3rd post of Restoration

It is now July 28, 2010 just 18 days after my boat purchase and I am very surprised at how fast it's going.  Of course I get up early and try to work on things that are not TOO loud, for my family is still sleeping.  And almost every night I try to work 1-2 hours on it.  It's progressing well.

OK...what have we done since last post. James and I put in floor joists and I still have one more to go. I sanded all the paint off the gunwhale and sanded, sanded, sanded the inside to get most of the old gray paint out.  I vacuumed, vacuumed and vacuumed some more and then blew out the inside twice with an air blower. (I found a democrat who talked in front of my boat and all the hot air cleaned it out perfectly. ;-).

Anywho....I then bought Preserva Wood oil penetrator, stain and sealer and sprayed the inside and outside with that before I paint the inside and fiberglass the outside.

I found out that the boat hull is made of HARBORITE.  Harborite was a new idea and "THE THING" back in the 40's - 60's.  The following paragraph is what an article said about it at the time:

 "This is Harborite... a Super-Quality Marine Plywood with two tough, abrasion resistant surfaces of plastic resin impregnated fibre that are permanently welded together.
    Giving "Armor Plate" protection, the plastic-impregnated fibre surfaces of Harborite add greatly to the strength of the already strong plywood "core." AND that very important quality,  found only in wood, "resilient life" is fully preserved. "Resilient life" is why plywood boats seem alive, and out-perform boats built of other materials. Now the new Burchcraft Harborite boats are superior to all others.
    Design tops everything in boat building. Using the best in materials is one Burchcraft feature ...Good craftsmanship is another, and Burchcraft employs skilled craftsmen... but unless a boat has proper design and proportions, its performance will be disappointing... and above all else Burchcraft excells in performance! "

Interesting huh.  Well tonight I took a spray gun and sprayed inside and out with the oil penetrator.  My next step is to cut out the outside transom and laminate it to the back and start on the bow ribs then the dash and whatever else needs to be added to the boat and screwed from the outside.  Once everything is screwed in from the outside thru the hull, then the fiberglass will commence.

Calm Seas,

Dan

Part Deux, Continuing Restoration

Well, I've got the boat completely stripped down to just a hull.   I've inlaid Paduk (an African red wood) in the Gun-whale (top piece of wood running along the top edge of the boat that you grab to get in). Found some rotten spots that blew out so I dumped wood hardener in the holes, let it dry, filled with epoxy and wood filler and reinforced those areas. Then sand, sand, sand.

 I've taken the transom off (the part where the motor attaches at the back of the boat.) That's a lot of work! It was rotten.  I've taken 2 pieces of 1/2 inch marine grade plywood and laminated them together with a polyurethane based glue and put tons of screws in them to pull them together to make a 1 inch transom to fit inside the boat.  Then I'll take another  transom piece a little larger that fits on the back of the first one, laminate it to the other and we should have a new fresh solid transom. The transoms will then all be covered with fiberglass cloth and epoxy to create a water tight seal.

While the transom is drying (I've still got to cut it out) I am continuing to work on the little things like removing a little more old fiberglass, working on the front stem (very front part of the boat that runs down the middle and bottom of the outside of the boat, the part that hits the rocks first.)

I almost have the port side (left) of the gun-whale finished. I will be working on the starboard (right) side next to inlay the Paduk. I take hand tools to scrape and sand the old paint (3 layers) off down to the natural wood, then inlay down the middle of the gun-whale. The biggest issue I face now is to get the transom to fit in the boat and the outer transom piece cut to fit.

OK...I cut out the transom and fit it in the back and put about a million screws into it.  Now I have to cut out the outer transom after I laminate 2 more pieces together for that.

I've put an oak stringer across the transom for support as you can see in the pictures.  It's looking cool.  Stay tuned.
Remember just because you can see the flaws in your boat, doesn't mean it's ugly.

Boatin' Dan

New Project: Restoration of 1964 Birch Craft Runabout boat

Well, as if I didn't have enough to do, I went and bought a 1964 Birch Craft boat, 13' long, trailer and 45 horse outboard all at a yardsale for  $50. There is A LOT of work involved, transom will be replaced all the outside 2 or 3 layers of fiberglass pulled off, sanded etc, etc, etc.

FIRST I have to say THANK YOU to my wife who, I'm still not convinced thinks it's a good idea, said, "ok" to my "project."  When this thing is done, you'll love it. I bought the boat on Saturday July 10, 2010 and picked it up on Sunday.  The motor looks clean but I haven't started it yet.  The gentleman (a committed believer in Jesus) said they went skiing in 1994 on it and haven't used it since.  It's been in that family since it was bought new in 1964,  2 years before I was born. ;-) . The gentleman grew up skiing on that boat and was a little sad to see it go.  It really was part of the family and growing up.

Even though I was glad to get the boat and restore it, I felt a little sadness for the family as a part of his happy childhood was gone.  Although I told him I'd bring it by after restoration and let him see it. I think it's pretty cool that even though the son owned it after his dad, I am really only the second owner of this boat.  I honestly hope I can do it justice.

My goal is to make a tubing boat out of it for the kids BUT....in the fashion of a 1930's to 1940's Chris Craft boat.  If you don't know what those are, just Google Images: Antique Chris Craft Boat.  You'll see the lines and beautiful form and fashion of the 30's and 40's.   There is A LOT of work coming.

I anticipate there will be at least a year's worth of work.  I've had it a few days now and have already pulled most of the  fiberglass off the sides...that's work!  Not to mention my arms are really itching right now as I'm typing.

I've pulled most of the insides out and alternate between the inside, outside and front and back for a change of scenery.  My next big move is to remove the motor with the help of  one of my fishin' buddies James, who I want to thank for giving me ideas and helping me with his woodworking knowledge, then I'll pull the transom off. I've posted some pics of the day I picked it up and pulling the insides out and pulling the fiberglass off.

I also want to thank my buddy David for donating wood and his expertise in wood working to help with the future beautiful outcome of my Birch Craft/ Chris Craft knock off.   I think I'll keep my 12' aluminium boat that I've put a deck and live well in and made into a "miniature bass boat" for fishin'.

I need your help.  If anyone can find anything about Birch Craft Runabouts, especially 1964, either in articles, advertisements or images would you please pass that on to me?

Well, i guess that's about all.  Tonight I'll work on pulling off more fiberglass and removing more stuff from the inside. If anyone has any extra fiberglass epoxy, fiberglass cloth or wood laying around (mahogany, teak, maple, cherry) I'd be happy to take those as donations!  Or any extra money laying around you want to contribute to the "cause" I wouldn't refuse that either. ;-)   Did I mention this is going to be A LOT of work?

Keep your motor oiled,
Boatin' Dan