Tag: boat restoration

Posted on

Setting up the Palm Beach 22

Laying a batten across the frames shows high and low spots

Once you have the frames made, you have to set them up in the right position.  Oddly enough, this process is called “Setting up”.  (See, there are actually some terms in boatbuilding that are self-explanatory!)  The primary thing is to get the frames secured exactly the correct distance from each other and at the proper level.  You do this by using guidelines that you’ve transferred from your patterns and lofting to the frames themselves.  For instance, you draw the center line on each frame, and align it under a string line on your strongback.  Also, you can attach a cross spall to each frame at, say, the +24″ waterline.  Then line these up as you erect the frames. Continue reading “Setting up the Palm Beach 22”

Posted on

The Strongback–A Platform to Build on

A good strongback that can be rolled around the shop is a great foundation for your boat project.

You need something to hold the frames in perfect alignment as you assemble the parts of your boat–something strong that will hold the shape you want over the period you’re building the boat.  It has to be rigid and easy to attach pieces to.  The answer is a Strongback.  And I want to be able to move the boat around the shop if I need to as well.  At some point, we’ll have to flip this hull over to work on the inside.  It will be nice to be able roll the strongback around the shop to get the gantry cranes over the hull when that time comes. Continue reading “The Strongback–A Platform to Build on”

Posted on

Repairing the Yoke

The ends of the yoke are rotted, but the main part is still perfectly serviceable.
The ends of the yoke are rotted, but the main part is still perfectly serviceable.

The yoke is a thwart (cross piece) at the balance point of the canoe that you can rest on your shoulders when you’re portaging (carrying) the canoe.  This canoe’s yoke is made of Ash, a good hard, but rot-prone wood.  Baseball bats are made of Ash too.  At any rate,  since the main part of this beautifully carved yoke is still perfectly serviceable, an easy fix is to scarf on new ends.  Check out my previous article here more about scarf joints. Continue reading “Repairing the Yoke”

Posted on

Breasthooks Part 2–Fit and Finish

New breasthook of African Mahogany provides a nice contrast to the Fir gunwales.
New breasthook of African Mahogany provides a nice contrast to the Fir gunwales.

When we left off, we had fabricated new breasthook pieces, but they didn’t quite fit as well as I’d like.  Check out the previous post if you’ve forgotten.

Rub chalk on the inside faces of the gunwales you're trying to fit to.
Rub chalk on the inside faces of the gunwales you’re trying to fit to.

The trick is to chalk the inside edge of the inwales, fit the breasthook in place, and then see where the chalk transfers to the high spots on the breasthook.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The chalk transfers to the high spots on your workpiece.
The chalk transfers to the high spots on your workpiece.

Shave the high spots off with your favorite block plane, and repeat until you get a fit you’re happy with the fit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final fitted breasthook with registration marks ready to be screwed and glued in.
Final fitted breasthook with registration marks ready to be screwed and glued in.

You can really dial in a fine fit this way.   Not too hard if you know the trick!  The last step was to glue it in and coat it with special clear epoxy to seal against water.  Then several coats of spar varnish will provide necessary UV protection.

Posted on

Breasthooks Part 1–Fabrication

New breasthook pieces glued up and rough cut, ready for fine fitting.
New breasthook pieces glued up and rough cut, ready for fine fitting.

A breasthook is a sturdy piece of wood that marries the sides of the boat together at the stem.  It’s a structurally important piece, and can be tricky to fit.  So I did what I usually do when I have a tricky piece to fit, I made a pattern. Continue reading “Breasthooks Part 1–Fabrication”

Posted on

New Gunwales

The graceful sweeping curves of the new inwales clearly show the need for steam to bend them into place.
The graceful sweeping curves of the new inwales clearly show the need for steam to bend them into place.

Gunwale is an old nautical term.  A wale is a plank on the side of a ship or boat.  The top wale on a sailing warship was called the gun wale and was reinforced to carry the stresses imposed by heavy cannon.  Typical of nautical terms, it is not pronounced like it is spelled.  “Gunnel” is the correct pronunciation.  In canoes, it has come to mean the reinforcing strips along the top edge of the boat.  Specifically, there are usually two strips, an inwale and an outwale. Continue reading “New Gunwales”

Posted on

Restoring a Canoe–Step 1–Assess the Work

A thorough cleaning with Dawn dish washing detergent and water is the first step.
A thorough cleaning with Dawn dish washing detergent and water is the first step.

The first step in any restoration project is assessing and agreeing on the work to be done.  In this case, we agreed that Ashley River Boatworks would perform repairs needed to the boat, but that re-finishing would be the owner’s responsibility.  Often and owner has special talents and can save money by performing some of the work themselves.   Continue reading “Restoring a Canoe–Step 1–Assess the Work”

Posted on

Restoring a Strip Planked Canoe

An old strip planked canoe is a good restoration project
An old strip planked canoe is a good restoration project

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be writing about a recent project–restoring a strip planked canoe.  These canoes are built by nailing thin wooden strips to a set of forms, and glueing the edges of the strips together.  Once all the strips are in place, a layer of fiberglass is glued to the outside of the built up canoe.  Then the forms are removed and fiberglass is glued to the inside of the boat.  This creates a rigid, light structure that one person can easily carry by themselves.  And they’re beautiful too! Continue reading “Restoring a Strip Planked Canoe”

Posted on

1949 Chris Craft 17 ft. Deluxe Runabout Going to Auction

1949 Chris Craft Deluxe Runabout with custom trailer
The new custom tandem axle trailer goes too.

Tomorrow I’ll depart my humble shop here in Ravenel, South Carolina to head for the Antique Boat Auction in Clayton, NY.  I’m taking the 1949 Chris Craft 17 ft. Deluxe Runabout I’ve restored to the auction.  It’s listing number 36957.  Check it out here. Continue reading “1949 Chris Craft 17 ft. Deluxe Runabout Going to Auction”