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I restored a vintage Vespa motor scooter steel tank using a kit from Kreem Products. I used pennies and lead shot to shake in the stripped interior until I got no more loose rust out, then used the etching compound in the kit, lastly the lining liquid that gave sort of a white plasticized interior f...

Glad you made it back safely. You may be able to contest the ticket and avoid the fine without an appearance by checking if Idaho (origin) or Minnesota (your state) actually even have temporary transit tags for boat trailers. I suspect they do not, I could not find one or a statutory procedure here ...

Andreas, Best wishes for a safe and uneventful adventure. I'm thinking there's a Thompson museum and wooden boatbuilding school somewhere in your future. Regards, John

Clark, I have an original "in the family" 1959 SeaCoaster 473. The bottom outside is all original and has 2 wooden pieces and 2 aluminum pieces. The wooden pieces are the stem and the keel. My keel is identical to yours and is made of white oak as is the stem. The two aluminum strips both ...

Does anyone have any experience with and sources for, modern LEDs they have used in vintage navigation lights. My 59 vintage Attwood bow and stern/all-around light use conventional bulbs, but I'm thinking I might like to switch as my '62 Gale 40HP Sovereign motor does not have an alternator and they...

Try Homestead Hardwoods of Vickery, OH near Sandusky. They have a website and more wood than is listed. Go to the marine plywood page, scroll down and they have mahogany hardwood and white oak. I have visited and bought a piece of white oak in preparation for doing some floor work on my SeaCoaster. ...

Happy New Year all, warm here in NW Ohio. Will be getting my 59 Peshtigo SeaCoaster 473 wet this year. The hull is solid and in good shape but did she not come with a floor, drain or bilge pump. The keel is solid original from stem to transom i.e. the port and starboard halves of the boat are physic...

Same here. Thanks to all for your help and encouragement this past year. Best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous New Year, Regards, John

Homestead Hardwoods in Vickery, Ohio (south of Sandusky where those other boats were made) lists a good variety. They are at http://www.marine-plywood.us/ I will be trying them out this winter as I want to make a drop in floor for my 59 Peshtigo SeaCoaster 473. Regards, John

Andreas, Matchbox Miniatures, I had almost forgotten them. English made by Lesney if I recall. Good to see your transom is fully supported. I wonder if this is the origin of the use of guide-ons for boat trailers? I had, and may have somwhere still, a similar unit but the trailer did not have the gu...

Barry, Congratulations she looks good and with two working motors and a top in good shape you are saving a bunch. You will find a plethora of good information here and everyone is very helpful. We went to the show in Marinette this summer and Andreas and crew provided a great learning opportunity fo...

Good morning. Be very careful in your selection. Make sure you install a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector. For my .02, job two is the insulation, they have self spray foam units at some lumber stores now, fiberglass bat is very fast and easy to do if you work alone. Drywall will give yo...

First, Thanks to Andreas and all for their hard work on the Rally at Marinette. It was a bit of a drive but we learned much and it was great to meet many of you who have provided such great information on bringing our boat back to life. We took the southern route back to Ohio and went through both P...

So far, working from under the full bunk trailer, I dropped the keel rollers and have pulled the wooden keel, found no rot, scraped it, scraped the garboards joint and reinstalled with LifeCalk and 16 frearson head silicon bronze screws 12 x 2" and 1 silicon bronze carriage bolt 1/4"x 20 x...

My 59 Seacoaster 473 will drain front to rear on both sides of the keelson, now, after I spent the better part of a day with hot water and a bicycle brake cable outer sheath poking through the bottom of each rib to keelson joint to clear out years of dried varnish, small seeds, and other odd gunk th...