18 1/2 ain`t bad,and like ya said........T.G.F.Trolling Motors

Keep your fingers crossed

Not Just Another Cracker !

As long as the Trolling Motor is in good working order,we should have no problems,it will get more of a work-out than the Push-Poll will anyway .......but the Poll will get used on the flats

Got the Map in the Van

Not Just Another Cracker !

Well, step 4, 5, 5 1/2, and part of 6 are done. I spent the better part of the weekend sanding, fiberglassing, and painting the push pole. I started yesterday afternoon with more sanding and then proceeded to add more fiberglass to the cracks on the foot end of the pole, and did the same ting again this morning. I sanded down the new glass and then the entire push pole to be ready for paint. Once the pole was all cleaned up and dry I added the first coat of paint. I soon realized that this is the part that I've been waiting for, the paint went on with ease (other then the nats that had to land on the fresh paint). But they'll come off with the sanding between coats.

So there you have it...Step 4 sand, step 5 glass, step 5 1/2 sand and glass, and finally on to step 6 with the first coat of paint.

Thanks God no more sanding fiberglass, I am sick and tired of the itching.



Paddle Bitch!
fish4reds online

Good As New

I hope

Looks Great

Not Just Another Cracker !

Well she's finally complete and I now have a nice 18' push pole back on the boat. I put the last coat of paint on the push pole this morning and everything looks pretty good. There are a few spots where the nats got to close before the paint had time to dry and there little legs got stuck in the wet paint. But I figure that after a few times on the flats those spots will blend right in with all the other dings and dents that are to some.

Well here is the final tally.....She took 4 coats of paint, 3 layers of fiberglass, a few coats of resin to smooth out and eliminate any air pockets between sandings, and one final sanding of the entire pole before paint. And just for good measure I had to throw in a few kinks, such as finding the original cracks in the pole hiding under some cleverly placed duck tape and of coarse the big breaking off of 2 feet or so on a trial run after 2 coats of glass were put down. From that point on it all I could do to get this thing done before MM. Now I just hope that the 7+ hours (including the repairs from the break) will hold up and give me a year or two at least on the flats before it has to be replaced. And here she is in all her glory

The tip that broke off in the mud at the whale tail, epoxied in and good to go

Shiny glossy paint just waiting to be scratched up

About as round and true as one could get fixing this thing in not so great conditions

So that's it, the push pole repair is done and I am so happy to be done sanding fiberglass. I'm still itching from that crap.

If I had it all to do over again I would have just got one of those fancy carbon poles for $300, but in the long run I will use the trolling motor more then my push pole.

I have to thank Cracker11 for the supply's and all of the helpful info and advice and I have to thank the inventer of the orbital sanded, without that tool I think I would have gone crazy from sanding and it damn sure wouldn't look as good as it does.

Thanks again Cracker11 and don't worry I'll let you be the guinea pig at MM.

Later,

Austin



Paddle Bitch!
fish4reds online

Looks Great Austin

If it brakes,and I fall in..........at least the water is warm

Not Just Another Cracker !