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Bottom Repair Questions

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Jim Godlewski
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Bottom Repair Questions

Post by Jim Godlewski » Mon Dec 08, 2014 8:01 pm

Hello All,
As some of you know I’m helping a friend restore his 1970 38 ft Constellation Salon (page 366 in the Essential Guide)
Neither one of use has much Cruiser experience but we are capable of the task at hand. At least we think we are. With some advise of course…
We need to replace the bottom plank where the prop shaft comes through on both sides. Rot has set in right where the shaft exits.
It appears from what we can see… the rotten plank does not seem to be fastened from the bottom like every other bottom plank. No screws are visible. So up into the boat we go and find no screws visible up there either other than the shaft log screws.
What we think we have is the rotten bottom plank, inner plywood and another board on the plywood that the shaft log is screwed to.
So my first question is, once I remove the shaft, what is the procedure to remove the rotten plank? I can’t find any screws to remove…
This plank starts a couple feet forward of the shaft exit hole and goes all the way back to the stern. Should we replace the entire plank or can we save some of the rearward portion and piece in the forward half?
Thanks.
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1956 17 Sportsman CC-17-2310
1930 Model 100 7152

joanroy
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Re: Bottom Repair Questions

Post by joanroy » Mon Dec 08, 2014 9:13 pm

That's not a bottom plank. It's a solid structural chunk of mahogany that supports all your running gear. It's rabbited on the sides to receive your bottom planks. Replacing is a major repair. Search around in Hull Construction and you'll find photos and descriptions of the process. Good Luck

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Re: Bottom Repair Questions

Post by boat_art » Tue Dec 09, 2014 6:28 am

I have done this on my '56 Connie. It IS a major repair. Check out my posting.
http://www.chris-craft.org/discussion/v ... php?t=7914
Tom
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Re: Bottom Repair Questions

Post by jfrprops » Tue Dec 09, 2014 10:25 am

yes, that is a big deal structural member/repair. Rot, and in my area the dreaded WORM, gets in there around the shaft hole because it was really only sealed and painted right once.....during construction....subsequent repaintings never got any paint up in there...that and all the usual water related gremlins.

John in Va.
1980 Fairchild Scout 30
19?? custom Argentine Runabout 16'
1954 Whirlwind deluxe dual ckpt 16'
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Re: Bottom Repair Questions

Post by joanroy » Tue Dec 09, 2014 6:03 pm

Took closer look at the photos and thinking ,without me being able to poke at it with a screw driver to see how bad,I'd say you might want to go the repair instead of replace route. How rotted is it? Just around the shaft? If that's the case I'd pull the shaft, remove the shaft log and take a look. You can cut away the rot around the shaft hole with a multimaster and form a lap from above to receive a matching shaped Dutchman and install from above. The Dutchman should be the same thickness flush top and bottom. Goop it in with West System and micro fibers and bronze fasten into the lap joints. At this point you should be able to re drill the shaft hole and reinstall the log. It'll take some whittling and fairing, but if you replace the whole thing, you might as well keep going and do the rest of the bottom. I'm not guaranteeing it'll work, but that's how I would do it on my boat.

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evansjw44
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Re: Bottom Repair Questions

Post by evansjw44 » Thu Dec 11, 2014 11:15 am

Glad somebody else opened this thought. Having seen the work some others have done in bottom re-construction including the area around the shaft penetration I can see how it might be deemed heresy to suggest repair. But if the structure is sound except where the shaft penetrated, why not carefully cut back to solid wood and build a stepped insert and epoxy and screw clean it up. Now, the insert needs to be substantially longer than the cut out area and the replacement wood needs to stepped so the joints overlapped.
Jim Evans

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Re: Bottom Repair Questions

Post by jim g » Thu Dec 11, 2014 5:21 pm

The only suggestion I have to the repair procedure above is after you remove the rotted would and before epoxying in the new wood is to put a lot of CPES on the old wood.

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Jim Godlewski
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Re: Bottom Repair Questions

Post by Jim Godlewski » Fri Dec 12, 2014 7:29 pm

All,
Thanks for all the helpful knowledge on this project.
We are planning on a repair since most all of the keelsons seem solid and the rot is limited to only around the area where the shaft comes through. We look forward to getting into this when the weather breaks this spring since we now have a game plan. As always, appreciate all the help.
Jim
1956 17 Sportsman CC-17-2310
1930 Model 100 7152

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parroteyes
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Re: Bottom Repair Questions

Post by parroteyes » Sat Dec 13, 2014 7:10 am

Please let us know what happens!
Too many folks get us interested in a project then never tell us how it works out!
Thanks
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Jim Godlewski
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Re: Bottom Repair Questions

Post by Jim Godlewski » Sat Dec 13, 2014 11:30 am

parroteyes wrote:Please let us know what happens!
Too many folks get us interested in a project then never tell us how it works out!
Thanks
I certainly will. We have a lot to do on this boat. I can post photos of our project as we go and have questions.

I still need to wrap up the side plank job first. Still need to route in the seams seal and paint. We have all the new side planks on at this time. Its just getting cold and no fun...
Jim
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1956 17 Sportsman CC-17-2310
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tkhersom
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Re: Bottom Repair Questions

Post by tkhersom » Sun Jan 04, 2015 5:36 pm

Would also love to see a full picture of her if you have any. :wink:
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Jim Godlewski
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Re: Bottom Repair Questions

Post by Jim Godlewski » Sun Jan 04, 2015 7:55 pm

Here you go.
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jfrprops
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Re: Bottom Repair Questions

Post by jfrprops » Sun Jan 04, 2015 9:14 pm

wow! rare bird indeed!.....never seen one before.....read in the guide.....that beast weights 18,500 lbs new and dry.....a full 8K more than my 33 foot seastrake...and with the same engines? A stretch in HP I would say.....
Great Project...thanks for saving a cruiser!

John in Va.
1980 Fairchild Scout 30
19?? custom Argentine Runabout 16'
1954 Whirlwind deluxe dual ckpt 16'
1921 Old Town Charles River 17' (founding Captain, James River Batteau Festival)

Jack Jensen
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Re: Bottom Repair Questions

Post by Jack Jensen » Fri Feb 03, 2017 10:04 pm

Its funny you say she's a "rare bird". There was at least two of these floating around up here in Port Huron when I was in high school. My dad had a beautiful 1948 Red and White. And although I loved that boat I used to hang out with my buddy on his dad's "sister ship" to this one. Honestly, it could be one and the same but I'm not going pay the $ to research it at the Secretary of State. Thanks for all your suggestions and help in this project. Jim G has been a great inspiration and help. We will keep you posted!

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Jim Godlewski
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Re: Bottom Repair Questions

Post by Jim Godlewski » Sat Feb 04, 2017 8:09 am

Jack Jensen wrote:Its funny you say she's a "rare bird". There was at least two of these floating around up here in Port Huron when I was in high school. My dad had a beautiful 1948 Red and White. And although I loved that boat I used to hang out with my buddy on his dad's "sister ship" to this one. Honestly, it could be one and the same but I'm not going pay the $ to research it at the Secretary of State. Thanks for all your suggestions and help in this project. Jim G has been a great inspiration and help. We will keep you posted!
Hey Jack,
Welcome to the Club! I think you will like it here..
1956 17 Sportsman CC-17-2310
1930 Model 100 7152

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