Active Active   Unanswered Unanswered

Hull Construction

Framing, planking and fairing. Repair, or reconstruction. If it's hull related, you'll find it here.

Moderators: Don Ayers, Al Benton, Don Vogt

trebot
Posts: 82
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:05 pm
Location: Lexington, Michigan
Contact:

Hull Construction

Post by trebot » Wed Oct 03, 2018 8:27 pm

Are the plank hulls "double planked" or is the inside plywood?
My '56 Continental has plywood inside the hull (bilge). I'm wondering if it has a "5200 no-soak bottom".

User avatar
Matt Smith
Posts: 921
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:14 pm
Location: Reedville VA,
Contact:

Re: Hull Construction

Post by Matt Smith » Thu Oct 04, 2018 6:11 am

At some point, and others can chime in, Chris Craft did Plywood inner hulls. My 1960 was that way. And I have seen others. I would assume it was earlier. I will add its better than the plank system and less soaking
1948 25' Chris Craft Sportsman
1937 16' Special Racer
1968 40' Rice Trawler
1968 11' Crab Skiff
2018 Hole in my head

WoodyBoater.com

User avatar
mbigpops
Posts: 441
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 9:18 am
Location: Eastern Massachusetts
Contact:

Re: Hull Construction

Post by mbigpops » Thu Oct 04, 2018 7:07 am

My 1953 Rocket has inner plywood under the planking.

It came this way from the factory with canvas in between the plywood and planking and now that I have re-done the bottom it has 5200 between the new plywood and planking.

To answer your question it depends. Seeing the plywood layer alone does not tell you that you have a 5200 bottom as what you are looking at could be the original plywood from the factory. Without some kind of proof from a previous owner or physical evidence it is hard to tell.

Does the bottom look like old wood or new wood ?

Mark
1953 CC Rocket Runabout "Rocket Man"

trebot
Posts: 82
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 10:05 pm
Location: Lexington, Michigan
Contact:

Re: Hull Construction

Post by trebot » Thu Oct 04, 2018 7:14 am

Bottom planking looks original. Haven't stripped paint yet, so I'm guessing.

User avatar
Matt Smith
Posts: 921
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2005 4:14 pm
Location: Reedville VA,
Contact:

Re: Hull Construction

Post by Matt Smith » Thu Oct 04, 2018 7:58 am

Another way to tell is sometimes there is a little resedue under the frames that squeezes out. I would say that if the bottom had been done it would have been a huge selling point
1948 25' Chris Craft Sportsman
1937 16' Special Racer
1968 40' Rice Trawler
1968 11' Crab Skiff
2018 Hole in my head

WoodyBoater.com

User avatar
mbigpops
Posts: 441
Joined: Tue Feb 16, 2010 9:18 am
Location: Eastern Massachusetts
Contact:

Re: Hull Construction

Post by mbigpops » Thu Oct 04, 2018 10:32 am

Another tell tale sign of a 5200 bottom (if done properly) is that you will see a small gap in between each of the bottom planks which is filled with 5200. An original bottom will just have the planks right up against each other.

Mark
1953 CC Rocket Runabout "Rocket Man"

User avatar
Don Danenberg
Posts: 181
Joined: Fri Nov 18, 2005 9:30 pm
Location: Manistee, MI
Contact:

Re: Hull Construction

Post by Don Danenberg » Thu Oct 04, 2018 6:25 pm

Wow.., I'm expecting this current crew to come up with some answers?

The earliest CC inner bottom, in plywood (Doug Fir) that I've ever seen, was a 1953, CC, 17-Sportsman.
I believe this was a 'transitional' boat because we found ALL BRASS screws and bolts, on one side of the boat, and ALL BRONZE screws, and bolts, on the other side of the boat?

On the assembly line, one side had new barrels of Bronze screws, the other side did not yet have?
Yet, 1953 was also my first experience with plywood, inner bottom?

There were many boats still being built after that date with the slats, not yet plywood....,
They did NOT just say; Throw that wood away, Throw slotted screws away.., They took advantage of their still current supplies.

User avatar
maritimeclassics
Posts: 700
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2007 4:35 pm
Location: Traverse City, Mi
Contact:

Re: Hull Construction

Post by maritimeclassics » Fri Oct 05, 2018 7:32 am

I agree with Don, and I think plywood inner bottom was on some models and not others. You started seeing it around 1953 but I have restored a few 1955 18' and 21' Cobra's which all had mahogany diagonal inner bottoms on them. Then sometime in 1957 you see every boat with a plywood inner bottom. That's at least the way I have see it.
Family member of Chris Craft founder
Owner of Maritime Classics
http://www.maritimeclassics.com
Ph# 231-486-6148

Restoration Projects:
1936 25' Gar Wood Custom
1947 Ventnor Hydroplane
1957 17' Deluxe Runabout
1948 25' Chris Craft Sportsman Twin
1959 19' Sliver Arrow Hull #75
1929 26' Chris Craft Custom Runabout
1937 25' Chris Craft Custom Runabout

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 19 guests