Last fall I purchased a framed boat in Livingston, MT. She had been pretty beaten up, leaked real bad and had numerous bad patches placed over the chine cap. For $250, including a nice trailer, I was on my way home with a new project. Once home, and having no idea what I was doing, I began the slow process of pulling off the old glass, paint and chine cap in order to asses the damage and formulate a plan… That’s about where I am stuck… I now have a boat upside down in my drive completely striped with only the bottom glass still intact. To see some earlier photos navigate to:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=15rf0lk5.46eszytt...

I am hoping that some of you might be able to point me in the right direction, or at least provide me with some moral support during the restoration. My end goal is to have a nice usable (painted) boat for my 2 year old son and I to use this summer. He is as excited about it as I am… No kidding. So here is my plan and please feel free to make recommendations…

First I am planning on driving screws into the bottom and sides where gaps have emerged from under the chine cap. Next I am planning on treating all the exterior wood with CPES, focusing on the chine edge. She has some rot but not too bad. Then using a combination of fill-it and sawdust I am going to try and repair some of the more damaged areas and build out the chine edge. Next I am going to grind down the existing bottom that is overhanging the chine making it flush with the bottom and side edge, as it shows in the photos the bottom was put on over the bottom of the chine cap and flush with its edge, and glass was run over the bottom and chine cap (MOSTLY BAD REPAIRS). Then I am covering her in some epoxy and replacing the chine cap. Last some paint and then onto the interior.

So that’s about where I am… Please if you have any comments or info that might help I’d really appreciate it.

CHEERS… Banning