Time to start the Chestnut Moonlight we bought a while back, it needs an entire restoration but is a great hull with no lumps or cracked ribs. Outer gunwales were changed out for these extra deep ones crafted by a previous owner, along with a strip of fiberglass to bridge the gap between the canvas and boat. The canvas had been trimmed down no doubt due to rot, and extend its lifespan. The ends have the typical rot, and will be rebuilt. Originally green, then red, then finally blue. This one will be kept (for a while at least) as its a very slender 16' hull, at 32" wide and with the undercut heart decks. The seller stated they retrieved the boat from a cottage in Lac Megantic Que, where my family originated. Seems fitting to do it up right..
Original slanted decals, circa post-1956
Wide, tapered ribs and heart deck.
Flaking interior finish
Gunwales,trimmed canvas and fiberglass strip
Bare hull, seats and thwarts to be removed
Typical end rots, will need rail and stem trips
Despite the drywall screws
Lots of help with this one
Almost ready for stripping
Stems coming off, TONS of sealant and steel screws
Stembands were saved, to be cleaned up
Bites in rail from seat and thwart bolts
Nice original bronze carriage bolts. 4 wings under the head seat into the rails, reproductions made today lack this feature.
Traditional weave, to be taken out and redone.
Rasp marks from fairing the hull, typical factory practice.
Nice solid planking, hull will be faired after refinishing and repairs made, before canvassing.
Even got help with the cleanup
First results of stripping before the heat got to be too much and dried the goop too fast.
Small amounts of varnish to be removed
Ash decks out, and all the steel screws
Ash stems, with serial number stamps, unusual for a Chestnut
Gunwale tips to be spliced
Most varnish off, one more pass and done.
Some vertical grain planking, some flat sawn
One more pass with stripper and repairs, varnish and canvas.
