The closest species I could find to the original (which was old growth) is plantation grown Dark Red Meranti. I despaired using it because the quality is highly variable and sometimes will just crush under the pull of a fastener. As I understand things, the Philippines put a moratorium on harvesting...

New home. Ready to start the final big push to completion and chill after the pressure of the last 8 weeks.

Thanks guys. It really is a neat place. Like stepping back in time. The town is astoundingly beautiful itself. Walking 200 metres from the workshop means crossing the swing bridge over the locks and being at the main intersection. Most of the buildings are limestone and there is a nice park right be...

Elude made the trip to Merrickville safely and easily thanks to Balsdon Trucking. Murray Balsdon handles the boats and driving. Karen Balsdon is the person in charge. I took a few pictures of Elude's new digs before she was placed inside and then my camera battery ran out of juice. Aylings Marina ac...

BR... which is why I have twins on completely independent systems! However, about 25 years ago we were heading to our slip on the stbd side between two finger docks full of smaller boats. Ours is a 35' as you know, with twins. The spacing between the docks/boats was about 45'. Normally lots of room....

Due to the short notice for our eviction, I concentrated on finishing the bottom... which I did. The side planks are secured for the trip, but are also just about ready for the final install themselves. The transom planks need to be repaired or replaced, but that will be pretty straightforward. Then...

All the new bottom planks are attached with plenty of time for the adhesive to cure before the move. Now I will temporarily secure the side planks that I repaired for the trip and stuff the boat with everything at hand. I don't have time to install them permanently before the date of our eviction fr...

To catch up on the last post before I had to down tools, I attach the following pictures. I pulled this plank because I was suspicious it was a tiny bit proud of the chine for some sinister reason. Turns out that was not the case. It probably just worked a bit over the decades and several fasteners ...

I forgot one bit. Working underneath takes some of the joy out of the job, but small solutions often yield a sense of accomplishment. I tarried over how I was going to make sure I got the planks in accurately with all the goo on them. Initially I tried using a couple of 1/4 bolt in a locator hole dr...

I appreciated everyone's kind words. Things have been upside down for several months but we are back on track. Family health issues are sorted out. However, about six weeks ago I was advised that due to redevelopment plans by the City of Toronto, everyone had to be off the port lands by the end of A...

Health issues in our family have meant that I have had to drop my tools on the restoration of Elude. Next year will mark our 30th anniversary of ownership. She is in her shelter so the elements won't bother her and she is well blocked. I do not know when, or if, I can get back to work on her, but th...

I am pulling the plank immediately above the keel on the port side in order to inspect it, the fasteners and to reseat it. It protrudes from the chine by less than 1/16th and I am curious as to why. I have removed about half the fasteners, finding 5 of 7 on the stem to be broken. Similarly, the fast...

Delivery run from the house to the boat for the longest bottom planks on the entire hull, 18'. Still too cold for my old bones to work underneath the cruiser.

Even paint protected from sunlight will oxidize a bit as it ages.... 70 years at that. I went with it because I am replacing the entire bottom of our cruiser and matching colours was not that critical to me. The Sandusky paint does have rot inhibitors in it, but the best rot inhibitor will always be...

I use this product. It is nice to apply and penetrates very well. Does not need a primer coat. I have on occasion had to sand a bit that I had primed and found the paint had penetrated much deeper than I thought it would. Sandusky says no primer necessary and that it has resistance to oil, gas and d...

The following pictures show the longest bottom plank I have had to replicate. The original is beside it and is over 18' long. I use high quality 1088 Meranti marine plywood for reasons I outlined before, scarfing to get the length required.

I hope to presume that by "old toilet wax rings" the reference is to inventory that, though stale.... was never used.

I am looking forward to dry fitting more bottom planks this week as it will be mild. However, last year at this time I was removing and repairing or replacing side planks on the port side. I detailed that with lots of pics last year, but I thought I would post some now that show the condition of the...

Nice work.

I am looking forward to your photos. I am across the lake in Toronto and anticipate doing some work on Elude next week if the warmer weather materializes. Here's hoping. Are you using epoxy glue in these temperatures?

I just posted several photos from my iMac that are in the 2.5mb range. This one is 2.4mb. 3mb seems the upset limit.

Hello. It is winter, and I have no new hull progress to report. Hopefully this coming week will see temperatures moderate a bit and I can get under her and dry fit a few more exterior planks. Until then I thought I would post work I did a few years ago when I replaced all the frames aft of the shaft...

That is a lovely boat!

here is a test. 1.5mb. From last year. I had just removed the plank..... oooooh..... nice frames. I think max pic size is 3mb.

I guess I would ask if it was your boat when last in use and what would be her normal spring take-up time. If yes and her take up time was ok, I would put her in as is and leave her in the slings until she tightens up. Put a couple of sump pumps in and have the yard lower her in steps. Do not rely o...

It is cold and snowing, so I thought I would show you one more use of steel fasteners by CC in 1937. These are steel screws that I had to cut through in order to remove the third set of frames from the keel at the bow. Most frame sets had bronze bolts through the oak keel but not this one. The screw...

Sounds right to me , John.

New corners cleaned up a bit and dutchmen in lateral frame piece. I still need to strip,, sand a fair all the pieces. I plan to install the finished windows on the boat later this year. This is a winter 'indoors' project.

Hi John. Definitely steel and definitely original. I have kept samples of all fasteners and I can tell you that cc used steel screws in a number of places. I was very surprised when I pulled off the keelsons to find that they were attached to the frames with 5" steel screws. All the gussets were bol...

Before Buzz was fixed I posted pictures on the Facebook site showing the work I was doing to repair the front window frames that hold the glass. I want to include the story in this record, so I apologize for covering old ground. The fabrication of the corner joints at the factory employed dado joint...

I would agree, but I am terrible with a router. I will try to make up a bit guide and experiment (on scrap). I have used the saw to clean old seam material and it worked fast and accurately. I do appreciate the advice.