Byrdman's CD18

Byrdman · Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 11:41 am Post subject:

The paint has dried!!!! Now time to get the power, lights, and electronics.... and GET ER' WET!!!!!!!!

gljjr · Posted: Tue Jun 20, 2006 10:32 pm Post subject:

Patrick,

Looking good! BTW: What kind of paint did they use? Or did you have it re-gelcoated?

Wefings · Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 7:54 am Post subject:

Its a two part urethane , Ill get the name from our glass and paint guy. It looks very good and is not as spendy as awlgrip/imron/sterling type paints . Byrdman is on the loose here in the Florida Panhandle, fair warning ! . We will sea trial probably tommorow ................................
Marc

gljjr · Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 12:27 pm Post subject:

Thanks Mark!

I'm going to have to do some paint work on the 27' and that stuff looks nice!

Wefings · Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 12:59 pm Post subject:

It was sprayed and that helps with the look . I however have seen brushed and tipped jobs look as good . its all in the prep !!
Marc

gljjr · Posted: Thu Jun 22, 2006 3:24 pm Post subject:

That is for sure! My son is a apprenticing as an Auto Painter. All he does all day is prep for painting...

Wefings · Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2006 8:08 am Post subject:

Sea trial Fri !!!! Ill let the Byrdman tell the story !!! Ill just say he has an ear to ear grin...............

Byrdman · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 7:29 am Post subject:

WWWWWWWOOOOOOOWWWWWWW!!!!!! CoolSmile

Hey Gang.. I gotta say it has been a very long just over 3 week wait...but the fruits of the (or their) labor sure are tasting and looking mighty

S W E E E E E T !!

General Run Down on Initial Sea Trial. "The Gang" did some rush work to be sure and give me a chance to drop C-Byrd in the water and do an initial C-Trial and shake down. 1st issue was the old 1984 EZ-Loader trailer...and some of its old, bent, worn out parts...but it is a 22 year old trailer...with basically a new axle, tires, wiring and lights... just enough for me to pick it up from the previous owner, and back to someone to fix her back up. The shop guys did what they could to make sure the trailer did not destroy any of the fantastic work done over the last few weeks...and again...they did good work...with grinders, hammers, torches...and just plain ol gut. Yes, I have a new trailer being made... I just could not stand it looking at such great craftsmanship....and that funky old...but faithful old trailer. Her next life will more than likely be hauling some firewood and fuel cans down at the river...she ain't finished yet. But the boat.... she looks beautiful. Had a traffic jam at the Chevron pumps with folks walking over to look at my "new boat" as most referred to her. She did look pretty. Mr. Green

She ran out great...and before anyone ask....she went 32 mph with just me on board down river with about a 2 mph current..and...some of the items we need to "re-tune" are the trim tabs. One is wired backwards...so I just basically pulled them out and ran her a bit... Yall know me....speed is not really important at all. And..after me being a bit "cross fingered" and the tabs being "cross wired".... and a push or two... the tabs are going to be great on this flat bottom boat..particuarly with my friends on board shifting about. The Navman 3100 fuel flow meter will be great too. One downside is that when saving money on the Hummingbird Color Chart Plotter/GPS/fishfinder gadget for $399... it does not have the capability of sending/receiving data from other devises....so I have to do a little math to get the mpgs...but no biggie at all there for me... I realize when cruising at a certain speed due to water conditions or just plain ol comfort/desire....trip the boat out to get the lowest gallons per hour burn rate... Initial test indicates I will get real good mileage....but....I also need to do some more prop testing.. Please keep in mind we were really just trying to give me an opportunity to get the boat wet and make sure things worked... and they did. We were also rushed by bad weather in the area and dark coming fast....so we just had about 45 minutes on the water. This boat is going to be a blast. She looks even better in the water....just a sassy ol salt she is. More when I get some rest...and get back home from another trip. Still have to clean up my original wood handles, still have some prop testing to do, still have to get my trailer in order, and most importantly.... I have to just spend some time on her....but that will happen within the next month for sure. The week and a half to two week wait just to let the paint cure was very hard on me...as it was for many of you who read this site real often... Cry

... but we are making great progress, and I feel today for sure that I am doing the right thing throwing a boat load of cash at an old boat. Once finished, I will have a sweet ride, just as solid as day one when she rolled out of the factory...which speaks volumes for how solid our C-Dory boats are built....and the craftsmanship available at our dealership networks. I am a happy man.

Norm S · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 10:46 am Post subject:

Patrick, She sure is pretty! Unfortunately I let the wife see the pictures. I'm gonna have to paint mine now. Thanks a bunch bud. I knew I was gonna have to do it someday. Seeing how yours came out just moved the timeline up.
Norm

Sneaks · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 11:48 am Post subject:

Other than the pronounced starboard list, that's one fine looking and running 18, Mr. Byrd.

Don

416rigby · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 10:50 pm Post subject:

She looks real sweet, Patrick! Wow...you have what looks like a new boat. Hope you get the time to really wring it out soon. Will we see ya on Lake Martin? Is the boat still in FL?

We'll give ya a call soon.
Rick & Donna

TyBoo · Posted: Sun Jun 25, 2006 11:04 pm Post subject:

Absolutely beautimus, Patrick!

Byrdman · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 9:52 am Post subject:

Color me a happy man. I have to admit... I was a bit aprehensive dropping that much money in that old of a boat....but that run up river and seeing her beached made me feel all warm and fuzzy... well....OK....fuzzy. Yall know we were warm already with the 97 degree heat and 85% humidity. Xmas Eek

Now I have to get busy on the wood works to bring them around to something somewhere near what Norm has his looking like.

And for my CA friend making notice of the starboard side lean....you are right.... I should have brought along a bigger cooler and put it port side. But, just a few mph' and a touch or two on the tabs...and waaaalllllaaaa.. I loose 80-125 pounds...and she flattens right back out. Ya gotta love a button that does that for you.

Byrdman

Robbi · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 10:03 am Post subject:

Byrdman, You crack me up. Laughing

The boat is a beauty. You done good. Robbi

drjohn71a · Posted: Mon Jun 26, 2006 10:44 am Post subject:

Patrick... Thanx so much for sharing your enthusiasm! I always really enjoy hearing of your exploits and am dying to get back on the water myself. That boat is a genuine 'classic.' John