New drift boat!!!

[Camo]

Nice shop!

One suggestion;
If you're going to use epoxy, get it with the slowest cure time possible. On a warm day, no-matter what you do, the stuff cures too fast and doesn't have time to flow and flatten. Make sure you varnish over it with spar varnish.

 

[Hooked Up]

Congrats on the nice looking boat, I'm sure you're going to have a blast with it. Nice shop also.

 

[my2labs]

So.... Ive been putting in work. She's got a few issues but nothing that makes me overly concerned.

First thing I learned..... Spend $20 on s heat gun so you don't spend $10000 in sand paper.




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[knucklehead 61]

how is the heat gun helping?
are you using a chemical paint stripper?
looks like the wood is pretty well preserved under the paint.

 

[my2labs]

New drift boat!!!

The heat gun warms the paint and I follow it with a scraper to remove it. It's very easy once you get the hang of it. The first day I used 15 pieces of 60 grit paper on my orbital sander and I only got 1/3 of the floor of the boat done. Took me over 5 hours due to sealant. The heat gun blasted about 50% of the outside in about 2 hrs. And it was $20 compared to the cost of sand paper.

The wood looks great for the most part besides a few patches. I'm thinking it's going to be fine. I'm going to let the project come to life on its own but I'm thinking I may just stain the wood instead of painting it. My mind may change but, so far... It may be possible.

And I am not using any chemical stripper.


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[my2labs]

Fiberglass all removed.
Paint heat gunned off.

Now on to sanding.....



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[Billamicasr]

Oh... the good old days. Being this ambition is but a memory of days gone by. It was so easy back then.
When you posted your first photo I was thinking this has to be a labor of love or it wont happen. Obviously you are making it happen, can't wait to see your finished product.

You have Northwest as your location - where in the NW? Oregon, Washington? Near what city?

In the first photo it doesn't appear there was a rub strip (chine) where the side meets the bottom. Those were typically made of a hard wood and had two functions. One - to protect the boat against hits on rocks Two - it acts as a place for the boat to dig in when moving and turning. I believe any wood DB builder would highly recommend adding those pieces, for both reasons. I Googled DB Chines and almost all hits were about fiberglass DBs, most of which don't have a very pronounced chine. I did find one that may be a great place for you to ask questions and maybe get a photo or two - http://forum.woodenboat.com/showthread.php?144837-Drift-Boat-Repair

P.s. the rub strip on the sides should come off easily. Might be nice to replace and stain a lighter color that the rest of the DB. The contrast usually makes the boat much nicer - just a thought - Easy for me to say... I'm not doing the work LOL!

 

[my2labs]

I am planning on adding a rub strip. I'm going to have to make a few adjustments as well.

The stem is rotted through so I will be replacing that. The transom has some rot so it will more than likely be replaced as well.

Originally I did not plan on fully restoring her but.,,, I have the time and tools so... I've committed.

When she's done, I want her to be pretty. It is going to be a lot of work but I am determined.

I do not expect it to be a boat to be admired by all but hopefully it will be by some. I have zero experience doing this. The Internet is helpful though.

Thanks for following my rebuild. I hope it interests others enough to lead someone else to do the same.

It is very fun.


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[my2labs]

Oh yeah... I'm in Portland



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[JeannaJigs]

after doing a fiberglass drift boat restoration, I commend you for diving in head first into a wood boat restoration. I will never restore another vessel for as long as I live, I've had my fill lol.

 

[JustMe]

There is nothing more beautiful than a properly prepared and finished wood boat. A wood boat has a "soul" and feel to them that glass or metal boats just don't have. I am looking forward to seeing your boat as it progresses. You have a great attitude about it, I am sure it look great when you are finished.

 

[my2labs]

A lil progress....wood looks good!



Bottom after fiberglass removal and 1 round of sanding. 1 hole near transom from the anchor banging.



And transom redo is definitely a must!


I'm a bit scared of the extent of the transom rot. I'm banking on the fact that I'll be able to replace it without replacing the sides....... Only time will tell.




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[rogerdodger]

wow, that is a 'boat-load' of work but the payOFF is going to be worth it...

 

[BaldTexan]

Enjoying watching the progress. Little tip - if you'll hook up a shop vac hose to the sander, the sandpaper with last 10 times longer. Reading your thread has got me hankering again to buy some plans and build one.

 

[my2labs]

Calling it today. She looks like she's been preserved well so far.



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[my2labs]

New drift boat!!!

Enjoying watching the progress. Little tip - if you'll hook up a shop vac hose to the sander, the sandpaper with last 10 times longer. Reading your thread has got me hankering again to buy some plans and build one.

I can't stand that stupid hose restricting my movements as I work the sander. I tried. I decided to just uncap the sander and sweep up my mess at the end.

There is one on CL for $400 that is brand new and raw. It needs to be sealed but it is brand new. Wish I had the option but my wife would kill me!!!

Buy it!


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[my2labs]

wow, that is a 'boat-load' of work but the payOFF is going to be worth it...

I sure hope so Roger.


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[JeannaJigs]

I sure hope so Roger.


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will for sure be worth it, there is no greater feeling of pride than floating the river when you've finished restoration, and you will get a lot of compliments if you do it right, which no doubt you will. I get asked about mine a lot, and love the look on people's faces when I tell them I restored it myself. I get hit with a lot of comments anyways because I'm not a guy, and I row my own boat, but now that it's not this hideous beast, I get a lot of compliments on it. Mine is a glass 1976 Eastside, with white oak rails. You wouldn't know it's a '76 to look at it.

 

[BaldTexan]

There is one on CL for $400 that is brand new and raw. It needs to be sealed but it is brand new. Wish I had the option but my wife would kill me!!!

Buy it!

Wow. Thanks for the heads up. I looked but didn't see that ad. I would imagine it sold pretty quick at that price.

 

[my2labs]

I just checked. It's gone.


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