Restoration Progress

[mattbyrne]

The Gar Wood section has been very quiet so I thought I post a couple of pics on my progress. I took a couple of weeks off around the holidays and got some "quality" time on the boat. I have the framing complete, new stem and gripe fit, new keel with rabbit cut and the chines are steam bent waiting final fitting and plank rabbit. Here are some photos.

[cenger]

Nice, what year and model? I have ’35 Split Cockpit basket cases that ready for new bottom, frames and keel. I had to work a bit backward by doing some topside framing first. Topsides were so shot I didn’t think they could support the boats own weight when flipped over. Getting excited, engine is down at VanNess, Gauges at Clawson’s and Chrome just came back from Graves ($5K for chrome Ouch!).

[mattbyrne]

It's a 1939 19' Custom Runabout Model 912

btw Does anyone know what changed in 1940 to make it a deluxe runabout?

[Oberon01]

I can't answer the question, but I can report good progress being made on the restoration of my '46 22' 6" Sedan. It is being done by Dave Jerome in Portland and he's been at it for nearly three months. All the frames are done, transom is done and battens in. New planking should be arriving this week. The chrome has been completed, the engine is ready for re-assembly and the gauge cluster is with Kocian. Just have to work out the correct color for the canvas top and sort out the interior. Interior is in very good shape but it is not correct. Will probably replace with a new and correct interior. Hope to have it wet this summer.

[Brian Robinson]

Matt,

The 19' R/A was still called a Custom Runabout in 1940. The two boats (1939 and 1940 models) are completely identical except for mid-way through 1940 they added the flare details to the covering boards and king planks like the larger boats already had (this occurred somewhere around hull #6454) and added two pleats in the middle of the seat backs. They also used a slightly different gauge panel.

The 1941 and 1942 19'6" R/A's were called Deluxe Runabouts (or "De Luxe" Runabouts). These were redesigned with the biggest difference being the raked aft barrel transom, which added 6" to the length.

The model name changes that came in for 1941 applied to nearly every model, versus that of 1940. The 1941 Gar Woods were the design pinnicle of the companies boat production, IMHO. The 1942 boats were equally good, and extremely rare, with a total of only eight "civilian" boats produced that year.

_________________
-Brian Robinson
Director, the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club, Inc.

[Mark Christensen]

Is all of this in the classic boat wiki?
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1942 17' Deluxe

[Don Ayers]

Matt;

Save all the parts and take a lot of pics for me







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Don Ayers
1959 Riva Ariston
1931 Gar Wood 28-40

[mattbyrne]

Well Its been a while so I thought I'd post some updated pictures.









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[Don Ayers]

Matt;

Very nice work, Thanks for posting.

At this stage are those bottom planks just dry fit at the moment?

I would like to see if you have any pics of the inner bottom going on with all those little hourglass blocks that GW's are famous for.
_________________
Don Ayers
1959 Riva Ariston
1931 Gar Wood 28-40

[mattbyrne]

Inner ply is glued down (5200) and outer planknig is just dry fit for now. I hope to take it all apart and glue everything down in the next week or two.

Not sure what you mean by "hourglass blocks" but
here are couple pictures of the inner ply.

[cenger]

Wow Don, I thought I had a Grey Gar Wood. You Win!

Here are a few progress shots.

[1948 Deluxe]

I spoke with Matt some time ago. I have 2 1941 19'-6" Deluxe Runabouts, here's the greyest! The other is complete with the bottom off. The "plan" is to do them together side by side. Nice to see someone getting further along on a Gar project than I.
Bob Shapton

[drrot]

Bob,
Did one of your projects look like this?


_________________
Jim Staib
www.finewoodboats.com

[1948 Deluxe]

Oh yea! That's the one I bought from Maury DeBell. Looks about the same, probably a few pounds lighter from all the moving around. This is hull number is 6706. Shortly after buying this wreck, I bought #6751 which according to Tony Mollica is the last one built in 1941. Somewhere during the two also picked up #6696 a 1941 18'-6" Comet from Jeff Rogers. Shit, their gorgeous before you start the work!


#6751



#6696 w/19'-6" folding V windshield for 6706

[Mango]

[mattbyrne]

Sorry I didn't mean to inply that all that work was done in 2 weeks. I started 1-1/2 years ago!

[mattbyrne]

Well tonoght was the big night I flipped the back upright the bottom is done! Not to self never do another bottom. Here is some pictures


Planks glued down

One side sanded

Barrier Coat

Paint

The flip

Ready for the next step/.

[Don Ayers]

fantastic work Matt. You should be very proud and that boat has beautiful lines doesn't it
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Don Ayers
1959 Riva Ariston
1931 Gar Wood 28-40

[Brian Robinson]

We have the sister to Matt's '39 19' Gar underway as a long term project for a customer. These two boats were consecutively built and are identical models. Really neat boats.




_________________
-Brian Robinson
Director, the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club, Inc.

[Don Ayers]

I love the crown the Gar's had. Wish CC had not flattened out their decks in the late 30's and early 40's.

I've had the pleasure to ride in one of these and it really does kick A**. The Gar's generally have a deeper entry don't pound as much.

Looks great Brian! Thanks for sharing.
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Don Ayers
1959 Riva Ariston
1931 Gar Wood 28-40

[donj]

I agree Don. Do you think the crowning was purely aesthetic or were there some other reasons, too for crowning? I guess the water runs off better for one thing.

[Don Ayers]

Good question. I really don't know. I would think it was purely cosmetic in nature as it would not affect performance.
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Don Ayers
1959 Riva Ariston
1931 Gar Wood 28-40

[Mark Christensen]

If only I could be where you are now..... good job matt!
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1942 17' Deluxe