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Special Race Boat Replica Project

Framing, planking and fairing. Repair, or reconstruction. If it's hull related, you'll find it here.

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mattbyrne
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Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by mattbyrne » Mon Oct 27, 2014 8:02 pm

After I finished the restoration of my Gar Wood a couple years back I was looking for my next project. Originally I was thinking of doing a Gar Wood Speedster replica. I purchased the plans from the Antique Boat Museum and attempted to model the hull in a Cad program. After a short period I realized my CAD skills are lacking. Then one day I was talking with Mike and Kirk at the Wooden Runabout Company(WRC) and they wanted to do a similar project except the target boat was a Chris Craft 1936 Special Race Boat. After a few conversation over the following months I committed with them to build hull #1. After countless hours behind the keyboard the WRC was able to produce detailed drawings of the entire boat. Next they generated files for their new CNC machine and proceeded to cut out all the parts.

The WRC intends to sell this kit in different forms. You might choose to buy a pile of cut out part, a framed up hull ready for planking or a complete boat. Me being a DIY'er wanted to go the pile of cut out parts route. But since this was the first one the WRC wanted to be involved in assembling the framing. After a little arm twisting, they agreed to let me be involved in the assembly (and they didn't even charge any extra).

Well Last Friday and Saturday was the big day to see if all of the hard work WRC put in on the computer paid off. Let me tell you parts where milled to perfections. The parts are all keyed so they can only go together one way, it's nearly impossible to mess it up.

On Friday we sent time test fitting, sanding and sealing all the parts. And on Saturday everything went back together for the final time.

I have started a blog to document the build you can see pictures and time lapse here
http://www.ccraceboat.com

joanroy
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by joanroy » Tue Oct 28, 2014 5:01 am

Christopher Smith would have got a kick out of that production process. What kind of materials are you using ?

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mfine
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by mfine » Tue Oct 28, 2014 5:52 am

That is pretty cool. Are they just doing a wood kit or are they also going to put together a hardware kit?

Any info on price range for something like this?

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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by tuobanur » Tue Oct 28, 2014 8:26 am

That is amazing, did you cnc the keel and chines also?
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by Peter M Jardine » Tue Oct 28, 2014 6:24 pm

Interesting. Collecting all the data must have been the time consuming part of it all. Do modern CAD programs have the ability to look at differences in shapes to correct mistakes in the original data.... as in averaging and so forth? Did you take the measurements off the plans? Would you say that material costs are similiar, given the wastage comparisons?

On the other side, the philosophical part of me is aroused. Is this really boatbuilding, is it intended to be, or is it kit/model building. Chris craft were arguably the first company to really develop production line techniques in wooden boat building. If they had the opportunity to use this method, I have a feeling they would. My early years with wooden boats makes me winge just a wee bit with developments like this. Traditional shipwrights always impressed me with their basic hand tool skills. All in all tho, an impressive project. I will keep an eye on the web page. :D

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mattbyrne
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by mattbyrne » Tue Oct 28, 2014 6:53 pm

joanroy, Materials are the same as the original all mahogany.

mfine, Not sure about the hardware kit, I've been checking ebay for parts. the hardware on this boat used common casting so anything I can't find on ebay is being recast by others and is easily available. You can visit Wooden Runabout Company's website for more details http://www.woodenrunabout.com/new-wood-boats

tuobanur, Yes, all frames keel, stem and chine's have been on CNC machine. The Keel and Chines even have the rabbet already cut to perfection.

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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by quitchabitchin » Tue Oct 28, 2014 9:33 pm

I had the pleasure of seeing this boat up close and personal at the Bluegrass Rendezvous. She has a very long racing history and is one of a handful left and possibly the only one in full race configuration with a Lycoming 6 cylinder that turns 5500 RPM on 110 octane Race Fuel. Is this the boat that this kit is based on? This is a '37 that just came out of a 6+ year restoration.
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by joanroy » Wed Oct 29, 2014 6:33 am

I get where Peter is coming from. Using a CNC machine kind of takes the romanticism out of the wooden boat building process, but on the other hand a CNC is really just the next evolution of power tool. Like going from the adz to the hand saw to the band saw. Now we just need a shipwrights robot to do the assembly. I'm sure someone's working on it. Can't wait to see the finished product!

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mfine
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by mfine » Wed Oct 29, 2014 7:20 am

The CNC is just cutting out the frames. I am sure if you tried to build one you would find the planking and fairing will still require a good bit of labor and skill. Not to mention finish, hardware, wiring, power etc.

The CNC won't save you that much time in the overall project, but it should help you build a straighter more consistent hull shape.

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drrot
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by drrot » Wed Oct 29, 2014 7:51 am

That boat was once called "Painted Lady". If you look in the book CUTWATER there is a picture of it sunk in clear water with the history.
Several years ago "MISS FLORIDA" "JAY-DEE III" and a reproduction were all on the Saint Johns river run. All three were V-8 powered at the time. It was fun to see them run.
quitchabitchin wrote:I had the pleasure of seeing this boat up close and personal at the Bluegrass Rendezvous. She has a very long racing history and is one of a handful left and possibly the only one in full race configuration with a Lycoming 6 cylinder that turns 5500 RPM on 110 octane Race Fuel. Is this the boat that this kit is based on? This is a '37 that just came out of a 6+ year restoration.
Jim Staib
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1947 Penn Yan 12' Cartopper WXH474611
1950 Chris-Craft 22' Sportsman U-22-1532
1957 Chris-Craft 26' Sea Skiff SK-26-515
1968 Century 17' Resorter FG-68-174

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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by Denis D » Wed Oct 29, 2014 1:29 pm

Matt,

In the CNC photo with the frames being cut, is that a bunch of boards edge glued together?

Cool project!

Denis D
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by jim g » Wed Oct 29, 2014 4:32 pm

Are they increasing the thickness of the framework and planking? Because looking at the original spec's it was built as a race boat thinner frames and planking.

Also are you putting it together with 5200 or epoxy?

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Don Ayers
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by Don Ayers » Thu Oct 30, 2014 5:31 am

Fantastic Matt!!!

It deserves a really cool engine for sure.
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Chad Durren
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by Chad Durren » Thu Oct 30, 2014 6:51 am

I agree, Don. We have to find Matt a Lycoming. :D
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mattbyrne
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by mattbyrne » Fri Nov 07, 2014 3:43 pm

A little more progress.....

I spent last Monday working on the boat. Here the are the details...
http://www.ccraceboat.com/?p=1221

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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by Peter M Jardine » Fri Nov 07, 2014 5:43 pm

looks amazing. The CNC process for the frames would be especially helpful. Any comments on material use/wastage?

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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by joanroy » Fri Nov 07, 2014 5:49 pm

WOW! That is fine woodworking. I'm impressed. Keep us updated as you progress.

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tuobanur
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by tuobanur » Sat Nov 08, 2014 12:27 pm

I can definitely see the advantages to the CNC especially in the symmetry. For example, when rebuilding my boat I found several inconsistencies in the construction as far as squareness from center line, one that stood out the most to me was the rear edge of the bow deck (the edge out over the dash) was over an inch out of square.
Wouldn't think you would have any problems with that, said it before and will say it again, Amazing!! Thanks for sharing. :)
Terry
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tkhersom
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by tkhersom » Sun Nov 09, 2014 7:34 am

That is going to be a fun boat for sure! :mrgreen:
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tuobanur
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by tuobanur » Tue Dec 02, 2014 9:29 am

Any new developments Matt? We all need our fix. :)
Terry
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by evansjw44 » Wed Dec 03, 2014 9:47 am

You want a wood boat to be symetrical and square? I have found over the years that if I think I have a joint that is square or a line that is straight I have made a mistake.
Jim Evans

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mattbyrne
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by mattbyrne » Wed Dec 03, 2014 11:37 am

Update....
The boat's framing was completed about 3 weeks ago and has been waiting for me to go pick it up. I will be bringing the boat home this weekend, My plan is to plank the boat this winter. Expect progress to slow now that it is only me working in my free time.
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tuobanur
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by tuobanur » Wed Dec 03, 2014 3:49 pm

mattbyrne wrote:Update....
Expect progress to slow now that it is only me working in my free time.
Know all about that.

That is one good looking skeleton, good luck on the rest.
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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mattbyrne
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by mattbyrne » Mon Feb 16, 2015 4:28 pm

An update is long over due. Check out the blog to see what I've been working on for the last couple months.
http://www.ccraceboat.com

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Al Benton
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by Al Benton » Mon Feb 16, 2015 4:57 pm

Awesome Matt! I missed out on the beginning of your project but with those time-lapse videos I caught up rather quickly (reminds me of the ant farm I had when I was a kid).
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Pete DeVito
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by Pete DeVito » Mon Feb 16, 2015 7:38 pm

Matt,
That is going to be one beautiful boat!! I love to work on my boat but sometimes I wish I could work as fast as you do in the video. Matt I think this is a great way to go for some of us that do not have all the tools and skills to build a complete boat from scratch. Keep us posted on the progress and good luck! :lol:
Pete
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tuobanur
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by tuobanur » Tue Feb 17, 2015 9:44 am

Thanks for the fix... :D
Terry
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mattbyrne
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by mattbyrne » Thu Dec 10, 2015 1:06 pm

I've post a couple updates on my project. http://www.ccraceboat.com

There has been a little progress, but not much as the boat was in storage of the summer. Winter is now here so it's time to get to work.

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tuobanur
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by tuobanur » Sun Dec 13, 2015 1:19 pm

Very nice, thanks for the fix. :)
Terry
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Re: Special Race Boat Replica Project

Post by mattbyrne » Wed Apr 27, 2016 8:56 pm

I bet you guys thought I gave up on this project! Well I've been plugging along....

I posted a long over due update of the projects web site check it out.

http://www.ccraceboat.com/

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