boat repair

Hi, 

I just joined your group.  If I'm making this too long, I apologize in advance.  I recently acquired a 16' wooden drift boat,  manufactured by Keith Steel.  The boat needs some help.  It currently has hole on the side wall near the bow which I plan to blend in a new piece of plywood by tappering the surrounding sides and the new plywood.

One of the batten's has been removed and there is some damage to the plywood under the missing batten.  The steel screws under the batten appear to be tight but show signs of corrosion.

The bottom has somewhat weather damaged with some of the outside ply broken off.  I believe it was previously stored upside down in the weather. The bottom  was nailed with steel ring-shank nails to the internal frames.   Several of the nails are missing.  I w

I would like to perform repairs to the boat so that it will can be used for the next 5 to 10 years but not try to fully restore it to pristine condition.

1st question:  Are steel ring-shank nails still the preferred method for securing the bottom to the frame?  If not, what is and what is the recommended material, stainless steel brass, etc.  Note:  I don't intend to use the boat in salt water.

2nd Question:  Based on the condition of the boat, my current plan is to sand off the paint.  then fill any nail and screw holes with epoxy filler.  Then provide a layup of epoxy  and 1 layer of 6 oz E-glass.  Hopefully the glass and resin will strengthen the structure for damage done over the years.

I likely will finish the repairs by painting the plywood and varnish the handrails and the new battens.

Does the above approach appear to be good solutions.

Thank you

Ernie

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by larry Hambley on February 10, 2010 at 11:47am
Ernie,

You don't want steel nails (maybe stainless) I believe Bronze Silicone ring shank nails or stainless steel screws are what most builders use. You may want to review WBP archive forums and blogs for general info on a rebuild. There is a wealth of information there for the project. Also, if you don't have a copy of Roger Fletcher's book " Drift Boats and River Dories " you need one. I got mine from Amazon for around $32. It is the Bible for drift boats.
Permalink Reply by Ernie Lee on February 13, 2010 at 11:30am
Larry,

Thank you for your response. I now have Fletcher's book on order and keeping myself busy reading the forum. I'm having difficulty locating a local source for 1/4" doug fur marine plywood for patching a hole in the side of the boat. Does anyone know of a source in the Eugene, Portland corridor for this material.

Thank you

Ernie
Permalink Reply by Brad Dimock on February 13, 2010 at 2:48pm
This may be sacrilege to say, but I've used ACX sheathing plywood for repairs. The 1/4 inch is usually quite clean and void-free. If you're coating it with epoxy anyhow, it will probably be fine.

I'd go with stainless steel screws. The silicone bronze ones are really pricey and prone to shearing if tight. Seems like ring-shank nails eventually start to back out, which is catastrophic under a coat of glass.
Permalink Reply by michael a. churchill on February 15, 2010 at 8:59am
Hi Ernie, Like you I acquired a Keith Steele driftboat in 1979, it was full of water and three full garbage cans of living, stinking shit that I cleaned out. I got it home and dried it out for two weeks then began the long laborious task of restoring it, which took a year. Some kids took a hammer and knocked three holes through the hull just above the strakes which I filled with layers of 7oz. cloth and a isophthalic resin bog. I ground this down flush with the plywood, then covered the whole thing with 7oz cloth, including the bottom. I replaced all the rusted gunwale thoughbolts with brass and every other piece of rusty hardware with brass or bronze. The body of the boat is chocolate brown with all the frame members and wood trim inside and outside with McCluskeys spar varnish. The original ring-eye bolts on the bow and stern I had chrome plated. When I was done I got a ton of compliments and still do to this day but now I've got the re-restore scheduled this summer. I think you will find your boat to be one of the prettiest and easiest handling boats that have ever been built and will give you many, many great fishing trips like mine has.
Good luck with your project, if I can be of any help let me know, Mike C.
Permalink Reply by michael a. churchill on February 15, 2010 at 9:10am
For the marine grade quarter inch ply or any thing for your boat that needs to be replaced or rebuilt contact Silas at Rays River Dories, 3839 SW Multnomah Blvd. 503-244-3608
Permalink Reply by Ernie Lee on February 17, 2010 at 7:17pm
Michael,

Thank you for your reply and encouragement. I was able to find Doug fur marine plywood at Woodcrafters in Portland, not to be confused with Woodcraft. I found out that Woodcrafters normally stock a small inventory of doug fur marine plywood. Your upgraded Keith Steel must be a great boat. I hope I will be able to get mine into a safe condition for the rivers. Thanks for the info. about Ray's Dories. I likely will take you up on your offer for help as I get deeper into the project.

Ernie

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