Doug, sounds like you lack experience but make up for it in enthuisasm ).
That looks like a worthwhile project. Just try to match the wood as closely as
possible & take your time. There's nothing wrong (IMO) with using superior,
currently available materials (epoxy adhesives, modern sealants etc) to make it
better than it was. One thing to check is the bottom. If it's been stored on
the trailer with uneven pressure on rollers or skids etc it can have bottom
problems (hooks or dips) that need to be adressed, early on.
Good luck & keep us posted
Greg Sefton

Before you put a lot of labor in it, check the planking on the inside
back where it meets the transom, around the shaft log and any other sopt
that might collect water. Rot in any of those places will turn what
could be a fun, satisfying restoration into a nightmare. A real
restoration devotee would see it as a challange but that work is not for
a beginner. If that is sound, you have a VERY good boat with a lot of
potential.

Your most valuable information will come as you remove things. As you
take out a rotten deck plank examine the edges and joints carefully to
see how they went together. Sometines the deck planks are slightly
beveled. Once they are all laid the joints were packed with plumber's
oakum or a cotton yarn and then filled with either a white or black
marine caulk formulated for the purpose.

doug wrote:
A while back I inherited a DixieCraft wooden boat, and, this being my
first ever boat, I jumped into educating myself on anything I could find
on it. Extensive netsearching brought up _very_ little on the name
"DixieCraft", but volumes on wooden boats. I've bought several books,
and in general made a nuisance of myself at the local library. I've
followed this newsgroup for some time, and read with interest the
variety of posts dealing with restoration of older wooden boats.

I've had a couple of folks who know wood look at it, and the general
consensus is that it is mahogany. (I unscrewed one piece from the
frame, sanded the weathered surface from it to get a good look at the
"fresh" wood)

I'd like to find a balance between restoring to original condition, and
using materials that were likely not available when it was new, and will
give me better service.

Sources for 1/2" thick, 4" width, and several foot lengths will be
needed to deal with some topside damage, hull seems really solid.

I've read where a "string" is used between the hull boards, caulking,
etc... I don't know what was original, and haven't dissected any of the
hull to see what's there currently. Previous owner sanded whatever was
on it at the time, then stored it in my barn. He gave it to me when the
family moved out of state.

I want to do it right. Pictures below.

And thanks for any advice that will help me get this little craft back
into the water!

doug swanson



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--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com