Restoring a '62 Chris Craft Sea Skiff

14634 Views 140 Replies 24 Participants Last post by Kudzu, 2 d ago

Kudzu

Discussion Starter · Feb 26, 2021 (Edited)

Busy restoring a 1962 Chris Craft Seas Skiff. Almost have the boats hull sealed but had to take a break from laying on my back replacing, repairing and swearing at wood screws. You can replace a 100 screws, stand back and look and get ZERO feeling of accomplishment. It just doesn't show. You know you worked hard because you shoulders and neck ache so bad, but it just not satisfying work.

I have to stop sometimes and do something that 'feels good" when you stand back and look. I am going to paint the inside of the boat and needed to get at least one coat of varnish on the bright work in case there is any over spray. It is SO much easier to strip a little varnish off of bare wood than paint is. So I always put at least a couple of coats of varnish on before painting anything adjacent to it.

First I have to remove all the gauges and switches.

Stripping the bulkhead was no picnick either. Need to sand with 220 and then it will be ready for a good cleaning and some varnish.

Next is filler stain and then Varnish.

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Woodworking Wolf

· #62 · May 1, 2022

Great project and excellent work. Don't know much about wood boats (have only owned fiberglass), but something like this is on my bucket list of things to do.

When I was a kid we vacationed on Green Lake in Wisconsin. The mail was delivered by boat. I'll never forget the beautiful mahogany Chris-Craft pulling up to the docks with a black Lab standing on the front deck.

Wondering about a few things:

Anyone have any thoughts on spraying the inside of the hull with a coating they use inside p/u truck beds (spray on bed liner)?

When doing a full resto on a car, if you have space and $, it's really nice to use a rotisserie. Any idea if something like that can be used on one if these boats? It sure would make it easier to work on the bottom. Merrick Auto Rotisserie with No Jacks M998080

I've heard that wooden boats tend to leak when they are put in the water after having been out for a time. Apparently the water swells the wood and stops the leaks (or at least most of them)?

I know this is not a boating website, but the thread is here...

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Woodworking Wolf

· #64 · May 1, 2022

Kenh3497 said:
I'm told that it is "a thing" to fill a wood boat with water to re-swell the wood. Sounds locical but of course to much warer and you drown the engine.

Ken

Interesting. I had not heard about filling it with water. I assumed you put it in the water and let it swell as it sat in the water (running the pump as needed as it fills with water so it doesn't go down or swamp the engine).

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Woodworking Wolf

· #67 · May 8, 2022

Kenh3497 said:
Because I don't know.... Would a chemical paint stripper be faster? Or would that have a detrimental effect on other things like filler and waterproofers?

Ken

Based on the age of the boat, what about the possibility of lead in the paint? Is it safer to remove lead paint with stripper than by scrapping and sanding?

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Woodworking Wolf

· #88 · 10 mo ago

Did you think about using a guide coat? As much as I think I can feel irregularities with my hand, that doesn't come close to using a guide coat. I think it goes a lot quicker to.

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