Boat project: Wilker Galaxie 17

[FlyingViking]

That looks awesome and “pride in ownership”. Looks amazing and we will keep an eye on the progress for sure.

Make this a weekly or bi-weekly update!

 

[Octavius Brine]

Thanks guys. The colour choice was just good luck on vinyl I could get for cheap.

I had the intention to give a weekly update or something but sometimes progress is slow. Tons of labour in pulling staples, cutting out and sewing up each section of the seat (8 sections, 5 pieces each plus making welt/piping). Not much to see on photos!

Oh yeah and the seat bases are completely new build. The lower edge was rotten. I used better plywood and painted them, should last even longer than the first 38 years.

 

[hvyhaul]

Remember that style seats in the family's Grew (14ft/85Merc) many many years ago. Super comfy and great to lie down on and star watch.

Unfortunately they got ruined by sitting up on the top spine running the boat and spotting during waterskiing.

 

[anonymoose]

Thanks guys. The colour choice was just good luck on vinyl I could get for cheap.

I had the intention to give a weekly update or something but sometimes progress is slow. Tons of labour in pulling staples, cutting out and sewing up each section of the seat (8 sections, 5 pieces each plus making welt/piping). Not much to see on photos!

Oh yeah and the seat bases are completely new build. The lower edge was rotten. I used better plywood and painted them, should last even longer than the first 38 years.

I've had to do one new base and can attest to the labour involved!

 

[Octavius Brine]

Good point @hvyhaul ... the seats are a bit low, I can see why sitting up top was done and why that damaged them... The back to back style is usually very convenient, and it is pretty great having a spot to nap in the sun. Will have to check out the stars this summer, great idea.

@anonymoose it is funny- one side was soft but could have been reused for a quick job, the other was completely crumbly. Its like the spot the old owner always parked it sloped to one side or something.

 

[Octavius Brine]

I got to work on the floor yesterday and today. Happy with how it came out. Still have to apply the starboard side. The material is Nautolex marine flooring vinyl- very grippy, easy to clean, doesn’t stay wet like carpet.

The one photo shows 3 critical items: contact cement spray can ($30 something but worth every penny), an old cushion (beats knee pads or a piece of styrofoam), and my wifes old hairdryer (like a heat gun but no risk of melting the vinyl or throwing a spark at the contact cement and losing your eyebrows). I am young but too damn tall to work on floors

@HTHM the oily plywood part I fibreglassed has good adhesion. You know how you always get a few stray strands of glass etc to remove after- they were stuck on there good. I gave it some abuse and no delaminating, so I deem it good enough to hold a few rods!

 

[Octavius Brine]

Floor is all done, seats, cushions and top are all installed! I have also cleaned up old wiring, mostly installed a radio, cut a new port and added fuel line for kicker…little things you barely notice.

 

[anonymoose]

Looks fantastic!

 

[hvyhaul]

Looks fantastic!

100% agree, excellent craftsmanship.

 

[Wave Runner]

Great work @Octavius Brine! My late father-in-law had a brand new Wilker Galaxie 17 back in 1972 but I don't remember it ever looking that good.

 

[Octavius Brine]

Great work @Octavius Brine! My late father-in-law had a brand new Wilker Galaxie 17 back in 1972 but I don't remember it ever looking that good.

Well thanks! I saw a 1990 Galaxie on kijiji this morning that is absolutely mint. They did some modifications to the design over the years that I might copy.

Next up- sewing some “flaps” to cover the bow area and fuel tanks and more small installations like rod holders, battery box etc, and lots of cleaning/buffing/polishing. Fix and cover an ugly hole in the dash.

 

[Caseys Dream]

That looks awesome Brine!! What a great fishing machine.

 

[FlyingViking]

Loving the “before and after” pics. Awesome work dude. That’s tight!!

 

[Red Fisher]

GREAT job, hope to see it when you are anchoring.

 

[Octavius Brine]

Thanks guys.

Lol @Red Fisher your place is the first stop on my way to/from the lake for that anchor!

 

[Teddy69]

Well done looks awesome just need some fish slime in it now

 

[Octavius Brine]

I know Teddy! I called the old red carpet “fish blood camo”. Hopefully will get out early May for some pike slime.

 

[Octavius Brine]

Ok last update on here- I got my boat Dave out on the water this weekend! I will continue some small jobs, like installing my 68 sticker, but that’s pretty well it.

Lately I had a problem with my kicker (see the square shaft is twisted off?). No clue how… but it’s an old motor I bought on Facebook. That’s how it goes sometimes…



But I borrowed a friends Mariner 8 to troll with or as back up for now til parts arrive.

I did a little polishing with rubbing compound and waxed the hull (still want to do the white deck/gunwales). See before and after:





And we had a blast fishing the inner bay Friday and Saturday, and camping at the provincial park. Everything ran really well, except when I tried to start the motor cold on year old gas (lol I know better). And we caught a few perch and a pike for the pan, and a fat smallmouth to release to spawn.



And that new flooring was amazing! Everything wiped right off and made me glad I replaced the carpet. It saw drips of gas, anchor mud, dog barf and even this- I swung a perch over the gunwales and it had a “happy ending” all over the place. But he ended up covered in fish crisp, so…



Oh and I have a trailer bearing to replace. Took the backroads home and was glad to have a two axle trailer.

All in all, a great project that is almost done but not quite.

 

[Old Cut LongPointer]

Job well done sir ! If you are looking for another project boat I have a Starcraft Islander I/O for you ? LoL !

 

[anonymoose]

Sorry to hear you got the shaft on that old shaft. Have you tried hot glue? JB weld is getting expensive.

Seriously though - gearbox move okay in all gears? Pretty rare to have one spin the tires off, methinks.

Glad to hear Mr. Perch got the death penalty for trying to splooge on the kid's cup. Not cool man, not cool.