Heavy Lifting

We have been working on the lifting rig to facilitate flipping the boat over.  Using some ideas from several other boat restorers, we made two wooden frames for lifting the boat for flipping.  Using doubled 2x4s and single 2x6s for headers, we bolted the frames together.



Four inch wide, thirty foot long recovery straps were ordered.  We also fabricated two rollers to hang from chain hoists to loop the straps through.  The keel rollers were turned in a lathe to remove the angled shoulder and allow the strap to run flat on the roller.

Our 18 year-old daughter helped setup the lifting rig.  We used the rafters in the garage as additional support, clamping the vertical supports to the rafter.

With everything setup, we are now ready to turn the Resorter over to begin work on the bottom.

Here is a time-lapse video of the building and setup of the lift rig.

Lower Transom

While waiting on some parts to complete the flip over rig, we decided to remove the lower transom plank.  We have known for quite a while the lower transom bow has delaminated, and were expecting a little rot in this area. Inspection of the port cheek area from inside the boat did not look bad.

The worst area of delamination of the transom bow is starboard, between the keel and engine stringer.  Most of the black areas are buildup of grease and dirt.

Exterior inspection was a little different.  Under the transom guard are some attempts to repair or at least slow the leaking.  This was the first indicator there may be more trouble than initially thought.  It is difficult to see in the photo, but the lower transom plank is pushed out of position about a quarter of inch at the bottom.  In addition, the topside plank has a substantial gap at the seam.

So we dug out all of the putty and bungs covering the screws to remove the lower transom plank.  A few extra screws were added at some point in her life to the port cheek area in an attempt to “stabilize” the area.  There were about 10 screws that did not back out, they just spun.

With the plank off, we got our first view into the actual work needed to make the boat safe again for use.

The transom bow and cheek are quite rotted, more than the internal visual inspection had revealed.  These hidden areas need thorough inspection and poking with an ice pick to reveal rot, especially when you are looking to purchase a boat.



It looks like we will be purchasing a little more white oak for frame repairs than originally anticipated.