BIG.SMOKE's (attempted?) classic speedboat restoration

[Sultans_Kapitein]

No one will rechrome them because they are made from errrrrr what ever metal it was that gets pitted .
I really have looked into it . Thats why i am saying to the op not to lose his

Sounds like maizak or how ever you spell it, was used in a lot of chrome fitting, wing mirrors, door handles etc. etc. but no matter what you do it will pit. I did hear there is a process now around that can sort it out, the usual problem is that when it goes into the shop to be chromed, it needs polishing, they start polishing and the pits get bigger!! Any way I am meting a friend of mine this evening who has spent most if not all his working life in the plating business, so I shall ask him what can done and if he can recommend any one to do the job.
Mal

 

[Firefly625]

No one will rechrome them because they are made from errrrrr what ever metal it was that gets pitted .
I really have looked into it . Thats why i am saying to the op not to lose his

shame, indeed original fittings very precious, makes all the difference when its coming back together.

 

[rbcoomer]

Next best thing might be to take one in to a steel fabricator and get one laser cut in stainless perhaps? Amazing what these places can do.

Big.Smoke: you see I said the thread would be popular - and you've barely started!

What a great project and good to see a few restored ones around too - gives you all the encouragement you need looking at what the finished boat will become... I'll remember to keep my eyes open for a period outboard too.

 

[BIG.SMOKE]

It appears Cuchilo is now my hero! Was that yarecraft yours? (or is) Its exactly the colour I want mine, but with white pinstripe caulking at the front, mine already has pinstriping on it so it might be aftermarket perhaps? Also - are we talking about ALL the fitting being made of this mazik metal stuff? Just as I know for a fact the owner of the below vessel has definately had his fitting's re-chromed.

Also - You guys are saying the brackets holding the windscreen in cant be "re-chromed" well you definately wouldn't be able to chrome plate mine as I have just been out to my shed, where the widnscreen is and my brackets are definately made out of plastic?

Next best thing might be to take one in to a steel fabricator and get one laser cut in stainless perhaps? Amazing what these places can do.

Big.Smoke: you see I said the thread would be popular - and you've barely started!

What a great project and good to see a few restored ones around too - gives you all the encouragement you need looking at what the finished boat will become... I'll remember to keep my eyes open for a period outboard too.

Thanks a lot buddy.

 

[Captain Coochie]

Mine isnt a yarecraft its a Melville marine race boat . Only six made and i have no 6 .


My point was old boats need old outboards to look proper cool IMHO .

It appears Cuchilo is now my hero!

I get that alot

 

[Captain Coochie]

Balls ! i just missed this one by £2




http://offer.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewBids&item=180712442715&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:BIDN&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2765


Only around the corner from me aswell .

 

[BIG.SMOKE]

Mine isnt a yarecraft

Sorry, chopped and changed my post around, I realise its not a yarecraft, hull is very different as a start lol.

 

[duesouth68]

Restoration

Hi Big Smoke..i noticed your model is left hand drive...

 

[Captain Coochie]

Mine is also left hand drive , i'm told its something to do with racing and being able to look over the side so you can whip around the bouy as close as possible .

 

[duesouth68]

Restoration

That's alright with right hand bouys but what about left hand bouys..or is it best to go anti-clockwise for them...

 

[Captain Coochie]

How would i know The only racing i do is to the pub to catch last orders .

 

[jfm]

you definately wouldn't be able to chrome plate mine as I have just been out to my shed, where the widnscreen is and my brackets are definately made out of plastic?

You can have plastic chromed and re-chromed

Great thread btw

 

[Captain Coochie]

mine already has pinstriping on it so it might be aftermarket perhaps?

Mine also had pin striping on it but hand painted . Ive had no luck with sign writers as they do a bit of wee when they see my varnish and dont want to mess it up
So i am getting a cnc laser cut transfer done for £170 . Not ideal but then i suppose i can just whip it off and revarnish at will and get another one cut to keep looking tip top .

Hand painted picture ......

Back to wood and revarnished 12 times ....

 

[BIG.SMOKE]

^^^^ Im now sporting a semi.... My yarecraft is actually caulked on the
bow, not just painted on pin stripes so, should be easier(?)

On another note, how does Nickel plating fair up against the sea air? And is it a lot more costly than chrome plating?

 

[Captain Coochie]

Looking at this ....

I would say its laid on to the deck .
I could be wrong and i am no expert but you can buy holly and teak sheets of ply off the shelf .

 

[Wiggo]

^^^^ Im now sporting a semi.... My yarecraft is actually caulked on the
bow, not just painted on pin stripes so, should be easier(?)

On another note, how does Nickel plating fair up against the sea air? And is it a lot more costly than chrome plating?

AFAIK, nickel and chrome plating is much the same thing. The bulk of the plating is nickel, with a thin layer of chrome plated over the top. The reason behind it being that nickel plating tends to have a bluish cast to it, and the more yellow chrome layer over the top returns the colour to the finish we associate with chroming.

 

[Tremlett 15]

how did I miss this thread until now.........?

great find & great thread.

+ 1 for an old Merc ( 1976 )

 

[Birchwood Thunderski]

Yes, great thread. The Melville I recognise..was reputedly owned by either Larry Marshall or Lex Mclean, then bought in '66 by the aunt of a chap by the name of Eric Billimore. The deck lines were often created with some strange substances...but if they're routed can be done at home as per my Broom Rapier.

Yarecraft go very well with the BigTwin 40hp Evinrudes and the Johnson 40hp 'Super Quiet' which were available from 1960 to 1971 before the styles changed, will top out at about 30mph. Similar style but slower are the 33 Ski Twin or Speeditwin 28hp models. Find a good looking running one, preferably freshwater (or else every bolt and nut will need heat. They can be expensive to fix and all the service items will set you back about 160 quid (the old style coils are resinous and crack with age) so get the best you can, but bear in mind only the very best minters reach 400 quid. Merc 350s are common and more powerful and noisy, the earlier white mercs have more challenging internals and you'll not find anything much before 1960. Pay 350 to 400 for a nice 2 pot 350, ca 29 to 33 cu inch. Up to 500 for a Merc 300 (35-40hp) or 350 4 pot ca 40 cu inch. A bit more for the 44 cu inch 400 (45hp) and 500 (50hp). If you buy a shorty 402 the decals are available (as are most from the mid-50s) from a chap in Canada and it is possible to rebadge a late 70s (better ignition) motor to the 1st model of that size and shape in 66.

Handling is fun, if harsh in chop and a great party trick is they be put on their sides, showing their 'bottom' so to speak...

The windscreen uprights are aftermarket mazak and common with many 60s runabouts, including Pearly Miss. Clean them up and bide your time as I have
seen them on ebay, jumbles and had some NOS pass through my hands..Personally I'd look for some early 60s Fletcher Arrow 120 versions which are plentiful and chrome on brass.

All the best...Do join the CMBA, is the best 30 quid I've ever spent.

 

[Captain Coochie]

I have it as Larry Marshall of the one o clock gang . It is said he started it , fell overboard and put it into storage after that
Ive just picked up the template from the cnc shop to check the shape before they cut the final transfer with the pinstriping . I will try and take some pictures over the weekend if anyone is interested .

 

[BIG.SMOKE]

First update!

Finally got all the fixings off of the deck; needed an impact driver for some of the screws;

Windscreen, cleats ect all gone;

Next up was removing flooring & bench seating, what a lovely job, bless brass crews

Also note all the faux ( ) white leather has been removed from around the top of the seating/cockpit.

As you can see I have had to leave the centre bench seat in as I couldn't remove it with the screw drivers I had.

Found this little "treasure" under the rear flooring....

Glad that was un-inhabited.

Steering wheel & speedo removed (including cable)

Removed a bit of the caulking just to test how difficult this will be come the time, wasn't to diffivult to be fair....

Lastly - I got bored this afternoon, so I spruced the windscreen up from this;

To this;

Renovo & Britemax metal polish, the metal finish is very good but not perfect, I might take this along to the chrome plating plating when I take all the other fixings.

This will be the last update for 3 weeks as im off to Turkey