Delcraft Tunnel Boat Complete Restoration

West system epoxy and silica filler

progress today on the port sponson. First piece of ply fitted and installed. Forward piece was fitted and cut to rough size. Backing block for the joint between the two pieces also cut for exact fit between the stringers, laminated and ready to install. FINALLY putting pieces back ON the boat instead of taking it apart...

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Originally Posted by Tom Smyth

First piece of the bottom is in. Also the tabs to support the ply between each of the tunnel stringers. Don't have the fancy equipment to do a nice skarf joint. Originally built with a butt joint so that is what i am using. Maybe the second piece in tomorrow. Still wont float yet !!!!!!!!!

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Scarf joint much better than a butt joint and doesn't have to be backed up with substructure either...........

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Originally Posted by Tom Smyth

Tunnel bottom in and bonded. Working on the corner pieces. Then about 400 screw holes to fill and sand

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In today's world if race boats were built out of wood, the skins would be ka-chinked on with air driven staples..........much quicker! Seebold and other builders went to the trouble of using aluminum screws to save weight. Trouble was that no race boat was expected to last over 4-5 years. You could have a perfectly maintained hull and the paint or epoxy finish would end up bubbling up at the screw locations with powdered corrosion.

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Originally Posted by WaterZebra

In today's world if race boats were built out of wood, the skins would be ka-chinked on with air driven staples..........much quicker! Seebold and other builders went to the trouble of using aluminum screws to save weight. Trouble was that no race boat was expected to last over 4-5 years. You could have a perfectly maintained hull and the paint or epoxy finish would end up bubbling up at the screw locations with powdered corrosion.

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Yeah not worried about weight at this point in the boats life. Stainless screws on the tunnel bottom. Sponson sides will be epoxy and stainless staples. Sponson bottoms stainless ring neck nails and screws with epoxy everywhere

little bit of progress. Starboard sponson side glued in place. soon to start on the sponson bottom running surfaces...

both port and starboard sponson side panels installed and planned to final size. Started laying out the port sponson bottom running surface, 9 MM okumi play. Test fit to insure proper location and laying out and pre drilling fasteners locations. Reinforced on of the ribs to be wider and placing the running surface joint directly over that position. (thank you Mark). Waiting on ring shank nails. Maybe get this installed late this week...

progress. Skins on the Port side sponson. filling screw and nail holes in the nice cool florida weather.... NOT !!! ITs friggin HOTT !!!!!!!!!

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Originally Posted by Tom Smyth

The boat originally had no rear cowling. Greg added one sometime during his ownership of th eboat. I have a flexible rear cowling for th eboat but plan to add ribs to it to make it a bit more conventional.

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Somewhere in the past, this boat had Evinrude Strangler power and a rear cowling. It wasn't Greg, do you know who?

That closeup of that chine/bottom joint looks awesome! Cool! Very nice work.

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Originally Posted by WaterZebra

Somewhere in the past, this boat had Evinrude Strangler power and a rear cowling. It wasn't Greg, do you know who?

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yes Ron Baker also raced this boat with OMC power.

botom being sanded and the first of three coats of epoxy being applied. Such fun in the 96-degree Florida heat... Roger H where are you when i need you ??????

And what else to do at 5 am other than mix epoxy, chill it in an ice tray and apply a little bit to beat the Florida heat ?

Looking good Tom, Why the difference in the chine on the pads?

That’s the way it was originally built.