First She Had to Take a Ride on a Boat | 1957

[pbearsailor]

Originally Posted by 1956Safari

Hey Steve, Where did you ever find the barrel bolts? My 56 needs them too and I've had no luck locating them thus far.
Thanks!
Jaime

They came from a local marine chandlery and had a Seadog brand name. I checked Defender and West Marine online and didn't find the same type, but they're both probably got something similar that would work. These have a round barrel instead of the original half round, so I did have to open up the tab on the inner door slightly.

-steve

[safari62]

Hi Steve

I just returned back to ME from Missouri to help a friend pick up a 57' Custom he bought off Ebay. We were hoping for the best and somewhat prepared for the worst. It took and six hours to clean out the interior, rewire lights and brakes, and mount the new tire, rims, WT hitch. Only had to repack one set of bearings at an auto parts parking lot. It started heating up about a half hour after heading back east. But no other road drama and we made it back in one piece. The v-8 4-Runner pulled nicely.

Just thought I would share a few photos to let you know about similar trailers out there still being saved......one trailer at a time. This one needs an extreme makeover. This is an Ohio Custom with some interesting interior layouts. Lots of work but watching your progress helps with that "vision" thing. I have referred the new owner to your thread/project in hope he will see what a great job you are doing.

Keep up the great work!

[pbearsailor]

Thx for the pics, Gary. I was watching that one on eBay. Pretty similar to the Caravanner, sure looks familiar. Another one of the last of the 13 panels.

Island Girl got a new Reese Strait-Line Hitch in the mail a couple of days ago and I finished that install today, got the brakes hooked up, and paid a visit to the car wash. Planning our first outing to join the crowd at Lynden tomorrow, but we're still pretty pitiful with our empty shell. Look forward to seeing some other trailers there.

cheers,
steve

[safari57]

Steve,

It was great to meet you and Pam yesterday at the Lynden TCT event. Your trailer is gorgeous. You wouldn't of heard the comments as you towed in but they were very excited to see that beauty roll past.

We missed you when we came past later in the afternoon after the majority of the tours were done so we could leave our trailers. A group of us headed over to meet you and view your handiwork. We did get a chance to take a good look at the trailer through the windows and you do outstanding work. The finished trailer will be a real showpiece, and functional.

We had intended to hang out today (Sunday) to visit with the group and await your arrival but with the rain so heavy we decided we needed to get the car/trailer home and tucked away - I have a tailgate leak that I thought was fixed on the wagon but apparently, and much to my chagrin, I've still got some work to do.

You are close to me, 12 miles or so, and one day I'll grab my neighbor who was also at Lynden and we'll drop down to get an official tour.

Take care,
Barry and Donna

[pbearsailor]

Hey Barry,

Great to meet you and Donna as well. Thanks for the compliments on the trailer, but wow, I'm really impressed by so many rigs I saw there, including yours and that very cool tow vehicle (even with a leaky tailgate). I'd sure hoped to hang around longer on Saturday, but Pam just ran out of gas and wanted to go. No problem, I figured, since the forecast for today, when I had care for Pam, was only for showers. I'll take the blame for the weather, though, since I put a coat of varnish on the boat Saturday afternoon and that always makes it rain.

But I got to meet silverleeper, Lee, and Mel and see their cool Caravel today. And thanks Greg for the cookies, most of which did not survive the afternoon while working on the trailer.

Really great to get Island Girl on the road once again. I'd decided on a Reese Strait-Line Hitch with 600 pound bars and it arrived just in time on Wednesday, giving me enough time to get it set up. She pulls just great with the Tundra and I surprised myself by remembering how to back up after not towing a trailer for 35 years or so.

Dark and gloomy working inside today, but I turned on all the lights and they made a big difference.

cheers,
steve

[Mel]

Steve, it was great to meet you yesterday and I'm sorry we didn't have longer to visit! Glad you could make it out to Lynden - it's a great crowd of people and I know everyone will be excited to see the progress on Island Girl at the next rally.

[pbearsailor]

Originally Posted by Mel

Steve, it was great to meet you yesterday and I'm sorry we didn't have longer to visit! Glad you could make it out to Lynden - it's a great crowd of people and I know everyone will be excited to see the progress on Island Girl at the next rally.

I'm all pumped up now and anxious to get her finished now, Mel. Did the cat make it home with you?

cheers,
steve

[silverleeper]

Originally Posted by pbearsailor

Did the cat make it home with you?

cheers,
steve

This picture says it all.

[pbearsailor]

Originally Posted by silverleeper

This picture says it all.

Looks like a pretty happy cat to me!


The two recliners came with a center console, but it’s too wide and very heavy. It does have a nice leather center armrest and that will be resized to fit the smaller cabinet I’m making.

The back half of the “T” shaped box houses the batteries, converter, and circuit breaker panels. Might even be some storage room left over if I’m lucky. In the back of the trailer the original bed has a great curve of birch made into it and I want to tie that into the front cabinet. I’ve started with curves cut into 3/4” ply and notched to fit the 1x2” framing, fastened with epoxy and cloth (thanks, Marcus).

I got the rest of the framing put together today using a pocket screw jig. Really like the pocket screws: strong, and really quick.

Air19 has a great thread showing his cabinet work on a ‘53 Flying Cloud. He is really skilled and I am not, but he makes use of Elfa bins for his storage and I’m using them in this cabinet as well. I’ve just got it clamped and wired in place to check the fit for now. The Elfa bins just slide on grooves cut into the 1x2’s. It’ll all be covered in Baltic birch and a laminate yet to be decided upon.

cheers,
steve

[utee94]

Looking good, pocket hole screws are an absolute miracle.

Do I see the beginnings of some curved cabinetry? Very nice!



-Marcus

[pbearsailor]

Yep, curved cabinetry, Marcus.

I’ve got a pretty good set of basic tools, but when it comes to making cabinets I really come up short. My buddy Dusty (he of the Airstream cutouts for the overhead sliders) looked at what I was doing and loaned me a router, a laminate trimmer, a biscuit joiner, a brad gun, and a staple gun. All these in addition to his table saw, chop saw, and belt sanders I’d already been using. It’s really a luxury having access to the right tools.

The front curved portion is, like most of the cabinet, 1/8” Baltic birch and is bent around the plywood formers and attached with thickened epoxy. It was done in one uncut piece and I used duct tape to mark the edges and to keep the epoxy from sticking beyond those points. Then I just used a razor knife to cut out the opening for the two Elfa bins. I used the round welt from VTS for the edges. The bottom bin will attach to the front face, giving access to both bins.

The sides are now on and the hardwood pieces are cut for the armrest opening and the mount for the little radio. Really wasn't planning the use of the hardwood (imbuya), but it jumped out at me while picking up Baltic birch at Windsor Plywood. Half off too!

cheers,
steve

[pbearsailor]

It's been around a year and a half since the original cabinets came out of Island Girl, so it was a really big deal yesterday when the refrigerator/wardrobe unit went back in. The unit needs stripping, refinishing, and some panel replacement so it's not at all done, but I wanted it back in in order to get the Dickinson propane heater reinstalled. Cold weather is coming.

The cabinet for the recliners is nearly done, short of the laminate and a couple of hinges on the way from Lee Valley. Pics of that in a few days.

cheers,
steve

[tallytwo1994]

Originally Posted by pbearsailor

Yep, curved cabinetry, Marcus.

I’ve got a pretty good set of basic tools, but when it comes to making cabinets I really come up short. My buddy Dusty (he of the Airstream cutouts for the overhead sliders) looked at what I was doing and loaned me a router, a laminate trimmer, a biscuit joiner, a brad gun, and a staple gun. All these in addition to his table saw, chop saw, and belt sanders I’d already been using. It’s really a luxury having access to the right tools.

The front curved portion is, like most of the cabinet, 1/8” Baltic birch and is bent around the plywood formers and attached with thickened epoxy. It was done in one uncut piece and I used duct tape to mark the edges and to keep the epoxy from sticking beyond those points. Then I just used a razor knife to cut out the opening for the two Elfa bins. I used the round welt from VTS for the edges. The bottom bin will attach to the front face, giving access to both bins.

The sides are now on and the hardwood pieces are cut for the armrest opening and the mount for the little radio. Really wasn't planning the use of the hardwood (imbuya), but it jumped out at me while picking up Baltic birch at Windsor Plywood. Half off too!

cheers,
steve

Everything is looking great Steve. Can't believe the cold weather is back already!

Carol

[pbearsailor]

Thanks, Carol.

Front cabinet nearly done with the recliners moved back into position. Still have the laminate and top compartment hinges to go, but it's functional now. Spent most of the day on the bulkhead by the door--lots of small cuts and many more small removals with the belt sander. Fit is getting close.

cheers,
steve

[pbearsailor]

You know your restoration is taking too long when you are reinstalling the heater for the second winter of work. It's cool and wet up here this weekend and I've been working for a week or so trying to get the Dickinson Propane Heater reinstalled after having it out for the summer work.

I'd gotten the big curbside cabinet back in and the bulkheads replaced, but have only refinished the panel by the entrance door so that the heater reinstall could be permanent. Of course, that impacts many other things: nothing is ever simple. The heater sticks out a bit more than the old Panel Ray, so the other two big pieces of original cabinetry had to go back in first, even though they aren't refinished. With the bed and galley inside, the heater could go back on, hopefully permanently.

Tomorrow I'll get the propane hooked up again and the 12 volt heater fan that we lacked last winter. Lots of work left on the cabinets, but having them back in sure makes the inside look a lot closer to being done. Hopefully that'll happen before the third winter.

-steve

[AirAffair]

Hi Steve. Your console looks great, as the rest of your work appears to be. Keep the pictures coming!

You may not remember me but I bugged you for an hour or so at the Lynden get together.

Absolutely love the heater - I suspect it's from a marine application? Can you tell me more about it?

Greg

[pbearsailor]

Yep, I remember, Greg. Welcome to the forums. How's your trailer coming?

The heater is a Dickinson Newport Propane and there's some stuff in this thread about it starting around post 100 or so. Mine came from defender.com. I really like it as it uses a double walled pipe, drawing fresh air in the outside pipe and exhausting combustion air through the inner pipe, so it's not using inside oxygen.

................

Pam is no longer able to climb into the V berth in the bow that has always been her bed. I’ve been lifting her up there for several weeks, but finally decided to move her into the main saloon where access is much easier. Alzheimers doesn’t like changes and boat cats don’t like changes, so let’s just say that last night was not the most restful on our little boat.

Cold, windy, and rainy this morning, but I had respite care for Pam and 6 hours alone to work on the trailer. I got the 12 volt fan hooked up on the heater and connected the gas line. And, the work mostly stopped. It was nice and warm with the fire burning in the heater. I sat back in one of the recliners with my copy of David Winick’s Airstreams-Custom Interiors and most of my day slipped away.

Guilt made me get a little work done, some sanding and some stripping on the cabinets. I emptied out the stuff in the drawers in the galley cabinet too and scored a great find. When I bought Island Girl, the keys could not be found, so I installed a deadbolt and have been using that to lock the door. But in one of those drawers was this little key that fits the Bargman lock perfectly.

cheers,
steve

[AirAffair]

Hi Steve. Thanks for the information on the heater. It almost seems that with the flame visible through the front, it's a mini fireplace. And good for you to take some time out for Steve and enjoy some of the fruits of your labor.

Our project is basically on hold as I wait for a local shop to cut/bend some aluminum pieces so I can rebuild the windows. I hope to have the pieces back later this week but I know and that shop knows I'm at their mercy.

Seeing your work and the progress you're making on your gem is truly inspiring. Keep the updates and pictures coming!

Greg

[pbearsailor]

I know I can do it—the system is pretty simple, but I just don’t like plumbing. But, cabinets are going back in and I know it’ll be much easier to make plumbing runs while those cabinets can still be moved. So this marks the official beginning of plumbing, still probably to be delayed as much as I can. The streetside rear corner was originally the outlet for the power cord, but all that stuff is in front now. I’m using the hole to plumb a cleanout sprayer for the blackwater tank. The inlet is a Perko marine city water hookup and chrome plated bronze, very nice quality. I’ll use another one later for the trailer’s city water hookup.

The black tank will sit on top of the subfloor in the rear curbside location of the bath. I’ll be fabricating the tank using epoxy and fiberglass cloth with stitch and glue techniques. I’ll start on the tank soon.

Meanwhile refinishing is ongoing with the original bed frame and its nice curved corner the current work in progress.

[3Ms75Argosy]

oohhh! Steve, nice work on the beds.. those are original? Man they look good! Nice work on the water inlet too... did you make the alumanum ring that fits around the inlet? Nice detail work with those rivets.. looks like art.
marc