View Full Version : DB project, WITH PHOTOS!!!!!.
Dogfish
10-10-2002, 11:59 PM
What a score!
My brother worked on a home remodel on Lake Washington this year and found a guy who was upgrading his driftboat. He was having a new custom wood boat built for him because he had gotten all of the use he could out of a 1985 Keith Steele 16' wood drift boat. The boat has a few issues, but after I replace the bottom, chines, and abrasion strip, I will get the boat back into fishing order. I figure about $300 and a week's worth of work will be needed.
The boat had a UHMW sheet for hull protection, and this is what caused the dry rot issues I will be dealing with. Water got in underneath it, and never allowed the boat to dry out. The only dry rot I have found is in the chine and bottom of the boat, none in the sides.
I understand that there have been new epoxies and resins that have come out since this boat was built that will help to avoid this. I will be replacing the fir chines with oak or teak, and for the metal abrasion strip on the outside of the chine I am thinking stainless steel.
Any suggestions on materials, where to get them, etc? Looking for sources of marine grade plywood, epoxies, resins, and fiberglass materials. I think I have the oak and teak figured out.
Thanks in advance,
Andy
P.S. If any of you know Tom, let him know the boat is very much appreciated, when he gets back from his trip on the Babine.
[ 10-16-2002, 10:52 PM: Message edited by: Dogfish ]
Don't know much about replacing the wood, but I have an aluminium drifter that I just worked the bottom over. I had a couple of leaks along the seams, and my UHMW sheet was lifting in a couple of places. I hit the seams, front and and back with gluvit. This was my first time working with gluvit and it worked GREAT! No more leaks and it looks good to boot. I used regular old contact cement to put the UHMW sheet back down. Everything came out nice. If you are going to remove that sheet, that gluvit worked nice and I would recommend it. It went on easy and cured very nice. I don't know about using it on wood, but I would look into it. Good luck, it sounds like you are going to have a nice boat when you are done.
ampersat
10-11-2002, 06:38 AM
when i was desperate for a drifter i looked at wood and figured it would end up having a problem with uhmw on top of it. before you get rid of that sheet of plastic, send greg tatman an email and find out how he'd deal with it. heck, he'll have all the wood, epoxy and know-how you're looking for. lots of folks successfully deal with uhmw on the bottom of their boats, so i wouldn't blame the plastic for the problems with the boat right off the bat. was the boat garaged or well covered during storage? that was the reason i didn't go with a wood boat - no good storage area.
cully
10-11-2002, 07:24 AM
a site that has helped me alot with my wood drifter is www.montana-riverboats.com (http://www.montana-riverboats.com) go to bulletin board a post your question. One thing you should know. If you get into talking expoxy for any reason, they'll reccomend Raku. That's a brand name. I don't know a thing about it. I used West Marine and it worked great for me.
Haftafish
10-11-2002, 07:35 AM
I had a beautiful Wood Drift Boat built by I think it was Karhuas or something like that in Grants Pass. The metal sticker was still on it. Anyway it had a fiberglass bottom that was peeling away and I stripped it all off and the wood underneath looked brand new. Replaced the fiberglass and it was great. Slipped through the water better than any drift boat I have ever had. The problem is storage. Must be in a garage. Also a little secret taught to me by the owner I bought it from is to mix equal parts of linseed oil and turpentine together. Heat the mixture up to fairly hot, put on a pair of thick rubber gloves and get a rag dip it into the mixture and slop the stuff all over the inside of the boat. Let it sit for overnight and its amazing how the wood soaks that mixture up. Also that is the reason why the wood looked so good when I replaced the glass on the bottom. Hope these tips help. Me....I'm too lazy and have an aluminum drift boat I can leave outside uncovered since the weather doesn't hurt it. :rolleyes:
[ 10-11-2002, 07:36 AM: Message edited by: Haftafish ]
Dogfish
10-16-2002, 10:57 PM
Here are a few photos from my Driftboat Project. including before, during..........and hopefully after.
Side view of the boat "before"
http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/uploads/UP1481.jpg
Top view of boat "before"
http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/uploads/UP1483.jpg
Bottom view of boat "before"
http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/uploads/UP1484.jpg
Removal of bottom hull
http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/uploads/UP1486.jpg
Average rot
http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/uploads/UP1487.jpg
ampersat
10-17-2002, 07:18 AM
man, they're a lot of work sometimes, but in the end you've gotta love a woodie. they're just so pretty. you're going to have a nice boat when you're done.
what's up with that pipe insulation on the inside rails??? that's gotta go! i can almost hear you crying the first time you grind the new bottom. ouch! are going to put the uhmw back on when you're done?
Bait O' Eggs
10-17-2002, 07:49 AM
Looks like a fun project. I have built a couple wood boats (16 ft drifter and an 8 foot pram) and it is amazing how many fish the boat catches when the sawdust is flying. :smile:
I would like to build another 16 foot driftboat one of these days. If I only had some place to store a wood drift boat out of the weather. Your photos are just stirring up my wanna do list. :tongue:
Keep us posted. :cheers:
MetalHead
10-17-2002, 08:01 AM
Dogfish, my son and I are building a wood drifter for his senior project in school. I have found www.boatdesigns.com (http://www.boatdesigns.com) (Ken Hankinson) to be very helpful in questions of materials and how to. You can go to the FAQ area on his site, or e-mail question to them. They also list thier phone number so you can call and talk one on one with a boat builder.
Beaver93
10-17-2002, 08:10 AM
Might also try the forum on:
www.duckboats.net (http://www.duckboats.net)
The people there are very helpful and have lots of experience building and repairing wood boats.
Corey
Dogfish,
Nice boat now, I'm sure it will be awesome when you're finished. I've got to hand it to ya, looks like a lot of elbow grease to me, but if you love to work the wood you're in the groove! Be sure to post the finished images. :cool:
V. Green
10-17-2002, 08:51 AM
I would suggest that you go to West Marine and buy the West Systems epoxy. If you are doing the bottom of the boat you can get the West Systems graphite to mix in the epoxy giving the boat a very slick surface . I would also suggest you use a 6oz fiberglass cloth with the epoxy.
I hope this helps.
Big Willie
10-17-2002, 01:40 PM
I think wood driftboats are neato. One of these days...
Dogfish
10-17-2002, 10:05 PM
Ampersat,
The pipe insulation was put on the rails just before I started the tear-down to protect the rails from dents and scratches while the boat spends the next few weeks upside down. Only temporary.
Hey Dogfish!
Looking good!
Those pipe seat holders are very similiar to what is on my Eastside. We built a reversible set of seats from 5/4 Cedar. If you have one rider, he sits high in the center with two "cubbie holes" if two riders then you turn it over and have one "cubbie". If you want I will try and get a picture for you, or I will see you at the next Flotilla. Or perhaps on the Satsop once you get your boat together.
Good Luck!
will_e_fish
10-18-2002, 01:42 PM
Dogfish great pics good luck on the boat. Wood boats are way cool. We are having great dry wheather to work on them. I have repaired fiberglass and wood boats of all sizes and have had lots of fun with it. Altough now smelling resin or epoxy makes me itch, I think I got toxic/poisoned working with it so much. Even with ventilation respirators & covered head to toe it still got to me.
I have researched lots of options for building a wood drifter. They are pretty when done right! the swirls of the grain and patterns are natures artwork glorified. Going with a kit saves time but I like cutting and fitting everything together myself. Like a giant puzzle, but I need more working room as the garage is already crowded. Woodshop space is limited to the basement. As for storing the stock its here and there.
Now only if I could find a resin or expoxy that didn't smell so bad.