thompsondockside.com

JUST BOUGHT A 17' 1962 THOMPSON FROM THE SECOND OWNER ,
WHO USED IT SPARINGLY OVER THE LAST 35 YEARS. IT IS SITTING ON
A EASY LOADER WITH 14" TIRES THAT HAS BEEN SANDBLASTED AND
REPAINTED. IT HAS A 1962 75 HP JOHNSON THAT HE CLAIMS RUNS AND
WAS FOGGED 3 YEARS AGO BEFORE HE TOOK IT OFF THE BOAT.

THE BOAT IS ALL ORIGINAL WITH ALL THE STANDARD HARDWARE WITH
THE BACK SEAT MISSING. IT HAS FRONT SEAT WITH STORAGE BEHIND
CABINET DOORS WITH ANCHORS CUT INTO THEM. I THOUGHT THE WOOD WAS IN GOOD CONDITION UNTIL I TOOK THE BOAT APART TODAY.

1. AFTER REMOVING THE WINDSHIELD I FOUND SOME DECK ROT UNDER
IT AND ON THE WINDSHEILD ITSELF. I CAN REDECK AND REPAIR THE
WINDSHIELD.

2. SOME SOFT SPOTS ON GUNNEL BOARD THAT FILLS BETWEEN TOP
LAPSTRAKE AND DECK....CAN FIX THIS BY REPACING WHERE NEEDED.

3. ALL PLANKS ARE SOLID INSIDE AND OUTSIDE...CHECKED VERY
CAREFULLY WITH PICK. TRANSOM IS SOLID. KNEE BOARDS WHERE
TRANSOM AND SIDE TOP PLANKS NEED TO BE REPLACED....4. UNDER THE FLOORBOARDS HE PAINTED THE LAST 4' NEAREST THE
TRANSOM. THE BOARD ON EACH SIDE OF THE INNER KEEL HAD SOME
SOFT SPOTS SO I REMOVED TODAY. SOME OF THE TOP OF THE INNER
KEEL IS SOFT NEAR THE TOP. THE STRAKES OR BOWS ARE ROTTED THE
LAST INCH BEFORE THEY MEET THE KEEL. AGAIN, THE LAPS SEEM TO BE
OK. CAN I CUT THE SOFT PART OFF EACH STRAKE OR BOW, AND
SISTER IN SAY A 12" BOW NEXT TO IT TAKING IT TO THE KEEL. THEN
I WILL REPLACE THE BOARD ON EACH SIDE OF THE KEEL LAYING THEM
ON TOP OF THE OLD AND NEW SISTERED STRAKES.

5. I DO NOT PLAN TO SHOW THE BOAT BUT WANT IT TO LOOK GOOD,
SOMEWHAT ORIGINAL, STABLE, SAFE, AND FUNCTIONAL. I PLAN ON
COATING ANY SOFT OR SUSPICIOUS WOOD WITH THE MIX OF ANTIFREEZE, BORIC ACID, BORAX TO KILL ANY ROT SPORES.

Hi and welcome!

What company built this boat and where were they located? What is the hull ID and serial number?

Your question number 4: The inner keel (it's officially called the "keelson") is made up of three boards oriented vertically and they are screwed together to form a triple laminated "T" keelson. Are you saying that the two outer boards are rotten?

Replace any rotten wood and be aware that most often the rot extends far beyond any visable damage. The keelson is all heartwood white oak.

Also in question number 4 you talk about "strakes" or "bows." Are you thinking about the steam bent ribs? Strakes are the planking - called "lapstrakes." Sistering in new ribs next to the existing ones is an acceptable method of repair. It is not, of course, a restoration.

Safety is paramount if this boat will be used in the water. Make absolutely certain the boat is structurallly sound. Then and only then should you attack cosmetics.

Andreas

THANKS FOR THE QUICK RESPONSE AND INFORMATION.

THOMPSON BROTHERS
.
, WISC.
SERIAL # 21948
Y2A09086....LAST NUMBER COULD BE AN 8 BUT I BELIEVE IT IS A 6..
STAMPED ON TRANSOM BUT WORN.

I PLAN ON TREATING ANY ROT AND THEN STORING FOR A YEAR UNTIL
I CAN GET ALL MY WIFES PROJECTS DONE. JUST WANTED TO MAKE
CERTAIN I AM CABABLE OR REPAIRING FOR DAILY USE OR I WOULD
TRY TO GET MY $1000 BACK BY SELLING THE BOAT,MOTOR, TRAILER
TO SOMEONE WITH THE EXPERTISE. I NEED TO FIND A CLUB NEAR
HARTWELL, GA......THEY HAVE A WOODEN BOAT SHOW EACH SUMMER.
I WOULD LIKE TO FIND A WOOD WORKER/BOAT RESTORER I COULD
VOLUNTEER TO WORK FOR AND LEARN SOME OF WHAT I NEED TO KNOW TO DO A GOOD JOB. THANKS AGAIN.....I WILL HAVE A ZILLION QUESTIONS ONCE I START. BY THE WAY, IN 1970 I BOUGHT A 1958
16' LYMAN FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND REFINISHED IT....NO
ROT....40 HP EVINRUDE, TEENEE TRAILER AND BOAT...A DROP DEAD
BEAUTIFUL BOAT I USED ON LAKE ERIE WHERE I GRETW UP. MY DAD OWNED AND I USED OVER THE YEARS, 15'WOVERINE , 16' ANDERSON,
22 ' CHRIS CRAFT CABIN KIT BOAT, 23' LURHS CUDDY, 14' CHRIS CRAFT KIT BOAT. I WORKED ON THEM EACH SUMMER...REFINISHING,
CLEANING, ETC. NO RESTORATION. WHEN HE FOUND A DIFFERENT BOAT
HE LIKED BETTE WE STARTED OVER....NO PERFECT BOAT FOR ALL USES
HE ALWAYS SAID. AS HE GOT INTO HIS 70'S HE BOUGHT AN 18' ALUMINUM SMOKERCRAFT FOR LESS MAINTENCE.....LIKE RIDING IN A
CAMPBELLS SOUP CAN AFTER RIDING THOSE WOODEN BOATS FOR
SO MANY YEARS. THANKS AGAIN.

Don, sounds like you have a nice boat there. The rib end rot you describe is a pretty common problem on Thompsons because of the design of the joint at the keelson. The rib ends absorb water water thru the end grain and to make matters worse there are two fasteners through each rib end which allows room for even more absorption.
I went thru the same repairs on my 57' 16-8" Sea Lancer. Also, I'm running a 1961 75 hp Evinrude... a fine match for this boat, does 34 mph w/ 4 people aboard.
If you e- mail me, I will send you some info describing the keel construction details and the method I used in repairing my boat. You may find this helpful.

Joe Brincat fixerjo @sbcglobal.net

I think the Antique & Classic Boat Socierty has a chapter in Georgia: www.acbs.org

Andreas