Old Saybrook Lightning #8687

[MikeV]

I recently picked up Lightning Hull # 8687. She was built by Old Saybrook in 1963. The hull is planked in western red cedar. The frame bottoms and transom are mahogany. The verticle frame members, deck beams and scantlings appear to be spruce. She is in excellent shape for her age except for one small crack in the bottom of a frame and a few soft spots in her planks. However she does require work to make her sea worthy: New bailers,rigging,deck canvas, paint varnish, new mast or rebuild of old one.). She is packaged up for the winter so I am spending my time planning her restoration. I have a few questionsin that regard:

1) In what sequence should the restoration be undertaken?

2) What is the best way to remove the varnish on the interior of the hull (she is finsihed bright inside)?

3) She has a bronze centerboard that appears to have been laquered(spelling?) or varnished. What is the best way to remove the old finish? What should it be coated with after it is cleaned up?

[Tim B]

Guess I'll start the responses. I can only speak to your first question. Spend alot of time looking over your boat. Spend a few hours inspection the hull, noting what is wrong or needs repair. Then come back and do it again a week later. Why? To sift out what should be fixed and what should be left. If your an amatuer like me, the reality of the situation is that the boat is not going to turn out like it is brand new out of a builder's shop. Some repairs I've done didn't turn out much better than what I started with and in retrospect I wouldn't have done them. Another important part of this multiple inspection process is to come up with a clear understanding of how the boat is built. Where are the fasteners? When you have a good understanding of how the boat is put together it is easier to plan out how something can be repaired. This may also play into what gets repaired. Check out other lightnings that have been restored. What "problems" have they left unrestored and what was the outcome? I often look at boats for sale simply because it gives me a chance to talk to the owner about repairs and the results he/she has had. It tempers your perspective to talk to someone whos put 3 years of work into a hull and it has the same minor imperfections your determined to get rid of in yours. I don't think of this as backing down on my expectations, rather it is making them more realistic.

As you start to think about what needs to be fixed and how it will be done, then you'll have lots of specific questions. They get answered much faster here.

tim

[Carl Simmons]

A couple of comments,

1. If you are going to restore it to original rigging (wooden spars), I would check into that
fairly early into the restoration. The reason being that there will need to be changes to allow for updated rigging.

2. I believe you would want to coat your bronze centerboard with epoxy. I epoxy coated a steel centerboard from an old lightning that was pitted in several spots. The epoxy coating made a very smooth finish which turned out much better then I expected.

Carl.

[Jana Shaw]

I am currently restoring lightning hull #7147. Along the lines of risking unecessary repairs and doing a worse job, I am not so sure about re-bedding the centerboard trunk. If it does not leak now, should I take it off, re-caulk and risk having it leak? If I am stripping all the paint and varnish off anyway should I go all the way? Is this a difficult job to do right or a difficult job to do wrong? What is a good caulking compound for this job?

[David Tabor (sailordave)]

I've got Lightning #5817 and have been making slow progress. Here is what it looked like when I got it!

http://myboatyard.homestead.com/files/light2.jpg
You can also look at my web page or email me w/ ?'s.

[ 11-01-2002, 04:36 PM: Message edited by: David Tabor (sailordave) ]

[Carl Simmons]

Jana,

I think it would be helpful for others to look at the condition of your centerboard trunk, especially down near the keel. My guess is, if the trunk is in good condition and doesn't need to be painted inside you could probably leave it alone.

Carl.