Cristopher John Smith was the grandson of Chris Smith the founder of the company. He was an active part of the company and that may be who signed your document. He was born in 1927 and died in 2022.

Sadly the board will not bend at all on the flat. Some restorers have used an extra piece to reduce the need for the wide width but that requires excellent grain match and joint cutting.

It looks to me that the 2 hulls are identical. The SuperSport has the mahogany on the front deck like yours but it has white accents on the hull sides. I think you have the super sport . Hull numbers are often on the stringer just aft of the engine or on the deck beam behind the top of the rear seat...

Classicboat connection.com lists a kit for a 1956-58 KFL. Carburetor number 12055. Should be on a little disc under a screw that holds the carb together. Kit # Z82

A friend of mine had a similar problem. The rudder is just not big enough. While this is not an easy fix, we removed the rudder and found another that was a similar size. We cut 5 or 6 inches off the bottom of the second rudder and had it welded to the bottom of the original. It made a huge differen...

I had a similar model and it did have the finished side panels (ceilings). This was a lower price model and that is why the panels are missing. I am guessing that they were an option. They were plywood covered with vinyl that may have matched the seats.

Maybe but probably not. I had a 16' Riviera with the B and it was good for 2-3 people if they weren't very big

I don't have a photo but you are missing a triangular shaped piece of mahogany. It would be probably 3/4" thick and there would be a gap in the top point to straddle the keel. The rest of it would pretty much cover the unfinished frames. It would be glued and screwed to those frames. The lifting bra...

That model was built from 1955-59. Given your high serial number I would guess 1958 or 59. K engines are a simple rebuild for a good shop. Parts are available from a few suppliers. Finewoodboats.com is one of the best. Looks like you might be in Alabama. I am sure there are restoration shops availab...

Not sure what you have here. According to the Essential guide, V 16 was a small Cavalier cruiser with an outboard engine and the hull numbers went up to 600. Do you have a photo?

I think any of those would work. Just try not to get too much in the shaft opening. Clean up any excess before it cures.

I have restored two of these boats. It should have marble-ized linoleum on the floor and planking on the inside hull. Please submit any other questions and I will do my best to answer them.

Pretty sure it should be flush. Is the new bottom thinner than the original?

You correct in thinking you should start from the bottom and I think most would agree that the 5200 system is the way to go. You should also use all new planking for the bottom as well. The old planks are just too tired and dried up. Take them off carefully and use them for patterns to easily make n...

Mask them off. Varnish will yellow the white paint.

Normally I just open the drains (block, water pump and at the lower end of the exhaust manifold) on a K engine but this one does not have a plug or petcock in the block behind the water pump. I think I will try connecting a hose to the water pump inlet and put the other end in a bucket of anti-freez...

I believe Mike Schreiber is still in business at cutwaters.com. I just saw a post. He has some patterns in stock but can show you how to make a pattern that he can then reproduce the cutwater. I think he has videos on YouTube. Also, someone just took over Al Scinnerer's Californisclassics hardware o...

Try Jim Staib at finewoodboats.com

It absolutely would help if you don't mind getting dinged by a judge at a show. Treat it like a 5200 bottom. Seal 1/8" marine plywood with CPES on both sides and seal the back of your new deck planks. Spread a thin coat of 5200 on the plywood as you install the new thinner deck planks with screws an...

For engine parts and most anything else see finewoodboats.com. For engine specifications see classicboatconnection.com. Click on Classic Boat Restoration Information.

It is very likely oil and must be cleaned up prior to painting. Tide powder and water hose and a scrubbing brush are a big help. After cleaning be sure it is dry prior to painting.

I actually have been thinking of doing a similar project but I was thinking of using an 18' boat' Fifteen seems a little small and might be a little squirrely with a big engine and a longer boat would ride a little better. I am not interested in your Cavalier but I wanted you to know at least someon...

Check out the new trading dock. Just opened. Many boats for sale.

I think I would go with three per side. Placement is usually right by or forward of the windshield or where the boat is the widest, and then another about 18-24" forward of the transom. You don't want it too close to the transom because it possibly could "roll" around the transom and you would lose ...

I have been talking with a guy that has a 17' 1953 Sportsman. It appears that it has plywood inner planking. I was under the impression that plywood inner planking did not begin until later like 55-56. Would this be original?

The first picture shows the two bolts that hold the original steering gear box to the stringer. The box would have an arm that connects to the "pipe" below that goes to the rudder. That sliding cable which is not original would connect to the base of the throttle. The throttle lever would have been ...

Mine also sits in a little notch. Maybe that is how they came?

I looked on the site and found a membership list. No telling how current it is but it shows about 1290 members. (10 per page- 129 pages, in no particular order).

You could put it on the Trading Dock on this site. Rumor has it that there will soon be classifieds in The Brass Bell.

The best book is Wooden Boat Restoration by Don Danenberg. Unfortunately it is only available on digital or occasionally on Ebay. Don does have a website forum where he will answer your questions or others may join the conversation. Danenbergboatworks.com