Okay so Ive finally done some sandin... pics and queery

[Wild Dingo]

Well some may member the freebie old work boat I was given a month or so back...

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3cf22b3127cce8137f05cb7dd0000001610

Well Ive taken a bit of time and since the weathers turning gorgeous finally I took her back out of the shed and have been sanding...

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3cc32b3127cce83a8ee8deb410000001610

but heres some of the "problems" (note here if these are the only probs I have Im pretty chuffed with it as it will be an easy repair/restore ;) )

Keel at transom
http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3cc32b3127cce83a8cd8f2afa0000001610

Keel/Stem join

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3cc32b3127cce83a8c3822af00000001610

Stem head

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3cc32b3127cce83a8c052eb890000001610

Butt joints in ply

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3cc32b3127cce83a8dfd5ab990000001610

and the what I believe are "spray rails" which go from roughly halfway along the hul and turn at the transom and go along that for about 6in and are coming away from the hull

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b3cc32b3127cce83a8d95cab130000001610

So Im pretty much ready to do something with this hull... but as you can see theres a few spots where the old ancient neanderthal googe has chipped and cracked out from butts and the keel slash stem... now Im wondering do I?

1) get some newfangled specky wonder waterproof googe and slather buggery out of her making sure she gets lots in these gaps toss some undercoat paint on her bum then just flip her rightsides up and start workin on the top so I can get on the water... NOW!... or...

2) get some epoxy and microwhatsits and one of them needle thingys and run around puttin that googe in between the openings and then slather buggery out of her with epoxy lay a layer of say 6oz fiberglass on her bum to the waterline and then paint her bum turn her over and start on the topsides... or...

3) get that CPES or whatever the blazes its called downunder slather the buggery out of her bum then get some wonder waterproof googe and fill the cracks then whack some undercoat on and paint... or...

4) get some wonderstuff googe do the fill and smooth thingy whack some paint all over her bum and turn her rightsides upwards and get stuck in...

actually truth be told Im not in any real rush with her as Ive still got canoeythingy and the cat to muck about with and I still have to do a fair bit to her insides which need work and also I need to find a small outboard (15hp max) or actual preference will be a wee 5hp putt putt to install inside her with all that entails make slat seats and floors install floatation chambers fuel chambers canopy and other sundry things Im considering... so Im thinkin Ive got plenty to do yet no rush sorta just want this bum bit over with...

Second queery is...

The timbers of the keel and stem looked to be pretty rough of many years of use/abuse Im sorta wondering if I should rip them off and build a new keel and stem... but once I sanded down to good wood it seemed okay would it be advisable to replace the keel and stem which have a multitude of nails and screws of varying sorts from ss to bronze holding her on of varyin stages of rot... although it seems solid enough Im thinkin presently of just plugging her up whacking some bias glass and epoxy around her and leaving her alone... but wouldnt mind some advice here before I make what could be a monumental stuffup...

What say ye??

[mmd]

Well, Dingo old chum, I'm sure you are going to get opinions up the wazoo on this, ranging from "burn it" to "lovingly restore to it's former glory". The ultimate decision is up to you and how much time/money you want to spend. My opinion will certainly not be sure to be right, and probably will be refuted by some, but at least I'm first. :D

From your previous telling of this boat, I don't believe that this a historical vessel, nor one with a fancy pedigree, so it isn't worth busting a gut and a bank account on restoring to "as built". I presume that you just want to get out on the bay and have some fun with it. With that in mind, my suggestion for the 12-step program is:

1.) carefully strip off the spray rails and save for re-attachment.
2.) round-over the sharp edges of the keel (1/2" radius is fine)
3.) sand the edges of the chines into a gentle radius (1/8" to 1/4" radius)
4.) use epoxy and microballoons to make a fairing compund the consistancy of cake frosting and fill in the gaps in the keel/stem joint, and make a 1/2" radius fillet where the keel and ply meet
5.) sand everything down smooth with 120 grit paper
6.) sheath the whole hull in 6-8 oz, 'glass set in epoxy, right up to the sheer
7.) when the sheathing is set up, use epoxy/microballoons the consistancy of thin toothpaste applied with a plastic automotive body putty squeegie as a fairing compound
8.) sand smooth with 120 grit, being carefull not to sand into the 'glass.
9.) prime & paint.
10.) re-attach the spray rails, having coated them in epoxy, used the same epoxy googe that you used on the keel to correct any defects, and painted them (a contrasting colour is always nice)
11.) repair any innards what needs fixin'
12.) get the hell out on the bay and play with your new boat

This will not give you a family heirloom that you can pass on to your favourite kid, but you will get a boat to play with for the next five or ten years. By then the kids will have learned to boat properly and you will be ready for the more luxurious older gentleman's boat that you will be able to afford now that the hoons are off on their own.

That's my opinion, and I'm stickin' to it! :D

Good luck!

[Wild Dingo]

Thanks Michael :cool:

1) Done! soon as you mentioned it... had to take out a gazillion screws that had been there since Noah and Bob Cleek were nippers :D ... and many will never go back again :mad: just like the blood loss will never come back into me bod again! ggggrrrrrrrr flamin mongrel things... nebba mind :rolleyes:

2) Done previously during sanding process

3) Done again previously during said sanding process
4) to be done...
5) to be done...
yarda down to 12 :rolleyes:

oh well so much for the easy way eh?! nebba mind onwards and upwards ;)

Does anyone else notice how all these self help programs are "12 step" programs :rolleyes:

Mind you as I was under her takin them screws out I had me a good sticky beak around at the floors and such looks as sweet as a nut under there... no cracks splits shakes or softened wood anywhere! yeeeeflaminha! has a couple of timber supports I imagine were once for seats but theyre easily ripped out and chucked... but everything looks purty good under there a bit of work but hey still easy as... makes it all simple if theres no muckin about takin patterns and such to replace things eh? ;)

[thebob]

Well Dingo, first of all why did you saw that little fella in half and nail the top half of im to the transom?

She dont look too bad at all. If I were you I'd have a go in those cracks and gaps with a stiff wire brush and slather them all in goop.

Wouldn't worry too much about the glass. Seems to have stayed together without it so far.

Those spray rail thingies, I'd give em a few swift wacks with a hammer or a roo's thigh bone, an if they dont fall off, goop em up.

Throw some paint on it.

Fool around with the interior for a bit, and get it in the water.

Play around with it for the summer, an if it's any good, fix it up properly in the winter.

Dont waste the boating weather, get it in the water.

[Wild Wassa]

Hi Dingo, further to mmd, CPES works well, so does Fill-it.

After mmd's auto putty squeegie, try one of these blades for finishing small areas.

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid93/p0158a1aaf6bca40d8037b7682b526c86/fa4d229d.jpg

I found it at a potter's supply store. Blades for moving clay are excellent with epoxy. Have you got a flexible long board? for sanding, ... make sure it's not too flexible.

Warren.

[ 12-14-2003, 01:16 PM: Message edited by: Wild Wassa ]

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

Shane......You know me, I'm certainly no "Know it all" but, I do pay attention to those that are when it comes to wooden boat restoration. There are a million ways to proceed. I like the, "do it right the first time so it will last and actually float" method. This doesn't have to be the most expensive or complicated either. I'd use 3M-5200 glue because it's forever. :D I'd pay attention to fastener choice if I was gonna use the boat in saltwater. I'd use some good epoxy (wood in a can) and buy good primer paint. Then I'd finish with porch paint (battleship gray of course :D ). Cheers to you mate. smile.gif It's wonderful to see photos of yer stinkpot. I thought I'd never convert you. :D
Peace---> Kevin in Ohio