Bouyancy and other matters
Posted: 28 Apr 2018, 14:24
Hello,
I have just purchased an old wooden speedboat and joined the group. It is a 17' rear mount with vee drive that I intend to restore. See photos.
My questions for the gurus of the group are;
1. The boat is not currently registered - is it a legal requirement to have positive bouyancy to be registered in Victoria?
2. I have stripped the boat out including the fibreglass top in preparation for fixing the hull. There are a number of planks requiring replacement, a bit of dry rot in the gunnels and some less than ideal old repairs to fix. Is it still possible to get the square shank copper rivets that have been used originally on the planking?
3. What type of timber did they usually use for the ribs?
4. How can I identify the builder or the hull design? There are no makers plates, marks or any other information that I can find on the hull. I have been able to identify the engine as a Ford 351 Windsor originally fitted to a 1971 Fairlane 500 but this may not be the original motor. The motor drives through a dog clutch and vee drive. All the pictures of similar boats seem to have the rudder mounted externally on the stern and the propeller close to the stern. My boat, however, has the rudder mounted internally on the stern and as a consequence the propeller is mounted further forward. There is a brass skeg mounted mid hull.
I hope someone is able to help me with these.
Kind regards,
I have just purchased an old wooden speedboat and joined the group. It is a 17' rear mount with vee drive that I intend to restore. See photos.
My questions for the gurus of the group are;
1. The boat is not currently registered - is it a legal requirement to have positive bouyancy to be registered in Victoria?
2. I have stripped the boat out including the fibreglass top in preparation for fixing the hull. There are a number of planks requiring replacement, a bit of dry rot in the gunnels and some less than ideal old repairs to fix. Is it still possible to get the square shank copper rivets that have been used originally on the planking?
3. What type of timber did they usually use for the ribs?
4. How can I identify the builder or the hull design? There are no makers plates, marks or any other information that I can find on the hull. I have been able to identify the engine as a Ford 351 Windsor originally fitted to a 1971 Fairlane 500 but this may not be the original motor. The motor drives through a dog clutch and vee drive. All the pictures of similar boats seem to have the rudder mounted externally on the stern and the propeller close to the stern. My boat, however, has the rudder mounted internally on the stern and as a consequence the propeller is mounted further forward. There is a brass skeg mounted mid hull.
I hope someone is able to help me with these.
Kind regards,