57 cavalier

[redagain]

Hello, Im new to wood boats and this forum. Ive been restoring old cars for the last 8 years and decide to try an old wood runabout. Ive always loved em so I recently purchased a 17' 1957 CC cavalier. My hope is to restore her and use it at my cabin in northern Wisconsin. Any advice would be appreciated. First off I have to replace all the plywood on the decks, hull sides and transom. Whats the best plywood to use, can it be single sided and just paint the inside of the boat. Also, how do I join the plywood pieces for the hull sides like they did from the factory. Any advice for this rookie, Thanks Todd

[GROOVY]

You need to replace ply with okoume marine grade plywood.
The edges skarfed together.
I replaced the wood on mine, take as many befor pictures as you can stand, trust me .... you will need them
The basic way I did it .... remove decks top rails, turn boat remove hull sides fill screw holes, clean frame members .
use old wood for pattern cutting oversized to trim when fitting.
replace sides, turn, replace topsides... sand sand stain and varnish ...
slightly out of date page http://www.geocities.com/mallaney2002/

[Andreas Jordahl Rhude]

I assume you are aware of the Chris-Craft Antique Boat group?? http://www.chris-craft.org/discussion/index.php

and the Antique & Classic Boat Society www.acbs.org

Andreas

[Lew Barrett]

I had a 1957 15 foot Cavalier. It had a 95 HP K block. The interiors are finished bright on the standard boats, not painted, so you'll want to keep that in mind if you are going for an accurate restoration. If you're doing the decks, topsides and transom, there isn't a whole lot left not to do! Does your boat have a glassed bottom? That was a factory option, by the way.

[redagain]

Seem to be having a problem finding double sided mahogany plywood in 9mm. Lew, mine does have the factory fiberglass bottom. Thanks

[Bill7254]

There are a number of sources for 9mm Okoume marine plywood but one is Allied Veneer. I have purchased both 6mm and 9mm from them. You can find them with Google.

[Cuyahoga Chuck]

The "mahogany" you are refering to could be some interior grade stuff not suitable for marine use. You want BS1088 okoume marine grade ply or equivalent. Unfortunately, it ain't cheap but it's all we have. It comes in metric thicknesses from 3mm (1/8") up to 25mm (1") at most suppliers. About the only alternative is meranti which is heavier but less expensive. Either one of these has verneers of equal quality on both sides.