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1940 CC Enclosed Bridge Hull Refastening

Discussion in 'Chris Craft Connies, Commanders & Catalinas' started by rbryarly, Mar 12, 2007.

  1. rbryarly, Mar 12, 2007
    #1
    rbryarly

    rbryarly New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2006
    Messages:
    5
    Location:
    Chesapeake Bay tributary
    I need some help on refastening the hull on my 1940 Chris Craft Enclosed Bridge Cruiser. I put the boat on the hard in early October at a marine railway on the Chesapeake. The yard owner told me the hull needed refastening and I said OK as I bought the boat bow down with a leak coming in at about the 8th or 10th rib from the bow, right along the keel. The yard owner told me eight hundred and some screws would be needed and the cost, and I said OK. So here I sit eyeing April 1, the latest of four previously missed completion dates having already been missed. This is my first wooden boat and it has been nicely cared for from what I can tell. I just want the work done and done correctly. I am aware the yard is busy, but the owner will not let outside workers into the yard and I do not feel comfortable teaching myself on refastening the hull where everyones safety is at issue. Question one is whether this task should already be complete given the time that has transpired. Question two is whether there is anyone in the Northern Neck area who might become a friend (I'm thinking the yard owner cannot pitch me and a friend out) and we can go get this job done. Topsides still need work too, but I thought I could do that slowly in a covered slip once the boat was back in the water.
    Thx
    OLE CHRIS
  2. SeaEric, Mar 12, 2007
    #2
    SeaEric

    SeaEric YF Historian

    Joined:
    Jan 28, 2007
    Messages:
    1,377
    Location:
    out on the dock
    Dear Ole Chris, I'd like you to send me a PM (Private Message) with the name of the yard and location. You said Northern Neck, so I suspect Virginia.

    For starters, depending upon the size of the boat, 800 screws would not even begin to refasten the entire bottom. Perhaps eight thousand would be a closer estimate. Now if you're just attending to a troubled area of repair, perhaps the 800 will do.

    Refastening is not rocket science. Traditionally, you remove bottom paint so you can see the existing screws to remove them, then go back in the same hole with a slightly larger screw that will tighten up. The problem is: most owners wait too long to perform a refasten, so the existing screws are compromised to the point that they will not come out. This leaves either a nasty job of digging them out (almost impossible) or doing what is called a "sister fastening" which is not really recommended. In sister fastening, you add 2 new screws in between the exiting 3 per plank at each frame. It can work OK but it does weaken the planking as you end up with 5 screw holes across, creating a "break at the dotted line" effect across the plank.

    2 Guys working together can accomplish alot of drilling and fastening in a day. Then you come back and glue wood plugs in the screw holes, chisel the ends of the plugs when set and then caulk, paint and launch.

    If you have any pictures of the boat, please post them here. We'd love to see what you're working on.
  3. YachtForum, Mar 13, 2007
    #3
    YachtForum

    YachtForum Publisher/Admin

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    I'm posting these pics on behalf of rbryarly...

    Attached Files:

  4. SeaEric, Mar 13, 2007
    #4
    SeaEric

    SeaEric YF Historian

    Joined:
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    Location:
    out on the dock
    She looks like a 33 footer, if indeed she is a 1940 model. Is that correct? Judging by the piles of wood shavings around her on the ground, something must be happening work-wise. Hopefully they will get her buttoned up in the next few weeks so she can begin re-learning how to float.
  5. rbryarly, Mar 13, 2007
    #5
    rbryarly

    rbryarly New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 2006
    Messages:
    5
    Location:
    Chesapeake Bay tributary
    1940 Chris Craft

    Eric
    She is indeed a 33 footer. The shavings, unfortunately, were on one of those warm November '06 days we had last year. The shavings have since blown away.
    regards,
    Richard