We want to thank everyone who attended our 2-day class ​​Painting and Varnishing for Wooden Boats on April 23-24 here in Greensboro. We had a great time and will let you know when the next available classes come up. We also want to give a shout out to  VisitGreensboroNC.com for connecting our guests to everything they needed while they were in town!

U-18
Jack finished up with the keel and keelson and installed it in place, he also finished with the outer chines.

Budsin Lightning Bugs
The first coat of epoxy cured on the aft deck of boat 2, so I taped the lines off and put on the second application. Next, we'll sand it down so everything is flush and start building up varnish coats. I also put on a fresh coat on the bilge.
I'm working on replacing rotted floorboards and repainting. Shane is repairing and replacing the canopy frames as needed depending on whether we find rot.

Carolina Boat
Nicolas is making progress on the transom and engine box. 

1967 Lyman
Jack is wiring the engine to the dash on the Lyman, and installing the blower!

U-18
​Jack had to replace all but two frames on the bottom. He's taking measurements for the new keel and fairing the angle to fit the gripe.

Budsin Lightning Bugs
We put a first sealer coat of varnish on boat #2; the varnish on boats #1 and #3 are close do being completed. Nearly all of the interior pieces for all three boats are completely varnished. We'll start repairing and restoring the canopy frames next. The black epoxy finally arrived for the aft deck of #2, Gary and Shane will get started on that application and it will cure over the weekend.

Chris Craft Holiday
We did a test run of the Holiday engine this week, it went well. We'll finish up some wiring before we take it out to the lake for a sea trial. Gary cleaned and restored the engine box.

Bottoms Up
I started putting the ceiling boards back in the Bottoms Up and will finish after we get more of the electrical wiring done.

Over the weekend, Gary held a class on Painting and Varnishing techniques for Wooden Boats.  Here you see the students intently listening to the finer points of watching paint dry. 

U-18
With pinpoint accuracy, Jack is custom cutting each new frame. Things are shaping up nicely.

Budsin Lightning Bugs
​Hey look...smiles! Nicolas and Gary finished the aft deck and we're mighty proud. We're just waiting on the black epoxy to be delivered now. In the meantime, I'm removing some rot near the shaft in boat 1, and making new hatch trim pieces to replace the ones we removed on boats 2 & 3.

SnapDragon
The interior pieces are ready but first, Gary and Nicolas added the expanding foam stuff to each end.

Carolina Skiff
Nicolas has cut and dry fit most the final transom pieces. The final step will be cutting a new bottom piece, scarfing the joint and dry fitting.

1967 Lyman
We finished applying the non-skid on the floorboards.

Happy Friday everyone! For legal purposes, we just want to clarify that the blog post from last week was indeed an April Fools joke. We have no Russian oligarch clients (that we know of) and we'll still be operating as a boat shop and not a wooden car shop. To whomever called the CIA, please forward this blog to them so they know we were totally kidding.

1967 Lyman
I dry fit the floor boards in the Lyman to mark up where the non-skid applications will need to be. Once applied, it takes a few days to dry so I'll leave it over the weekend. I've matched the modifications of the engine box top to the sides; staining, bungs, and varnish. I also put a fresh coat of varnish on the rear seat coaming.

Carolina Skiff
The first part of the transom is in place, Nicolas will continue custom making the engine box.

Snapdragon
Nicolas applied the final varnish coat on the interior pieces and once dry, he was able to start reinstalling everything. ​We're loving these beautiful colors! Shane is building up the coats of varnish on the paddles.

 U-18
Gary is working on the engine and Jack replaced rotten framework on the transom and is installing the new chines and frames one by one.

Budsin Lightning Bugs
Nicolas and Gary completed installing the aft deck strips on boat 2, and I installed the engine mount. I've also removed the electrical panels on all of them, we'll make some adjustments and reinstall. I've got boat 3 caught up on its last coat of varnish before we move it to the finishing room and apply the final coat. I'm also catching up the varnish coats on the hatches and tiller arms. Shane is building up varnish on boat 1 deck and hull.

2022 is moving along swiftly! Since it's the beginning of a new month we thought we'd share some big news...
We're converting the shop to only work on vintage wooden cars. We also received news that one of our Russian oligarch clients is sending us their superyacht to have it custom fit for wooden siding. 
We'll keep you all updated on how that goes!

Carolina Skiff
Nicolas cut a template for the new transom and will replace any frames that need it. He's also cutting the new final mahogany transom piece ...

U-18
​Jack and Gary milled a bunch of white oak this week and Jack will begin fitting the chines.

Ski Boat
We righted the Ski Boat last week after finishing the bottom. Jack got started on it and began scraping all the old varnish off the deck.

Budsin Lightning Bugs
We righted boat 1 after Shane finished painting the bottom. He's dry fitting a new custom made coaming to replace the original damaged one. 
In boat 2, I've removed all of the old rotted engine block and dry fit the new piece to fit. 

1967 Lyman
We're still adjusting the new engine in the Lyman and I'm freshening up the floorboards with a coat of paint. 

SnapDragon
Shane got started sanding the paddles for the SnapDragon. Nicolas is dry fitting all the interior pieces and planning to apply the final varnish coat to everything.