toaster
New Member
Found this really weird piece of driftwood a few months back.
Its serial number, 34425, places it as a 1966 according to a very interesting pdf file.
This boat is beyond my ability in terms of any real restoration (can you believe the splash guard and cockpit used to be red?), but it only needs a few parts to be ready to sail.
I have a few questions about the bronze carriage bolt and the bowhandle. (It also needs two boom blocks, a brass wingnut, a nylon tube, and a horizontal rudder pin, but those are easy.)
I am aware that there should be a carriage bolt in that notch there:
(Don't mind the horribly disgusting stern. Looks like someone did a shoddy patch job around the Nixon administration. We'll sand that off and slap some fiberglass on it, good as new.)
As for the carriage bolt: How long is it, really? I've read 7", 7-1/2", 8", and even 10". If anyone knows the actual size, that would be super. They're like 14 bucks apiece and I'm a broke college student so I'm hoping to only have to order one.
As for the bow:
We're missing something.
A new handle is on its way, but the backing block is too squishy to be trusted, so I'm looking to replace it. Can I do that without installing an ugly inspection port? I'm imagining taking off some of the aluminum trim and just pulling up the fiberglass, which seems almost feasible. Bad idea?
An inspection port, if I'm not mistaken, would need to either be off center (ugly) or directly on top of a piece of foam (difficult?). I can probably find plenty of advice on this if I scour the web a bit, but I don't know if there's anything I should look out for with a boat this old. Also, once I get in there, what should I replace the backing block with? Marine plywood? Regular plywood? Aluminum?
One more thing:
It's a little hard to see it in the picture, but it looks like the boat sat upside-down on the ground for a little too long and the splash guard cracked the deck.
I'm pretty sure I shouldn't leave it that way. I'm almost certain I'll be installing an inspection port here, but it would also be great to take off the splash guard. On these older boats it's screwed on instead of riveted...should I try to take it off? Will it go back on again? Anyone fixed something like this?
All in all, I think this old boat is pretty cool. I'd love to fully restore it, but I really don't have the necessary experience, tools, or money. We'll see in the future.
I don't think it's in terrible shape for its age--I have most of what I need to sail it, and it's miraculous how much is fully functional and that there's nothing loose in the hull. Just needs a few fiberglass patches, some parts, and a little motivation.
I don't believe I have the original sail, booms, mast, or centerboard, but I have almost everything I need to go for a lovely sail. I appreciate any comments or advice you can offer!
Its serial number, 34425, places it as a 1966 according to a very interesting pdf file.
This boat is beyond my ability in terms of any real restoration (can you believe the splash guard and cockpit used to be red?), but it only needs a few parts to be ready to sail.
I have a few questions about the bronze carriage bolt and the bowhandle. (It also needs two boom blocks, a brass wingnut, a nylon tube, and a horizontal rudder pin, but those are easy.)
I am aware that there should be a carriage bolt in that notch there:
(Don't mind the horribly disgusting stern. Looks like someone did a shoddy patch job around the Nixon administration. We'll sand that off and slap some fiberglass on it, good as new.)
As for the carriage bolt: How long is it, really? I've read 7", 7-1/2", 8", and even 10". If anyone knows the actual size, that would be super. They're like 14 bucks apiece and I'm a broke college student so I'm hoping to only have to order one.
As for the bow:
We're missing something.
A new handle is on its way, but the backing block is too squishy to be trusted, so I'm looking to replace it. Can I do that without installing an ugly inspection port? I'm imagining taking off some of the aluminum trim and just pulling up the fiberglass, which seems almost feasible. Bad idea?
An inspection port, if I'm not mistaken, would need to either be off center (ugly) or directly on top of a piece of foam (difficult?). I can probably find plenty of advice on this if I scour the web a bit, but I don't know if there's anything I should look out for with a boat this old. Also, once I get in there, what should I replace the backing block with? Marine plywood? Regular plywood? Aluminum?
One more thing:
It's a little hard to see it in the picture, but it looks like the boat sat upside-down on the ground for a little too long and the splash guard cracked the deck.
I'm pretty sure I shouldn't leave it that way. I'm almost certain I'll be installing an inspection port here, but it would also be great to take off the splash guard. On these older boats it's screwed on instead of riveted...should I try to take it off? Will it go back on again? Anyone fixed something like this?
All in all, I think this old boat is pretty cool. I'd love to fully restore it, but I really don't have the necessary experience, tools, or money. We'll see in the future.
I don't think it's in terrible shape for its age--I have most of what I need to sail it, and it's miraculous how much is fully functional and that there's nothing loose in the hull. Just needs a few fiberglass patches, some parts, and a little motivation.
I don't believe I have the original sail, booms, mast, or centerboard, but I have almost everything I need to go for a lovely sail. I appreciate any comments or advice you can offer!