Meet Theresa C.

[leftcoastjeff]

Written by the better half, thanks Honey.

So, I just wanted to share with you how we got this boat. Jeff and I have been looking for quite some time for a boat we can live on. We have a few friends who live in the harbor, and with Jeff being a fisherman, we were able to pass the word around. I got a phone call a few years ago, when we first moved our shop to an industrial yard, from a friend who saw an ad posted up at the harbor. She hadn't seen the boat, but she called me with every possibility she found. And she knew that we were willing to grab something that needed some work. So I called the guy and said I might be interested. But that I didn't currently have the $10,000, and would he consider payments if we took the boat. Neither of us realized just who we were talking to on the phone, and he said to me, very gently, "Now, honey, you might want to go take a look at the boat before even considering it. She's an old boat and needs a lot of work. She's in E19, go look at her before making any kind of offer."

Okay, Jeff already had a key to the gate, so no worries there. But E19, we know that number, why does that number sound so familiar??? So, as we near the boat, we realize the boat that Jeff's been fishing off of for the last few years is in E17, right "next door." And I just about fainted when I realized what boat this guy was talking about. OMG!! I have literally been in love with this boat for the last few years!! Beautiful 1933 Sandstrom. It reminded me of the boats my father used to build on Oahu. I was in heaven, and had to do everything I could to get this boat.

So, we get back to our new shop, and I call this guy back. Telling him about my "love affair" with this boat. We talked for a while, and like Jeff said, this boat was literally on its way to the junk yard when he picked it up. And he now just didn't have the time to work on it like he had planned. So, after about a half hour on the phone with him, me standing in my new sewing room overlooking the drive to our new shop, we realize that we are now neighbors, and we are literally looking at each other window to window, waving at each other. We run out to greet each other, and turns out we know this guy from him working the boat yard. What a small world!!

So, he says, let me go talk to my partner about price and payments. He came back to us a few days later, and said, "We want you to have this boat--no charge, it's yours...on one condition...you let me work on it with you..."
Yeah!! No problem!!! They had just gotten the boat as a project, but never had the time to work on it themselves. And it was heartfelt for them to see it going to someone they knew would fix her up and treat her right.

So, that's how we got our dream boat. The guy has since left, and we havent seen him in a while, but he knows that if and when he comes back, he's got finger on that boat. We couldn't be happier. Jeff has recently found the time to work on her, and as you can see has been having a lot of fun with her!! We are so looking forward to the first night aboard the Theresa C!!

Pix soon,

LCjeff

[leftcoastjeff]

1933 power boat, Sandstrom? Trunk cabin. Retirement home?

# 0010 on the bow.

#1 at the SF boat show in 1934, or so I've been told

Lots of work, more later.

Some pix from a few months ago.

http://i35.tinypic.com/rmtlzm.jpg

http://i33.tinypic.com/j0iavl.jpg

Overcome a few cooling issues,:mad:

http://i50.tinypic.com/n1w8xh.jpg

More later,

LCjeff

[leftcoastjeff]

She had a layer of glass on the tops that had not bonded to the wood.

I found that AFTER painstakingly removing the multiple layers of old peeling paint.
pretty bad.
http://i46.tinypic.com/2gydlj7.jpg

So I ended up ripping all the glass off, that's where it stands in the pics.
A quick penetrating coat of poly
http://i37.tinypic.com/10wsjgy.jpg
After a lot of filling holes/slots/missing wood, and of course sanding

3 gal of short strand
100 pieces of sandpaper later
Sealed!
http://i35.tinypic.com/2nhgdi9.jpg

Then glass and paint, I need to take some more pics

She completed her sea trials after I worked on the cooling system.

Stay tuned, she's gonna be beautiful.

When it rains?
I sand and sand and polish ...........
http://i48.tinypic.com/fw57hc.jpg
Several coats of paint,
http://i49.tinypic.com/qqv38j.jpg
Stripper, wire wheel and polish....
http://i47.tinypic.com/2w7h45z.jpg

She's coming along slowly, I need warm/dry to continue with the glass on the sides.

Cheers,

LCjeff

[leftcoastjeff]

This boat was scheduled for the chain saw a few years back, a good friend (boat yard ape) took it to the back corner of the yard and spent 5 years sistering ribs, repacking and paint to the rail. He also rebuilt the decks....completely (teak).

She's got a in-line 4 cylinder similar to the Chrysler cars of the late 70's or 80's I was told. It is a marine engine made in Mexico.

This is when I had the alternator rebuilt, it goes low on the right side.

http://i48.tinypic.com/2hrojnn.jpg

This is when I reamed out the cooling system, the elbow in the first post is missing, that was one hell of a job.

http://i46.tinypic.com/wkqoi1.jpg

LCjeff

2 separate cooling systems, one salt water, one coolant.

[leftcoastjeff]

I was told that a gasser is the retrofit, was diesel.

Maybe electric? well see.

All the holes filled, sanded, penetrating coat of poly, sand, then the glass tape
around the perimeter, more sanding, big pieces of glass, more poly, more sanding and presto!

The glass goes up to the windows.

http://i47.tinypic.com/11lj0jo.jpg

Wrapped the corners tight, now water tight like a ducks......

http://i49.tinypic.com/16l07z6.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/dws8wl.jpg

Now some of the inside, after removing the pegboard that has a million coats of paint, held in place with brightwork

Nasty insulation and 1933 dust everywhere, LOTS of close sanding and this is what you get.

http://i47.tinypic.com/f57e3c.jpg

She must have been a sight, before all the paint.


This will get paint to seal then insulate and cover again with something (not sure) then the britework.

http://i48.tinypic.com/16ia1ll.jpg



And a little of the flavor of the accommodations.

http://i49.tinypic.com/mhesdh.jpg

I'll get more pix of the currant status very soon, any requests?

LCjeff

[leftcoastjeff]

Some of the inside, looking aft,

http://i46.tinypic.com/24qu5at.jpg

Nooks and cranies,

http://i49.tinypic.com/2cdzfa0.jpg

An ice box,

http://i45.tinypic.com/344foy8.jpg

Looking forward,

http://i49.tinypic.com/2evcj8m.jpg

A sink with old water tank and room for a head.

http://i49.tinypic.com/35jay9s.jpg

The PO did a ton of work on the hull before I got it, no leaks other than the packing gland.

Lots of sistered ribs.

http://i49.tinypic.com/2iu447o.jpg

LCjeff

[leftcoastjeff]

The tops are primed.

http://i49.tinypic.com/e6wyhd.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/207kc2f.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/2007arn.jpg

Cheers

LCjeff

[leftcoastjeff]

So, money is tight, time to polish some more brass.

These are directionally adjustable vents, though the handles on the inside were cut off many years ago.

They were stuck, big time corrosion and paint.

I beat the crap out of the stud in the middle after Kroiling.
Kroil has got me out of a few bad spots.
Tried my aluminum hammer, too hard, mushroomed quick.
I used a plastic dead blow hammer and still mushroomed the ends a little.

Before pix,

http://i49.tinypic.com/2wcdwr8.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/14t5u1u.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/ve0okz.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/sxnhi1.jpg

More later,

LCjeff

[leftcoastjeff]

The first one I disassembled took a lot of beating with the plastic hammer, reshaped the end so it would pass through the tube and presto.

http://i50.tinypic.com/21m528m.jpg

The second one, well,,,,took a little longer. somebody left a broken tap in the hole where a screw should have been, think super hard steel in a brass hole.:eek:

http://i45.tinypic.com/282j892.jpg

http://i49.tinypic.com/1z3w2lf.jpg

Now to clean em up, this should be interesting.
These pieces have a lot of character, err, dents, dings and scratches.

Any thoughts on some kind of lubricant for the brass, anti-seize???

Somebody screwed this up good!! :mad:

http://i45.tinypic.com/6zc3rs.jpg

OBTW how do you tell the difference between brass and bronze?

LCjeff

[leftcoastjeff]

Beach sand blasted, looks clean, too clean.
http://i48.tinypic.com/2nq5ulj.jpg

http://i50.tinypic.com/i4flno.jpg

The dents and scratches are still there, I think maybe a little 600 grit to bring out a little character?

LCjeff

[leftcoastjeff]

Yes, I like it. brings out that character I was looking for.
Now time will tell.......

http://i48.tinypic.com/2wlydxl.jpg

Before,

http://i50.tinypic.com/2mwz3id.jpg

And after,

http://i50.tinypic.com/723nrp.jpg

LCjeff

[leftcoastjeff]

Wow, I found this, deep scratches in one portion, perhaps a little rethink....

http://i50.tinypic.com/6qayw1.jpg

http://i46.tinypic.com/29f9r4o.jpg

LCjeff

What to do, What to do,

[leftcoastjeff]

Well, I'm happier, sanded with 600 grit then on to the buffing wheel.

Funny thing, I tried the blasted surface on the buffing wheel, just left the compound on the brass, what a pain in the brass.

http://i45.tinypic.com/2zp41s0.jpg

Those deep scratches, I just had to.....may need to "distress this area"

http://i45.tinypic.com/50nyoz.jpg

So....I'm happy with that, what kinds of trouble can I get into now?

How about fix this? Primer, no less.....on raw wood....

http://i48.tinypic.com/2h7gnwo.jpg

But.........

http://i50.tinypic.com/34o3984.jpg

And a lot of close sanding......

http://i47.tinypic.com/fuz6l0.jpg

And more sanding, a little micro files,,,,

LCjeff

[leftcoastjeff]

77 year old varnish, wow

http://i45.tinypic.com/23lldp2.jpg

A lot of scraping, filing and sanding.

http://i46.tinypic.com/2uggc2t.jpg

http://i48.tinypic.com/2moeef9.jpg

Looks like the lighter wood is Bay? darker is Mahogany

http://i48.tinypic.com/jz8k6w.jpg

A little more sanding then spar varnish.

LCjeff

[BlueLancer]

Its typical you can be looking all over the country for the right boat, and it turns up next door. You are doing a cracking job, look forward to the finished product.
Your aye
Steve

PS Good lubricant for brass use Copper grease, any decent auto shop should have it

[leftcoastjeff]

Finished sanding this part,
http://i50.tinypic.com/neut1s.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/33p3vv8.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/rh0did.jpg

So..........Red/Green? Sure, why not!
http://i46.tinypic.com/671gli.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/121sbdh.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/mmao3m.jpg

Now to tear it apart.

LCjeff

[leftcoastjeff]

Got it apart with no unusual problems,
But first the inside, aft
http://i45.tinypic.com/160ahvk.jpg
Forward
http://i46.tinypic.com/35a2liw.jpg
The top, 70 years of polishing by the cover,
http://i48.tinypic.com/28l770n.jpg


Got it all apart, the back
http://i45.tinypic.com/1678aqb.jpg


http://i46.tinypic.com/k9dnbb.jpg

LCjeff

[leftcoastjeff]

Without the glass or the bottom ring
http://i48.tinypic.com/67ie1j.jpg


The inside of the back, without the lock
http://i48.tinypic.com/2ic390l.jpg


The glass, previously fixed with silicon,

http://i49.tinypic.com/21muf43.jpg

The inside of the top, somebody painted the inside white (originally chrome), not a bad idea

http://i49.tinypic.com/hrwvg3.jpg

The ring off the bottom

http://i50.tinypic.com/1zovivl.jpg

Enjoy, I am, now I'm off to get a bag of dry sand, imagine that.

LCjeff

[leftcoastjeff]

From this, some major scratches
http://i48.tinypic.com/28l770n.jpg



to this, after 100, 220, 320, 400, 600, 1500 and the buffer....WOW

http://i45.tinypic.com/5e7k7k.jpg

LCjeff

[leftcoastjeff]

Sooooooo, what do you think?

Any suggestions?

LCjeff

[leftcoastjeff]

Its typical you can be looking all over the country for the right boat, and it turns up next door. You are doing a cracking job, look forward to the finished product.
Your aye
Steve

PS Good lubricant for brass use Copper grease, any decent auto shop should have it


Thank you very much, we feel so lucky!!!!

Copper grease, what a concept.

LCjeff

[Iceboy]

Very nice boat and very nice work. I hope she treats you well.

[Andy Bangs]

This is an impressive piece of work. I look forward to seeing more of her. Thanks!

[leftcoastjeff]

So, this took some time too,
From this, after some sanding
http://i45.tinypic.com/155jbev.jpg

To this, wow.:D


http://i49.tinypic.com/2lthahy.jpg

LCjeff

[John Meachen]

Quite a project!Please add updates as they occur,its nice to see the progress and it might inspire somebody else to save a boat.

[Rob Stokes, N. Vancouver]

There's nothing like sweat equity to make a boat your own. Very nice - I'll be watchig this thread with anticipation!

[Hal Forsen]

Yup, buffin' out all the little jewelry and gettin' it to look Bristol fashion after it's been neglected is very rewarding work....:)
Sweet boat.
What part of the Left Coast ?

[leftcoastjeff]

Paradise.........Monterey Ca.

Where there are 9 restaurants on our block and 10 bars within walking distance. (cannery row, ya know, old tennis shoes.....)

Sweat equity? I'll never sell, so I make it my way (our way) what will it matter, till I'm dead, Ha Ha

Inspiration is my middle name, motivation is my task, I do it to all my friends. ("WTF are you doing taking head shots on line, when there's sanding to be done?.......") Sometimes I think my friends cringe when they see me call, though were doing friends boat work, not mine, for now.

I could never complete the tasks alone, fiberglass is not my forte'.
I work on several boats, have several friends. It works, I've got a ride.....anytime.

Ever tried fiberglass resin when the temps are 45-55F? It's a learned technique.

Sea Bass was soooooooo gooooooood last night. A small one at 27Lbs, I got a chunk, MMMMMMMMMMM good...

LCjeff

PS no ice here, thank whoever.

[leftcoastjeff]

Bristol bay, Alaska?

Bristol fashion,,,,,,,I know guys that fish there, if it works...go with it...no spit and polish!

Netting salmon,... I don't get it, how do you gut and gill all those fish? you don't. A shame, we all do a semblance of Kosher kill here if we get another chance. :mad:

Sorry to burst a bubble.

LCjeff

PS don't know Kosher kill? just ask, the BEST way to treat your fish. I'll start another thread.

[wizbang 13]

How do you get away with sanding the boat in the water?

[leftcoastjeff]

Wet sand? no.

Sander hooked to a vacuum, no bigee.

Want pix?

Now, stripping the fiberglass in the beginning? it happened too fast for anybody to see, that was a big mess.

I tend to clean the boat next to me from time to time if I get messy.
Makes for good neighbors, even if I don't "detail" their boat, their happy. Happy neighbors won't cut your dock lines or bitch to the man.

LCjeff

PS. as far as I can tell she's been in this harbor for her whole life.
Proof if I can find it!

[leftcoastjeff]

How do you get away with sanding the boat in the water?

Oyeeee wizbang, nice locations......summers there......winters here......You don't suck, no.............sorry very jealous, yes.
Let me know if your in my neck of the woods...........

LCjeff

[Hal Forsen]

Bristol fashion
adv & adj (postpositive) 1. (Transport / Nautical Terms) Nautical clean and neat, with newly painted and scrubbed surfaces, brass polished, etc
shipshape and Bristol fashion in good order; efficiently arranged.

;)

[240sxguy]

Beautiful job with the polishing, that is a labor of love. I did a set of wheels and will never do another part!

[leftcoastjeff]

Bristol fashion
adv & adj (postpositive) 1. (Transport / Nautical Terms) Nautical clean and neat, with newly painted and scrubbed surfaces, brass polished, etc
shipshape and Bristol fashion in good order; efficiently arranged.

;)

Then that's what I'm after, minus the polish, after this, they patina naturally to their own hue.

LCjeff

[leftcoastjeff]

Hello again, I am still looking for these glass pieces for the red green light.

http://i49.tinypic.com/21muf43.jpg

I also found out that she may have been built by a Norwegian shipwright and the proper spelling Sanstrom with 2 dots above the o.

Still looking for more info/history,

LCjeff

[Thad]

I may have such glass pieces in a box here somewhere.

[Lew Barrett]

Welcome to the forum.
Looks like you are having a lot of fun!
Suggestions? I don't have any at this point . Brass and bronze polishing is.......very ephemeral!

[Larks]

I don't know how I missed this earlier but congratulations on picking up this lovely restoration, a nice story and it's good to see that you have been able to justify the PO's faith in you. 'looking forward to more progress photos!!

[donald branscom]

Good work!
Looks like you got the polishing thing down !

[leftcoastjeff]

I may have such glass pieces in a box here somewhere.


That would be very helpful, no hurry.