Porkchunker -- New member with a wooden boat project

[Porkchunker]

Found this site after a long search of the internet. I have a Parker 2510 that I use on the Ches. Bay for fishing and an occassional overnight with the boys (they love catching croaker (hardhead)). My second boat is a wooden fishing boat my father built in 1958. I was 6 years old when he started it and 8 when he floated it for the first time. Here is a link to some pics of it: http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats/skopje179.html

The boat was build from a Canadian 5-ply birch hull--supposedly by a company that build "Mosquito Bombers" for the British during WWII. Wish I could recover the name of that company. Anyway, he took plans from a 1950's edition of Popular Mechanics, and basically build an early version of what has become a "bass boat." Of course the modern bass boat bears no resemblence to the early versions. In the 50's someone decided to take the common open row/fishing boats, and build them up with more substantial gunwhales, some bulkheads with hatch covers for coolers, and raised decks with pedestal seats. Dad covered the hull with one sheet of fiberglass cloth and resin. Also soaked stringers and the areas below the deck with resin and one sheet of cloth. Everything above the decks were stained and varnished.

When I was a small tyke, I used to lay on top of the hatch covers holding a rod while Dad trolled for Trout and Walleye in Lake Glendo and Gurnsey on the S. Platte River in WY. I later learned to water ski behind the twin 1960 Johnson 18 hp rope-start powered boat. When I got into Junior High, it would no longer get me out of the water (something about the power to weight ratio of the person being pulled ). Dad took good care of the boat all these years, and about 4 years gave it to me.

The motors were showing their age, and I already had two teenage boys, who were already too big to ski behind the orignal power. So...I repowered with a couple of 1977 Johnson 35 hp electric-start motors. By 1977, Johnson had figured out how to double the hp in the same size package, so the newer motors fit perfectly.

We have had three great boating/fishing seasons with it. Unfortunately, while trailering through a little town in VA, I ran over a curb with the trailer--breaking the tire--and damaged the glass on the keel. Water intruded into the keel, swelling the glass.

I discovered the damage early (within the first 30 days), stripped her down to the bare wood, turned her on her back, peeled the glass of the keel, let her dry for about 6 mo., and now in the process of restoring her. Will keep you posted as I progress, and will probably ask a lot of questions along the way.

Porkchunker http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats/skopje179.html

[Porkchunker]

Guess I'm truly new--should have posted this in the wooden boat forum.

Porkchunker http://www.thebayguide.com/rec.boats/skopje179.html

[longliner45]

hey chunker; neat boat Im green with envy ,thats where I want to be. love the storage space and ice box I also love to catch croakers. watch out for them damn oyster toads !

[Oyster]

By some chance have you read up or followed up on this lead about the builder from this operation? This is a pretty interesting place to start.

http://www.commonwealthplywood.com/en/mosquito.shtml
Head Office

Commonwealth Plywood
15, boul. Labelle, P.O. Box 90,
Ste-Therese, Quebec
Canada J7E 4H9
Tel: (450) 435-6541
Fax: (450) 435-3814

[PAR]

I've seen a lot of that style of boat as a kid growing up in the same area. I use to sail by the Proving Grounds, getting chased out on several occasions. Many of those boats had forward controls and a windshield, but most were just open, midship helm configurations, like yours. They were simply built, ply over sawn frames, yours seems an excellent example of the breed.

Drying her out is good. If the bottom is sheathed and over the chines, check for water intrusion in these areas as well. It's not uncommon to find soft spots in both the topside and bottom planking along the chine log, because the sheathing has worked loose or sheered away, but still looks to be in contact with the surrounding surface. As you can guess this permits moisture to get into the planking and work it's ugly magic. It's nice to see epoxy set sheathing, as most were poly and the skins didn't hold up very well. Typical locations for this delaminating would be within a few feet of the transom along the chine.

[Porkchunker]

Oyster,

Thanks for the pointer. I sent them an e-mail with a link to some pics of the hull, and asked if they built the hull. Will let the group know the results.

Porkchunker

[mmd]

Porkchunker, I may be able to identify the builder of your hull. Are you able to take some photos of specific features of the boat and forward them to me?

[Oyster]

Porkchunker, please send me a PM, or change your profile to receive them, and I will respond offline to your inquiry about painting.