Hartley restoration & re-modelling.

[Vernr]

G'day all!!

Not exactly a ‘classic’ but a wooden boat all the same!! I am new at 'posting' to this forum but have been ‘mucking about’ with wooden (and other) boats for many years and have built a few S&G boats in the past and repaired a few. …......so here goes!!!

I have just commenced the restoration of a 16ft Hartley hull. I am not sure what the design name is nor the age of the hull. I purchased it off Ebay (of all places!!) for just $200 so figure that I cannot lose!! The hull was in reasonable condition except for some rot around the transom area, which has now been cut out. The whole boat was very poorly painted so I decided to strip everything back to the bare timber. What I am finding underneath all that 'muck' is a nice solidly built timber hull with heaps of potential


I have now stripped all the paint off the hull and am commencing to repair the transom and hull and then I will repaint the underside prior to 'flipping' her over and starting work on the 'top-side'. The target that I have set myself is to turn this boat into something like the yellow one pictured. (photo taken from the Hartley website) only not yellow!!! As a colour scheme I am leaning towards a black hull, varnished deck and white superstructure.

This hull was used as an open boat with a 50hp motor.....given the planned new configuration with more weight forward I will be aiming at around the 70hp to 90hp mark............but I will do some calculations closer to the time.

Now that all the paint is removed I have found that the hull is in pretty good shape with only a few minor 'dings' to repair.

Now for the task of putting it all back together!! I have most of the materials that I need already so can 'chip' away at the project as and when I can get to it. I have some Huon Pine, which I will use for the stringer repairs then ply for the sheeting and transom.

If the interest is there I will continue to post updates

Cheers,
Vern

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u185/Vernr/Hartley001.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u185/Vernr/Hartley002.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u185/Vernr/Hartley003.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u185/Vernr/Hartley004.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u185/Vernr/Hartley005.jpg
http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u185/Vernr/Hartley007.jpg

[The Bigfella]

Excellent. Nice price eh? More photos please.

Are the existing ribs Huon?

Oh yeah - welcome to the forum

[oldsub86]

Very interesting. Keep the info coming.

Randy

[JimJ]

It is nice to see someone else restoring a Hartley
http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=411
Welcome to the WBF.

Jim

[Vernr]

It is nice to see someone else restoring a Hartley
http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=411
Welcome to the WBF.

Jim
A lovely looking job there Jim!! I hope that I can get as good a finish on my project.

I am interested to hear more about the 'veneered transom'.......I rather fancy a varnished timber look for mine as well.....what have you used?...it looks great. I am considering preparing some timber myself (I have some spare maple that might provide enough stock) but I also thought I might take a look at some of that new 'flooring' timber as you can get it in so many different (colour) varieties and very thin boards.

Cheers,
Vern

[Larks]

Nice pick up (did it include the trailer?) and great work Vern.

[Vernr]

Nice pick up (did it include the trailer?) and great work Vern.
Pretty good I thought...at $200.00 what can I lose??

He sold me the trailer for $250.00.....so $450 the lot.....the trailer only needs about $100 spent on it to make it as good (or better than) new!!!

Cheers,
Vern

[JimJ]

Vern

Thanks. The transom was in good order but was made out of hoop pine ply. As I was using recycled Silky Oak door frames as the trim on Sea Lark, I spent $15.00 and bought 2 sheets of Silky Oak veneer.

I positioned the veneer, cut slightly oversize and glued it to the cleaned plywood of the transom.

The transom and veneer were coated with un-thickened epoxy, left to soak in for a little while and then a slightly thickened coating of epoxy applied to the transom.

The veneer was held in place by a couple of staples, a layer of peel ply applied, a layer of polyester wadding and then a layer of clear plastic sealed around the edges onto the hull sides. I applied about 5psi of vacuum until the epoxy set.

Jim

[Vernr]

That sounds great, Jim.....and it certainly looks good.........how is it standing up??

Since seeing your transom I have given mine more thought. I have (today) completed 'patching' it up and I feel sure that it will come up great with a good sand and paint however I think it will look even better if I cover it completely. I have measured up the maple that I have and should have just enough (I wouldn't want to make any mistakes though!!) all that I would need to do is to run it through the thicknesser to end up at around 6 or 7 mm.........there again......the (low) cost of some veneer to do the same as you is also a very good option that would leave the solid maple for something better later on!!

Cheers,
Vern

[epoxyboy]

The trailer for my Pathfinder came with one of these boats on it - all fo NZ$400!
The outside had been plastered with a good 4mm of glass roving and polyester resin, which was about all that was holding the whole plot together. Most of the rot in the transom looked like it started in the many holes drilled there for control cables etc. Good luck - yours looks a lot more solid than mine was.

Pete

[JimJ]

how is it standing up??

This I will find out over Easter as we plan to do some sailing on the Clarence River at Yamba. We have only had Sea Lark in the water to check for leaks and setup.

I veneered the transom in July 2005, nearly 3 years ago!!

JimJ

[DugT]

Hey Vern, how is the restoration going? Any new pictures to share?

[Bob Smalser]

I think the Hartley remains one of the best plywood small-boat designs. Even the little 14 behaves and carries like a 20-footer.

http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL12/1104763/3075025/59367496.jpg

[Larks]

I'd ceretainly agree with that Bob!!

[Vernr]

Hey Vern, how is the restoration going? Any new pictures to share?
Not much 'movement' on the project this week....unfortunately I have been very busy at work including having to work over Easter. I have a few more day to work this week then a good few off from next weekend.....so I am hoping to ket plent more done then!!

Cheers,
Vern

[Vernr]

I think the Hartley remains one of the best plywood small-boat designs.

Got to agree with you there Bob......certainly high on the list of my favourites. I built a Hartley TS16 about 20 years ago........sailed it for 5 years before (reluctantly) parting with it. I am contemplating another 'sailer' when I finish my current project....Hartley TS18 or 21 are very high on my list of possibilities!!!

Cheers,
Vern

[Wild Wassa]

A few Hartleys ... up a creek.


http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd301/WildWassa/UPACREEK3-1.jpg



http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd301/WildWassa/Hartley.jpg



http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd301/WildWassa/Upacreek2.jpg


http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd301/WildWassa/Hartley-1.jpg


Warren.

[Eric.B]

Fast becoming a fan of Hartley boats, maybe one more set of plans wont hurt. Hope the admiral don’t read this! :D:D

[Vernr]

Thought it about time I gave a bit of an update on my Hartley project.

Extra hours (days in fact!!) spent at work have held progress up considerably however I now have 6 days off and have already made some good progress.
The hole at the back of the hull is now sealed and has received its first coat of epoxy this morning. Next job is to apply some glass cloth over the repaired area for added strength then fair off. Then replace the ends of the four planing strakes. Finally, fit the timber veneer to the transom.
Hoping to have the timber and glassing finished by the end of next week and then the hull will be already to paint.

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u185/Vernr/Hartley009.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u185/Vernr/Hartley010.jpg

http://i168.photobucket.com/albums/u185/Vernr/Hartley011.jpg
http://www.fishtas.com/forum/Themes/pdx-dk114v2/images/icons/modify_inline.gif

[Wild Wassa]

Vernr, Good to have you come and update the progress.

Excellent photos.

Two more shots for Hartley fans. Grahme Dennet the Hartley 18 National Champion, not flying the kite this time. The look on his face is a Classic. No Super Skipper likes being passed ... even by the safety boat. The wind was right up.


http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd301/WildWassa/GrahamDennetBaharini.jpg



http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd301/WildWassa/GrahamDennet-1.jpg


Warren.

[skuthorp]

Sofla, on this forum is about to commence a similar restoration on a Hartley too.

http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=78710&highlight=sofala

[WX]

Nice thread.
I think the Hartley remains one of the best plywood small-boat designs. Even the little 14 behaves and carries like a 20-footer. Gee Bob, we agree on something:D

I'm getting close to posting a couple of update photos of Redwing. I've been busy with the interior fitout.

[JimJ]

From WX
Gee Bob, we agree on something

I agree with both of you.

Jim

[Larks]

I agree with all three of you!!!

[Vernr]

Time for another update!!

I have been able to dedicate some more time to this project over the past few months. The Hartley hull is now complete again. All new work now faired and aft ends of the planing strakes replaced with some Huon pine off-cuts that I had laying around the workshop. I have also placed a 150mm wide band of glass fabric the full length of the keel to give some added protection.
The finish of the transom repair turned out a lot better than I expected so I am now not covering it with extra material.
The whole hull has recieved three coats of epoxy then two coats of primer. As of today I have completed the second coat of gloss. At the rate that I am going I am hoping to be able to turn the hull right way up and start on the inside and topside re-modelling by the end of the month.
Cheers (and seasons greetings)!!
Vern



http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww18/VernR_2009/Hartley012.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww18/VernR_2009/Hartley013.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww18/VernR_2009/Hartley014.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww18/VernR_2009/Hartley016.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww18/VernR_2009/Hartley015.jpg

[TimmS]

Lookin' good! I have just been commissioned to build one of these! (Vixen 17) How old is this one?

[Vernr]

How old is this one?
Not really sure but the type of ply, fastenings, glue, fillers and paint used suggests to me late 1960's/early 70's.

[dbs]

looking good there Vern...
for the Hartley love in... yes I'm in agreement as well..
There are plenty more pics of the TS hartleys at http://dsn.au.com/Gallery
Cheers,
David.

[Larks]

Nice to see the update Vern, looks like it's going great guns
cheers
Greg

[Vernr]

Ok..........time for another update!!

With the help of family during an Australia Day BBQ a 'mile-stone' has been passed in my restoration project......the Hartley has been turned!!

Now the 'interesting work' can begin.....that of re-modelling this lovely old 'tub' into something 'grand'!!!

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww18/VernR_2009/Hartley017-1.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww18/VernR_2009/Hartley018.jpg

http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww18/VernR_2009/Hartley019.jpg