"Boats in the Barn"

Greg, Not really that "dry". About 10%. Moisture content of wood has frustrated boat builders for centuries just because wood is so dynamic with the changing seasons. If I'm working on a boat in the winter in a heated area, I will humidify the space. I've seen boats built without space between the planking that will look fantastic out of the shop in spring and then with the humidity of the summer swell to the point of pulling screws out of the frames. It is the width and not the length of a board that will grow the most so in the case of this Century with the single plank it won't be a problem. Also with it 5200'd to the fiberglass deck, it will stabilize it.

This movement of wood is also why the new modern clear coat finishes don't work. They are simply too hard and will not move like the good old Spar varnishs will. There are attempts being made to modify synthetic clear coat that can be sprayed but haven't seen it work very well. For now it's a $40 brush and the best varnish you can get!

Steve, I couldn't tell from the pictures that he had glassed over the wood. That explains a lot about the rot. We all know about what happens to wood that has been "encapsulated".

Your title of this thread reminded me of a friend who always found great boat finds in barns, garages and boat houses. It was always amazing to me the boats he would come up with until the day I asked how he found them. He has since retired but was a Waukesha county sheriff all or most of his life. Waukesha county (west of Milwaukee Wi.) is filled with lots of lakes and plenty of barns. He in uniform and a squad car could go anywhere he wanted to. I think he spent more time out looking for boats in barns than police duties! He was the first person I knew who had a Jersey Speed Skif which in the midwest is rare!

You may already know this but wanted to mention it. When Dave replaces the wood on the deck, I feel he should bed it to the deck in 5200 (mahogany color) to seal the bottom side from water. Do all the fitting of the planking first, then pre staining and at least one coat of varnish or sealer. Then screw it to the deck and bung the screw holes. The pre stain and seal will prevent the areas of the wood where he gets the 5200 on (it's messy) from being sealed and not "taking" stain latter. I do this with bright finished wood that gets close to 5200 and or epoxy.

Steve, I'm glad to here the good news! I know it is for the better.
I really don't know the difference between the Fibersport and the Resorter. Unless it's a level of trim. It does look like the Fibersport was gone the year they made the Resorter a fiberglass hull. Someone who is really into the details of Century will know. We have our Blackhawk fall dinner coming up and will see several Century guys and will ask. Where is the wood rotted? Was any attempt made to caulk the wood to the deck to seal out water? I've never had one apart.

62 wood wrote: GOOD NEWS!!!!    Talked with Dave this morning and he IS planning to keep the vinyl in the center of the Resorter.. He agrees , after getting it home and starting to clean it up that it would be better to just replace the existing mahogany strips.    When he first started talking about doing this, we hadnt seen this boat and how original it is!

Steve, I would think that boat is in goods hands with Dave. Doesn't he have a few others in his collection right now?

Steve, I'm not really sure what the difference is. I'll have to look at the Century site some more.

I'd say those photos make the best argument.

Yeah thats the same boat .
I do remember the MC in the middle of the summer . Last I saw I thought someone was working on it .
Do you remember the red boat with -Try Me- On the back of it ? I think the last I saw it was back in the early 90's .

Steve I still think it is the same one . The one Im thinking of is in between the sand bar and the new houses down stream on the Rockfalls side . It was sitting in the back part of the boat house parallel to the river .

The one that I have been looking for , that I havent seen in a long time , is a red boat with - Try Me - on the back. I think it was in the same area . Possibly a Donzi.

They made wood deck fiberglass resorters called "Fibersports"



New factory skins are available at AA marine,they have all the old century stock.Good people too..Thats a nice old Resorter they can handle much better with the addition of a tracking fin.

I'm still looking for an old Resorter myself I love the front bench seat and the windshield's are extra nice.


Munday

Use money to pursuade them. Puffed out, that boat is worth a lot to the right buyer. Once its bastardized, the limited market for that boat becomes way more limited, and top dollar goes away.

My brother's 80 looks fantastic when it's just been waxed, but fades after being in the sun for awhile. He was thinking of painting it. I told him he probaly had the nicest original fiberglass Resorter in existance, and what was he thinking of. Wax more or have it wet sanded. Don't even think of painting it. Fortunately, he listened.

Wood, that would be so wrong if your buddy put Mahogany on that boat. Wasn't it you who brought the boat to his attention? Put your foot down. Buy it from him. Save that boat. BKH

Chuck,I'm in Illinois in Mchenry county about 2 miles of where cook,lake,mchenry,and kane county meet,not many farms left here now.

Pete,
I dont think it will do any good...his wife likes wood boats and isnt thrilled he just sold his 49 Century...soooo, he is doing that to get the "best of both worlds".

btw, he is keeping all the vinyl in case he wants to go back original..

I still like this one, don't know if its still there but it looked like a nice cruiser to me, well after a little engine work to get it closer to one hp to cu in that is...
1977 arabian v drive

Eric
The fellow next door has a 60's or 70's charger I beleive ( it has a slopping back) which has been sitting in the storage lot where I keep my charter bus for years. He has not been paying the storage bill. I believe it has a small hemi. It was his first car and he was going to fix it up. He will never do it. I bet it could be bought.

Steve