62 wood

Pete,
Its still upside down on sawhorses...been stripped, stained, and 9 coats of varnish... Just got done with a wetsand...want to put 3 more coats of varnish on before getting her "sunny-side-up".

(also decided to pull all my under-boat hardware, so I can 5200 it.)

Im rebuilding a 283 ...everything is back from machine shop...just needs re-assembling.

Not sure if she'll get wet this summer? Im hoping to go to Clear Lake with her in July ...they are featuring Higgins...

I have been thinking about joining the ACBS..just need to "do it".
I think we're only a few hours apart... hafta get a "mini reunion" weekend going sometime?

BTW, did you see my post on Muscatine Boat Show in May? You should try to make it.. Alan (81) is hoping to make it , and hopefully a few others..(hint, hint Chuck and Paul)...

Heres a pic before I stripped the old stain..




And a pic of it while staining...



Now if i could only get some extra time..

8122pbrainard wrote: It's looking good!! So, you get to brush and your wife gets the dirty job of wiping down the filler/stain. At least you gave her rubber gloves. I'm trying to place the year that Higgins went to bright finished hull instead of paint. Did you use the Mas penetrating epoxy or the CPES?

Im just a "nice guy" ..thats why we've been together for almost 32 years..

as for the stained Higgins ..they are very rare.. almost all Ive ever seen are painted...And the stained ones Ive seen are "later" (early 60s) ones. Kinda wierd...thats when lot of the woodys were being painted to make them look more "modern"

the epoxies... Ive usually used the CPES.
Heres a pic of the only time she's been in the water, since Ive owned it..


not sure if Im going to put the "paint stripe" back on it?

Pete,
sorry...I try to do the right thing... but I keep going AC-DC...
     
       It had an old 'gray" 250 v8. Ran like a top, but was getting water in the oil. Pulled the heads..needed all new valves (about a $500 fix) no problem , but it had a 70c velvet that was slipping and an exhaust manifold with a hole blown in it. Soooo....

I had a 68 307 "Pacer" marine setup ...with a 71c velvet. block was junk, so Im using (and heres that phrase) an era-correct 283.
I figure I can always go back to original ,if I decide to? I wasnt sure when I got the boat if it was even going to be a "keeper"?

FYI, I also mess with cars.... ones an all original 70 Chevelle SS 454 ragtop... only original will do on it.

The others a 37 Chevy coupe/street rod. SB Chevy..(going to be Aluminum heads) ..Mustang front, Moser 9" rear, 700 odrive, etc,etc...not even close to original.
See what I mean? i just cant help myself sometimes?

Pete,
Im using the 2015 Flagship varnish. What did you use for penetrating epoxy and varnish on your 54?

as for the shop...Im a VERY lucky guy with a VERY understanding wife! (Ask jbear ;-) We bought a 2 1/2 acre "farmette" almost 20 years ago. It has two barns , a corn crib that I installed an "overhead crane" in(thats the pic of the Higgins with the bottom stripped.), and a couple of other smaller buildings. I was going to remodel an old machine shed for my "new" shop, but found out the foundation only went down a foot.

Sooo, thats when I started on the "5 year" plan to build my current 36 x 48 foot toy box, as my wife calls it. I was "just" going to do a quick job, but Pam, my wife, said this will probably be the last time I could ever do this. Its turning out pretty nice... In fact ,I still pinch myself to make sure Im not dreaming!

btw, my signature, below, was taken from an actual conversation with my wife , one of the times she wasnt quite as understanding as I thought she should be!
Whats the story on your other boats?

Pete and Steve,
Our wives will have plenty to talk about at Green Lake, but I think it best they not be left alone for too long a period. But on second thought, they do say misery loves company, so it might be like therapy for them to know that there are others out there living thru and surviving the same things.

I've always been very lucky with my wife never complaining about my "projects" She infact encourages them. Probably knows what kind of mood I'd be in without them! They are great for taking the mind away fromm all the day to day stuff.

jbear,
You got that right!   I'd hate to think about having to "train" another! Not much I do surprises her anymore..

John,
Kaleb is almost 6 months old already! I can tell you..grandkids are WAY more fun than your own! He's already been asking me to go out in "grandpas boat"..
(altho nobody else has understood him yet?)

Between my son and I ,two things are for sure.. 1..He will definately be a "river-rat" ..and ..2 he will have grease under his fingernails!!