68 Chris Craft

75 - What Craftsmanship! Just imagine what it would cost to pay someone to do this for you. They probably wouldn't do as good of job either.

No offense Eric!

Dannenburg wanted $7500 to put the bottom on to the point it is right now plus materials, Jack at the wooden boat shop said probably 60k to finish the whole boat. Its a terrible investment in a boat that wont bring 12k in top shape, but its family...

Eric, old saying "find a job you like and you'll never have to work a day in you life".

Now, I think that's getting a little carried away, but you know what I mean.
I like my job but there a some days I'd rather be elsewhere.

Sean, I've been following your progress and so far it looks textbook perfect. I was about to ask if you wet it down and covered in plastic overnite and you beat me to it.

FYI, In the packet of info I got with the Hurricane was a quote from a Kentucky boat restorer for $28,000 for LABOR only to remove and refasten the bottom and refinish the sides of the boat. That included zip for materials, 5200, screws, cpes, varnish or any wood that was found that needed replacement. Then throw in rechrome, rebuilding the engine, interior,assembly,etc. Thats why these things are only feasible if you can do the work yourself.

75 the project looks Awesome.

Jbear, I'm a manf. engineer for an Automotive supplier in NW Ohio. Lucky for me we don't supply to the big3. They stopped buying domestic parts long ago. LOL

Steve

No Sean, I work in Paulding, OH. @ Orr Co.

Steve

I just got the gauges back from Kocian Instruments. I had Dale restore them and they look incredible! Im a long way from that end of the boat right now but I like to think ahead.

Sean, Looking forward to the pictures!

Steve

Nothing noteworthy, been replacing the cracked side strips, and generally procrastinating on starting the sides, the bends, and fit have to be better than the bottom and we have been trying to get comfortable starting on it. I had to go to Toledo 2 weeks ago and get more Mahogany, the first row of wood on the bottom was wider than the boards we have on hand.

We have looked, read and argued about it for a couple weeks now, its time to crack open a few beers and dig in again now that the pinewood derby and space race are over and I have my evenings and weekends opening up again.

The goal is to have it flipped over by spring and be working the top side finally. If things don't pick up around the shop here I may have a lot of time to work on it during the day too...

Kencraft on N westwood ave. Has been my wood supplier for this project, I'm straight west of Toledo about 40 miles so its the closest supplier I could find.

Lack of progress report, after learning that the side boards are 5-7 inches wide but cut from 9" boards to make the curve around the bow... just got back from Charlott michigan with $600 worth of new mahogany to try again at a restart on the sides.

Nice!
When it is all finnished you can classify it as floating furniture,,,LOL!!!
Wood boats are a lot of work however at the end, the satisfaction feeling is beyond description.

Sean,
Looking great. I'm sure you'll be happy the day you get it back on the water. looks like the steamer is working out. Of course you're past the tough ones. The bottom planks are usually tighter bends.

I too had to do some steaming today but they were just short pieces of molding (chair rail and fake raised paneling molding) on the outside curved wall on my staircase. I sure didn't need to go as elaborate and have used this method before. A capped off piece of pipe or in this case a piece of 3" conduit with a plate welded onto the end. Just tilting it so the water stays in the bottom 6" keeps it simple. There's a internal rack to keep the wood off the bottom and out of the water. I'd better go put the gas grill back together. My wife wants me to put something on the grill tomorrow!!