You folks seem to appreciate rebuild topics, so I thought I’d show you some of mine, if nobody objects. I’m not soliciting business by any means, I have a year’s worth of work promised already, but glad to help if I can We will start small and work up as time allows.
This little project is a restoration of an Ogeechee River paddle boat, built by Racer Evans on the banks of the Ogeechee River near Clito GA in about 1950. He built many boats over a period of about 30 years that were locally famous and used on the Ogeechee, Savannah and Altamaha rivers, and also found in many farm ponds across south Georgia. Built of old growth hand cut and air dried cypress planks. They were used for bush lining catfish, gill netting shad, redbreast fishing, and gator, deer and hog hunting. And maybe smuggling moonshine during prohibition. Basically an adaptation of the dugout pirogue, but with a wide bow for the man handling the net or lines. The stern is narrow, they were traditionally sculled or paddled and had a sculling oar cut out in the transom, but in the early 50s outboard motors became more available and the boats were modified to carry Elgins and Wizards. Basically shaped like a jonboat going backwards. A couple of more unique feature are the sliding front seat to adjust for weight, and the live well that you don’t have to open to drop in a fish
This is a Jack Leigh photograph of the same boats, taken at Uncle Shed’s fishing camp on the Ogeechee River. My Dad used to take me there in the 1950s and 60s, we would rent a Racer Evans boat for $1 a day, screw our Wizard on to it and load the boat with shad and catfish.
I was recently privileged to be asked to restore one to new condition. It was in about as good a shape as a rotten flower planter and could make a half decent yard ornament, but I accepted anyway, based on sentimental and historical value
This should be fun to follow, keep posting. Coincidentally, today I was touching up some floor boards I made from cypress for my wooden boat. I bet those boats were made with old growth cypress. I would love to see it, I bet the growth rings are really dense and close.
Like I said, this boat was in very rough condition. 60 years old, used hard and put up dirty. There were a couple of spots that I could put my fist though, quite a few more that I could poke a finger through, and a dozen more that you could stick a screwdriver through. We can fix all that, no problem:smiley:
Practically speaking, I could build this boat from scratch for less cost and effort than trying to rebuild it from what it was, but that wasn’t in the game plan.
The first step was a big one. Strip it down to bare wood and see what we’ve got under there to work with. 60 years of paint on this boat, at least 10 coats and I’m sure that most of them are lead based paints. When I finally got down to the original primer, it was red lead. No sanding or grinding here, it is all scraping, while wearing respirator and protective clothing. No fun at all.
continued…
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair
The old cypress in this boat is beautiful and mostly sound, but some of it had to be replaced. The wood I got to duplicate it came from reclaimed cypress logs that have been submerged for 50-100 years.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair
These old wood boats relied on the swelling of the wood to make them somewhat water tight. No sealant at all and held together with nails. They were stored on the river bank and left half full of water to keep the seams tight. Rental always included a Maxwell House coffee can to bail with, because plastic milk jugs weren’t invented yet.
I’ve got one advantage that Racer Evans didn’t have, marine epoxy:smiley:
After finally getting the paint off, I used a multi-tool to open all the seams. Most were already open. I removed all the original fasteners possible and forced thickened epoxy into all the cracks, made epoxy fillets on all the seams and gave the entire hull 3 coats of thin epoxy to saturate the wood.
Made replacement parts for the some areas that were too far gone.
The rub rails were almost completely gone.
No problem, we can fix almost anything with epoxy:smiley:
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair
Finally got her faired out smooth as a baby’s butt. Then applied 2 coats of Silvertip high build primer, sand again, and 3 coats of topcoat over the primer.
Also made a matching set of paddles to go with it.
Finished and ready for delivery Better than the day she was built and good for another 60 years.
quote:Too nice to use!
I reckon so. After restoration the boat was donated to the Bulloch County Historical Society (Statesboro, GA) and the last I heard it was on display in the county museum:sunglasses:
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Marine Surveying & Repair
We will start small and work up as time allows.
