Covacevich Catboat Rebuild

[J. Jumonville]

I am rebuilding a 17’ catboat. This boat was built in 1933 by Jackie Jack Covacevich and his son’s at their shipyard on Back Bay in Biloxi, Ms. The hull is Louisiana swamp red cypress and juniper deck.

The original galvanized fasteners have swollen splitting the frames and damaging the sides at the chine. I am going to cut 2 ½” off the sides at the chine the entire length of the boat to remove the damage shown in the photos below.

Each side is one plank 18’ long x 16” wide at the stem, 6” wide at the transom and ¾” thick. There is no chine log so I am asking for advice on what method to use at the seam to fasten the new wood to the old.

What would be best, a glued square edge seam, a shiplap or splined seam? I do not want to use a battened seam but will if it is recommended.

Thanks
Buddy Jumonville

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2224.jpg (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2224.jpg)
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2207.jpg (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2207.jpg)
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2218.jpg (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2218.jpg)
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2103.jpg (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2103.jpg)

[rbgarr]

If it were my boat I'd use the glued ship lap and perhaps have fitted sections of batten behind and overlapping the rabbet, glued and screwed. Haven't done it before so it's just a guess.

[SMARTINSEN]

I am rebuilding a 17’ catboat. This boat was built in 1933 by Jackie Jack Covacevich and his son’s at their shipyard on Back Bay in Biloxi, Ms. The hull is Louisiana swamp red cypress and juniper deck.

The original galvanized fasteners have swollen splitting the frames and damaging the sides at the chine. I am going to cut 2 ½” off the sides at the chine the entire length of the boat to remove the damage shown in the photos below.

Each side is one plank 18’ long x 16” wide at the stem, 6” wide at the transom and ¾” thick. There is no chine log so I am asking for advice on what method to use at the seam to fasten the new wood to the old.

What would be best, a glued square edge seam, a shiplap or splined seam? I do not want to use a battened seam but will if it is recommended.

Thanks
Buddy Jumonville

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2224.jpg (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2224.jpg)
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2207.jpg
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2218.jpg (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2218.jpg)
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2103.jpg (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2103.jpg)
I will let others with more experience make a recommendation, but it is clear that you are doing a great job so far.

What is the wood for the frames and floors?

To insert a photo, use the photo icon, the yellow square on the message toolbar, rather than just pasting in your image location.

Great job.

[Peerie Maa]

I am rebuilding a 17’ catboat. This boat was built in 1933 by Jackie Jack Covacevich and his son’s at their shipyard on Back Bay in Biloxi, Ms. The hull is Louisiana swamp red cypress and juniper deck.

The original galvanized fasteners have swollen splitting the frames and damaging the sides at the chine. I am going to cut 2 ½” off the sides at the chine the entire length of the boat to remove the damage shown in the photos below.

Each side is one plank 18’ long x 16” wide at the stem, 6” wide at the transom and ¾” thick. There is no chine log so I am asking for advice on what method to use at the seam to fasten the new wood to the old.

What would be best, a glued square edge seam, a shiplap or splined seam? I do not want to use a battened seam but will if it is recommended.

Thanks
Buddy Jumonville

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2224.jpg (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2224.jpg)
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2207.jpg (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2207.jpg)
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2218.jpg (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2218.jpg)
http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2103.jpg (http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e141/jumonv/100_2103.jpg)
Nice looking boat.
Do you mean two grooves with a loose tongue when you say spline? If so either shiplap or tongue in two grooves, both fixed with epoxy glue should work. Glued square edge will not give enough gluing surface.

[Jim Ledger]

Interesting catboat and a good looking restoration.

If I were doing what you're proposing, cutting off the damaged edge and gluing on a strip of new wood, with the plank in place, I'd use an epoxy glue with a butt joint. IMHO, the shiplap and spline aren't needed for strength and make the job too complicated.

To finish off the joint on the boat, I'd tack a batten, full length, along the side plank, and run a router against the batten, using a straight cutter to joint the edge.

If you interested, I have an idea how to clamp the piece on while maintaining alignment between the two pieces.

[J. Jumonville]

If it were my boat I'd use the glued ship lap and perhaps have fitted sections of batten behind and overlapping the rabbet, glued and screwed.

That would make a nice job but the batten would show inside. I would like to avoid that if possible.




What is the wood for the frames and floors?

The wood is cypress. It is very rot resistant in our hot humid climate and is a pleasure to work with.



To insert a photo, use the photo icon, the yellow square on the message tool bar, rather than just pasting in your image location.


I read several post stating we should not attach photos to our post so I used the photos direct link. I will use your method next time. Thanks for the tip.


Do you mean two grooves with a loose tongue when you say spline?
I was thinking of a spline glued to one grove on each edge, similar to a spline used for changing direction on a hardwood floor.


If you interested, I have an idea how to clamp the piece on while maintaining alignment between the two pieces.

Yes Jim, I am interested in your idea. It would be great to just glue the square edges together.

Thanks
Buddy