1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

[rhtmarine]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman resoration project

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman resoration project

Guys, worked my boat some and have better pics this time... Notice all the screws coming up...or down from the inside. That won't matter since the ply is being replaced.things look pretty good compared to a lot of photos I've seen. I think I have a diamond in the rough. selling a kart engine to buy all my fasteners, sealer, 5200... EXCITED!!!

 

[rhtmarine]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

Guys, my project boat is going really well. I have 90% of the starboard bottom planking off, the starboard non-trip, and even got the rear side plank at the waterline off tonight after bowling... I'm gettin after it. I managed to sell one of my kart engines to fund the fastener/adhesives portion of the project! looking good too... the wood I've seen so far is in great shape. the planks look weathered and beat, but they will be new mahogany planks. everything from the waterline down. For a hull that Chris Craft told their customers would only last 6 summers... It's in great shape.
STAY TUNED...

 

[rhtmarine]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

Guys, made some headway today at the shop. I got the ply off the starboard side and found greasy but very solid wood. I have russian birch to put back. I found that both sides, amidships at the water line had been hit. It was a delta boat, so log or some other debri had to cause it. My problem was with the genious that fixed it... They used bondo to fill the screw holes. Port side is worse. I'll get through it... Once I get all the planks and sheeting off, then I can address the condition of things, and replace whatever needs replacing. Fun project.

 

[rhtmarine]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

Guys, made more progress today. I got those pesky port side planks and non-trip off and new stringer dry fit. This boat was hit on both sides amidships. I think it may have been the trailer. I see myself escorting her gently onto the trailer... Another 2-3 hours and I'll have it down to the framework. It looks real good, Although the pics don't show the integrity of the frames, they are still in great shape. This is moving right along! STAY TUNED!! Bob

 

[rhtmarine]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

Guys, After 12 hours this weekend and 2-1/2 tonight after work I got all the planks and ply off, and there a few areas that need attention. Overal, I'm pleased with the boat and my progress. I'm glad to be done removing screws! I have one cracked rib near the rear engine mount that will need replacing. I'm likely to replace the keel as well. It's rough and been repaired with bondo. A nice piece of 8 quarter mahogany will fix that. It's nice to have a woodshop to use for this project. Stay tuned!
Bob

 

[ingalp01]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

You are definitely making some good progress there. Very nice of the boss to allow you access to that shop for your project. I can only dream of my "Dream" shop at the moment, but when I build the new house, a nice new LARGE shop is going on the property. And Somewhere I will have a giant gantry for removing engines in big boats... LOL... Kind of an inside joke. Keep up the good work, I can't wait til the new wood goes on and she starts shining like a new penny.

 

[rhtmarine]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

Guys,
I was able to get an hour or two in my restoration project. I pulled out the old beat up keel plate and started fitting the new one. pretty happy with the fit, I traced the old one and free hand cut it on the table saw. then I jointed it to my lines. fit perfect! I still have a notch at the transom and a curve at the stem to machine, but so far so good. I will bolt in place after I replace two frames. I saw in Danenberg's book how he does the rabit for the bottom planking. He made a track from scrap ply with a fence on it. He screws the track along side the keel and runs a router along this track to produce that rabit. makes sense since the rabit starts out a 90, but slopes outward as it moves forward. I will do the same with mine. I was lucky to find a solid piece of mahogany 1-3/4" thick, 6" wide and 16' long. I did not want to glue two pieces together. I'm making pretty good headway with this project...

 

[Piece715]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

BEAUTIFUL! I'm so jealous! Would love one of these to just cruise around! Great work so far.. Very impressive!

 

[rhtmarine]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

Thank you piece, It's working out pretty good so far. I had to sell some toys from my collection to make it happen. But MAN has it been fun. I can't get supplies fast enough to keep up with myself...
don't be jealous, go get one a fix it up! found mine on craigslist...
Bob

 

[Hjames710]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

Heres a "Project Boat" I'm thinking it's not even worth 1/4 of what they're asking.
http://denver.craigslist.org/boa/2504889261.html

 

[rhtmarine]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

Looks weathered, but appears to be complete. I paid 1900. and have some missing items. structure is pretty sound.
1200. -1500. maybe. It's gonna cost you to redo that boat tho... gotta start at the bottom and continue all the way up. all new planking and most likely some frame repair.

 

[Tahorover]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

Heres a "Project Boat" I'm thinking it's not even worth 1/4 of what they're asking.
http://denver.craigslist.org/boa/2504889261.html

This is a much better buy:

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/boa/2456759293.html

 

[produceguy]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

I'm with everyone else, Nice project.
Keep the pics comeing. Great work so far.

 

[rhtmarine]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

Guys I fitted the new keel then clamped it place after soaking over night. I gonna glue up two new lower chines and cut out several new frames tomorrow...STAY TUNED!!

 

[gfbiii51]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

High class operation. Not everyone has mahagony clamp blocks.

This is fun to follow. Thanks for sharing.

 

[rhtmarine]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

Thanks,
I read that if you don't use the same species, the wood gets stained. Oak, for example turns blue when it gets wet. more woodwork to come today, and pics to follow...

 

[rhtmarine]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

Guys, Made some good progress today... cut new frames and did some fitting. things are looking better. most of the other frames look pretty good. I am paying close attention though. It's easy to do it now...don't have issues later.

 

[produceguy]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

You bought the right boat for sure.
You know how to do it and have the right tools to work on it.
Lookin GOOD!!!

 

[rhtmarine]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

Thanks guys for your interest... I feel somewhat lucky to working on an all wood boat. my boat is 51 years old, and doesn't have nearly the rot that some of the newer glass boats here on iboats have. My theory is that fibreglass boats hold moisture and rot that wood. wood boats aren't encapsulated in glass, thus no moisture retension. makes me wonder about the "epoxy" bottoms on old wood boats. I'm thinking that I'm making the right decision going with the 5200 no soak bottom.

 

[rhtmarine]

Re: 1960 Chris Craft sportsman restoration project

Guys, It's been a few days since my last post...Since then I have made new upper and lower chines. they were soaked and clamped in place. They will remain there for several days. Next week everything gets sealed and then I can bolt all those new parts in place. I bought all new silicon bronze carriage bolts so everything is fresh. two coats of CPES and one coat of bilge paint before I can commence with the bottom planking. I really stoked with the progress so far! I'm thinking 6 weeks to turning her back over. STAY TUNED!!