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Gar Wood Infromation Resources

This is a general discussion area for those who are interested in Chris-Craft's connection with Gar Wood, the man, and the Company.

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cenger
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Gar Wood Infromation Resources

Post by cenger » Wed Aug 06, 2008 2:27 pm

I have recently purchased a 1935 Gar Wood to restore (Split Cockpit). The CCABC was an excellent resource when I restored my CC but I’m having a hard time finding information on Gar Woods. I’m looking for detailed illustrations of finish, dashboard configuration, seat color etc. In particular, I’m having a hard time finding rebuild parts for the Chrysler Ace. Any guidance would be appreciated.

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Don Ayers
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Post by Don Ayers » Thu Aug 07, 2008 11:04 pm

You are correct in that Gars are harder to research. There are fewer boats and just about 0 records. First did you start by contacting Tony Mollica for hull number information and cerf. Second is to find other boats like yours that are still around. Go to the Gar Wood registry and check that out.
http://www.garwoodregistry.com/

Call someone like Van Ness for help on the Ace parts.
201-445-8685

Next post some pics and tell us how far you want to take it i.e. back to factory or more of a user and less concerned by factory specs.

Good luck and congrats
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Post by cenger » Tue Feb 03, 2009 4:00 pm

Can anyone tell me the correct bilge color for a 1935 Gar Wood Split cockpit? Whats left of the original color looks like a greenish grey. Is that correct or has Grey turned green over time from mildew?

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Post by Don Ayers » Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:30 pm

We need Brian Robinson to chime in here but I'm going to say gray. I got a great sample of the correct dull gray for my 1931 Gar from Kirby Paint.

Brian...what say you?
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Post by Brian Robinson » Tue Feb 03, 2009 5:59 pm

I can tell you that something was going on in 1935/36 with Gar Wood bilge paint. Generally, the green-gray color you speak of is correct for '35 and later. A few hull numbers from 1935 I have personally confirmed this with are the following: 5595, 5600, and 5612. By 1936 and later the green-gray color seems to be it. Getting into late 1940/41/42 I have seen an even greener color.

Basler's boat, a '36 #5799 originally had the green-gray color for the bilge, and the plain gray color used for the seat frames. Strange.

The earlier boats, prior to 1935 had the more plain gray Don is referring to.

Here is a pic of the restored green-gray from an early '39.
Image
-Brian
1923 Hackercraft 23' Dolphin #03
1938 Gar Wood 22' Streamliner #6256 Empress
1952 Chris~Craft 19' Racing Runabout #363 Thunderstruck
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Post by cenger » Tue Feb 03, 2009 8:33 pm

Thanks, I have hull 5640 so it falls righ in between the last two you noted. Any idea where I could get the correct color?

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Bill Basler
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Post by Bill Basler » Wed Feb 04, 2009 8:18 am

Here are a few photos of my 1936 Gar Wood Utility. This is an amazingly untouched example, with one coat of factory bilge paint, complete with all of the pencil notations, original factory wiring and original factory leather interior.

Brian is correct, that there are definitely two different paint colors used on my boat. He has the colors reversed though. If you imagine the floor boards, being a horizontal plane in the boat, it is like everything below that plane (including the back sides of the floor boards and hatches) is a bilge gray. I would call this neutral gray, maybe even on the slightly coolish side (ie: a little blue). Then, everything above that plane, such as the seat frames, and the inside of the engine box, and the under side of the front deck is a green-gray.

To describe it this way, is the only logic that I can find as to why they used two colors, and where the delineation was drawn. Another theory, I guess, would be that the engine boxes, and the seat frames were put on the boat at the tail end of the line, and for this reason were manufactured in succession, perhaps by another fleet of craftsman all together. Could it be that the two-color bilge/furniture was unintentional, and my boat just happened to get a few items painted with both colors? I suppose this is as likely and as credible as anything.

This gray green seems to have a bit of variance over the years, with some boats being darker than others. My gray green is similar to the gray in "density" maybe just a bit darker.

I do not have my boat in front of me now. As I recall the gray bilge color extends up and behind the ceiling planks. The ceiling planks on this boat are nailed and puttied, and I have not removed them yet, so I don't know what lurks behind them. I would assume that the bilge gray meets up with the gray-green at some point, for example where the forward frames meet the under side of the front deck. I will have to take note of this the next time I am in front of the boat.

Another interesting note is that my boat has the wrong engine box and lid assembly. I have the lid and engine box for #5804, a boat that is currently at Obexers at Tahoe. Jimmy Lane owns this boat. My boat is actually #5799. Ironically, 5804 and 5799 came through the factory at the exact same time, mine leading 5804 by hull number only. The two boats were originally delivered to Davenport, Iowa and Burlington, Iowa, two Mississippi River towns, about 20 miles from one another. Obviously a mix up was made with the engine box. Both Jimmy Lane and I agree, we probably leave the screw up in tact as part of the "charming" history.

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Bill Basler

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Post by Oberon01 » Wed Feb 04, 2009 9:31 am

I was going to start a new Gar thread with a question concerning the interior on my boat, but I may as well post it here. I have a '46 22'6" Sedan which is mid-way through it's restoration. The interior is in great shape, but not correct so I am going to replace it. Because there are so few of these boats left, and so few were made, I tryng to cover all bases in confirming interior details.

My primary questions are these: Number of cushions on the rear seat, material for floor and interior panel covering, and the dash color. The dask in mine was not original, and was covered in a plain white vinyl. This is not correct, and I am wanting to confirm what color the dash should be, and if this is keyed off the interior? I am certain the dash is covered, not varnished. Tony Mollica is trying to find some interior shots to help with the cushion question, but the dash question will likely remain. There are only two of these Sedans left (the other is a painted hull)and a similar number of the open utilities, so information is scarce. I believe the bilge color is completely different than the colors mentioned above on the pre-war boats. Lastly, I believe I have confirmed the Sedan top should be canvas, but what material should the dash cover be? Vinyl or canvas?

Boat is coming along nicely and I hope to have it in the water this summer. Thanks in advance to Don Ayers & Brian Robinson, who in the past have provided excellant guidance.

See you in Tavares - I booked my flights yesterday!

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Post by cenger » Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:37 pm

Kirby Paint had a vintage color called seaweed that seems to be close the the original Green-Gray bilge paint. Now for the bottom paint; the original color on my boat was called Copper Green. Kirby has three shades that could be close (Permanent, Pea and Irish Green). Is there any diffinitive source for the correct Copper Green?

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Post by mrb engine » Wed Jul 29, 2009 8:21 pm

I THOUGH THAT THIS THE CHRIS CRAFT BOAT CLUB SITE. AM I WRONG?
Mr. B's Engine
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Don Ayers
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Post by Don Ayers » Thu Jul 30, 2009 5:52 am

Mr. B;

Yes you are correct however there is a "discussion forum" within Boat Buzz for general Gar Wood information exchange.

Due to the close ties with Chris Craft and its founding (Gar Wood actually being a principal owner in Chris Smith and Sons at one time) it was deemed appropriate to include within the forum.

You will also notice that many topics transcend Chris Craft and are relevant across many brands such as construction, engines, mechanical, electrical and the like.

Recently we added a general forum for "Shows, Events and Museums" so that people could connect on those various topics to provide valuable information exchange.

We hope that you will see the value of bringing our small community together in such a way that has never been done before.

Best Regards
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cenger
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Baby Gar Weight

Post by cenger » Tue May 31, 2011 1:16 pm

Can anyone tell me the approx weight and width of a 1929 28' Gar Wood (28-30) with Chrysler Straight Eight?

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Brian Robinson
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Post by Brian Robinson » Tue May 31, 2011 10:37 pm

Cenger,

The 1929 Baby Gar 28-30 had a Chrysler Imperial 6cyl, not an 8. It was 4300lbs with a 6'10" beam.

The 28-35 came out in 1930 and had a Chrysler Majestic 8cyl.
-Brian
1923 Hackercraft 23' Dolphin #03
1938 Gar Wood 22' Streamliner #6256 Empress
1952 Chris~Craft 19' Racing Runabout #363 Thunderstruck
Robinson Restoration, LLC (760) 468-1009

cenger
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Post by cenger » Wed Jun 08, 2011 7:48 pm

Thank you Brian. I am having a trailer made; would you know what the with of the 28-30 is at the waterline of the transom and the distance from the center of the engine to the transom?

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Brian Robinson
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Post by Brian Robinson » Wed Jun 08, 2011 9:24 pm

I'll be at my buddy Dave Wright's on Friday - he has three of these 28-30 Gar's in his bone yard - I'll get back to you.
-Brian
1923 Hackercraft 23' Dolphin #03
1938 Gar Wood 22' Streamliner #6256 Empress
1952 Chris~Craft 19' Racing Runabout #363 Thunderstruck
Robinson Restoration, LLC (760) 468-1009

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Brian Robinson
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Post by Brian Robinson » Sat Jun 11, 2011 6:58 pm

The transom at the waterline is 47.5" wide. The center of the Chrysler Imperial is 10'6" from the transom. If you are doing a double axle trailer I would set the forward axle about 12' from the stern. If a tripe axle I would set the center axle 10'9" from the stern.

Hope this helps.
-Brian
1923 Hackercraft 23' Dolphin #03
1938 Gar Wood 22' Streamliner #6256 Empress
1952 Chris~Craft 19' Racing Runabout #363 Thunderstruck
Robinson Restoration, LLC (760) 468-1009

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Post by cenger » Sun Jun 12, 2011 11:17 am

Thank you Brian. I am having Jeff Jerde build me a custom double axil trailer.

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Post by kwmpa » Wed Aug 10, 2011 6:46 pm

anybody have Tony Mollica's contact info

cenger
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Floor of 16' Gar Wood

Post by cenger » Sat Oct 08, 2011 2:56 pm

Should the floor of my 16' Gar Wood Split Cockpit be made of Mahogany or Pine. The current floor appears to be white pine and original but I'm not sure.
1935 Gar Wood 16-35
1929 Gar Wood 28-30

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Post by cutwaterguy » Sat Oct 08, 2011 6:05 pm

my 37 16 and 19 look tobe pine.
been messing with old wood boats since 1975 when i bought my first chris riveria r-18-999

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Brian Robinson
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Post by Brian Robinson » Sat Oct 08, 2011 6:07 pm

Pine
-Brian
1923 Hackercraft 23' Dolphin #03
1938 Gar Wood 22' Streamliner #6256 Empress
1952 Chris~Craft 19' Racing Runabout #363 Thunderstruck
Robinson Restoration, LLC (760) 468-1009

cenger
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Deck Seam Color

Post by cenger » Fri Oct 14, 2011 1:50 pm

Is it acceptable to leave deck seams the color of Brown Mahogany caulk on my 16' Gar Wood or should they be painted? If painted, what is the appropriate color?
1935 Gar Wood 16-35
1929 Gar Wood 28-30

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Brian Robinson
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Post by Brian Robinson » Fri Oct 14, 2011 8:06 pm

I guess you could, but most brown/mahogany caulk is not really brown - it is sort of purpleish. It does not have any UV protection, so it will only fade worse.

Originally, Gar Wood caulked the seams before the hull was stained, so the seams took on the color of the hull stain.
-Brian
1923 Hackercraft 23' Dolphin #03
1938 Gar Wood 22' Streamliner #6256 Empress
1952 Chris~Craft 19' Racing Runabout #363 Thunderstruck
Robinson Restoration, LLC (760) 468-1009

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Post by motherofdog » Sun Oct 30, 2011 8:35 am

Greetings guys, I haven't been on the forum for a while. I have some old (1970's - 80's) garwood newsletters and there was mention of the caulking. Not sure what they used, but the article says pre-war the caulk was brown-not white, evidently Gar thought it was richer than the Chris Craft white. The king boards were a much darker stain than the rest of the boat.

You may be able to get a hold of Tony through the Clayton museum.

jerri

cenger
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Size of Gar Wood Logo

Post by cenger » Fri Dec 09, 2011 12:48 pm

Getting ready to have my 16' gold leafed. Need to know the size of the Gar Wood logo on hull. Does anyone have the measurement?
1935 Gar Wood 16-35
1929 Gar Wood 28-30

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Brian Robinson
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Post by Brian Robinson » Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:18 pm

Chris,

I sent the logo info to Kaptain Krunch. I have stencils made, but sent him the art and finished photo. It is 28"x 4.575".
-Brian
1923 Hackercraft 23' Dolphin #03
1938 Gar Wood 22' Streamliner #6256 Empress
1952 Chris~Craft 19' Racing Runabout #363 Thunderstruck
Robinson Restoration, LLC (760) 468-1009

cenger
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Post by cenger » Tue Jan 17, 2012 12:51 pm

Can anyone tell me how the seats were attaced to the frame of a Gar Wood spit cockpit? My boat had no back seat so I only have pictures to go off.
Image
1935 Gar Wood 16-35
1929 Gar Wood 28-30

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