Wooden boat recovery/restoration

See if I can revive this old post. I own the distin boat now.

Looking for pictures of other distins.

Here’s a few taken when I picked it up.

 

Framing on the boat looks pretty good. Oxalic acid can clean up a lot of wood staining. Those boats are much more attractive with the hulls finished bright than painted.
Are you going to clean up the engine and run it? I am sure it is possible. Cold fresh water helps preserve old sunken boats.

 

A lot of the wood is definitely savable most likely replace the top sides . The engine had a little silt in it. Really trying to find more info on these boats or anyone that owns one.

 

Looking for a steering wheel like this the one that came with this boat is the only thing missing when I got the boat

 

Cleaning a few parts t

 

Amazing that the boat has survived without more deterioration.It may take an epic amount of work but it looks like there is enough to work with.That pattern of steering wheel is extremely unusual and I can't immediately fathom the function of the lever at it's centre.If nothing turns up,it wouldn't be too hard to replicate the rim and spokes but what does that lever do?

 

May lock the wheel to keep boat on course and then captain can move about the ship. I had an old Glastron from the 60's that had that.
And I think my 1970 Eggharbor with original push pull steering has a threaded hole to lock it also. Just no knob. The old mechanical steering, the rudder could be forced to turn the wheel, the new designs, pushing rudder wont allow wheel to turn. AFAIK

 

The lever in the center is the throttle

 

Agreed.

 

He would know. Convenient spot for throttle lever, no additional handle box mounted and using up the dash space. For some reason, they just dont do that anymore. Maybe too specialized of a design. I think some very early first cars used a steering mounted throttle lever.

 

So would I, we had one when I was a kid.

 

Can you tell me about that boat from when you were a kid? Having the hardest time finding any info or anyone that knows anything about the distin and I have been talking to a few distin family members.

 

I was referring to the throttle control, not the boat.

I Googled < distin boat > and got many hits.
Have you tried that?

Also, a lot of info in this very thread...

What is it you want to know?

 

Yeah the boat I have is what started this thread . I have seen everything on google . Still only one photo out there of one of these boats . Looking for owners of one of these boats.