Vintage Race Boat Shop

  We maintain vintage wooden boats.

Morning Star

Owner - Bob Ainscow

On March 7, 2004 Morning Star was transported from Long Island to the Vintage Race Boat Shop for some wood repairs, bottom paint, and lots of fresh varnish.

 

       

 

Finally, after waiting patiently in the queue outside the shop, on April 17th Morning Star was moved inside and hoisted off the trailer. We then aggressively sanded the bottom and hull sides - to get them real smooth and to exposed any wood issues. We used 220 grit paper followed by 320 on the hull sides, and 60 grit paper followed by 120 on the bottom.

Very impressive, this is an original 1928 Chris Craft bottom still in very good condition. We only had to refasten a few planks, caulk a few seams, and perform some minor epoxy repairs on the stem. These photos show the repairs to one bottom plank, the epoxy build-up on the stem, the shaping back to original form, and the results after painting the bottom.

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The original hull planks were still in very good condition, but had separated just a bit, and one section on the starboard side had a titch of rot just starting. So we caulked the open seams with mahogany colored Phenoseal, cutout the rotted section, and dry fitted new mahogany repairs.

The new mahogany strips were then epoxied in place, leaving a seam that would be filled with mahogany colored 3M-5200. This will make the repair very strong, allow the section to flex, and will disappear under four coats of Epifanes varnish.

And on May 7th - we applied the first coat of Epifanes varnish on the deck, transom and hull sides. And for some reason, the Varnish Gods were with us, as we put down perhaps our best coat of Epifanes varnish yet - very thick and with very little dust - sometimes you win ???!!!

After staining and the first coat of Epifanes varnish -   the inlay seam was filled with mahogany colored 3M-5200 adhesive. This will make the repair very strong, allow the section to flex, and will disappear under four coats of Epifanes varnish.

 

       

 

We spend many, many hours sanding between each coat of Epifanes varnish, using ScotchBrite Pads. This is a two step process, first fairing and smoothing the surface with a Dewalt Random Orbital sander, and then final hand sanding with the grain, and paying attention to all the little nooks and crannies. Please note my "Patent Pending" dustless sanding system. Don't laugh - it works - and I'm taking orders ???!!!

After four coats of varnish, the deck seams were "pinstriped" by Jerome Holden of JC Signs. This was done freehand, and the results are stunning. Jerome also added the year of the boat "1928" in gold leaf on the transom.

After the pin stripping and gold leaf work, we applied one more coat of Epifanes varnish on the deck and transom - for a total of five coats. Then we attacked the interior, removing the seats and floor boards, and the hundreds of little chromed screws that hold the ceiling panels. Two coats of Epifanes varnish were applied to the interior - including the seats, flooring, ceiling panels, dash and steering wheel.

After letting the varnish cure for a week, all the chrome hardware was reinstalled.

Finally, after the seatbacks were installed, the boat was done, time to get ready for launching, swelling and sea trials ???!!!

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