I have original wood from my 1946 runabout.

I intend to send it to that free government site to determine what it is, when I get a round toit.

Perhaps others have scraps of the original parts of their boats from the period to be tested?

That wood provide definitive evidence.

We'll that sure 'splains everything!

This forum is sooooo edgicational!

I can not believe the ignorance I am witnessing! Everybody knows that the water is deeper in Canadian lakes! Clearly every boat knows where the bottom is (why else would the keel always be down?) --- DUH! And knowing where it is, the boat tries to get as close as it can in deeper water. Its just lik...

I have no experience with the results since I am a first time runabout restorer but the CPES instructions that came with gallons did say that it would not penetrate paint but still was a good primer. I have used it extensively (and sloppily) on my project. I think I am doing good for the boat becaus...

I could use some education here. My B engine has just been drained and stored for several years. My Mercruiser book says to drain that engine per instructions. Why use anti-freeze instead of draining? Also, antifreeze without water is relatively poor at carrying away heat. If you are going to run th...

My Chris Craft runabout has one piece chines that needed replacement. These chines have a tongue that protrudes at the fore of the chine along the stem. The tongue fits between the bottom and top side plank. Aft of the tongue the planks sit in routed groves in the chine. The chine is cut at a comple...

OMG Its months until the thaw and you all are already loosing it!

I note there is very little activity on the Buzz, so I guess there is a need to say sumpin.

So what else do you do until boatin season returns?

Its hard to manage an organization, harder if its a volunteer organization, nearly impossible if its a volunteer organization of folks used to running their own show. Its like "herding cats". If you are responsible, as Bill is, it is probably easier to just "go ahead and do it" then it is to farm it...

If you want me to resign to help the club heal from all this that's OK to. I don't much care if you resign -- you are no one special, except for a total lack of decorum. I doubt if anyone would such care if I resigned either, so this "I'll fall on my sword" self serving crap is not going to elicit ...

I have a little hidey hole in mind, you will never find me. I'm thinking that a hidey hole would be good. The tone and confrontational nature of your "advocacy" has left a sour taste which inevitably will raise in my throat anytime I see a gbraker post. I'd request that you hide under a new posting...

Talk about having a fun hobby -- steaming chines is a bomb! I am NOT recommending anything I have done to anyone. Just sharing. I started with a really chintzy box, 12" X 12" X 17' with no top. I lined one side, the bottom and the ends with R-13 fiber glass insulation. I used a 20' X 5' heavy plasti...

I sense a rising revolt! The requests for governess reform, accountability and transparency have been ignored! Plenty of time spent by leadership to offer excuses or kindle the dues issue -- but nothing in response to the core questions. It appears there is concern about maintaining membership, that...

OMG this is a Club, not a nation! Clubs are run by a few people who are willing to devote their time. Why would this be a democratic process? If it is, I vote for those devoting their time to it to spend more time and make it better for me and don't have any dues. I don't have to belong and if I don...

I agree that this has gone too far, but it always seems to happen on blogs where you are not restrained by the presence of those you are casting aspersions upon. On the other hand, without suggesting any credence to the possible mishandling of funds, it has spun out of control because there is NO DI...

I suppose I should be flattered by the apparent interest in my opinion and solicitation of my ideas BUT This has been going on too long, too redundantly, and too indecisively. Let me be blunt. Leaders: Step up, decide what to do and do it! If this is an example of how decisions are made it is no won...

BTW be sure to clean the top of your stringers carefully immediately behind the engine notch. My "R" number was stamped there and was completely filled with paint. It is the only number stamp I found on the boat.

I kept mine and they were not as good as yours. One thing I did do that you might consider: My boat had (I suspect yours does too) a mahogany strip that ran out board on the stringer from ahead of the engine to the rear seat area. It was flush with the top of the stringer and provided a mounting sur...

We all like pictures!

My little boat doesn't have anything like you are describing so I live vicariously by seeing what you guys are doing. I might even have an idea if I see what you are talking about -- you know what they say about opinions -- everyone has one!

We are groping in the dark here without a diagram but let's soldier on. After you follow Gbraker's advise, First, with the volt meter not connected to anything but its leads and set to measure DC voltage set it on its highest voltage setting and short the leads together. You should see no deflection...

My older sister to yours is getting silicon bronze.

I bought mine last year from:

Top Notch Fasteners
800-876-6337

Paid $4.50 for 1/4 X 5 carriage bolts, domestic, for example.

No experience here, just trying to learn:

If you are going to laminate it anyway, why scarf it?

Could you make the pieces in the warm garage and then when its spring glue 'em up?

I would prefer in order:

Maintain Bell quality
Dues increase to $50 or $60 per year.
Cancellation of currently late Bells.

AND

4 Bells/year on time.

or

2 bigger Bells/year on time.

Whoa there, steady boy, steady. I think this discussion is getting a little out of hand. At some point the tone has drifted to personal. Contributions to this thread ought be viewed as participation in an advisory group principally engaged in brain storming. Perhaps we are running out of ideas. A re...

1400 hrs? They must have just thrown it together. I've got more than that in mine, and the bottom isn't on yet. But it is good to see that wooden boats are recognized as prestige gifts -- I wonder what Santa will bring me -- I'm hoping for a can of bilge paint, won't need the gold leaf for quite a w...

If it comes to that (having a casting made) perhaps someone has one they would let me send to a foundry for the pattern.

The Post war 16' runabouts including Rockets typically have a brass casting reinforcing tie number 6 where the shaft is closest to the keel. I am restoring the prototype. It did not have the casting. A mahogany "bridge" tie with a hole for the shaft is original. At some point that broke or was just ...

I like the idea of giving a gift membership. My neighbor had his wife's family Cavalier restored.. They are not members nor "enthusiasts" I don't think they would join, but you never know. Rather than kicking in a $35 extra contribution to the club I could give them a membership. It would be pretty ...

I do not own a cruiser but have thought about it. I have a beach side condo with a dock on the intra-coastal south of Clearwater, FL. The condo costs about $8,000/year. I usually have a plastic 20-24' boat for fishing hanging on davits on the dock. I sell them in the spring when I go north. Now ther...

Actually most of the members is not the point. All of the paying members value membership at $35/year or more (or they would not pay). Most of those value it a lot more and would pay a lot more. Most of the paying members would accept less and still find the remaining value to them exceeds the cost....

OK, I get it. Over the years it has become harder and costlier to get the printed Bell out. It is the premier product of the club -- really, really -- great! But it does not come on time and if late you delay billing dues? I say, cut the printed Bell loose from its current schedule. Chose either two...