Restoring a '62 Chris Craft Sea Skiff

14746 Views 141 Replies 24 Participants Last post by Kudzu, 6 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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Kudzu

Discussion Starter · #3 · Feb 26, 2021

This one was supposed to be a 2-6 month project and it now going into it's 5th year? Honestly lost track.

Went into this expect to find hidden damage but nothing like we found. That is a story in itself. It was stored well but it had unwelcome squatter do a lot of damage that we had no idea of. Causing some major repairs.

Frankly I was over my head but I have a sentimental attachment so I finally decided to move on and learn some new skills.

Then when you have it apart you have to deal with the "MIght as Wells" too. While I have this torn apart I might as well tear that apart and restore it too......

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Kudzu

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 27, 2021

Finished sanding and cleaning last night. My ROS was packed with dust by the time I got it all sanded.

This morning I applied the filler stain. Dry 24 hours and then I can start to varnish. That first coat always lifts the spirits to see it shiny!

The unstained part at the bottom is under the floors so it will not show. It will be varnished though. Normally I would stain that even though it will never show. But I ran out of stain and it comes as a paste, so you have to thin it to get it to the right consistency and it just wasn't worth if for those two small sections.

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Kudzu

Discussion Starter · #10 · Feb 27, 2021

Well, I started with McKloskey Man O War and it went bad on me. Applied 3rd(?) coat on some parts and it went flat, I mean NO GLOSS. Looked beautiful up to that point. Opened the can, new can by the way, and it had gone bad. Had some black stringy thing swimming in the varnish? Very strange. Barely used it to but in the trash it went.

After a lot reading at over at Wooden Boat I am trying believe it or not, Rustoleum Spar Varnish. Most people were happy with it for trailer queens. Apparently doesn't have as much UV protectors as the higher end brands. She will be trailered or hanging in a boathouse so not an issue there. Only real complaint was that is was a bit thin... and it is! I like what I see on one of the seats i did. But man does it want to run.

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Kudzu

Discussion Starter · #12 · Mar 2, 2021

Who knew 12 years ago when I was gifted all those 1940's cabinet shop machines and tooling that there would be a set of custom ground knives just for cutting rub rails for my Chris Craft?

Found an almost perfect set of custom ground knifes so set up the shaper and ran some stock. Fitted it to the boat and pretty happy with the days work. Now Ihave to order screws. Surprised at how fast that went.

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Kudzu

Discussion Starter · #14 · Mar 12, 2021

Getting hard to see where I am applying the new varnish.
Waiting on a shipment of screws so busy making a few small parts and varnishing. Hope to put the gages back in and tidy up the wiring next week. Then start putting the deck on.

Need to get her stable so I can put her on the trailer soon.

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Kudzu

Discussion Starter · #16 · Mar 12, 2021

They were all working. I would like to send them out just to have the dials redone but that is going to have wait and be done latter on. Not looking for perfection, we use the heck out of it and things happen with kids, ski's and dirt being tracked in.

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Kudzu

Discussion Starter · #17 · Mar 27, 2021 (Edited)

Busy couple of weeks on the boat. Lots of work and little of it shows. Got the gauges polished and back in.

Got a little of painting started on the inside. Really tough job sanding this down. So I am going to break it up and do a little at time. Much easier on the back and knees. No one will ever see this but it is something that just drives me crazy. And it will make it last longer too.

Pulled the bolts out of the strut to check the wood underneath. Good thing I did too!! It was way worse than I expected. And of course there is always that one bolt that just doesn't want to give in.

Once the strut was loose I found the wedge underneath it was in two pieces and just about ready to fail even though it looked fine.

I made a new one out of some white oak. It is deceptively simple looking piece. It has two compound angles. The obvious one from front to back and then there is ridge down the center and it slopes down on both sides. Lots of hand fitting to get that one right.

Started with my home-made scrub plane and then finished off with other planes and the scraper plane.

I always say there will be that one bolt that will not come out easy. Well removing the spray rail I discovered that bolts MOMA! Lots of chiseling the old wood so I could finally get some vice grips on it and then it didn't want to come out.

Long tiring week but it feels so nice to see it being put back together!

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Kudzu

Discussion Starter · #18 · Mar 30, 2021

When the might as wells 'Bite you in the butt" .....
At least sanding and painting the stern will be a lot easier!

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Kudzu

Discussion Starter · #19 · Mar 30, 2021

Someone sent me this video clip and is SO perfectly portrays how this project goes!

Changing a light bulb

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Kudzu

Discussion Starter · #20 · Apr 1, 2021

Going back to together. Actually just a dry fit of the pieces I had to make or repair. It will have to come apart for some finishing.
Now, lots of sanding and painting. Then I can start putting the deck on!

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Kudzu

Discussion Starter · #22 · Apr 6, 2021

I think I am going to be here... sanding.... forever!

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Kudzu

Discussion Starter · #23 · Apr 11, 2021 (Edited)

Not much to show this week. But was it A LOT of work!

First a simple one. I need to connect a ground or bonding wire to the gas tank to prevent static build up when fueling. Had to think on how to do that without modifying the gas tank. Then I came up with this idea.

Filler neck screws into the tank and then there is this aluminum lock nut that keeps it in place. So I drilled and tapped a #10 thread and I will attach the grounding wire to this. Easy Peasy (once I thought of it)

After hours of sanding... PAINT!
Just one side and still lots of sanding but it feels like progress.

Last thing is I bought a new trailer for the boat. Old one was the reason for a lot of the broken ribs in the boat. Have to do a lot of work to make it fit my boat. Not to mention a good power washing! But I am very happy with my purchase. Perfect lenght. Surge brakes with disks. Aluminum frame. Amazed I found such a perfect trailer and local!

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Kudzu

Discussion Starter · #24 · Apr 15, 2021

Was really wondering if I would ever get to the point!
1st coat of paint on the bilge and hull.

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Kudzu

Discussion Starter · #27 · Apr 15, 2021 (Edited)

John Smith_inFL said:
yeah, Jeff - it might be time to rename the thread to be more in tune to what you are doing.
you are probably missing out on a lot of traffic that would be truly interested in your project.

I don't think I can change the Title on the original post. I tried and it wasn't something I could change do. I wish I could.

WRONG! I can change it but I would have sworn I tried and it wouldn't let me. If I had known it would have been changed weeks ago.

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Kudzu

Discussion Starter · #28 · Apr 15, 2021

Editing the first post title I realized how much water there was under the bridge before I started posting here (again).

So here is a few photos in order of the work I have done.

Seeing these photos helps remind me how much I have done. Makes me smile too.

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Kudzu

Discussion Starter · #33 · Apr 17, 2021

Bob Bengal said:
Thanks for posting photos, I've enjoyed watching your progress. One of those projects that is overwhelming at first. I guess you're over half way done? Or is a complete engine over haul next?

Well over half way done. BUT, once I get the deck on and it on the trailer I am going to have to stop.

We have bought land. Got to build a barn, get utilities set up and move my shop and the boat there. We are putting the house up for sale as soon as all that is done. All thid is going to put me out of business for a couple of months. If all goes well it might be on the water for the fall colors cruises.

The motor should be fine. It is low hours and ran perfect. Of course it has set up for quite a while so it could have problems. I don't expect any but if so I can fix that too. Cut my teeth on the small block Chevy.

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Kudzu

Discussion Starter · #35 · Apr 18, 2021

Garwoods are not nearly as common as the Chris's are today for some reason. I guess they never produced the number of boats that Chris did? But Garwoods have a reputation as being high quality.