Bottoms Up!

Well, most of the boats in the shop now are upside-down. Margo, the Chris-Craft Rocket, was the first to be rolled over, and it’s been quite a journey stripping the paint and diagnosing the leak issues. As you can see, the wood looks like it’s in great shape, and it was only replaced 10-15 years ago!

There was 3M 5200 in the seams, a couple exposed screws but overall well-taken care of. Some gaps were getting wide, but I honestly could not figure out what was causing so much leaking in a rather recent true 5200 bottom. Well, as it turns out, it wasn’t a 5200 bottom at all.

I took a plank completely off just to see if I was missing something, and, after removing all the screws, it just lifted off. There was no 5200 under it at all. Whenever it was replaced, it was done so just like the original bottom: inner planking, covered with thin fabric and some bedding compound, outer planking. That’s all. 5200 was then payed into the seams after the outer planks were screwed down. This way of building a bottom, far from the decades of used you can expect out of a 5200 bottom, was only presumed to last six or seven years.

So, on to pulling the outer plank, laying down 5200 in place of the fabric, and freshly-sealed outer planking back on. Keep an eye on the YouTube channel and future newsletters to see how i

From Around the Blog

Tool Review: The Block Plane

Oh, the simple block plane. I honestly can’t imagine a more useful wood-shaping tool in boatbuilding, whether I’m constructing a ten-foot rowboat or a fifty-foot sloop. For me, the Lie-Nielsen No. 102 Low-Angle Block Plane is as essential a tool as I have in the shop.

The Official Playlist of Denver Custom Boatworks

To listen along with the shop, click through to the Spotify list. It’s been well-played lately; here’s just a taste of the favorites right now:

• “Justice” - Daniel Donato

• “Way of the Triune God” - Tyler Childers

• “Hands on the Radio” - The Weeks

• “Red Wing, Blue Wing” - Dead Man Winter

• “The Cheap Seats” - Alabama

Want to Work on Your Own Boat?

Perhaps for you, building your own boat or restoring a classic woodie is the most satisfying piece of a boating hobby, and I completely understand! I also know just how overwhelming it may feel to know where to start or how to troubleshoot certain problems as you go.

You are not alone, which is why I have begun consulting and training individuals in just this position. Some are building a boat from scratch in their garage and others are looking to learn how to restore and work on their own antique boat alongside me in my shop.

Either way, you can expect to have me right there with you — providing guidance, an extra set of hands, access to specialized equipment, a fully-equipped shop, and all else in between. There are no projects too big or too small, so if you just acquired a boat and are not sure where to start or need some help with paint and varnish, we can work together to make it happen the way you want.

If this interests you at all, or if you’d like more information, contact me here:

As always, fair winds and following seas—even way out in Colorado,

Julius Spradley

Denver Custom Boatworks