When I met this family, they were excited and eager to have me bring this boat back to the beautiful condition their grandmother, the original purchaser in the 1930's, once knew. They were the first family to ask me to use care, not to remove too much. Every little mark in her had a story! They were first and foremost interested in having a functional boat, not a museum restoration. The boat had a persistent problem with water leaking in through the stem. Over the years, there had been several patch jobs. At this point, the stem had rotted till the nails no longer held. The boat had also been blocked up poorly in the winter. The keel had taken quite a "hook". Water and debris in the bilges had caused some rot. At some point a makeshift rudder had been installed. The list was long. I began by replacing the stem. After this the garboard planks were replaced. This gave me an opportunity to fix the hook in the keel, as well as the rot in the planking. There was considerable frame damage from rot. Those frames were replaced. I began to re-varnish the boat. At this point the family was very excited. They asked me to replace the steering wheel. Seabirds used a Model A steering box and wheel. I probably could have found a refurbished steering wheel, but suggested the clients allow me to build them a new one. I copied the basic form of the original wheel. Essentially, it was for all appearances, a wooden Model A steering wheel, only out of wood. It was beautiful. The spokes were made from ebony. The hub and rim were made from mahogany. The hub was turned to match the throttle on the steering column. I think the new wheel was one of the prettiest I have ever created. In a small, well equipped shop such as mine, almost anything can be made. I quickly designed up a replacement rudder, and then welded it out of stainless steel. The original rudder had been welded from mild steel. With the lakes in the Muskoka's becoming more acidic, the steel had wasted away to nothing. On fresh water, most boats rot from the inside out. A large part of this is because debris is allowed to accumulate in the bilges. Ventilation is poor. A perfect recipe for fungus to take hold and thrive is warmth, moisture and wood. On my new boats, I like to use grating in the bilges to provide ventilation and dry things out. The clients had viewed some of these gratings and inquired whether I could build some for their boat. I gladly obliged them. While this boat might lose points in a Boat Show Contest, it scored high with the family, and they were very grateful for the work I did for them. This was a very rewarding project, and will continue to be a family heirloom. It was a project I am very proud of.
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