain holes now. Prior to the rebuild only the engine mount compartment had a drain....

Been busy the last couple days:

Mirage originally used 3/4 exterior plywood to make these rear top deck caps that joint up to the transom. I utilized 3/4 marine plywood(woodworkers source) 3M Corecond, and a couple layers of 1708. Note: the light color that's in blotches is the pink Corebond (MEKP is red tint) NOT air. I kept the laminate very balanced as with the other repairs that came before this. Love 1708, VE and Corebond! I truly believe these products made this not only much stronger, they are easy to work with. Oh and West System 404 mixed with VE for various bonding and filling needs!
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...psgle1grnq.jpg

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Inner stringers after first round of Gelcoat. I used North American products,sourced from a local supplier (Sticky Stuff in Glendale Arizona). Used pure white V-Mod gel coat, added SS-10 wax additive, slow MEK(clear) and rolled it on after proper prep. Didn't have an appropriate environment to spray. Note: I used two wooden tabs that are glassed in and bolted with lock nuts to index and floor panels which I cut out to do this rebuild. Need to give my dad credit for this great idea! Worked out perfectly.

Final pre fit of the rear panels before glassing them into place. I beveled both sides, placed silicone on tabs and in between the floor and inner supports, then cut thin sections of 1708 and glasswd in the gap. Very happy with the results. Final product should show up in following pictures.
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I added several drain holes in the compartments that likely didn't help rotting matters regarding the stringers and transom. I opted to leave the foam out, not a fan. All holes that were bored recieved two coats of Vinyl Ester with 1% MEKP by weight.
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...pshsycf19a.jpg

All of the transom assembly holes were sealed after drilling with Vinyl Ester resin and the inside of the cutout was lined in 1708. Also sealed the steering arm reliefs with VE. No exposed wood or Corebond!
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1jjv9aga.jpg

Here are the products I utilized for the gelcoating process. This local company buys from North American Composites, and breaks it down into consumer sized containers for resale.
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...pso76nytrn.jpg

After hours of grinding, cutting, sanding, bonding, mixing, glassing.... It's finally gelcoated!!!!! As I mentioned above, I didn't have the facility to spray it (don't think the wife would be cool with Gelcoat all over our new RV Garage). I used 4 inch rollers to lay it out. It actually turned out pretty good. The new owner is planning on prepping it (I advised him to remove the wax with Wisk laundry detergent and hot water, followed by acetone and sanding to fare it in before final paint). I was going to sand and Polish, however kind of redundant as he's decided on Epoxy over the top.
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Tomorrow I plan to clean the far floor panel, and gel coat the beveled repairs which are now glassed and flush. Last thing will be mounting and sealing the transom assembly, and putting the tow hooks back in the transom(holes sealed with VE, and hardware sealed with BoatLife sealant. I will post pictures of the transom assembly, and motor mounts tomorrow.
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...psppsx4vrh.jpg

Boat was picked up yesterday and is officially SOLD! I will be helping the new owner install the bravo gimbal assembly this week and after plans to install a Gen V 454. I have encouraged him to add to this thread with the finished product. And now for a moment of appreciation for all of the help in this learning experience.

First my father who donated tools knowledge, fabrication and years of unlimited hydroplane construction knowledge. Couldn't have done it without your help!

Glassdave- Can't say enough good things about him. Countless emails and phone conversations even with a full work load of his own. The products and practical application tips are second to none! The finished laminations wouldn't have been as good without your insight! Can't thank you enough.

To my wife for all the love, support, frustration and baby sitting.

And finally thank you to all of the OSO members who have given advice and comedy relief along the way. It's was an exciting, albeit itchy experience, but strangely, in a way I truly enjoyed most of it. Hope you all have enjoyed following this thread. If I can help in any way, please don't hesitate to PM or add a comment to this thread. Now I can turn my attention towards the new boat.

Just asking your Nordic Rage in the Cage is new or used ? what are you doing to it ?

Did your 232 Mirage sell locally because any further east most people have no idea who NW builder Mirage was. 1998 and back they were good boats. I liked the 270 but thought big block twins made that boat way to stern heavy. Also liked the 31 / 32 footer that was made in 1998 only with the twin steps. wonder where the mold went for that ?

My Nordic Rage is a 2000 (stepped hull & pad V). Originally had a 502 MPI Mag and overall condition is Excellent. Removed and sold that after purchasing to a member here with 280hrs, and also removed the transom assembly for a newer take off HP assembly with electronic trim. The engine I built for the Mirage(forged 496(non metric) will be the new power for the Nordic. Power goal is 600+, so we will see after I take her in for some dyno time. Running keith Eickert cast headers dry to the tip, as well as Holley Hp MPFI.

You are correct the final owner of Mirage was a dishonest guy to put it lightly. Ripped off quite a few people in the Seattle area and beyond. Before 1998 these boats were as you noted, build very well. Even so, I was able to take that to the next level, as all of the original stringer/transom wood was regular plywood, with knots and voids. Add to that non bedded stringers and polyester, it was the perfect recipe for what happened. That said, most mindful owners, who maintain their boats, and don't keep them in the water all the time, avoid what I inherited with this boat. My fathers Mirage is older (87) and it's solid as can be. I'm sure you see this lack of care/prevention quite a bit.

Yes, the new owner lives here locally and I've told him some of the history surrounding Mirage.

To further update, I plan on adding new pictures of the finished product. The new owner had the upholstery redone, added offshore controls and found a take out 454 with bravo drive. Stay tuned! First lake test is this coming Sunday.