1953 Aqua Skier Restoration

mamaa39 wrote: Earlier you had mentioned putting polyurethane on it to be able to use it for a few years before a full restoration.  Is that still an option?  If so should we just lightly sand it, paint it and then urethane it?

8122pbrainard wrote: Sheila, Sorry to hear that the boat needs soaking in an attemp to stop leaking and the reason the Gluvit was used to plug up the seams.  This is what's needed to get into and remove the dried out bedding compound at all the seams I mentioned earlier. A plywood hull should never leak.

That is a great looking boat!  Mine is a '56 Atom Skier.  I have a similar story with a friend of my father's (original owners) gave me the boat after it had been sitting in drydock for many years.  I had no previous experience with wood boats and only knew how to winterize an outboard as previous knowledge.  This forum is great to use as your guides moving forward.  I support the advice of getting it powered up and in the water to enjoy for a season or two before a full restoration.  

Sheila,

SNobsessed wrote: Hopefully this doesn't scare you off; a great story.  50 pages! http://https://www.correctcraftfan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=12350&KW=hurricane&PN=1&title=1955-cc-hurricane-restoration

Here's a link to the Sunnyland chapter of the ACBS:

Ok Shelia, this is going to be fun to watch. As Peter mentioned above, the Atom project we watched for quite some time was THE restoration. All sorts of issues came up, as will likely be the case in your restoration, and Pat did an incredible job of documentation. 

Sheila,

This is such a cool boat with a great history and a planked hull too!  

The bottom was fiberglassed however after last redo the fiberglass was removed.  I do not know about double planking.  I’ll post pictures of outside.  

I don’t know.  All I do know is my Dad always said that it needed to be in the water.  That if left dry too long the wood would shrink and it would leak.  As to whether it is double planked????  We are definitely novices and know absolutely nothing.  I grew up with the boat and did use it and perhaps helped sand some when he was working on it.  That’s the extent.  Hence we will be asking lots of questions from others who have some experience.  We are not afraid of work just need direction on what we need to do.  And by direction I mean detailed instructions.  Again we are newbies and will be learning as we go.  

67 ski nat wrote: I understand some of the wood boats in Lake Tahoe need to be put in water couple days prior use so the wood can swell up and seal leaks. Boat will take on water fro first day Does yours leak or should it leak a little then seal ??

Chief450 wrote:   I am considering working on the outside first.

I vote to put the motor back in it and have fun 

We haven’t had a chance to evaluate it yet.  There doesn’t appear to be rotten wood on the inside.  When it cools off a little, I plan to look at the inside better to see if there is any damage.  From the surface there doesn’t appear to be any.  I am considering working on the outside first.  I am unsure if I need remove the old Gluvit, since I have heard that Gluvit is not the optimal sealant to use if  an interior sealant is needed.