Back to the Restoration

[62cruiserinc]

Last year I had posted pics of my dissasembly of a 1962 cruiser inc. Model 202. I had to take time off from the boat after that for some home remodeling, vacations, etc.

Now it's finally back to work on the boat. Last week, with the help of my son and a few friends, the boat was moved into my shop. The shop is heated so I can work in it while it's cold out. Here it is in my shop:



I will need to steam-bend a bunch of new ribs and replace the keel. The keel will be an inch wider on each side so I can cut off 1" off the end of each rib at the keel. This will remove the weak part at the very end and provide a better place for new screw holes.

First thing will be to figure out how much wood I need and buy the wood from a local supplier I have found.

I have a question: Is the long part of the keel (from the transom to its attachment at the stem) supposed to be perfectly straight?

My keel is convex in the middle (as viewed from the bottom of the boat). The boat was on a trailer for the last 20 years, so it may have sagged in the middle since it was supported only at the ends. I haven't measured it, but I think the center dips down about 1-2".

Steve

[Phill Blank]

Steve,

The keel should be a straight line from the transom to the bow stem. Any sag or hog will effect the handling of the boat at speed. A new keelson and sister keelsons will help to straighten out the hump I see in the photo as well as a new outer keel.

Good luck on your restoration.

Phill

[Tim the Toolman]

Hi Steve,
I'm just about where you were at with my 1968 20' Offshore Camper and was interested in progress since your March 03, 2011 post. I don't see any updates since then. Did everything go so smoothly that your finished and on the water?