What I did last summer 2011 version

61SkiBee · Post by **61SkiBee** » Sat Dec 10, 2011 5:59 pm

Oh, HERE they are. Shots of the port gunwale and deck after sanding mightily with orbital sander and 80 grit (worked better than the 120 I had used in past, but care needs to be taken when smoothing out dips and bumps on bare wood as a new sheet of this grit will cut fairly quick.

I wish all of it had looked this good under the varnish. But see later photos.

P1040490 by shutterflubber1, on Flickr

P1040488 by shutterflubber1, on Flickr

Post by **Moderator** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:38 pm

Not sure try again if not luck contact Don

61SkiBee · Post by **61SkiBee** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 9:19 pm

Dusty, isn't it?

[img][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7148/6508 ... 1098_z.jpg[/img]
P1040491 by shutterflubber1, on Flickr[/img]

Note all the old work on this corner (before my time) where they tried to hold the whole corner of the boat together with screws through the gunwale! Since it needed a lot of TLC later anyway, I experimented on it with stuff I had laying around about 20 years and never opened: Interlux Wood Sealer. It says "practically indestructible on the label, and it looked and brushed on just like new.

[img][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7172/6508 ... c865_z.jpg[/img]
P1040499 by shutterflubber1, on Flickr[/img]

What the other side looked like after finish sanding with 120 grit and only one coat of the sealant (this is not varnished yet)

[img][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6508 ... 99be_z.jpg[/img]
P1040505 by shutterflubber1, on Flickr[/img]

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Tue Dec 13, 2011 11:23 pm

Nice !

61SkiBee · Post by **61SkiBee** » Wed Dec 14, 2011 11:08 pm

These parts were a little less encouraging:

[img][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7030/6514 ... 94fe_z.jpg[/img]
P1040494 by shutterflubber1, on Flickr[/img]

[img][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6514 ... 449e_z.jpg[/img]
P1040495 by shutterflubber1, on Flickr[/img]

The holes are self-inflicted wounds to accommodate injecting the "Git-Rot" that has saved me so many times. Note on the top photo, the old filled holes from a previous deck repair. They're white now because the stain and varnish have been sanded off, but they were blended well.

In the bottom photo, you'll notice some blue tape along the lower edge. That's holding epoxy in place as it sets. I've found it really helps to tape side and bottom epoxy repairs to keep them from sagging until they set. I'm not sure, but in this case I think some of the tape is also on there to seal the seam between the planking so the Git-Rot leaks out less and has time to soak in thoroughly in the top plank.

I hope you'll eventually be surprised by how these repair methods for mahogany work out. I've done it quite a few times, and I was pleased so far with this effort. As you'll see in future posts it isn't completely there yet, but it is sealed up for the winter, with some cosmetic work left to do.

k9th · Post by **k9th** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:49 pm

Nice looking.

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Thu Dec 15, 2011 9:05 pm

Epoxy is a wooden boat's best friend. I just love the vintage hardware.

61SkiBee · Post by **61SkiBee** » Fri Dec 16, 2011 6:46 pm

BigD

Thanks for noticing. The boat was fitted out pretty nicely. I never added any brightwork. Still have the Trojan badge but never figured out where to put it exactly. Added mounts for radio and antenna (obviously no longer needed, but the antenna did look jaunty when I used radio for navigating river locks back in the day). Also added an oil pressure gauge and a few switches for fuel pump, vent motor and extra bilge pump (some things it needed). Mounted the switches under instr panel, so no new holes made (but watch your knees!).

61SkiBee · Post by **61SkiBee** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:04 pm

Here's the deck after staining with Interlux mahogany Filler/Stain. I never figured out how slick this stuff worked, and I'm glad I saved it (it was also about 20 years old and the can had been opened previously... still in perfect shape!)

Anyway the trick is--and it helps to read the directions, which I finally did-- that when using it as a stain and woodgrain filler, you thin it to about the consistency of thick house paint. Then, using a paint brush, you brush it WITH the grain first, and almost immediately, (depending on how deep you want it to penetrate) rub it ACROSS the grain using a rag. Gives really nice consistency and evens out the colors of the planking. Also fills grain.

[img][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7010/6540 ... 006b_z.jpg[/img]
P1040523 by shutterflubber1, on Flickr[/img]

This is a good place to show the tools I found most helpful in removing the caulking between the deck planks. A really tedious job, these worked well.

A GASKET REMOVAL TOOL and A CURVED AWL:

[img][img]http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7150/6540 ... e5ed_z.jpg[/img]
P1040522 by shutterflubber1, on Flickr[/img]

The gasket removal tool is just sharp enough to peel back the edges of the groove, and anything down in the bottom of the groove comes out with the awl. I found that both do less gouging than regular putty knives or other blades. And they work fast.

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 5:56 pm

Looks great Guy. I used basically the same stuff on a '61 Chris I used to have but it was a Pettit product, worked great, and like you said it really evened out and blended in patchy areas. Keep up the good work.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 10:00 pm

Ever pack cotton in seams ?

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 7:56 pm

Now that's a dying trade. Not the easiest thing to do unless you've done it for a while. Labour intensive but interesting to watch. A few builders along the east coast down your way Paul still have the real pros that make it look like child's play.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 9:56 pm

I got pretty good at it , am I showing my age ? I still have a few tools .

The ones who showed me how are sadly long gone

Big D · Post by **Big D** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:11 pm

Wow, those are great keepsakes. I remember reading that there were apprenticeships set up just for that task. Do most people now even know what they're for?!

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:53 pm

I bet most would be clueless on the use of cotton , Maybe when I retied I will find a project in need of some cotton packing . I may be doing some this spring . A Friend has a boat built in the 30s ( I think) with some leaks I ask if he has ever redone any of the cotton and go the Deere in the head lights look ,. and then was told he may have pulled some out and and used seem compound

. should be fun