Tom, you’ve inspired me. I’ve used all your videos so far and your discount code. I’ve recently finished adding new metal to my Suncruiser. Doing a full restoration on it. Tore it down to the toons and crossmembers. Added new decking with grey teak vinyl. Just installed the fencing and now about to purchase seats. I’ll share a link to it when I’m done. I’m documenting the process with pictures. The suncruiser has outside panels, too. One thing I realized too late was that one end of each section is rolled seamlessly from the top rail all the way down to the 90° at the bottom. However, the opposite end was capped with a corner and a few rivets. Came this way from the factory, but I didn’t notice until last week well after the metal was installed. That would’ve saved me a lot of time bending the seams back and forth. I struggled sliding the metal around the corner as the factory machine bend creates a lot of friction as the inside protrudes out as a result of the bend. I used suction cups to help get a good grip on the metal and a second set of hands, plus some lube in the rail. Thanks for all these videos. Super helpful.
Thanks so much for sharing all that with me! You're the type of person we started this channel for...the guy at home who's going to tackle the project themselves no matter how big the project might be. We saw a lack of channels offering HOW TO tackle those projects and the parts and pieces that come together to make an old boat look brand new. You'll be SO HAPPY when it's all finished and you're out on the water enjoying your hard work!
Happy to help. Sorry I didn't go into detail on those items. We give the panel a slight bend to help it enter both the top and bottom tabs. I riveted the cracked tabs with a small aluminum pop-rivet. It's hardly noticeable and keeps it in place without any sharp edges exposed.
Thanks! It was one of our biggest challenges yet just working through and being patient with the sheet metal. The customer was super happy so we're happy!!
Hi Tom, would you do it again this way if you had to, or would you try putting the new sheet metal on the inside of the railing? I have a Hurricane FD with the same kind of railing, and I was planning on attaching the new sheet metal to the inside using rivets and gimp trim where necessary. I figure this way may be easier installation wise, and also provide better protection to the sheet metal being recessed behind the railing.
For a customer’s boat we recreate it the way it was from the factory unless they ask for it to be done differently. For your boat and to save yourself headache you could absolutely rivet it to the inside and add trim where needed to protect yourself and others from the sharp edge (it’s RAZOR sharp). Nothing wrong with doing it that way if you like the look and it makes your life easier!!
Dude! OMG, just yesterday I was trying to decide if I should even bother to cover my boat and I was thinking about my railings and remembered you said you had a job coming up with railings like mine with the panel on the outside, this was just yesterday and now I see your notification, I don't know if you just remembered or what but you blew my mind, thanks!
It usually takes us the better part of a full 8 hour work day to knock out a whole set of repaneling, sometimes longer depending on how things slide in and unique cuts that might have to be made.
You are 100% spot on with that one! It was such a pain, but it changed the whole boat in the best way possible making it look new again and not so much like a 20 year old toon!
I don't think I have an up close on the door panels. We usually start with the top and bottom, and then insert the sides with a gentle bend in the middle of the panel. This is the other video that shows installing paneling: th-cam.com/video/2cQ4hnxAVrc/w-d-xo.html
Tom, you’ve inspired me. I’ve used all your videos so far and your discount code.
I’ve recently finished adding new metal to my Suncruiser. Doing a full restoration on it. Tore it down to the toons and crossmembers. Added new decking with grey teak vinyl. Just installed the fencing and now about to purchase seats.
I’ll share a link to it when I’m done. I’m documenting the process with pictures.
The suncruiser has outside panels, too. One thing I realized too late was that one end of each section is rolled seamlessly from the top rail all the way down to the 90° at the bottom. However, the opposite end was capped with a corner and a few rivets. Came this way from the factory, but I didn’t notice until last week well after the metal was installed. That would’ve saved me a lot of time bending the seams back and forth.
I struggled sliding the metal around the corner as the factory machine bend creates a lot of friction as the inside protrudes out as a result of the bend. I used suction cups to help get a good grip on the metal and a second set of hands, plus some lube in the rail.
Thanks for all these videos. Super helpful.
Thanks so much for sharing all that with me! You're the type of person we started this channel for...the guy at home who's going to tackle the project themselves no matter how big the project might be. We saw a lack of channels offering HOW TO tackle those projects and the parts and pieces that come together to make an old boat look brand new. You'll be SO HAPPY when it's all finished and you're out on the water enjoying your hard work!
Very nice job makes the boat look completely different
Thanks!! That’s what we were after!
Great work! Looks incredible
Thank you. Huge challenge, but a great option for DIY folks to make their outdated boats look new again.
Thanks! Would have liked to see how you got the new fencing started and how you fixed the cracked tab.
Happy to help. Sorry I didn't go into detail on those items. We give the panel a slight bend to help it enter both the top and bottom tabs. I riveted the cracked tabs with a small aluminum pop-rivet. It's hardly noticeable and keeps it in place without any sharp edges exposed.
Cutting that with an angle grinder worked great , a steady hand and it didn't CAVITATE 😊
I’ve got that grinder fine tuned to eliminate any chance of cavitation.
Thanks for the video, I was hoping for this one! Great teamwork and instructions!
Thanks! It was one of our biggest challenges yet just working through and being patient with the sheet metal. The customer was super happy so we're happy!!
Looks amazing!!
Thanks!! And thanks for watching!
Hi Tom, would you do it again this way if you had to, or would you try putting the new sheet metal on the inside of the railing? I have a Hurricane FD with the same kind of railing, and I was planning on attaching the new sheet metal to the inside using rivets and gimp trim where necessary. I figure this way may be easier installation wise, and also provide better protection to the sheet metal being recessed behind the railing.
For a customer’s boat we recreate it the way it was from the factory unless they ask for it to be done differently. For your boat and to save yourself headache you could absolutely rivet it to the inside and add trim where needed to protect yourself and others from the sharp edge (it’s RAZOR sharp). Nothing wrong with doing it that way if you like the look and it makes your life easier!!
@@tomspontoons Thanks for the response!
@@chrisstagg8928 Happy to help!
Where would you get black snaps to screw into your railing for a mooring cover?
It looks like Sailrite sells them.
Love that color, do you know the exact name of the color for sure?
It's the metallic Beige from PontoonStuff.com. You can use TOMSTOONS to save 5% when you purchase there.
Dude! OMG, just yesterday I was trying to decide if I should even bother to cover my boat and I was thinking about my railings and remembered you said you had a job coming up with railings like mine with the panel on the outside, this was just yesterday and now I see your notification, I don't know if you just remembered or what but you blew my mind, thanks!
I might have just replied to your comment a couple days ago. Found a bunch of replies that I missed replying to. Hope this was helpful!!
@@tomspontoons Ha, quite a coincidence, I'll probably try and take this up in the spring, thanks again.
@@skylark4901 Best of luck! At least now you know it's doable!
Hi Tom, which color did you go with for the Bimini Top and where you get it from?
We actually had to use a local upholsterer to remake their old canvas because it was a unique size. It was made with a tan canvas though.
Hi Tom. How many hours would you guess removing and installing the sheet metal took? I already have the railings removed
It usually takes us the better part of a full 8 hour work day to knock out a whole set of repaneling, sometimes longer depending on how things slide in and unique cuts that might have to be made.
THIS LOOKS LIKE THE HARDEST PART OF THE REBUILD.
You are 100% spot on with that one! It was such a pain, but it changed the whole boat in the best way possible making it look new again and not so much like a 20 year old toon!
Hi Tom. How was it doing the doors\gates? Any video of that?
I don't think I have an up close on the door panels. We usually start with the top and bottom, and then insert the sides with a gentle bend in the middle of the panel. This is the other video that shows installing paneling:
th-cam.com/video/2cQ4hnxAVrc/w-d-xo.html