Anybody ever work on a Lapstrake boat? Pics added 7/23

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Tue Jan 10, 2017 10:24 pm

My first boat might be a 60s runabout. Might need some work on it.

gcs · Post by **gcs** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 12:17 pm

Good luck with that. Never had the "privilege" of fixing one, but threw away dozens that were abandoned by their previous owners.
My suspicion is that you'll get tired of that treasure pretty quick, ..but wish you well...

soon 2 retire · Post by **soon 2 retire** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 5:22 pm

Google "The Wooden Boat Store", they have a lot of books on boat repair and boat building.

Bob in Friday Harbor

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 5:37 pm

Try this too.

http://lymanboa.com/cms30/index.php/links.html

I love wood boats, pretty much grew up on them but I won't get another one until I retire and have a heated barn/ storage for one. Lots of work but sooo worth it.

jb

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 7:31 pm

all boats need work, that's why they are for sale . . .

clinker has its idiosyncracies, but an able shipwright can work on them.

how confident are you in your skills with fiddly wooden stuff?

I always figure that someone else put the thing together, I can fix it if I need to.

what make and model and year is it and what is its condition?

somewhere I have a link to a dory a guy found in a field. he wound up replacing every piece of wood in it.

it just takes patience and perfect working conditions and oodles of time.

flatnose · Post by **flatnose** » Wed Jan 11, 2017 9:07 pm

That's interesting Grizz. I have never heard the term clinker used here in the USA, and never heard the term lapstrake in the UK.
Tycer, I have worked on repairing a couple of clinker fishing boats many years ago back in the UK. Burnt a couple as well. I learned from a guy that used to work at Vosper/Thoneycroft where they built the MTB's and other craft.
If you are handy as a carpenter and have minimal tools its not difficult, but is initially time consuming learning the ropes. A small fishing boat, 16' to 22' in the UK, used mahogany planking, with ash and oak in other places.
To find a 60 year old clinker boat that is worth restoring or fixing would be quite a tall order. A 20 year old boat was considered just about done, and most fishermen would order a new boat at about 10 years depending on how hard it had been worked.
If you have to start repairing the keel or the stem, thats where the major work starts. Replacing a couple of boards on the hull is fairly standard practice. The wood boats in the UK fell out of favor due to the constant maintenance required, and the availability of quality lumber of decent lengths.
Clinker/lapstrake boats are beautiful, but try and talk yourself out of it rather than into it.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Thu Jan 12, 2017 10:01 am

I have good carpentry skills and am a residential remodeling contractor. I've restored more than a dozen old cars. The boat is a '60s 15 1/2' runabout. Not sure of make. Looks like a Lyman. I have not seen it in person yet but the pics look promising. I figure if the guys at the production facility could put it together, I can fix it. I've been reading a bunch on how to and other than learning how to steam bend the ribs, I believe I possess the skills necessary to repair what needs repairing. I've fixed enough rotten wood on people's homes I feel I can do a pretty good job of determining if there is potential mycelium infestation in individual pieces.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Thu Jan 12, 2017 2:43 pm

Yeah sounds like you are the guy to rescue that boat.

Clinker boats can get "nail sick", where the lap fastener holes become oversized and the boat leaks a lot. I saw a beautiful lapstrake commercial trolling boat beached in the graveyard because no one could stop the leaks.

If it's an issue a couple of ideas come to mind. A. strip the paint and epoxy the planks together. and/or 2. run new fasteners in between the leakers. In some boats this will be a two man job, one guy holding the bucking dolly.

Copper boat nails with copper roves are still being made, so the fastener job shouldn't be difficult.

Also, it's a good idea to set up the boat in a cradle or jig, and work side to side to make sure you don't wrack it, or you de-wrack it as the case may be. String levels and plumb bobs-your-friend.

I hope it works out for you and can't wait to see PICTURES.

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Thu Jan 12, 2017 5:55 pm

Tycer,

I stumbled onto this video today, it's a perfect introduction to the craft of clinker boat building on the simplest form of hull. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6FtyqXCS20

GunnyMack · Post by **GunnyMack** » Thu Jan 12, 2017 6:21 pm

Tyler, I learned how to steam bend by watching 2 videos on YouTube. It's simple!
I have always wanted to build a mahogany boat, just don't have the time or space to tie up for a year!
Good luck, can't wait to see some pics!

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Thu Jan 12, 2017 8:52 pm

If Jethro Gibbs can do it in his basement, you can too!

yooper2 · Post by **yooper2** » Fri Jan 13, 2017 7:20 am

Yes, I've built 2 lapstrake boats and repaired others. Feel free to send any photos or questions here or via PM.

Eric

Old No7 · Post by **Old No7** » Fri Jan 13, 2017 5:24 pm

BOAT:
A vehicle of any size that is used for traveling on water.
(a) ... A small fishing boat:
As in "He tied the boat to the dock."

(b) ... A larger vessel used for much larger bodies of water (aka "ships"):
As in "Cruise ships, tugboats and other boats filled the harbor" or "Traveling by boat across the ocean."

But these days, "BOAT" is more accurately described as:

Break Out Another Thousand!!!

Good luck and anchors aweigh!

Old No7

Arima drive-by 02 (Small).jpg

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Sun Jan 15, 2017 10:05 pm

https://columbia.craigslist.org/boa/5932597679.html

I went and bought it today. The motor is a 2001 and was tuned in '07, winterized and never put in the water. I fogged the cylinder and put fresh no ethanol gas in her with her lower in a trashcan of water. She purrs. I had time to look in the bow and the keel is solid with no rot.
She was stored in a Maine marina covered dry storage for a couple of decades and only saw water a few times during that time. The seller's dad won it in a poker game. It looks like it was used well and cared for well. I have not yet examined the bilge area for rot. Will advise. The mahogany upper is all covered in glass that tears off fairly easy. Yea.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Sun Jan 15, 2017 10:06 pm

http://s9.photobucket.com/user/theonet/ ... dea%20Alba

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Sun Jan 15, 2017 10:09 pm

The boat is titled as a 1961 White Canoe Co 15 1/2' runabout. But the beam is 69" making it a 1960.

Here's a similar Lyman I plan to use as a source of inspiration.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1954/Ly ... Hw40bGZORu

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Sun Jan 15, 2017 10:17 pm

The specs:

https://www.fiberglassics.com/wiki/imag ... ebb002.jpg

Hawkeye2 · Post by **Hawkeye2** » Sun Jan 15, 2017 11:08 pm

Photobucket says it's a private album.

flatnose · Post by **flatnose** » Mon Jan 16, 2017 1:08 am

Tycer,
Will she be an ocean or freshwater boat?

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Mon Jan 16, 2017 1:44 am

Tycer, that's a beauty, looks like a lot of fun.

glad you found that one

Old No7 · Post by **Old No7** » Mon Jan 16, 2017 9:59 am

Good luck with it Tycer!

My estimate for the "definition of B.O.A.T." might have been close, but it doesn't like it should run you 2X or 3X that, unless you run into something really bad that we can't see.

For sure -- it will be a CLASSIC when you get it done!

Old No7

ps: If you ever get the urge to "run it in Maine" again, just send me a PM.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Mon Jan 16, 2017 11:18 am

Hawkeye2 wrote:Photobucket says it's a private album.

http://s9.photobucket.com/user/theonet/ ... dea%20Alba

Fixed it.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Mon Jan 16, 2017 9:11 pm

Joined the wooden boat forum today.

Hi all,
First post. Total wooden boat newbie. First boat.
I'm a contractor/carpenter specializing in residential remodeling. I have experience repairing wood and remediating rot. I've restored many old autos in my past.
We are buying a home near a tidal creek (boy they move a lot of water fast) south of Charleston, SC with a boat ramp 2-300 yards from the house. My wife and I had some requirements for our first boat. Fishing the creek, touring it's nooks and crannies with three-four people in the boat and maybe taking it to the intercoastal waterway socially. In talking to those in-the-know down there I was urged to purchase a 14-16 foot boat with an F25 hp Yamaha. A wide Jon boat was what they had in mind. I found the motor for a good price and it came with a free boat and a trailer.
https://columbia.craigslist.org/boa/5932597679.html
It's my first boat.
It's a 1960 White Canoe Co 15 1/2' center steer runabout. It was won in a poker game some 30 years ago and lived at Jeff's marina in Thomaston, Maine until 2007 when the owner's daughter took possession in SC. The owner used it regularly in saltwater and Jeff's maintained it and stored it indoors when not in use. In 2003 it got the 2001 F25 and from 2003-2007 he put ~15 hours on the motor. Jeff's did a tune-up in 2007 and put it on a new galvy trailer and shipped it to SC. It sat on the trailer untouched until yesterday. I unscrewed the fuel/water separator and it smelled like.....wait for it......fresh gasoline. I could not believe it. So I checked the fluids, put a new battery in, filled the tank with non ethanol gas, put the lower in a garbage can of water, turned the key and Purrrrrrrrr. Wow.
Here's your cash sir.
The boat has been kept pretty solid. I have not yet removed the floorboards to inspect the bilge, but the exterior shows no softness with a pick anywhere and the bow is clean in and out. We'll see. The upper deck and rails have been glassed. The transom is solid and has been reinforced with marine ply and ceramic coated torx head screws. Maybe for the new motor? Other than that it looks pretty original.
There is however a severe concave to the keel where the center roller of the trailer was set high.
A couple of more pics here: http://s9.photobucket.com/user/theon...y/Ardea%20Alba
I'll update pics as I go along.

I bought Danenberg's Restoration Guide yesterday and have skimmed it.

This is my inspiration: http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1954...s#.WHw40bGZORu

How's this for a tentative plan?
Pull the motor and have the water pump and impeller replaced. Maybe the thermostat?
Remove all the metal work and steering.
Remove the fiberglass.
Scrape all the loose paint I can on the interior.
Brace the width.
Remove the seating and floorboards.
Scrape the bilge and inspect.
Remove keelson.
Romove all paint from keel interior.
Invert. Level.
Romove garboards.
Remove all paint from keel.
Soak the keel with wet towels and plastic wrap for a couple of days.
Build 2x6 form for inside and outside with 1/4" spacers 2" apart to clamp keel. ( maybe cut form to bend keel too far the other way to account for springback?)
Build blueboard steam box around keel.
Steam to 215º internal board temp.
Tighten form to keel with bar clamps.
Cross fingers to see if the keel and the ribs moved back into position.
Cuss that it's still bowed.
Give thanks that the ribs and planking at least moved some.
Remove and replace keel.
Strip the rest of the paint.
Fix all loose fasteners on solid wood.
Replace all unsound wood.
Follow instructions on solidifying plywood planking and refinish.
Mount motor and go fishing.

Kind regards,

Tycer

Any and all suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Did I mention it's my first boat? I have been around boats before fishing and skiing.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Tue Jan 17, 2017 5:47 pm

Ooooh scraping the bilge, my favorite!

Looks like a good plan. Lots of work but it will be worth it!

jb

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Wed Jan 18, 2017 2:44 pm

Tycer

replacing the keel, depending on the style of keel, could involve a LOT of fiddly work. is the keel in two parts, with a keelson on top of the keel making a tee structure and forming the rabbit for the planks?
is the rabbit carved into the keel? that would make replacing the keel "interesting".

is it possible to cut the keel down to, say, a half inch, leaving something to laminate new deadwood to, and giving enough flexibility to un-hog the bottom.

maybe should spend some time working out how to "un-hog" the boat before installing new keel.

it's possible to likely that there is bending of fasteners OR elongating of the holes, OR a combination.

un-hogging, which would involve applying pressure down on the keelson, if there is one.

finallyish, some boats actually were designed hogged, the thought being that it made them faster. forget where I read that, maybe Weston Farmer?

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Mon Jul 23, 2018 9:54 pm

D530E7BE-EA9C-41FB-BF63-356792CF4923.jpeg

41F9F256-022E-4326-8CB6-F861390A7452.jpeg

C58FA141-1B1A-46B0-841E-89892F997A0C.jpeg

ECC6EF8F-567A-4DB0-9003-EBEC912F9619.jpeg

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Mon Jul 23, 2018 10:00 pm

She didn’t sink!

Yesterday’s maiden voyage was a huge success. Still more coats of varnish and the rubrail trim, but woo hoo friends.

claybob86 · Post by **claybob86** » Mon Jul 23, 2018 10:09 pm

Looks like you did a beautiful job!

ndcowboy · Post by **ndcowboy** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 6:27 am

That's beautiful! Well done!

wolfdog · Post by **wolfdog** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 6:48 am

Fine looking boat

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 9:26 am

WOW! Great job!

Pete44ru · Post by **Pete44ru** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 9:44 am

Tycer wrote: ↑Mon Jul 23, 2018 9:54 pm D530E7BE-EA9C-41FB-BF63-356792CF4923.jpeg41F9F256-022E-4326-8CB6-F861390A7452.jpegC58FA141-1B1A-46B0-841E-89892F997A0C.jpegECC6EF8F-567A-4DB0-9003-EBEC912F9619.jpeg

I don't know if that pic is before or after restoration, but IMO it looks good to go, for yet another lifetime !

Either way, I'd just enjoy & use it until it failed.

.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 12:21 pm

Before

FE44F155-6464-4B5A-A897-56651DCAC9A7.jpeg

Old No7 · Post by **Old No7** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 12:33 pm

Awesome job!!!

That was a labor of love, for sure!

Now if you could just change those "NC" letters to "ME", then we'd be really happy!

Old No7

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 12:55 pm

Old No7 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 24, 2018 12:33 pm Awesome job!!!

That was a labor of love, for sure!

Now if you could just change those "NC" letters to "ME", then we'd be really happy!

Old No7

The boat came to the Carolinas from Thomaston. Was made in Old Town.

Old No7 · Post by **Old No7** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 1:23 pm

Tycer wrote: ↑Tue Jul 24, 2018 12:55 pm
Old No7 wrote: ↑Tue Jul 24, 2018 12:33 pm Awesome job!!!

That was a labor of love, for sure!

Now if you could just change those "NC" letters to "ME", then we'd be really happy!

Old No7
The boat came to the Carolinas from Thomaston. Was made in Old Town.

Cool beans, as they say up here, ayuh.

Glad to see you went with the vintage "cable" steering, but good idea about adding the modern fuel/water filter.

Wishing you fair winds -- good gas -- and following seas!

Old No7

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 1:42 pm

That turned out beautifully!

I've been without a boat for longer that I'd like to admit. It's time for another one, just can't decide between a small day sailor or a little center console speed boat. I have to get this garage addition under control before I can buy anything without the Boss Lady getting excited.

jb

Mainehunter · Post by **Mainehunter** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 3:28 pm

You've done an excellent job on that boat. When I retire (who knows when

) I have a 20' Grand Laker that was built in early 70's and late 60's 16' Kennebec canoe that needs restoring so it should keep me busy. Now about the outboard...…. Nothing wrong what you have BUT the boat screams for a complete rebuilt late 60's Mercury, Evenrude or even Johnson outboard!

Mainehunter

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 6:12 pm

Mainehunter wrote: ↑Tue Jul 24, 2018 3:28 pm You've done an excellent job on that boat. When I retire (who knows when ) I have a 20' Grand Laker that was built in early 70's and late 60's 16' Kennebec canoe that needs restoring so it should keep me busy. Now about the outboard...…. Nothing wrong what you have BUT the boat screams for a complete rebuilt late 60's Mercury, Evenrude or even Johnson outboard!

Mainehunter

‘57 Merc. Bright green metallic.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 7:05 pm

Ugh, never had a Mercury engine that was worth a snot. Nothing wrong with that Yamaha, that thing will outlive most of us.

Doesn't matter, it's a beautiful restoration of a classic.

jb

Mainehunter · Post by **Mainehunter** » Tue Jul 24, 2018 7:58 pm

Tycer wrote: ↑Tue Jul 24, 2018 6:12 pm
Mainehunter wrote: ↑Tue Jul 24, 2018 3:28 pm You've done an excellent job on that boat. When I retire (who knows when ) I have a 20' Grand Laker that was built in early 70's and late 60's 16' Kennebec canoe that needs restoring so it should keep me busy. Now about the outboard...…. Nothing wrong what you have BUT the boat screams for a complete rebuilt late 60's Mercury, Evenrude or even Johnson outboard!

Mainehunter
‘57 Merc. Bright green metallic.

NOW your talking!!! I just love old outboards that have been rebuilt from the ground up! If your seriously planning on having one done up you got to show some picks!!!

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 7:16 am

2ndovc wrote: ↑Tue Jul 24, 2018 7:05 pm Ugh, never had a Mercury engine that was worth a snot. Nothing wrong with that Yamaha, that thing will outlive most of us.

Doesn't matter, it's a beautiful restoration of a classic.

jb

I’m keeping the Yamaha on it and if I ever up the hp it’ll be a Yamaha 40
I really do love the look of the old colored Mercurys.
I might camouflage the Yamaha to look like one.

piller · Post by **piller** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 3:28 pm

Has anyone ever heard of a Keikhafer motor? I even have the mechanics manual for it. 40 hp motor.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Wed Jul 25, 2018 11:30 pm

piller wrote: ↑Wed Jul 25, 2018 3:28 pm Has anyone ever heard of a Keikhafer motor? I even have the mechanics manual for it. 40 hp motor.

That’s the old Mercury. He was an accomplished motor designer.

piller · Post by **piller** » Thu Jul 26, 2018 6:43 am

It still runs. I need some work done on the boat. The cables are all in bad shape and the seats have rotted out. Once I find the time and finances to start the project, I will have to post pictures.