Here are some more pictures of the poor condition of the boat.
This boat is now 59 years old. It was built in Newport News, Virginia. The boat was delivered new on 4 March 1947 to a dealer in a city just 13 miles from where I now live. It was used quit regular for 24 years. It has stayed here in this area all it’s life. I am the 7th owner.
I laid the boat on it’s side and stripped fiberglass cloth off the hull.
Then I started removing the screws. These screws had putty over them and putty in the screwdriver slots. I had to chip the screw head clean of putty with a screwdriver and hammer, and then remove the screw, sometimes by hand, sometimes with my power drill. Look at the next picture and you can see the screw holes filled with putty.
Here you see the bottom off, and the plank "patterns" laid on the floor for future reference, which didn’t come until December. 
The inside of this boat was so dirty, even greasy dirty, I had it sand blasted. Before and after.
You can see the white putty between the planks.
After years of soaking and drying out, the planks swell and then contract, letting in lots of water. A former owner put in the putty.The bottom had two layers of planks, one set ran diagonal and a set running fore to aft attached to the diagonal ones, with an oil soaked canvass between them. This canvass would soak up the water that came thru, but after years of exposure it finally became ineffective. These boats were only expected to last 6 to 8 years, about the same as the automobiles of that era. You can see the diagonal planks in the picture above, and the one below.
So they put the putty in the cracks, and when the planks got wet and swelled again, it put stress on the frame joints and pushed them apart. In the first picture you can see space on the left where it is pusshed apart. You can see in the second picture the half round holes. They are not lined up like they were when it was new. These are things I had to correct when I put it back together. The stress also broke about 25% of the brass screws and 75% of the brass bolts.
YAWNNNNN. Boring, huh, Crash.
10 comments:
Not boring at all. I actually find it quite interesting. Being an artist I like to know how things are put together and built.
I remember my friend was having her kitchen floor tiled and I would rather watch that then go and play. What 9 yr old does that? :)
HEY OLD BOAT guy...came over from Crash's site...I LOVE your introduction to yourself! You seem like a fun person to have around!
That is amazing what you do with boats! :)
YAAAAAWWWWN! Yes, OBG, Very boring. Except the part about all the dirty stripping. I liked that part.
And your verifier says stubo and that's really cute.
All that taking about and fixing broken things kinda reminds me of my broken post. I think you're a boat savior. That's what you are! I'm going to call you the BS. ;)
Happy Halloween Old Stubo Boat Guy.
Emily, Lisa was that way. She helped me with lots of things, like helping me build the garage. You aught to ask her about the coocoo's nest.
Thanks, Shelle. When I first got started, I asked my self, "What have I done?!!"
Crash, I did save that old boat.
Happy Halloween to all!
Wow, Old Boat Guy left me a comment! That's like being noticed by a celebrity these days:) Thanks for the visit, and I love the old boat. I would never have the patience - even if I had the know-how.
You know, now that Crash has crashed your blog, you are gonna earn all sorts of followers. Its like an alternate universe where we love each other by leaving comments!!
I have a confession, I'm terrified of boats. Its not so much the vessel itself as the thought of being it in while it floats on water. I don't do large bodies of water. It won't keep me from visiting though. I'm quite intriqued by the process of restoration.
Jen, Thanks, but I am not a celebrity! I'm just an old grandpa frolicking among a bevy of beautiful young women who are flattering me way more than I am used to.
This boat taught me patience. I had to finish it!, or it would be worth nothing, or way less than it is now. However, it is not for sale.
Me, you can go for a ride via the movie at the end of the restoration. That won't scare you, but it is pretty real.
Jen, I can't find you. Which is your blog. See how I am? Old fuddy duddy.
Just stopping by...
so..these pictures say 29 April 2006- I've got to know- Is the boat sea worthy now??? or are you still restoring?
Laura, The boat was finished on October 1st, and I have had it in the water three times in September and October. The dates on the restoration are the dates that the work was at when I took the pictures. It didn't leak, so yes, it is sea-worthy and it goes like mad.
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