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The Building of Miss Dot

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The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Tue Jun 09, 2015 8:44 am

My story begins all the way back to when I was a child helping my uncle (more like handing him stuff) build a flat bottom river boat in my father’s welding shop, I think I was 11. Didn’t know it at the time but years later I would find myself with the urge to build my own boat and so the task begins.
I always liked building things, models when I was a kid, hotrods when I was a bit older kid and somewhere along the way I got in to wood working. Something about wood intrigued me early on, all the things you can do with it, molding, shaping, carving, build furniture and houses with it and yes, boats.
When I finally made up my mind to build a boat and knowing absolutely nothing about boat building, I figured I would be better off restoring a boat (for a lack of a better word). Around 1995 I spotted a boat in my home town, I would pass it every morning on my way to work and at this time you could still see varnish on it. When I located the owner and inquired he wasn’t interested in selling, a year later, boat still sitting in the same place, I asked again but still he had big plans. Wasn’t too long after that I didn’t see it anymore but in 1998 I ran in to him at a drug store and asked if he still had it and if he was interested in selling, he informed me that it now belonged to another gentlemen that had been storing it for him (I’m guessing he stopped paying rent) and that I would need to talk to him. I did, and $500.00 later I had my “template” because now there was no sign of varnish and it had been stored outside full of trash for close to two years.
After getting it home, I cleaned it out, put some tires on the old trailer it was setting on and rolled it under my shed where it set for another two years. During this time I had all kinds of ideas of what I was going to do, modern V8 engine, jet drive, adding a foot to the length but lucky for me, and my boat, I discovered the CCABC and one of the first guys I spoke with was Mr. Wilson Wright. Before this I knew nothing about this whole other culture of vintage boats and thankfully Mr. Wright set my ass straight and I will always be grateful for that. At this same time I ran across a gentlemen that went by the name Mo and he also got me on the right track, still to this day I have the page of instructions he gave me on bottom construction.
I am forever thankful for all the help I have received here on the Boat Buzz and felt it only proper that I first share my experience from beginning to end with the ones who made it all possible. So, without further ado, please find attached pictures from the beginning to………..I don’t think there is an end,,,is there?

Over the next few days I will be posting some pics from when I started to where I am now, and very soon, launch day, thanks again guys and gals and hope you enjoy.

1941 CC Model 101 Deluxe Runabout
Hull Number 57261 of 372 Built;
Attachments
03) 1941 CC before purchase.jpg
01) 1941 CC before purchase.jpg
Somewhere around 1997 just before I purchased her
06) CC before.jpg
1998 after cleaning it out and putting some tires on the trailer
Last edited by tuobanur on Sat Jun 20, 2015 9:21 am, edited 3 times in total.
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Tue Jun 09, 2015 8:52 am

Around 2000.
Attachments
07) CC before.jpg
12) CC before.jpg
Just before tear-down
18) CC before.jpg
Began tearing it apart
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Tue Jun 09, 2015 10:45 am

A few more of how crappy things were in the beginning.
Attachments
22) CC before.jpg
28) CC before.jpg
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Tue Jun 09, 2015 10:48 am

In the beginning I didn't keep up with pictures like I should (damnit) so there is a little gap when I was building a new keel, new stringers, repairing the chines, replacing frames and building the transom.
Attachments
45) framing repairs.jpg
46) framing repairs.jpg
It's now 2004
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Tue Jun 09, 2015 10:58 am

These next shots show my lack of experience, installing the cover boards on the transom so early but I was practicing before I reached the bigger areas. :)
Attachments
49) framing repairs.jpg
first layer
47 d) transom.jpg
second layer out of what would in up being three
48) framing repairs.jpg
It's now 2006
Last edited by tuobanur on Tue Jun 09, 2015 11:20 am, edited 1 time in total.
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Tue Jun 09, 2015 11:06 am

Installation of the strut and shaft, still 2006.
Attachments
58) propeller shaft.jpg
alignment bushing
53) propeller shaft.jpg
jig
55) propeller shaft.jpg
prop shaft install
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Tue Jun 09, 2015 11:29 am

2006 was a good year, for me anyway, got what I thought a good bit done. Even though I got help when bedding the second layers in, for the most part I was a one man show.
Attachments
59) bottom planking.jpg
64) bottom planking.jpg
getting to the tough part
68) bottom planking.jpg
sealed with CPES
69) bottom planking.jpg
2006
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Tue Jun 09, 2015 11:51 am

In 2008 I got started on installing the second layer on the bottom and finished it up in 2009, this is when that extra help I spoke of came in handy.
Attachments
71) bottom planking.jpg
laying out and fitting
79) bottom planking.jpg
pre-fit complete
85) bottom planking.jpg
gotta love that 5200
93) bottom planking.jpg
My buddy John showing me the ropes with an 8" sander.
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Tue Jun 09, 2015 11:55 am

In 2009 I also installed the new battens.
Attachments
98 b) scarfing jig.jpg
scarfing jig.
98) batten.jpg
New battens
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1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Tue Jun 09, 2015 12:13 pm

After a short delay, in 2012 I finally got started on covering the sides.
Attachments
104) new side planking.jpg
one down and seven to go
109) new side planking.jpg
finding my way
110) new side planking.jpg
hard to believe that this will end up looking like a straight line
113 a) new side planking.jpg
figuring out the angle of the dangle
113 c) new side planking.jpg
the top board was the only one that I had to put a kick in in order to complete the curve
113) new side planking.jpg
was lucky enough to have my old sides for templates but it still required a lot of fitting and hand planing
115) new side planking.jpg
sides pre-fit
Last edited by tuobanur on Wed Jun 10, 2015 9:00 am, edited 2 times in total.
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Tue Jun 09, 2015 12:20 pm

Bedding in the sides.
Attachments
125) new side planking.jpg
my grandson helping me pull the sides back off in preparation for final install
127) new side planking.jpg
got my help back for bedding the sides
134) new side planking.jpg
sides bedded in
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Tue Jun 09, 2015 1:32 pm

2012 was a good year for work completed, besides getting the sides on I also completed the bungs and fairing of the sides, finished fairing the bottom, painted the bottom and flipped the boat upright after twelve years up side down. :? I also got started on the top side.
Attachments
138) bunging.jpg
bungs, bungs and more bungs
146) bunging.jpg
reminds me of a battle ship
153) fairing.jpg
almost there
159 a) Transom.JPG
third layer on transom, ended up with three 5/16" thick layers, all three bedded in 5200
159 d) Transom.JPG
left the top board off until I finished the top deck
159 E) fairing.jpg
working by myself I didn't get many action shots, my granddaughter took this one so I do have some proof that i worked on it
162) fairing.jpg
fairing completed
164) bottom paint.jpg
sealer
166) bottom paint.jpg
inner coat
167) bottom paint.jpg
final coat of bottom paint,,,,,,for now
175) the flip.jpg
my brothers helped me with the flip
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by dreed » Tue Jun 09, 2015 1:48 pm

Best post ever on the Buzz. I can't wait for more pics. Keep em coming Terry. I love stories like this.
1953 CC Riviera 18-R-927

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Tue Jun 09, 2015 3:06 pm

A few more pics from 2012 and tomorrow I will move on to 2013.
Attachments
177) top decking.jpg
this is what I started with on the top side
179) top decking.jpg
the old horn still hanging in its original location
183) top decking.jpg
even though it may have not looked like it, most all of the framing on the top side had to be replaced, frames that I reused has red bilge paint
187) top decking.jpg
out with the old in with the new
193) top decking.jpg
this is where I stood at the end of 2012
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by joanroy » Tue Jun 09, 2015 3:13 pm

GREAT STORY! BEAUTIFUL WORKMANSHIP! Looking forward to the next episode.

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by quitchabitchin » Tue Jun 09, 2015 8:58 pm

Great documentation. I wish I had taken more photographs of my project.
FLASH1969 Chris Craft Cavalier Ski-230 HP 327Q

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Wed Jun 10, 2015 8:34 am

Before I jump ahead there was one other item that I want to share from 2012, my steering wheel. I had always wanted to try my hand at building a steering wheel, ever since I removed a simulated wood wheel from a 1965 Corvette I once owned many years ago. Since at the time I couldn't find a wheel for my boat I decided to build one, using the original metal basket as my template and some pictures I had taken before all of the Bakelite had fallen off. I used some ash that was left over from another project and made the new basket, and hub, out of stainless steel.

Below is a link to where I posted back in 2012 on it's construction.

http://www.chris-craft.org/discussion/v ... 445#p39750
Attachments
new wheel constr.02.jpg
what I started with
new wheel constr.03.jpg
new basket/hub
new wheel constr.33.jpg
new wheel constr.34.jpg
ready for die and sealer
IMG_0364.jpg
black die applied
new wheel constr.39.JPG
after six coats of varnish, mounted and ready to go
Last edited by tuobanur on Sat Jun 13, 2015 7:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Wed Jun 10, 2015 8:57 am

One more thing I should mention before I go any further, I have always been a hot rodder (modify/personalize), all the way back to the days of building model cars I always had to change something and it has been no different while building my boat, so if you are offended by this you might want to, turn away. :D
Changes that I have made, in my opinion, are subtle and stick with what could have very easily been done back in the forties if you were a "hotrodder". For example, the engine that was in my boat when I purchased it (GM model 70) was not the original but it was a step better than what came in it, more horse power and main bearings, to name a few, so rather than find an original engine I decided to hot rod it (around 85 HP now) and keep it in the boat.
If you look closely you will notice a slight change I made when building the steering wheel and there are a few more you may notice along the way, it's what keeps me interested and I hope it is what will keep generations to come interested.

And one more thing, you may notice from time to time that I suffer from the Matt Smith syndrome when it comes to grammar. :lol:
Last edited by tuobanur on Wed Jun 10, 2015 10:12 am, edited 1 time in total.
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Wed Jun 10, 2015 10:10 am

2013 and the top side framing continues, and you may notice one of those changes I mentioned.
Attachments
194) top decking.jpg
and the beat goes on
195) top decking.jpg
the blocks between the two frames are the originals
208) top decking.jpg
hatch framed with custom made hidden hinges
217) top decking.jpg
framing completed and bilge painted
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by prlentz » Wed Jun 10, 2015 2:33 pm

Awesome documentation. I am in about the same place you where 12 yrs ago. New to the hobby and purchased an OK boat that I am trying to get in the water this summer yet. But the bug took me over big time and I purchased a 1940 pattern boat with 90% hardware and a motor that is locked up . Currently stripping the 1940 and working on the other. Your phots inspire me and I realize that this could take many years to finish. Thanks for sharing.

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Wed Jun 10, 2015 3:21 pm

With the top framing complete moving on to the fun stuff, top decking.

BTW, all of the wood on the sides came from boards from the same tree and are book matched, all the wood on the top came out of one slab board and are book matched (and they are individual boards 5-1/4" wide each), and the cover board all came from the same board, and you guessed it, are book matched.


FYI, Every piece of wood on this boat received, at least, two coats of sealer.
Attachments
222) top decking.jpg
223) top decking.jpg
covering boards, not as painful as I thought it would be
225) top decking.jpg
very interesting cut, measure twice cut once,,,I wish
228) top decking.jpg
229) top decking.jpg
230) top decking.jpg
231) top decking.jpg
237) top decking.jpg
238) top decking.jpg
finally able to cut hatch opening out
239) top decking.jpg
all the top boards pulled back off to receive sealer on the bottom side
246) bunging.jpg
bungs, bungs, and even more bungs
251) top decking.jpg
ready for sealer
252) Transom.JPG
finally got to install that top board on the transom
290) finishing.jpg
291) finishing.jpg
top decking complete and all in sealer
Last edited by tuobanur on Wed Jun 10, 2015 4:10 pm, edited 2 times in total.
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Wed Jun 10, 2015 3:47 pm

These next shots will give some of you who are not familiar with the process an idea of how the boards that we use come to be. They are of the wood that was used for the sides and the cover boards, this was done at my buddies shop in Tennessee (he has a nice big band saw for re-sawing. These are just rough cut to shape, final cuts were made in my shop next to the boat and then the edges were hand planed for final fit (at least that's how I did it). Believe it or not, even though it looks like I had a lot of waste, I ended up using just about every piece.
FYI, all the wood that I used, with the exception of the boards on the bottom, came from large boards that were re-sawed and thickness planed.
Attachments
John building resaw jig.jpg
making up the jig for re-sawing
wood for side planking 01.jpg
wood for side planking 02.jpg
wood for side planking 04.jpg
wood for side planking 05.jpg
wood for side planking 07.jpg
wood for side planking 09.jpg
lay-out
wood for side planking 11.jpg
thickness planing
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Wed Jun 10, 2015 9:14 pm

Thanks guys, appreciate the feedback.
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Thu Jun 11, 2015 10:43 am

Another little piece of info I thought some of you might be interested in, the making of the hidden hinges. Again, I didn't take as many pics as I wish I had but this should give you the gist.
Attachments
hatch hinge 01.jpg
hatch hinge 02.jpg
mock-up to determine the radius and position of the hinge
hatch hinge 03.jpg
hatch hinge 04.jpg
determining the hinge point
hatch hinge 05.jpg
hatch hinge 06.jpg
if you look close you can see the pockets I created to house the hinge point
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Thu Jun 11, 2015 2:30 pm

Dash work.
BTW, my buddy John wanted to contribute, and he being a master wood worker who was I to say no, so he took the task of restoring my dash.
Attachments
295 a) dash.JPG
before
295 b) dash.jpg
my buddy John with the final touches
295 c) dash.jpg
295 d) dash.jpg
gauges restored by Mr. Powell, god rest his soul.
295 e) dash.jpg
and after
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Thu Jun 11, 2015 2:43 pm

The engine is a 1947 Gray Marine model 70 and needed considerable work but it purrs like a kitten now.
Attachments
300) model 70 engine.jpg
as when I pulled it out
305) model 70 engine.jpg
had to sleeve two cylinders and bored all four .040
306) model 70 engine.jpg
surprisingly the crank shaft only had to be turned 10/10
307) model 70 engine.jpg
ready for paint
309) model 70 engine.jpg
rebuild complete minus the fly wheel pulley and water pump
312) model 70 engine.jpg
313) model 70 engine.jpg
315) model 70 engine.jpg
pre-fit, would later come back out
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Thu Jun 11, 2015 3:12 pm

Late 2013 I started prepping the boat for marking the water line, put on two coats of sealer, pre-installed all the hardware, engine, fuel tank (with enough water in it to simulate a half a tank of fuel), battery, steering, and enough ballast to simulate the weight of the seats and misc.. Early 2014, loaded it on my, not quite finished, trailer and headed over to my friends at Scout boats who were kind enough to let me use there pool to take it's first dunk, so as to mark the water line, a very exciting day.
Attachments
318) CC fit to trailer.jpg
319) CC fit to trailer.jpg
320) CC fit to trailer.jpg
fortunately for me I'm in the crane rental business
321) water line day.jpg
hanging in there
323) water line day.jpg
325) water line day.jpg
only one leak, one of the through bolts for the strut, easy fix
Last edited by tuobanur on Fri Jun 12, 2015 8:19 am, edited 1 time in total.
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by jfrprops » Thu Jun 11, 2015 9:43 pm

u n b e l I e v a b l e !!!! great post...one of the best ever..

John in Va.
1980 Fairchild Scout 30
19?? custom Argentine Runabout 16'
1954 Whirlwind deluxe dual ckpt 16'
1921 Old Town Charles River 17' (founding Captain, James River Batteau Festival)

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Fri Jun 12, 2015 8:05 am

Thanks John, it is a pleasure to share, I owe a lot to this site. ;)
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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Re: The Building of Miss Dot

Post by tuobanur » Fri Jun 12, 2015 8:33 am

Ceiling boards install.
Attachments
327) ceiling planking.jpg
started at the top, worked for me
328) ceiling planking.jpg
329) ceiling planking.jpg
last panel fitted
329b) ceiling planking.JPG
complete with five coats of varnish
Terry
1941 Model 101 (16') Deluxe Runabout "Miss Dot"

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