1955 Atom Skier Updates

Nate,
Yes you're allowed to ask questions! I told you I'd still be around to help!

Here's a paragraph out of the "68 Chris" thread regarding bilge paints in Correct Crafts:

"Chris's were at least consistent and actually used a bilge paint like most wood boat builders did. Now, with wood Correct Crafts, I've seen enough of them to know they would through all their left over paints and solvent washes in a bucket and call it "bilge" paint!!! My Atom is a mix of green and gray!!"

I must say however that I am very surprised about you being concerned about the original color of the bilge paint!!

Any pictures of your dads boats yet?

Nate, the ring and finger look different from mine but see if they can shoot you a pic of the base.

Pete, did they change the pylon between '55 & '64? If not, I've got a good shot of the base and the R&F of mine here...'64 Atom pylon

Nate, I'll be back home early on the 1st and can get measurements off mine if Pete (or someone else) says they're the same.

Terp wrote: Nate, the ring and finger look different from mine but see if they can shoot you a pic of the base. Pete, did they change the pylon between '55 & '64? If not, I've got a good shot of the base and the R&F of mine here...'64 Atom pylon Nate, I'll be back home early on the 1st and can get measurements off mine if Pete (or someone else) says they're the same.

John,
Sorry but I missed your post/question while I was up north for Christmas and New Years. I just caught it when Nate brought the tread back to the top.

Yes, the 50's and 60's pylons are different. The 50's were anywhere from a chrome pipe if exposed to a painted pipe if under a section of deck. John, your picture is a great example. The ring and finger was simply a 3/4" round shaft onto which the ring and finger were welded on and then chromed. The early 60's pylons were really the first ones made with any consistency. They too were made with pipe and stepped larger by inserting/welding larger and larger pipe towards the bottom. I think it was 3 steps. The 1" ring and finger into 1" pipe. the 1&1/4" pipe and then 1&1/2" pipe.

Nate,
The pylon you found on ebay isn't a CC. To me, it's a 70's generic (after market).

Nate,
Looking good!! Sure brings back some memories!

I do have a question. Is that paint on the frames bonding surfaces to the hull? Are you planning on using 5200 or epoxy to bond the ply to the frames? Ether way, if paint, it's not the greatest for adhesion.

Nate,the Atom looks great! What kind of wood did you use for the chines and frames? Gary

Pete, here's some pictures of my dads old 1939 Chris Craft 15.6ft Deluxe Runabout that you asked about a while back...

Sashay

Nate

Thanks Pete, No he doesn't have it anymore. & no, in the first picture with someone in it that's my older brother in the red shorts standing on the sailboat.. I think when that picture was taken I would have been around 5-6 years old & then the later one with Sashay in the background & the paddle boat in front of it, I'm the one in the water, pondering how i'm going to get into the boat, with my brother sitting in it. I think i was probably 7-8 at that point.

Nate

Looking good! Ill bet those plywood sides go on a lot faster than these planks I'm working on! I didn't see if you were using any 5200 on the frames, I think that stuff is better than the screws for holding power.

Get those pics up... We should be puttng on sides this week as well.

later

The Sides ARE ON!!!

Not gonna lie, i'm pretty geeked about it. Actually looks like a boat again. Though, the work's nowhere near finished, it's nice to see it like this. Pistures updates in Sig.

Nate

Lookin' good! Im going to have to play catch up now...

the bottom was fiberglassed this past Tuesday night, with 2 more coats of epoxy since then. Epoxied the sides Saturday morning, so they're ready to be sanded a bit & painted, though I believe we're holding off on painting the sides until we flip it over to start working on the decks & the interior. Ordering bottom paint today, hope to have the bottom painted by the end of the week & maybe have her flipped over by Saturday.



My pictures in the signature on Photobucket were updated today, the last of those pictures is from Tuesday night right after 'glassing the bottom. Probably wont update it until we get it painted & Flipped. Enjoy!

Nate

Nate,
You're making progress! You think you'll have it in the water in a couple months? Any work on the engine?

I just noticed you haven't put any spray rails on the hull. Are you leaving them off?

Pete,
We just got the valve guides we'd been waiting on for the last month or so. So the motor is ready to put back together, clean up & paint.

Also, As for the spray rails, we're going to put them back on, but they'll go on before we paint the sides... probably sometime over the next month or so.

& yes, i'm still shooting for an Early June deadline. Though with the way my early june is shaping up... it won't matter if it's finished then, it probably won't get launched until mid-late June.

Thanks Mike!

Nate

Great progress Nate, I love the fact that your doing this with your dad.

Ditto what Brian said, Green Lake or bust.

Nate, Pete and I are gonna need to see some "OLD WOOD" . You never know I may be thru with the Dart by then.If so your woody will have some company. Now if we can get Pete to bring his.
Would that not be too cool,
The Dart is a 1949
Your Atom is a '50s
I am sure we will have a '60s boat or two
A bunch of '70s
And of course the '80s
The 90 year models
And then, here comes the '00

That would give us Seven Generations of CC boats gatherd at one place......Boat dr