Mr. E Boat

Door building in progress. Many thanks to William for letting me borrow this handy drill guide tool. It would not be possible without it! Lots of holes, lots of epoxy, lots of pegs, lots of measuring, lots of fitting, lots of work... This is the head door in progress. The cabin door is next but it is an open frame of 4SF (4 sides finished) of 2x6 and 2x4's that will house a small new old stock vintage aluminum single hung screened window and a drop panel in the bottom for the 5000 BTU window air conditioner unit. Shown here we are in the process of making it out of oak 4SF 2x6, 2x2, 1x16 and 1x12's and pegging it together. After it is epoxied it was clamped and held together for a couple days until dry. It is now very solid. The head door is a split design that will be held together in the middle with stainless spring loaded self closing hinges to make it operate as a solid door. When the door is opened it will swing into the hallway but would be too wi...

Lots of good finds off the internet. My favorite is this 1957 vintage original Vollrath 1 steering wheel. It is in beautiful shape for being so old. The red area will have to be refinished in polyurea bedliner coater that is going on the hull - in 1957 Chevy Larkspur Blue no less. Right under this is a pair of white painted aluminum swim platform brackets - brand new old stock that were meant for another boat picked up for a song. They will be mounted to the transom next to the outboard motor above the waterline so the Westinghouse small blue 2500W quiet generator can have a place to sit when needed. This will keep it out of the way and more out of earshot for those times when anchored out in the lake and power is needed to use the microwave or the 5000 BTU air conditioner that will be mounted in the cabin door. The refrigerator has an efficient low draw Danfoss compressor that will run off the marine battery charged by the motor. To the right are 2 new aluminum and oak foot rests...

"One of a kind, hand-crafted, complete cabin cruiser hull. All wood superstructure (probably mahogany) with fiberglass. Length about 22-24 ft. Cut for an outboard motor. In dry storage for 40+ years. NEVER LEFT THE GARAGE! Put your trailer beneath her, haul her away, spruce her up and make her your own! I WILL CONSIDER ANY AND ALL OFFERS. I WANT HER GONE ASAP!" This is the actual advertisement from the boat seller. Now a little history: We ALL owe a great debt and gratitude to the members of the United States armed forces unsung heroes. Way back in the 1950's the builder served OUR country in the Navy only to come back from the Korean Conflict feeling overwhelmed and under appreciated. Wanting to avoid medicinal intervention this boat turned out to be therapy for what we now know as "PTSD" Jim started building this major project to ease his troubled mind. After a few years of working it out he no lon...

Still working on it - Took it to Lake Country Boat in Buffalo Junction, VA in early December to have Bill Harding and his crew do some work on it. It is hard to get anything done when the days are short, weather is cold and work hours are long so this was the option chosen to keep things moving and get it done right. Bill is an old school boat builder from days gone by and knows this kind of boat very well. Bill advised the original builder was spot on in his build and was a true craftsman. The boat is 100% unique, well designed,  really well constructed with quality materials and deserves the best. Right now I am having the transom done to properly handle the new modern higher horsepower Evinrude motor that will be installed. He is removing the delaminated fiberglass outer covering and reinforcing, glassing, tabbing, filleting, etc... everything inside and out. He will also mount the custom made 6061 1/4" aluminum motorwell plate system that was built by Marty Dabney o...