Winter project, thompson lapstrake boat resto.

240sx4u

240sx4u

Lunatic Member
My wife and I bought a boat yesterday, a thompson lapstrake constructed wood boat. Early 60's with a 90hp 1965 6cyl mercury on the back. It is a very sound boat, we are going to stick it in the water this week to find any leaks to address over the winter. It needs to be sanded and refinished. Someone painted it obviously. Anything from the white up should be stained and varnished mahogany.

Should be a good winter project.

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee225/240z4u/Boat/IMG_0223.jpg

Evan
 
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I had the very same boat back in the early seventies. It was a great old boat. I do suggest that you take an icepick to the hull in a search for dryrot in the bottom especially. I know this because I was in the middle of a lake and my best friend stepped through the floor. We had to pull anchor and get up on a plane to keep from sinking. Not a fun trip. Good luck with your project. Have fun.
 
I have spent a bunch of time looking for rot, the ribs are good and the floor is solid. Were you guys walking around on it without a floor installed? I don't think its really built to support weight in a small area like that. Thanks for the warning though!

Evan
 
Very cool boat.. but looks like one of those holes your money will start to disappear into... Sure wish I had something like that though.
 
Trying to remove the paint on the transom, decks, windshield, shear strake and gunwales to the point where you can stain and then apply about 10 coats of spar varnish is a monster of a job. Good luck. You may want to check locally for a marine surveyor with plenty of experience with lapstrake, and have him survey the boat. He will be able to identify exactly what needs to be done and what should be done before you embark upon this project. Old wooden boats can very, very easily become extremely costly. Some hull leakage won't show you enough information to determine whether this is a $1,000 project or a $6,000 nightmare.
 
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The boat is only supposed to be naturally finished on the decks essentially. I am not too worried about it. I tend to do well with tedious jobs, especially with a heated garage in the winter.

It won't cost 6k, Ill burn it before that. I can get my money back out of this thing by selling the motor and trailer if I really needed to!

Evan
 
240sx4u said:
The boat is only supposed to be naturally finished on the decks essentially. I am not too worried about it. I tend to do well with tedious jobs, especially with a heated garage in the winter.

It won't cost 6k, Ill burn it before that. I can get my money back out of this thing by selling the motor and trailer if I really needed to!

Evan
Click to expand...

Well, be very careful with any paint stripper in an enclosed, heated garage.
 
I plan on doing most of the work with my sanders and dust recovery system. Thanks for the concern.

I just got back from sticking it in the lake, and it has a small leak where the transom meets the bottom in the center. The sealant that originally was there is now missing.

Thanks!
 
Been there done that on a couple of lapstrake runabouts. Excellent projects. All a ton of fun. Lots of refinishing.

Worked in the marine business for decades - from high school to late 30's. IF the base coat on the interior is loose, strip it all and flush with penetrating epoxy as a primer before varnish. Makes a wonderful bonding surface and won't lift like a base coat. Gets in all the cracks and nooks and seals it up really well.

If you can stand the yellow cast - CETOL is an excellent line of finishes and they are more durable than almost any other varnish. Easy to touch up and blend and tough as nails. If the color does not work for you, it may be Epifanes over the epoxy base. That combo is tough too and it will sparkle like a diamond.
 
^ I may be picking your brain when it comes to finish time. Thanks for the info! I am drywalling and insulating the garage for the winter as we speak.
 
We have a friend with a fully restored 1963 Pipestone, so freaking ugly it's cool, vintage boats need more appreciation, good luck and enjoy.
 
240
I've got a 1961 Thompson Sea Lancer only mine has a Volvo IO in it for power. I would suggest you pull all the floors out and check to be sure all the limber holes are clear of debris. Also a good time to check the keel and rib ends for rot. I found my keel looked great but if you probed uP from underneath with a wire you could stick it right in to the wood. I ended up replacing the keel and 2/3rds of the rib ends in mine. It was worth it though. Once its done you'll love the boat as they are nice riding and really dry. Also check where the planks overlap and attach to the transom. Another known rot spot. Good luck with it
Steve
 
Thanks Steve, Ill keep this updated with pictures. The good news is that this thing fits in my shed with just inches to spare. Good start.

Evan
 
The word BOAT is just an acronym for the following phrase:

Break
Out
Another
Thousand

I've owned wooden boats since 1969.
 
Yeah, just like my typical car projects. I have been saying my 240sx was going to be finished after another thousand for about the last 4.

Got any pictures?
 
Heck, I thought you were going to show us a picture of it cruising in the water. Of course, I have a '75 Sea Ray that only needed a new motor since last spring and I just now scrounged up a good 302. So I understand.

We are debating which project gets the garage this winter. '69 Buick or the Sea Ray. The Sea Ray will take less work to be "road" ready, so it may get the nod.

Show us lots of pictures. :thmbsp:
 
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