Classic Australian Wooden Power Boat Association

It's a damn shame there's no like button on here,

Over the past fortnight I've been chipping away building the new deck frame using some lovely staight grain beech from the Solomon Islands. As of today the five frames are clamped in, king plank laid and the outer cureved strings which pick up the cover board are also cut and rebated in. The old frames were very useful for patterns, but the new timbers still need quite a bit of work to fair in. Go figure! Good to host the Stratford (Craig & Ross) mafia this morning for an inspection. They also scored an invitation to the beer & BBQ boat tuning function, whenever that may be!

It was good to catch up today Bob and have a sticky at Nirvana. You're making steady progress which is great to see.
I'm looking forward to your future updates.

Nice work Bob its going to look awesome

With family staying with us in January, work on Nirvana has slowed somewhat. But.... I've been keen to get the trailer up to registration standard, if only to take it away from home and back to the store. That's meant a new axle with brakes, new hitch, brake lines, re-wire etc etc. My two sons gave me a big hand this long weekend welding ('cos I can't), fitting the new axle and repositioning the guards. Man I hate trailers and metal work! Cutting and grinding is zero fun. The new axle with deeper arc springs has raised the trailer and the guards look like poo. Should have got a drop axle. Oh well, we'll hopefully get it right when the 750 kg of boat/engine is ready for a trial fit. Will certainly drop down the struts under the bearer pads. Did I mention how I hate metal work?

The trailer looks ok Bob. As you say the weight will make a difference.
Ah yes metalwork. The grinding dust is the worst. Sparks around wood and flammables is also a constant worry. Anyway you're making good progress.

And it’s stayed on the ground!!! What’s your memory like Bob? ...No stuffing about lifting it up into the shed roof mate!! Really enjoying your updates and the progress, cheers mate

Ahoy Chivs - thanks for the feedback. I'm posting my progress here as I reckon it would bore than pants off FB friends. Plus I've got all the baby steps in the one place. My memory is fine - well remember us getting Torea out of the rack. I sold three boats being Torea (Lewis runabout), Rebound (Lewis skiff) and the Glen L gentleman's racer (incomplete project) and today I still have 3 boats and not enough room, so clearly 6 boats was way too many. Right now I'm trailer focussed to get it up to registration standard to get it out of here. Boring, but it has to be done.

Yes Bob, as the Captain says, I like the snippets and pics of Chris Craft progress....keep em coming
I also agree with you on the metalwork, it doesn't come naturally to me either, I luck in some welds every now and then, but basically they always look "backyardish"

Haha- I can't weld but my son Ross can with the MIG welder that I bought him many years ago. We have an arrangement you might say.