Using a Shop Smith Mark V on a Chris Craft Roamer refit

[roamer46]

Way back in February, I put together an order of glass for the salon and all of the portholes. But the supplier for my first glass order has a new sales manager who doesn't give big boat owners a deal on relatively large purchases, so the quote I got back was about 3x what I paid per pane in 2013. I did some shopping around and eventually found a glass factory in Pennsylvania that sold to me at wholesale pricing. The crating was outstanding, and the pencil polish edge treatment was much better than the initial supplier I used. Unfortunately, I botched the measurements on four panes, so I've got to do a follow-up order. Ironically, it was the panes I measured with a super accurate Bosch laser that ended up being wrong. The far more complicated panes I measured with rulers, framing squares, and protractors turned out perfect.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer Refit: More Tinted Glass!

Cheers
Q

[BuckeyeDennis]

Q, I've been reading all of your posts with great interest. (OK .. little white lie .. I'm more interested in woodworking than in welding ... but I might yet come around!) But at this point, I can honestly say that I have a much better understanding of why luxury boats cost a king's ransom.

[ERLover]

I was a power boat guy, a Well Craft 21Ft with twin 225hp counter rotation engines/props off shore fishing boat, a bit of a day cabin/berth below deck. For Lake Michigan for fishing.
Then the sailed on my 39ft Huntress, heck I lived on it in WI for a year after my deviorce. "Sues Displeasure" Bulbed slipped in Port Washington,WI for the winter.
Long story, my Father in Law was a golfer, member private CC, 2nd generation Italian, his mom and dad came over on the "boat" from Italy. A beautiful/wonderful man,
when going to CIT, I think that is Chicago Institute of Technology, as an engineer student/grad met a lady, my mother in law. Joann Rothschild, yes, he is a poor immigrant son, and they both fall in love. she one of the richest persons in the US at that time. One of the Rothschild, do your history/Google.
Anyway a good Italian, it was Sunday dinner at there house/ or ours if Sue was cooking. I still remember when I told him I stole the Well Craft from a widow, BTW the Huntress too, but he was choking on dinner, after dinner he ask me what I paid for it, no idea that he knows its worth, choking again, sez, "I guess you cant be golfing and on your boat in a weekend"
Now at that time paying down 2x principle on house mortgage, paid cash out of savings for both boats, comes to deviorce time, WOW did the ex bring that up!!! She only went out one time on Huntress for a 4th July evening cruise for the fire works show.
I taught my 2 sons how to fish big water and sail, oldest in Jupiter,FL has his off shore Well Craft slipped in is back yard dock, inter Coastal Waterway!!!
Every spring and fall, # 1 books him and #2 son, his brother, the Attorney from Steam Boat Springs,CO, and me, all on him to the Gulf of Mexico for some small town fishing village/coastal town out on the Big Boats, then bring in the catch to share with the locals, and the restaurant we are eating at. they treat us like Kings, but I taught my sons to share, and share your wealth, at the end of those days, we tip great for all.
Make many local friends, both at the Restaurant, # 1 like me wanted to be a Chef not the hours, 2 years at Ball State U in Hospitality MG, shucks dad, I am going into Info Computer Cyber Magimnttage. $$$$$$$ his way.
Grad 4.0 Val, student of the year and +++ more things. Proud dad!!
I know Dusty Hi High Jacked it, But D I think/know you have my post blocked on your end, prove me wrong, just 1 "Ping"

[ERLover]

FYI since last year and spring with Mom no fishing trips with the sons.

[ERLover]

Had an excellent day out on our 1968 Chris Craft Commander over the weekend...didn't even think about the Roamer. But the v-berth head (AKA the Throne Room) walls are faired, sanded, filleted, and primed. Boo-ya.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: “Throne Room” Fillets & Primer

Cheers,
Q

So you got 1 shorter and doing the 46fter?
But a man for a passion, for boats!!!

[roamer46]

BuckeyeDennis, you're right, they're not cheap. But on the flip-side, I've never once thought about buying a new car and I don't care for team sports. Compared to what my friends pay in car payments, insurance, and season tickets and beers watching grown men run around chasing a ball, my old Chris Craft habit is relatively cheap. It also helps keep me fit. Going up and down that ladder a few dozen times every day I'm on the boat, plus all of the other physical and mental effort...it's good for my health!

ERLover, sounds like you understand the concept of boat ownership as a lifestyle, not just an occasional play toy. The 42 is what we live on during the week. It's been a great boat while I get the other one done.

[swampgator]

Roamer, I can hardly wait for the tour of the completed interior. I'll have to re-read all this as some of it is foggy to my memory. Like some of the rest of you, I don't do sports, buy new cars, drink or otherwise blow money. I am looking forward to you and your family getting to enjoy your labor. Then I will look forward to the travel stories. Wishing you complete success in all your endeavors.

Steve, the old swampgator

[roamer46]

Thanks, swampgator! I look forward to pushing the throttles forward, too! All in due time...

In the meantime, I installed the new tinted glass in the bow hatch, then cleaned and installed the latches and props. I have to say, the tinted glass looks great next to the Matterhorn White Awlgrip paint, even if the paint is covered in dust. That's one more exterior hole that's no longer open. Once I get all the exterior parts installed, which should be pretty soon, I'll be able to wash the boat and get rid of the dust.

Booya

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Assembling the Forward Hatch

Cheers,
Q

[roamer46]

I'm on a roll installing glass. It's starting to get tedious, but I'm putting the new tinted panes in the portholes. Each one takes almost two hours to install the glass and clean up the sealant, so refurbishing each porthole start to finish takes about 8~10 hours. There are 12 of them, so this is a real time-sucking part of the refit. But it's got to be done, and hopefully the modern materials and approach I'm using will keep them looking good at least until my Viking funeral a few decades from now.

1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Installing New Glass in Portholes

Cheers,
Q

[roamer46]

Well, for a couple of seconds last weekend, I thought my luck had run out in 2016. Two years ago, burglars cleaned out the tent, stealing all of my tools, materials, and boat parts. Last year, the boat next to mine blew up, damaging the tent and my boat. But this year, aside from the scorchingly hot summer, no real disasters hit me. And then I went to the boatyard and saw that one of the massive oak trees near my boat had toppled during a recent storm. As I walked up to the tent from the rear, it sure looked like the tree had to have taken out the tent. But it didn't! Missed it by >this< much!

I also did a little upgrade to my Makita polisher to make it a better buffing tool.
1969 Chris Craft Roamer 46 Refit: Disaster Narrowly Averted...and a Polisher Upgrade

Cheers,
Q