1956 Aquadream--guess it's a project after all

[Redwings]

You are my new hero! I'm amazed at your perseverance and positive attitude during your Aguadream project. I hope your trip is as amazing as your accomplishments.

Your son sounds like he's got your ingenuity and sense of adventure. :-)

[Gone Kayaking]

Well everyone we are actually on the road!!!!! I am carrying the tool box eyebrows butyl tape etc... With me in case I can squeeze in some time to work. I am posting from my iPad and haven't figured out how to load a pic. Currently in Idaho KAYKING. So finally true to my user name. Will post as I can. Thanks to all for the help,inspiration and encouragement. Check the blog for route and posts.

[Gone Kayaking]

pix as promised

we've been hanging out at a great camp spot on the north fork payette river. Trailer is working great, been running completely off battery. doesn't get dark til 10pm and we're out everyday so minimal use.

[mindy]

Look at all your fun toys! Have a great time and let me know when you are near Seattle...would love to hook up with you.

Mindy

[vikx]

Thanks! Love the picture. More please?

[Gone Kayaking]

I am trying to get to a location where I can do uploads but signal strength is an issue. I promise to keep trying.

[Redwings]

Fabulous! What a dream come true. Thanks for the pic.

[ModernMe]

So happy for you and your son. Glad that you are enjoying the trailer and all the adventures you had hoped for.

You are inspiration for the work that I know I have ahead of me.

Be safe.

[Gone Kayaking]

Here we are with the grand Tetons behind us. Everything is working and seems like no leaks:) identifying lots of to dos... Replace oven with cook top, increase ice box insulation, etc...
From here we head to golden Colorado for the whitewater kayak junior Olympics 7/14-20. If you live nearby ben will be competing 7/16 and 17 come on out to cheer him on. We'd live to meet you. Will be staying at clear creek Rv park.

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[Gone Kayaking]

Long time between posts. 3000 miles so far 2600 towing. We've been happily without Internet access or time to get in the forum for a week or so.
My son ben participated in the junior Olympics for kayaking. I'm a proud momma as he won 2 bronze medals and was named to the national team in his age class (cadet).
The trailer continues to hold her own but have had a couple of issues. The tail lights stopped working and after fussing with it for several hours including rewiring the grounds got it working again.
Thanks to several rainstorms I've found one trouble spot for water that will need to be addressed on the front windows temp fix is wadded up butyl tape over all the screws and along the side. See pic.
And just yesterday while placing the leveling jacks discovered a split along the length of one of the 2x3 support beams. Found a local handyman with proper tools to sister a new piece to the old. We will be roadworthy again tomorrow.

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[vikx]

Windows, ugh. So glad you're hanging in there. Wish you could have stopped by!

[Gone Kayaking]

A mosaic tray that I made at family camp a couple of weeks ago. I also made a step to get in and out.

[ModernMe]

That is so way cool. Right up my alley! What family camp do you go to? My wood burning project was done at the family camp that we go to every year. Thanks for sharing your fun project.

[Gone Kayaking]

We go to Camp it Up! at the City of Oakland's Camp on a tributary of the Feather River up near Quincy. Been going every year first week of August since Ben turned 2.

[flyingham]

Great to see it on the road, way to go!

[Gone Kayaking]

Finally got up the energy and motivation to do some of the remaining work on the trailer. My goal is to get the trim and stain completed before the TCT rally in Coloma CA at the end of the month (have you noticed how I've scaled back my goals!). I can also hopefully finish the window treatments (curtain rods have been my nemesis for some reason).

Ah, but for the trim along the curvy portions of the trailer, I discovered zzzflex trim www.flextrim.com/products.php which is a polymer based flexible molding that can be stained or painted. AND IT BENDS PERFECTLY. Yes it is more expensive than quarter round, but I was breaking pieces trying to make the radius....and this stuff works like a charm. I had all the trim up in 2 hours!

Here's some pics.

[Gone Kayaking]

I have more of an update on progress, here's a link to the pictures from the TCT rally in Coloma back in October. So you can she how she sort of looks all pretty.


Here's a link to the other pics from the rally too. lots of cool campers!
photobucket.com/2011_TCT_coloma_rally

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[Redwings]

I love it! Your quilt goes absolutely perfectly with the curtains. And the seat cushion upholster fabric fits right in. I'm so glad you posted up the progress pictures. Thanks!!

Diane

[Gone Kayaking]

thanks. the seat covers are really just temporary until I get to actually upholster the benches....which will hopefully happen this winter.

[vikx]

Trailer looks great and really enjoyed the Coloma photos!

[Gone Kayaking]

Back bed area and cabinets completed
Okay here are some pics of the back bed area. The woodwork is either new and newly shellacked or has been rehabbed. The quilt and curtains some will recall I made way back when i thought this baby was mostly ready to go. Well it's all good now. You'll have to wait for pics of the front area until the new countertop and backsplash go in and the new seats and table are installed. I'm also putting a frosted acrylic in the panels above the dinette, and a separator between the bench and the stove. Not sure why the pics aren't loading directly so here's a link to the slideshow.

s96.photobucket.com/albums/l189/benmy/Shasta%20Restoration%20pics/Aguadream%20Restoration%20the%20final%20chapter/?albumview=slideshow

Finishing Touches
Getting ready to put in the formica counter top, table and "faux" tin backsplash. Here they are with the curtains against the newly refinished cabinets. Hoping to get this cone by end of next week.



Also picked up some sign vinyl that I am going to upcycle to use for the dinette seats. I'm going with kind of a wild design for the seats that I hope goes okay with everything, but for $5 (yup that's all it cost me for a ton of vinyl) I guess I can afford to do it over if I don't like it. My friend Jenny has this company elbow grease designs elbowgreasedesigns.com. She makes all kinds of things out of this stuff and it holds up great.

[Gone Kayaking]

Boomerang countertops nearly finished! Just need to find edge banding in aluminum or stainless steel how hard could that be? Turns out it's not easy at all. Any ideas that don't require paying an arm and leg for shipping? Also installed an acrylic divider, may have to remove when cooking but I think it looks cool. Next step installing back splash-- still deciding on materials there.

PS I purchased the boomerang more than a year ago while stock was still available. So I don't have an inside track on it now, sorry.

[lamacki1]

OMG - your trailer is gorgeous. You've done a wonderful job - in spite of all the stuff that went wrong.

I've read this thread before but somehow missed your TCT rally photos. Thanks for posting those.

Of course now I'm even more crazy in love with these vintage trailers.

[Hamlet]

For the countertop edging, just go to a store that does flooring and countertops, they usually have it in stock and at most small or family-owned businesses there is someone who can give you helpful hints, because they do it for a living. Good luck!

[Gone Kayaking]

Thanks Hamlet! great idea.

[missblossom]

OMG, you have done an amazing job. Wish I was handy, beyond making curtains and painting. Don't have the first clue how to do any wood working, counter tops etc. Let alone the tools to do it all. I do know how to save my money to pay to have it done however, heeheehehee. Your trailer looks great. Congrats on a job well done, and you son's success with making the Team.

[shastazephyr]

Greetings From Shastazephyr, I was going through the web site last night when I found your photos. I thought someone had posted pictures of my trailer at first. After reading and looking futher in to your project I was amazed at how much our trailers are alike ! Mine is a year newer, but that's about all. Your describtion you gave of the former owner even sounds like the same person I bought mine from. It looked great at first, but as you said after one rain storm the real trailer come out ! They are definietly a learning experience aren't they ? Well I'm wondering how yours came out ? I'm not quite as far along as you are, but hope to be on the road camping by mid- summer. Good luck, hope to here from you some time. Big"E".

[harrison429]

Wow, it looks great! You're one of the lucky ones that got the boomerang laminate before they discontinued it...we're still on the hunt for something that I can love. Anyway, keep posting pix we love to see your progress.

[Gone Kayaking]

Lynn, yup one of the lucky ones, and if I do another one, I'll probably be using sheet marmoleum for the counters and table--it has a vintage look. shastaszephyr good luck on your restoration. Patience and perseverance will get you through. My last post is pretty much where things are. I'll be attaching the countertop this week sometime, and waiting to find the best trim for it...should have scoped that out better..was so focused on getting the boomerang I didn't line up the edge trim also. Right now I'm thinking of wood around the outsides and then use paint and marine epoxy resin to do the lip around the sink. Initially was planning on metal edging.

The "only" things left to do after the table and counter top are done

reinstall faucet, supply, drain line
re-upholster the bench seats
rebuild the door and cargo doors
paint the outside
awning

I've also decided to add tyron bands to my wheels, a friction sway bar, and maybe a weight distribution hitch...after reading about a number of blowouts

[vikx]

I doubt you'll need the weight distribution hitch after trying the sway bar. They really, really help!