By Bjorn Bakken
The ACBS-supported runabout restoration program at IYRS in Newport, RI is now one month in and well under way. The 1940 17’ Chris-Craft Barrelback boat we are working on made its public debut at the International Show in Port Huron after spending many years in a Michigan collection.
The boat arrived in Newport, RI on Sept. 22nd and was unloaded and placed in its spot in Restoration Hall at IYRS. This school year, we will restore a total of 11 boats in the Boat Building and Restoration program, 8 Beetle Cats for the 1st-year students, a 1902 18’ Motor Launch, and a 19’ Alden sailboat for the 2nd-year students. The Barrelback will be in good company.
The program began with instruction on how to conduct a detailed survey of the boat along with a cost and price analysis. The students must present a cost proposal for the upcoming restoration work. At the end of the school year, after tallying hours and materials, it will be interesting to see if the students made a “profit.”
During the survey the hull number was confirmed but it quickly became apparent that the boat has received an earlier full restoration, likely in the 80s or 90s time frame. This work was certainly not carried out according to today’s expectations. Many rather poor restoration choices and methods lay beneath the nice varnish and chrome.
A bottom replacement was done on the original oil-soaked bottom frames, keel and chine. They glued 3/8” builders-grade fir plywood to the frames with epoxy for the inner layer, and it seems they used the old bottom planks and glued them to the plywood with epoxy as well. However, they applied an insufficient amount of epoxy, which resulted in a poor bond with the plywood. Shoddy workmanship is seen in the repair of the transom framing with ill-fitted “dutchmens.” Further, the entire interior of the bottom, transom, frames and engine stringers were coated with epoxy, without any care.
The topside planking appears original, but now sanded very thin over the years. The original topside framing will be retained with a few properly done “dutchmen”.
They also replaced the deck, likely much later than the bottom and transom work, since they used 3M5200 here. The layout of the deck framing is no longer like it was original and will be replaced to recreate the sweet shape of the Barrelback decklines.
In the end, like with many restorations, much wood replacement lies ahead. It has been quite challenging to remove the old bottom to retain the shape of the old bottom frames for templating and replacement. If nothing else, the work previously done on this boat underscores the reasons for this program: to restore our classic boats to the ACBS judging standard and to the highest industry standards among our professional restorers.
