Starting a Steele 16 drift boat restoration

This is my first project so I am looking for general guidance to start with. I have bee perusing other discussions and can see there are lots of choices to be made. I believe my boat is from the 70s and possibly was first sold to Jimmy Gabettas of Jimmy's All Season Angler in eastern Idaho.
The wood appears to be in great shape, but until I remove the Uhmw shoe, I won't know for sure.
As much as I like to keep things original, I also like natural wood, so I am torn between sticking with Steele's painted boat and showing off the wood grains. I have indoor storage to protect it from the Montana winters.

Your thoughts on paint vs clear and need for fiberglass vs a shoe?

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Permalink Reply by Kirk Miller on January 12, 2016 at 6:52pm
Some photos. I have pulled interior seats and front storage area.
Permalink Reply by Kirk Miller on January 13, 2016 at 8:09pm
After removing seats and bow storage
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Permalink Reply by Mike Thomas on January 13, 2016 at 9:58pm

Easiest way to post pics is to save it on your computer. In this post window click on the pic symbol(first blue box to the right of the word link) top left side of bar then select you pic and open it. Nice boat

Permalink Reply by Kirk Miller on January 12, 2016 at 7:00pm
Having trouble with photo upload
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Permalink Reply by Kirk Miller on January 13, 2016 at 8:07pm
Bow view
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Permalink Reply by Mike Thomas on January 13, 2016 at 9:59pm

Permalink Reply by Mike Thomas on January 13, 2016 at 10:03pm

Permalink Reply by Mike Thomas on January 13, 2016 at 10:05pm

Permalink Reply by Kurt Selisch on January 13, 2016 at 6:49am

Hi Kirk, looks like a great find on the Steele boat and a fun project. To upload a picture with your post, go to the tool bar above the reply box and click on the picture icon, which is second one from the left. Then you can browse your pictures and upload the one(s) you want to appear with a post.

I feel paint vs wood is a personal choice and how much work you want to put into the boat. Stripping and sanding all the old paint off to get a clear wood finish is going to be a lot of work.....but I bet there is some beautiful clear old growth fir marine plywood under that paint if the boat is 1970's vintage.

Bottom protection is going to depend on where and how you use the boat. A UHMW shoe is bomber, but has downsides in adding weight, having to screw it into the bottom frames, and it will eventually get brittle and start cracking around the screws that secure it to the bottom. Biggest downside especially in the cold Montana winters is UHMW shrinks and expands with temperature fluctuations. If your shop/garage is not heated, the UHMW may shrink so severely that it pulls the screws out of the wood. But if you will be floating fast, rocky, shallow rivers it provides probably the best protection. A lot of folks are going to epoxying a 20 oz triaxle fiberglass cloth to the bottom then doing a finish coat of epoxy mixed with graphite powder for a hard and slick bottom. Or you can use a gallon of Coat-it for the finish coat which is basically the same thing, just the graphite powder is pre-mixed in. This process is relatively easy to do and you do not have to penetrate the bottom with screws and provides good protection against general use of boat ramps, gravel bars, and an occasional rock encounter. Tons of info on this site regarding applying the glass cloth / epoxy bottom so you can search past forums for more info. You can search past forums for most questions you may have as there is great insight from members. Or you can just post a questions and folks will chime in with thoughts.

Have fun and please keep us all posted on your progress!  Kurt  

Permalink Reply by David Jensen on January 13, 2016 at 7:49am

Paint v. varnish...?  I have two Keith Steele's;  one paint, one varnish.  Both surfaces are great as long as you can keep them out of rain, snow, and bright sun when not out on the water.

To find out more about your boat, get the serial number of the plate and call Steve Steele.  541 451 1532.  He has Keith's shop records, and can tell you who bought your boat, and when.

Permalink Reply by Kirk Miller on January 13, 2016 at 7:54pm
Another attempt at uploading photos
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Permalink Reply by David Jensen on January 13, 2016 at 8:22pm

Kirk, it is for sure a Keith Steele.  The serial I wrote about is on the stem on the plate you see in the photo.  After seeing your photo, I think I am amending my previous post to recommend a non-varnish exterior.  On my painted Steele, I have used quality marine paint;  there are others here more expert than I about new high tech epoxy finishes.  I have seen the latter, and think they are great.  For me, I will continue to re-paint my 1987 Steele only because that is what I have done since Keith called me to pick it up.  My 1997 Steele will remain varnished, for the same reason.  RIP Keith.

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