Runabout Reflections

Formerly named "Wawasee," this boat is in our shop to have her named changed to "BabyCakes." This process involves sanding-down the transom to remove the protective layers of varnish that cover the painted name, as well as the paint itself. A professional sign painter has been contracted to design and paint the new name on the transom.

We will also sand the boat overall, and apply varnish to correct some runs in the current varnish.

"BabyCakes" is also having her engine, an original Hercules M-series, overhauled. When the work is completed, the boat will be "drive-way sea trialed."

This boat was a first place winner and took Best Chris Craft of Show at the 1996 Concourse D'Elegance at Lake Tahoe, CA.

"Tuxedo Taxi" -- 1929 Chris Craft Sedan Limousine:

This 1929 one-of-a-kind Chris Craft is having her motor, an original A-70 V-8, updated and overhauled -- counterweights have been added to the crankshaft; modern insert conecting rod bearings will replace the old-fashioned Babbits; the engine will be a zero-balanced motor, and all of its components will be blueprinted for future records.

"Tuxedo" will be drive-way sea trialed (and you bet we'll take her out on the water soon, as well), and will get two coats of overall varnish.

"Emma II" -- 1949 Chris Craft runabout:

"Emma II" is in our shop to have the cracks in her front seats repaired, and to have the final polish added to her decks. New structural supports, which are matched in apearance to the original supports, have been added to the seat frames to enhance their strength. The transom, deck, and hull will be sanded fair, and five coats of varnish will be applied. Her deck will also be re-striped during this process.

"Emma II" is a Christ Craft Utility boat, of the same model as the boat which was featured in the movie "On Golden Pond." She has many interesting wooden details on her decks, such as a curved lip running around her fore-deck. Her front seats are an unusual design, as the frames are almost free-standing, attached only at each side on the deck, and at the floor. This design has made the seat frames more vulnerable to fatigue cracks which have been effectively "erased" -- now that the frames are strengthened, the design can be apreciated for its beauty once again.

This boat, is in the process of being fully restored from the skeleton-up, has already had a new cold-molded West System bottom installed.

The topside planking has been replaced, sanded fair, and recieved the first few coats of varnish.

The original Hercules MBL engine has been rebuilt and upgraded to 225 hp at 3400rpm (resulting from "engine builder's magic" -- the engine work has been done by John Matson of Race Designs, which shares our warehouse complex).

"Mr. Boat" -- 1941, 15.5-foot Chris Craft runabout:

This all-original boat has had its original bottom (which was in excellent condition) refastened. The topside planking has been removed, refastened, and glued, on the deck, topside, and transom.

The boat will be faired, stained, and finished overall, and all of her hardware will be re-chromed.

In addition, her engine is receiving a complete overhaul.

"Roaring Forties" -- 1940, 17-foot Chris Craft custom "barrelback":

This boat was delivered to her owners on January 15, 1997.

"Roaring Forties" came to our shop with small imperfections in her stain color, and a large imperfection in her topside planking -- the planks had been installed by the previous restorationist, without sanding them fair. This gave the sides of the boat, which should be a smooth curve from the bottom chine to the deck, with a step-wise apearance. To correct this problem, the boat had her topside planks stripped to bare wood, and then faired with a power sander.

Then, the topsides were re-stained to Chris Craft mahogany color, and 10 coats of varnish (as well as 2 additional sealer coats) were applied to the wood.

The bottom of the boat was re-painted a traditional Chris Craft brass color, which shows-off the color of the wood quite well.

The decks recieved 2 additional coats of varnish, after being sanded smooth, and small imperfections in her stain on the decks were blended away. Finally, after the final coat of varnish had been applied to the entire boat, her deck seams were re-striped.

"Roaring Forties" is once more a truly fine looking boat!

1947 U-22, un-named:

This boat is undergoing a very extensive overhaul. The chine, keel, frames, and inner and outer planking are all being replaced. The boat will also have a cold-molded bottom installed.

The topsides and deck will be faired and refinished. The boat's Chrysler Crown engine is also undergoing an overhaul.

"Tahoe Nostalgia" -- 1967, 21-foot Century Coronado:

This boat is in our shop for repair of damage resulting from the boat's going aground on rocks during a storm.

The bottom planking is has been rebuilt completely, using planks cut from marine grade plywood, and she has had a cold-molded bottom installed. Painting of the bottom is nearly completed.

The original topside planking will be refinished, including blending of the stain color, and additional coats of varnish. A new planked deck is being installed, to the customer's specification, to replace the original vinyl cloth deck covering.

Those are our projects for now!

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