Wooden Boat People
By McKenzieDriftBoat.com
Another Old Gal
Here's a really interesting boat I found in Salem last summer. She is an early 60s Rapid Robert built by Boat Specialties. Roger looked at this boat before i got out there to get it and came up with the possibility that it was built by John Ostrem for John Henney. Henney was the owner/builder of Boat Specialties. It has been really hard to come up with info about them since the company didn't build very long.She was stored outside. Varnished exterior.
About 5 layers of wonderful paint on most of the interior. The middle seat was not original and added by the previous owner. He used the boat as a gold dredger and mounted the pump on that seat. Very interesting.
The previous owner found all the floor boards and the transom insert under some junk in her backyard.
For as old as she is and how she was stored, it was in fantastic shape. A partical board "shoe" was attached to the bottom. Removed that and the crap that didn't hold it on. The bottom was on it's way to rot city. Chine caps, rub rails, and all trim was removed. Took the bottom down to bare wood and added a 1/4 in. shoe that is not removable. 17 oz. biaxial and epoxy.
I'm very partial to glass and painted exterior.maintenance friendly. But I couldn't bring myself to cover the 50 years worth of use and that fir plywood.
Pretty standard from there. Inside was scraped to wood. outside got 3.5 oz glass and clear finished. I was able to salvage the Rub Rails. New chine caps and outside shear rail. That piece was damaged when they lifted the boat with a crane to store it. Why?
Yesterday was the first day we've seen sun in seems like 6 months.
The project took about 130 hours to complete. I was so excited to take this boat to the Oregon show as you don't see many of these style boats any more.
Roger, I hope you like the old gal in her original form.
Dutch.
Views: 1940
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Hal Jaeke on
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Dutch,
Nice job, the old girl is Beautiful! I like the removable board on the transom. My old Brigg's, Rogue River Special has that big dip in the back for a motor,and I've always thought that could be a problem if you backed into a hole on the River. I think I'll look at doing something similar. Thanks for the pics! Hal
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Permalink Reply by chris towles on
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Dutch,
Nice job on the resto. I am always amazed at how many fixer uppers you can find on oregon craigslist. Can't wait to see her at the boat show. What kind of wood did you use on the Chine battens and outwales? Looks a little dark for oak or fir. Need to fix a broken fir batten on my boat right now and have been wondering about other options that may be available locally, especially in 16' lengths. I may fix it quick and cheap, but have been debating replacing both with a harder wood, the fir tends to flake in damage spots and catches hooks on the bottom often.
Chris
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Permalink Reply by Adam "Dutch" Gottschling on
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Chris,
Chine caps are mahogany. IPE for the shear. Found the IPE in Driggs. South Fork Skiff used this guys shop space and left some wood there. I may have a couple 16s exactly i'll sell ya.
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I found alot of ipe at Jackson lumber last season and thought about using that. I was worried about its bending ability. That stuff is probably the most bomber wood you could use for that application.. Super rot resistant and very hard. Heard about it ruining tools. Did you just oil it, or did it get bright work also. I may be in touch about those 16', I'll get your # from Billy or Taylor. Do you have a full board, or did you already cut 5/8" battens. Still trying to decide on redoing both battens the right way or just getting another cheap piece of fir to get her back on the water asap. This bad weather needs to quit so I can get out in the driveway and do some work. Plenty of little finish work things to do before the boat show next month. I got too busy fishing at the end of last season, and the boat never got fully finished. Just got more epoxy and sikaflex yesterday, so it's time for more boat building!
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Permalink Reply by Roger Fletcher on
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Very nicely done, Dutch! Sorry you couldn't be here this weekend to show her off. Next year perhaps? I think I still have her photos under those Doug Fir laden with bows, leaves and other debris. Those OG fir panels are worth preserving. Thanks for a job well done.
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Permalink Reply by Tom Anderson on
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Hello Dutch . . .
I was just referred to you by Chris Towles. I'm going to look at a drift boat on Friday that was built by Boat Specialties. I'm wondering what you learned about them. I'm after what will be my first wood drift boat, and have decided to go the fix-up route, but am focusing on one with not much work required. I mostly want to know that BSI built a good boat.
Thanks in advance for any help/insight you can offer.
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That thing looks great. I'd snap it up if I were you. Doesn't even look like it needs much work. The varnish looks pretty good. What have you got to lose.. Any boat that looks that good after 50 years Is one to buy quick before someone else does. It's got a 10th frame and everything.. Old school!
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That sounds encouraging. I sure like the looks of the boat, but haven't seen it in person yet. I'm wondering how these in particular were built . . . as I want to 'tough' up the bottom as much as possible. Man, you got me jazzed up to drive over and get it asap, but I won't be able to make it until Friday. Hopefully he'll hold on to it for me until then.
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Missed it! Called today to make the arrangements, convince I would buy, and it was sold over the weekend.
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Crap. keep trying!!!! Sorry it took so long to respond to you Tom. Been fishing and trying to get boats and other things ready for the 6 months of winter.
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Again, beautiful job, Dutch! I remember her well. Get your butt out to the McKenzie boat show next April and drag her along. No excuses : )
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