Conference vicki::boats

    
    There is certainly more to look into in a wooden boat.
    
    My only advice is:  you'll need a lot of spare time if
    
    you decide to buy it.  There is a lot of care here.
    
    Check everywhere for rot.
    
    JIm

	The '58 Thompson I bought a couple of years ago came with some
	problems, but I didn't really check it out too closely at the time,
	trusting the family friend that it was "ok".  For the most part he
	was right, and said don't expect more than a couple of years on it.
	Great price, but I got what I paid for in the condition it was in.

	I found that the transom was rotting and that it harbored a couple 
	of huge carpenter ants nests!   This is after a marina in Webster
	told me "you'll never have trouble with that transom" - hah!  
	I also found several ribs that had rotted around screwholes.  The 
	transom rebuilding project and rib fixing took most of last winter.   
	
	The hull was also hogged/warped, from sitting on an EZ loader
	trailer for several years.   i was able to straighten it as it
	sat in my garage for transom work, and converted the trailer to
	a bunk type.   How has the Chris Craft been stored ?
	
	All else on the boat is solid, so now I'm looking at a boat that
	will last many more years if I treat her right.

	If I was buying a wooden boat today I'd make sure i check the
	following specifically for rot:

	- transom
	- ribs (if Chriscrafts have em)
	- hull for solidness and *hogging*  
	- try to look under the floor, even if it means a lot of work to
	  raise floor boards.   You'll then be able to assess stringers
	  and major support structures, as well as hidden ribs, etc.

	To check for rot, I've used a sharp screwdriver, pick or something
	like that to poke around looking for soft spots.

	If you're anywhere near central Mass, I might be able to refer
	you to a guy who does incredible work on wooden boats.  he was
	right on about the problems my boat had when I asked him to check 
	the condition of it for maintenance and basically helped me save
	the boat.  

	Wooden boats are addicting, enjoy ;-)   I got a ton of great advice
	from this file, and now I have a real decent fishing boat.

	Hope this helps...
	Ken

    Is the "Sea Skiff" a lapstrake contructed boat?  Pay particular
    attention to those areas of the boat that don't get ventilated very
    good.  On Century's, the transoms always rot sooner or later because
    the rear seat keeps any air from circulating inside the stern.  I'm not
    familiar with the Sea Skiff design, so it would be hard to say where
    problems are common.  
    If you are handy with wood, most problems can be fixed.  What is the
    condition of the mechanics of the boat?  Sometimes parts may be very
    expensive to obtain.  Do you know what engine and drive set-up is
    installed?
    Wayne

    I have owned two wooders - My current one is a Chris and I can say that
    it is a very well built boat.  I have been redoing it for three years
    and my guess is that I'll have 2 more to go before she is where I want
    it.
    
    You need to ask why you want this boat.  If it's because the price is
    right, that's the wrong answer.  If U R married, the other half has a
    tendency to get a little testy when she sees U spending time on your
    "other love."
    
    The Sea Skiff is a nice boat -- If you have rib damage or other
    structural defects, I'd consider another boat.  If U have planking
    problems, that's not so bad.  
    
    You will discover that by the time U R done with the restoration, U
    will have spent far more than U planned on spending.  With that as the
    case, I'd try to accurately forecast costs, and multiply that by a
    scale factor of around 1.5 or greater.
    
    Compare that to other boats on the market.
    
    On the first wooder I had -- A TROJAN -- I had to have it and I paid
    through the nose on engine repairs, and hull work -- I sold it to
    someone else who thought he would zip through it and finish it quickly
    --  Dream on!
    
    In addition to using an Ice Pick, use your nose -- Wet wood has a bad
    smell -- Follow it until U find it.  Also look for dark colored wood --
    It's wet.  
    
    Most dry rot is at corners -- Where deck meet hull, transom corners,
    chine corners, etc.  U can also use a plasic hammer -- Dead wood sounds
    like it -- Just tap all around the boat -  U get a thunk instead of a
    sharp sound -- Bad wood OR filler  
    
    Good luck

    
    Thanks to all for the advice. I'll be looking at the boat tomorrow
    and will write on Monday what I find.
    
    RE .2  The boat has been stored on its trailer for about 2.5 years.
           Don't know what kind, EZ roller or bunk type. I read about 
           HOGGING in Wooden Boat but I thought that would occur in a
           much longer boat/ship. The Chris is only a 20 footer.
    
    RE .3  All I know at the moment is that the engine/drive set-up is 
           a Chevy 283 that was rebuilt 3 years ago. Hardly any hours
           on it since, but it has been turned over occasionally.
    
    RE .4  The low price, although attractive, is not my main reason for
           buying a wooden boat. Aside from my canoe, I have never owned
           any boat...BUT I have always thought wooden boats were much
           better aesthetically (sp?). Call it a "down-home warm feeling".
           I reallly can't put how I feel into words. Yeah, I know, that 
           feeling will probably cost me *tons* of money!
    
           I love wood and woodworking and have built LOTS of furniture as 
           well as two timberframe houses. I feel confident that I could 
           restore a wooden boat. My wife also enjoys woodworking and has
           helped me on many projects. So, should be no problem there. ;-)
    
           Looking costs nothing. Worst case is that I'll learn what to
           look for when the next "deal" comes along. Thanks again.
    
           ~Dick D.
                                          
     

    
    RE: Hogging not a problem on a 20 footer- DON'T beleive it!  I got rid
    of a 17' Thompson beacuse the Hull was hogged- and I have seen 15 and
    16 footers that were so badly hogged that it was impossible to try to
    get any speed at all once the boat was up on plane.
    
    
    Dick
    

>    RE: Hogging not a problem on a 20 footer- DON'T beleive it!  I got rid
>    of a 17' Thompson beacuse the Hull was hogged- and I have seen 15 and
>    16 footers that were so badly hogged that it was impossible to try to
>    get any speed at all once the boat was up on plane.
	
	The above exactly describes what happened to my 17' Thompson,
	which is now about a 16'er.   It sat on an EZ Loader roller type
	trailer, and the hull hogged.  Couldn't get any speed at all with
	it due to this problem.  Corrected it by using 2x4's running from
	the garage ceiling to the humps in the hull, and it straightened
	nicely after a while.  Rides great now.

	/Ken    

    Having owned a 1965 Century Resorter for 7 years now (it has seen the
    water only 3 of those years) I have to forwarn you that the joy of
    owning a wood boat is in seeing the work progress, not in using the
    boat.  Your initial plan of doing minor cosmetics, etc., will quickly
    give way to wanting to do it right and it may be years before you hit
    the water. The first time someone pulls up along side with their 
    $25,000 high tech fiberglass unit and compliments you on you beautiful
    wood boat, it all becomes worth it.  
    
    One thing to keep in mind with a wood boat, they don't like being
    trailered.  My boat leaks like a sieve until it has had a chance to 
    swell for about a week.  I leave it in the water still strapped to the
    trailer (and with the pump off) for about four days until I'm sure the
    pump (500 GPH) will be able to keep up.  Then I let it sit at it's
    mooring for 3 or 4 more days before I connect/align the prop shaft. The
    alignment can shift a whole inch during that time.  A bigger boat (this
    is only a 15 footer) could experience a much bigger change.  If this is
    a stern drive (you haven't said if it is stern drive or a straight
    inboard), it probably isn't as much of a concern but I don't know.
    
    One last thing, I love the ride that a wood boat gives.  My boat pounds
    like crazy in rough water because it's a flat bottom ski boat but it
    has such a solid feel to it.
    
    Good luck,
    Wayne (who's boat made last month's addition of Classic Boating Mag,
    "Reader's Photo Album" and I let everyone know about it!!  After all
    the time and money I've spent on the d___ thing, I have to get
    something back!) 

    
    Well, hooked up with my buddy this past Saturday and we went to look at 
    the Sea Skiff. This boat has definitely seen better days! There was
    rot in just about every nook and cranny, most superficial, but some
    very serious, especially near the transom. The boat was on an EZ loader
    type trailer which was angled way back so some hull work could be done.
    It was left this way for a long time.....uncovered. Speaking of the
    hull, it looked like the previous owner/s had never heard of fenders.
    Wow, gouges and scrapes the length of the port side. To make matters
    even worse, much of the boat's hull and deck had been stripped down to 
    bare wood and left that way! I ran without looking back.
    
    Funny thing is that the guy thought this boat was a real treasure and
    insisted that his price of $ 1200 was the deal of the century. Not to
    me. Hopefully, I've seen the "bad" end of things right off and will
    keep looking for a nice, restorable woodie. Thanks again for all the
    advice.
            
    ~Dick D.  

    Dick, what are you looking for and where do you live?  I know of a 1963
    16' Century Resorter with a 178 HP Gray Marine for sale in Groton,
    Mass.  The wood looks in great shape from what I could easily see and
    the boat is complete.  the upholstery looks like it just needs a good
    cleaning and it's original.  I'm not sure of the engine but you could
    always repower.  The asking price was $2000.  If it's still there and
    for sale I'm sure they could be talked down.  this would make a
    beautiful boat for someone with not alot of serious work needed on the
    wood.  I don't know where you would be using it but certainly wouldn't
    recommend it for the ocean.
    Wayne