Borgie , your 232 will be stout like a Sherman tank! Just throw some serious power to overcome the weight issue with our boats.

Planning to grind out the steering reliefs with a cone sander and after glass the transom and relief cutouts with a layer of 1708. I've noticed quite a few boat builders from back in the 80's & 90's thought gel coat would be a good protector from water intrusion? WRONG! I know water "shouldn't" get in the boat, however tiny amounts of moisture get in, and sealing stuff up will never hurt.

Spectras Only- thanks man! Yeah I definitely opted to overbuild this mirage! I'm just relieved it was only the transom and engine stringers. Even though the wood wasn't all that bad, it was wet and nowhere near the quality of this new 10 ply mahogany faced marine plywood! Stuff is simply awesome. The stuff I pulled out, not so much!

Was messing with my boat today too. I'm replacing the gray carpet that's glued on the sides in the cockpit. It looks faded and have some black left over ozite carpet to use. It looks much nicer already, done port side, the boat has quite bit of black here and there and the scheme matches. Had to remove the rear bench and it was a PITA because it's so heavy. The whole frame is made out of 1" XL plywood. I should build a new/lighter frame but don't want to spend extra $$$ since gas prices are going through the roof here in BC and money better spent this summer on boating before any project..

Sounds like you are still finding stuff, even with such a nice mirage! Yeah the gray carpet in your boat definitely is a no go. I was thinking about rebuilding the bench seat in mine as well, but decided against it as I'm convinced I wouldn't gain much with all of the effort put forth. Planning on finishing up most of the glass work this weekend so that she's ready for gel coat ASAP!

It never ends, haha. I have four pullup cleats and would like to replace the OEM fixed one on the bow but it's mounted right above where the forward bulkhead is in the cuddy cabin. So, to open up a hole in the deck to accommodate the pullup cleat, it would intrude into the cabin so Iwould have to modify the headliner to cover it. Or I 'd have to move the cleat forward a bit and plug the rear mounting hole of the existing cleat with a s/s plug.

I got these pullup cleats with bezels > http://www3.telus.net/spectrasonly/Pullup%20cleat

Looks really good! Definitely a fan of the pop up cleats!

Finally had some time to bed in my stringers:

Mocked up:
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...psw5gqwuja.jpg

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...psi10z2afx.jpg

For those that don't know, the pink stuff is corebond, brown is west system 404. Used corebond on the hull side, 404 on the stringer ends and back to bond to the existing structure.
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...pssms1taey.jpg

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...ps60up7aa3.jpg

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...psmknx8qsv.jpg

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

After looking at how Mirage constructed the bulkhead (double walled fiberglass with foam core) decided it was best to bond in a 3/4 piece of marine plywood with west system 404 and final fillet with corebond. This creates a box effect in the bilge if you will. Much stronger than before.

Fitting:
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1suv3oey.jpg

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...psmvi40dwt.jpg

Mixed with vinyl Ester @ 1% by weight. All bonding surfaces must me hot coated with VE prior to applying 404 or corebond! Don't forget that crucial step.
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...pssflkhwpa.jpg

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...psjiidb42v.jpg

http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/...psx8viumrb.jpg

Looking really GOOD!!!! Nice work!!

Thanks! Feels great to be ready to glass over the new stringers! Going to do some touch up on the fillets, and should be laying 1708 by this week.

After kicking around the idea of reinforcing the bulkhead with my dad, we decided it was the only way to do it right. Bonding the 3/4 piece ties everything together in a box that's many times stronger than what Mirage put in originally.

looking good.