Wooden Boat People

By McKenzieDriftBoat.com

New Project

Found this one in a field in central Oregon in the little "town" of Mt. Vernon.

She's a standard 16x48. Who knows how old it is but we're sure its a Keith Steele. No plaque but everything in the boat says Steele. Bow stem, seats, weep holes, fasteners, fly deck, knee locks, ect.

Yes. As you all just noticed she is in very rough visual shape. But. The boat is very sound and i haven't found any structural damage or rot.

Also for all you guys out in Oregon. Notice the name plate on the bow. Could have been an outfitter mark. May tell us more about this boat. Its on both sides and symmetric. The previous owner had absolutely no information on the boat. Other then it's old......

Can't wait to see whats under all that crap!!!!

Roger. Here we go again.

Dutch

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Jonathan Clarke on November 13, 2013 at 6:36pm

What a respectful restoration of such a soulful old boat! Well done!

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Permalink Reply by Tom Anderson on November 12, 2013 at 8:02pm

Looks great! Love the 'character' look.

Did you varnish over the epoxy on the exterior?

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Permalink Reply by Adam "Dutch" Gottschling on November 12, 2013 at 8:19pm

Tom, I was prepping the outside for paint actually. But like i said it became very hard for me after every coat to cover up the "character". Now, if i decide to go with the clear finish i will sand it down and do varnish. I just think it looks good right now as it is plus i was getting very ansy to float it......I store inside and i will make a permanent decision next year.

Probably clear coat...

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Permalink Reply by Tom Anderson on November 13, 2013 at 3:11pm

Sounds like a plan. I might consider the same with the boat I picked up this summer.

I'm assuming you did not glass the sides, just epoxy?

Oil-only interior as you have promoted in the past?

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Permalink Reply by Adam "Dutch" Gottschling on November 13, 2013 at 4:54pm

I did not glass the outside at all. what you see in that picture is 8 coats of epoxy. The rub rails/ rock guard were in very good shape and i would have caused too much damage to the ply if i would have attempted to remove them. Epoxy had dripped behind them from the awesome epoxy work from the past owner. So i filled in some small voids behind them with more epoxy. Glassing over them would have also been a pain. So they stayed and are now no longer removable.

Oiled interior as usual. I promise i will never paint or varnish and interior. I always think about the next guy who will be restoring my boats in 50 more years. It's such a pain to refinish. Oil Oil Oil.

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Permalink Reply by Dajuane Thomas on December 19, 2013 at 6:35pm

What type of oil did you use on the interior? That's a great looking boat! WOW!!!

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Permalink Reply by Adam "Dutch" Gottschling on November 22, 2013 at 6:35pm

More pictures of the finished boat.

Dutch.

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Permalink Reply by Terry E Walsh on November 12, 2013 at 8:15pm

Wow looks awesome! Great job

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Permalink Reply by Mike Baker on November 13, 2013 at 7:42am

Great Job once again Dutch. There is a trend in the car world now to clear coat old hot rods and such to show off the 'Patina'. After all the mechanicals are restored. A cool approach to boats as well.