Big wooden boat project [Splashed Sept 2017]

[Mark72233]

Beautiful

 

[garbageguy]

Truly amazing! Thanks for sharing

 

[Ned L]

Thanks!

It is nice to see things finally looking better than this.

 

[kcassells]

That's one bad hat Harry!
Looks Great! Keep the pics coming.

 

[Mikeopsycho]

Very, very nice! It's a pleasure to see your progress!

 

[sphelps]

Beautiful transformation !

 

[zool]

Top notch work Ned, Im impressed!....

The force is strong in this one.......

 

[Ned L]

Moving along, ....... I finally have the last of the little bits & pieces either cleaned up (stripped of the old paint & varnish and sanded) or remade and installed in the wheel house area..

I have also made and installed the mahogany 1/2 round (1 1/2" x 1" x 10ft) that runs down each side of the trunk cabin top. These tie into sort of mahogany 'eye brow' pieces (original) that run across the front of the trunk cabin top.

Also re-installed are the mahogany block for the white running light and the base pad for the military mast.

Things are now all stained and the last of the varnish is going on.

I have masked off the 'new' additions so that I can cleanly catch up with the number of coats with the new stuff.

Once everything has 3 coats all the way around it will all get a final sanding and a final 4th coat (hopefully).

 

[Willyclay]

Wow, just breathtakingly beautiful! Q: Any helpers or you doing this alone?

 

[Ned L]

Thanks! ......... "Just the three of us working on this, ... Me, Myself and I", ...... In other words, just me.


I'm still hoping to have here in the water in less than two years (that will be this July 1st).

 

[kcassells]

Ned,
Can you just mess something up to make me feel better?
Looks Great!

 

[bajaunderground]

Thanks! ......... "Just the three of us working on this, ... Me, Myself and I", ...... In other words, just me.


I'm still hoping to have here in the water in less than two years (that will be this July 1st).

Based on the expediency of your work, I'm guessing sooner?!

True craftsman on all the wood work, your attention to the little details is inspirational!

 

[vetting]

What kind/brand of stain and varnish did you use on the mahogany?

 

[Frey0357]

The wood working looks incredible! Love the stain and varnish combo...looks really great! Keep up the good work and boat porn!

Frey

 

[Ned L]

Because there are a wide variety of ages and colors of mahogany on the boat I am starting out with a (as I remember) Benjamin Moore red mahogany filler stain to even our the colors, I am following that with a coat of Minwax red mahogany stain to knock down some of the red tone and bring in a brown hue. Varnish is Pettit 1015 Captain's varnish on the outside. Interior is a variety of varnishes (based on what I had).
All the varnishes are traditional oil based 'spar varnishes' so to speak. No urethanes or polyurethanes. I realize they will last longer, however they are more difficult to sand to a feather edge and make repairs to with nicks and scrapes. I understand 'annual maintenance' and don't look to get numerous years out of a coat of varnish so it will be getting a sanding and a coat each spring.

 

[Ned L]

Thanks!

An interesting aspect of working on a boat like this that you just do not see anymore are some of the hidden details. for instance, every bit of hardware is stamped with the boats hull number "710". Down even to the hinges that hold the settee back. They are stamped not only with the hull number, but also with each hinges location "aft 710", "center 710" and "forward 710". You just don't see this anymore. Just sort of neat.

On their wooden boats Chris Craft also marked just about everything with the hull number (hatches, drawers, doors, etc).

 

[Ned L]

Made some progress over the weekend. Gave all the varnish a final sanding and final coat. The sanding was a bit tedious, about 4 - 5 hours for that

And then a good three hours for the varnishing. I'm reasonably pleased with the result. A bit of dust, but oh well, not exactly the best environment for varnishing.

I then moved onto the final sanding of the outside of the windshield and trunk cabin top and got a prim coat on them.

I think it's actually starting to look like a boat again! I'm pretty pleased.

 

[nurseman]

Fantastic! Keeping varnish dust free is tough, even under the best conditions. Looking very good from here!

 

[kcassells]

C'mon Ned more pics..

 

[Ned L]

I wish I had more to post now, unfortunately not much gets done when I don't get home until 10:00. I have managed to get the sides of the trunk cabin sanded and primed.
Once I get two coats of finish paint on (with sanding) I can think about putting the glass back in.