Duke's Rehab of the CABO 204 Centercon...

[Ranaman]

Celeste and I both say wow way to go bro!! Awesome!!

[reelcatch]

WOW what a difference.
Duke is there any chance it will be done for the Feb 6 tournament and if so are you coming? Would love to see it.

Jim

[FishWithChris]

An absolute world of difference.

Amazing job on the refab and I can only dream of one day having the time and resources to do such a project.

Look forward to the next installment

[countryboy]

Great looking job .I have done a bit of this type of work and can feel for the work you have put out. Can't wait to hear from you on putting it on the big blue.

[Tom Keels]

Duke, are you going to put in any non-skid?

[DukesFin]

Thanks everyone... Okay, a couple of answers here...

Ready by February? I doubt it. I've got to re-rig the boat AFTER I'm done and what I've got left to do will answer Tom's question too...

I've applied the 1st of 2 main finish paint coats. Next is to sand it all down and put the 2nd coat on. Once that coat is on, I can begin painting all of the hatches. Those are going to be a LOT easier since they are all mostly non-skid. I have to put a pumice addative in the paint for that. I'll have to 2X prime all of the hatches, and get a couple of coats of paint on those, THEN tape off all of my non-skid, then roll it on. I'll do 2 coats of non-skid as well.

I still have to re-core the main gas tank hatch/cover and my end-grain balsa should show up in the next couple of days so I can do that. All by itself, the re-coring is a project for sure!

The main thing I've got to do is get my 2nd coat of paint on the deck/topsides and have the gas tank hatch re-cored in 2 weeks. If I get all of that done before 2 weeks is up, I can get more done in the warehouse, but 2 weeks is all I've got left in the warehouse. Otherwise, I'll be doing all of the hatches and non-skid will be done in my carport!

I'm in no hurry... I just want to have it ready for late April/early May timeframe. I'm not a fan of coldwater fishing!!!!!!

[Cranfield]

Quite fantastic, you must be very pleased.
Don't you just love those before and after pictures.

I use to take those, but my wife said you couldn't tell the difference, so I stopped.

[DukesFin]

Well, with the "final" major coat of paint done, here's where I'm at now...

Had to re-core the fuel tank hatch/cover with endgrain balsa and pedestal seat backing, coated with 3 layers of fiberglass cloth.

Need to do:

Finish sanding/prepping all hatches for paint (primer, finish paint)

Tape off EVERYTHING for the non-skid (going with Interlux Brightside with the non-skid addative). This think is going to look like a jigsaw puzzle when it's taped off! I'm going to roll the non-skid on.

Fabricate the new aluminum blocks that attach the trim tab actuators to the tabs. My neighbor in the warehouse is going to fabricate those as he has aluminum bar-stock and the CNC machines to do it right.

Put everything back together (all hardware, all new wiring).

Last night, I just had to start putting things back on just to give me a boost: Bow roller, bow lifting eye, bow eye (for the tralier strap), two eyes on transom (for trailer tie-downs), 4 cleats, trim tab actuators, compass, horn, fuel filter and VHF.

Today, I'll install the trim tab pump but I still need to order the hydraulic hose, cut out the 6" hole in the fuel tank cover for the access plate and seal it with resin as well as sanding the topside of it for paint prep, sand the holes I filled in for rod holders on the gunwhale inserts.

Putting those parts on last night really gave me a "boost". She's looking like a boat again!!!!!

[reelcatch]

Duke you got any new pictures of her yet? Would really like to see an update.

Thanks

[DukesFin]

Well, she's back at home and all hatches, etc.... are installed. Motor is hooked up and thank GOD, it runs! In fact, she cranked up faster than she ever did before the resto! I guess I cleaned some of the terminals dismantling and re-installing! Meli would have FREAKED had it not cranked back up!

The only new pictures I've taken since I got her back home are these and they are DAMN depressing...





Damn Winter! It was up to 60 last weekend and I'm watching the news right now and they are talking about snow tonight/tomorrow morning!!!

I'll have her on Lanier within 2 weeks for the sea trials. I have to be sure everything is safe and sound before my Easter fishing trip for Grouper!!!

[silverking]

Duke,
Who built your boat originally? And where? I don't recognize it and it looks a little small for the regular line-up of the California Cabo Yachts.

Nice job on the restore project and keeping us posted on updates. I know you and your wife will be proud to fish her again this spring.

[DukesFin]

The company is, (or WAS) called Cabo Marine, LLC. They built them out of California for 5 years (1987 through 1991).

When people ask me what kind of boat I have, I just say, "Oh, it's a little Cabo... Nothing big."

[reelcatch]

Just as I thought looks like a brand new boat. You have to be so proud of what you have done. Take some pictures on the water and enjoy you have earned it.

[Tidedancer]

She is looking great Duke.

[DukesFin]

Thanks... The more I'm crawling around "finishing" it all up, the more little flaws I see... I can't imagine the first fishing trip... 8oz. leads hitting the hull sides, pinfish traps on the gunnels and hitting the floor, coolers sliding around... OMG!!!!

Oh well... It has to happen, so I just hope the fishing justifies the scuffs it's going to get!