Wood is good.

[Torchie]

A Milestone.......Of sorts.

Cut and fitted the first of the new bottom frames today.
I left the ends long so that I can trim them down later.
That may be it for a few days as it is colder then my heart here and it's like a meat locker out in the shop.
Thanks for watching.......
Torchie

 

[sgtpontiac]

Torchie, it's been cold down here as well....

Right now it's 10 degrees in my jurisdiction..... and started to get snow flurries.... brrrrrrrrrrr.....

 

[Torchie]

A little more done...

A tropical 19 degrees in the shop today as well as a foot of fresh snow outside. Lets get to work.
Started off by planning a couple of wider planks. I need to cut out the backer boards for the frames that I cut and fitted already.
The backer boards are one piece and fit tight against the two piece frames. They are then bedded together as well as screwed the give the two piece frames greater strength.
Two down. Twelve more to go......
Torchie

 

[Dr Crankenstein]

No more deconstruction? Fix and replace as needed? (It's not "plane" to an idiot like me.)

.

 

[Torchie]

No more deconstruction? Fix and replace as needed? (It's not "plane" to an idiot like me.)

.

At this point (as far as the bottom goes) it is fix and replace as needed on the bottom frames Dr.
There will be some more deconstruction of a couple of badly repaired bottom frame/side frame joints but they will be tackled as I get to them. I am doing every other frame starting at the bow and working towards the stern.. Then I will go back to the bow and do the remaining ones.
The next one in line is one of the aforementioned "Repaired" ones. So that will require some surgery first.
Torchie

 

[Torchie]

Taking a break from the cold shop today but I did put together my first order for new silicon bronze bolts and screws.
To give you an idea of the costs involved with the restoration of a Mahogany CC, the cost for the nuts. bolts, screws and washers needed to put JUST the bottom frame work and keel back together is going to be right around $600.00.
That does include some tapered drill bits as well as a couple of countersinks.
But on the bright side.....I am getting free shipping.[cl
Add another $600 or so for the wood. $80 for the 4 tubes of 3m5200 and another $60 or so for a quart of CPES(Clear penetrating epoxy sealer) and there you are.
At that point you are ready to buy another 2000 screws. 50 or so more tubes of 5200. 3 sheets of mahogany plywood. More CPES and of course yet more mahogany planks.
Average cost to have a professional put new bottom on an 18' CC is up around $10,000. And I don't believe that includes any frame repairs.....
Torchie

 

[Torchie]

A frame a day keeps the ............. away!

Removed . Cut and fitted another main frame and backer board today.
On this one the backer board was cracked all the way thru. Right in line with the keel bolt hole.
A few of the pics show the really cobbled up old repairs that I have to undo first.
Also degreasing the stringers as I go.
This is the "Weld. Hammer. Grind and repeat"part of the program.[ddd
Pics tell the story.....
Torchie

 

[kenny c]

Unbelievable [cl[cl

 

[sgtpontiac]

That is certainly my thoughts....Unbelievable

Unbelievable [cl[cl

And absolutely amazing.... [cl

 

[Torchie]

It just dawned on me .....

that I don't think I have shown you all a pic of what a factory bottom frame/knee joint looks like.
The first three pics show that. They are pretty simple on these model CC's. Too bad this is on one of the frame that was cut out to clear the motor that was used.
The fourth pics shows what I am dealing with.
The rest of the pics show the main frame that I removed this morning.
Torchie

 

[Torchie]

No time to slack off now......

Yet another main frame done.
This is one of the frames that was cut out for engine clearance. Attached to the topside frame with 4 screws and a brass bolt. The screws were all snapped off.
I also ripped some 16' fairing battens to check the line of the new hull frames.
Looks good so far. Only one needs some dressing down.
It's a lot easier to remove wood then it is to add it....
Torchie

 

[Torchie]

Eight ends of the bottom frames (4 each side) had repairs done to them. Today I finished removing the old repairs and managed to save the topside frames as well.
The ends of the topside frames are in good shape so that saves me having to replace them.[cl
Thanks for visiting......
Torchie

 

[kenny c]

This will be a new boat before long.[cl

 

[Torchie]

No. I haven't given up yet.......

2 more frame sets cut and fitted.
These are mid-frames that connect to the chines only.
One more of these to do and one short main frame near the bow.
The new frames are laying "Fair" but some tweaking will need to be done as we progress.
The last of the mid-frames that I pulled today came out in pieces.
Torchie

 

[smallfoot]

When you say tweaking, you're talking about wood shaping only right? Once your screws are set you don't have to go back thru that do you?

 

[Torchie]

When you say tweaking, you're talking about wood shaping only right? Once your screws are set you don't have to go back thru that do you?

Exactly small.....
I will need to do some more fairing of the frames to get everything to lay as it should. There are still a few high spots on the frames that need to be trimmed down with a small hand plane.
I also have to trim the ends of all the new frames. I left them long on purpose.
Before I screw it all together the frames all need to be coated with CPES (clear penetrating epxoy sealer). Then where the backer boards meet the frames I will bed the two with 3M5200. Then it all gets painted with correct CC color bilge paint.
This will all have to wait until spring as it is temp sensitive. So once I get the last 2 frames cut and fitted that will be it for a while.
Torchie

 

[DozerII]

Wow that's a lot of cutting and fitting, great job. I think I'll stick to aluminum boats.

 

[Torchie]

Anther one down .....

....And one left to go.
Torchie

 

[Torchie]

Another milestone....

...Of sorts....
Last of the new frames cut and fitted today.
Torchie

 

[forbigpicture]

^^^^[cl[cl[cl

[P[P