I am finally back to work on the Chris Craft. I must admit this phase of the project has really intimidated me and I every time I come down and start working on it, I ended up staring at it, wondering how am I going to fix that bottom?

The answer was just muster up some courage and dive in. So that is what I have one the last couple of days. I started by installing some bracing to assure the boat holds it’s shape as I tear it apart.

With the bracing in place it was time to crawl underneath and try to come up with a plan. I could quickly see I was going to be spending a lot of time underneath.

I have found that an air powered angle grinder with a paint/rust removal pad is a good choice for the task at hand. It will quickly remove paint, filler and wood! And there is a lot of all three to remove.

And here is a photo of the first (of many) screws coming out.

 I am still intimidated by this project. Still not sure what to do but at the same time I am excited to be back at work on it.

I have not been able to spend nearly as much time as I thought I would working on the boat. I expected to be further along by now. Today I spent the better part of the day stripping the decking off the boat.

Stripping the boat has been a bigger job than I expected. Usually disassembly goes fast and you feel like you have made a lot of progress in a short time. But that has not been the case on this one. And since repairs and assembly go much slower ……..  yea, it’s going to take a while.

I started on the starboard side and moved a damaged section. I was pleasantly surprised to find no damage to the planking. With the access to the hidden screws I checked and every one of them was at least a little loose. I have decided to remove it all the decking so I have access to tighten these screws. After 50 years I am not surprised to find them loose!

Removing the bow was a slow process. All the screws are countersunk and then puttied over. I spent a lot of time looking for the screws, chiseling out the putty, cleaning the slots and then finally removing the screws. This photo was taken while I was chasing down a couple of hidden screws that were holding the deck on.

Finally I managed to get it off. Once again a couple of surprises but so far just small things.

The other side came off much quicker since I knew where all the screws were. I can finally see inside clearly. I was too tired to survey the bow and see what shape it was in.

With the deck off the bow, I decided had accomplished enough. I turned out the lights and headed to the house.

Book is finished and copies on order. Now I can turn my attention back the Making Waves.  I spent about 3 hours getting the engine disconnected and out of the boat. It feels like a major accomplishment too. It wasn’t hard but just time-consuming. And absolute murder on my knees and that ankle I messed up a while back!

Photos will tell the tell.

Here is free of the boat for probably the first time in 50 years.

About this point I got concerned that it wouldn’t clear the gunwales and I was right.

I had to sit it down. Tight the chain holding the hoist. Tighten the chain holding the motor and with the motor lifted as high as I could get it, it cleared by about 1/8″. That was cutting it too close!

Finally free of the boat. Now to finish stripping the hull and working up a game plan for exactly what I have to do next.

They say a picture is worth a thousand words and I don’t have many today. Words that is. Too tired, so I will let the photos do most of the talking.

Oh, before I forget, I received my info from Mariners Museum on Making Waves. She is as I thought a 1962, 20′ Sportsman. She went to a dealer in Biloxi, Mississippi from the factory. I always suspected it was a Southern Boat but never had the proof. She came with optional canvas top and frame, side curtains and 283 Chris Craft engine.

Lifted off the trailer

Here she is hanging just a couple inches above the trailer. Kind of scary pulling the trailer out ever though I knew everything was plenty strong.

The flying boat

Again, nothing to worry about but scary too.

Stern stand in place

I built a stand for the back of the boat. Spent a lot of time thinking on how to do this. As usual it looks pretty simple but it was a bear to come up with.

A ground!

Here she is, grounded and ready for the serious work to begin.

It went smooth and painless. I know it was because I put a lot of effort and thought into getting to this point. But, I am still left with the feeling “Why did it to so long to get to do this.”