Baby Chick Is An Influencer On Instagram! I Got Me An Idear!

Thats insane numbers for our instagram page

I know many of you dont use Instagram. Hell, some don’t even use the internet. And flip phones, don’t even start on that.. HA. Anyway, I posted the above image on Instagram and good lord. On average I get around 100-200 likes, well 1750+ likes on one image, and others posted. 900 likes, it’s very popular with the kids. They love old looking old. And the more I think, I love the idea of pulling a Ramsey Pre Restoric boat. Hell I have a perfect one. Don’t need two. Thats the fun of this passion. Some goop on the bottom and lets go woody boating.. I know a guy with a W that just so happens to have been rebuilt..

The little beast

With her older barn find sister

Restored! Done! lets go boating

I need to invent a goop that just seals the bottom.. Hey what about some of that infomercial stuff? WAIT.. Oh hell ya.. I am so gonna try this.

She can look at the water and dream now.. And so can I, now if you will excuse me I need to run to the hardware store.. This is gonna happen.

Here is a twirl around video posted on instagram

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by WoodyBoater (@woodyboater)

27 replies
  1. Troy in ANE
    Troy in ANE says:

    Since most all that wood will need to be replaced anyway, GO FOR IT!!

    Just make sure you are safe about it.

  2. Greg Lewandowski
    Greg Lewandowski says:

    Bring the old girl to Algonac next year. We can throw her a birthday party in her home town.

  3. Bilge Rat
    Bilge Rat says:

    Brush or roll says the TV pitchman.

    Then you too can say Yahoo! You can also brag “as seen on TV”.

  4. Gene Porter
    Gene Porter says:

    Can we see your results before Xmas? Might save a lot of tedious winter under the boat bottom work.

  5. steve bunda
    steve bunda says:

    Matt, It may be possible to float the boat and use the original bottom for a period of time . My 39 barrel bottom soaked right up and is in use . But we are very careful to monitor it and keep it humidified.
    I would love to see detailed pictures of her bottom from the outside and the bilge. Then I could survey if it is even possible.
    Steve

  6. Paul H.
    Paul H. says:

    My 1948 SP 25′ has the original bottom which was refastened in 2010. It soaks up quickly and easily and presents no problems. It also has original leather interior, except for the engine box, and original stain and varnish on the dash. That said, it is very uncommon for a boat of this age to have a usable, original bottom. Mine remains usable due to living it’s life in a very dry part of the country, Utah and the Flathead Valley in Montana. It was dry stored for decades and therefore, preserved very well. I believe that a more humid environment would have likely led to rot and irredeemable deterioration.

    You new boat has clearly various, significant repairs and modifications done over the years. Do you know if they ever did any bottom work on it, while it was in use? What caused the eventual disuse and long layup?

  7. Art
    Art says:

    Matt I see some boards laying in the aft floor with some holes, looks like 4in, and one that looks like an opening for a glove box door……….what the hell is that? Maybe for the aft side of the second seat?

    I vote for about 60 rolls of Gorilla tape!

  8. Frank@Falmouth
    Frank@Falmouth says:

    Ive done this very thing with two 1957 Sportsmans.. My first CC17-3007 was our family boat and was used for waterskiing, fishing etc and showed the wear…. I bought a sister boat that was restored CC17-3251 and beautiful. Im wanting to put he same name on the transom and then confuse people… “hey is the same boat I saw last time ? How did you restore it so quickly.?..” 🙂 or “what happened?! it was beautiful last time I saw it !? ”
    might put a v-8 in the older boat since the original motor was replaced, and then have a “sleeper” … Both bottoms are original, but do soak up ok, not going the flexseal route yet until i see how you fare… nothing like being able to show a “before” and then an “after” side by side,…. just dont mention how much it cost to get to” after” !

  9. Troy in ANE
    Troy in ANE says:

    Glad to see you giving the Ramsey Bro’s the credit they deserve, but wasn’t it Chris Wise who started the whole pre-restoric trend?

    • m-fine
      m-fine says:

      Yep! Chris Wise has the original and IMHO still the best pre-restoric.

      I would SERIOUSLY question the wood integrity and safety of Baby Chick given the environment and type of storage. I think the best plan of action is to do a full restoration and then sell it to me for pennies on the dollar.

  10. Murdock
    Murdock says:

    Be sure The Boatress is named in a new multi-million dollar life insurance policy for “at risk” husbands and go for it.
    Forget a Sea-Tow membership because they can’t save a sunken boat.
    Oh and take some PFD’s for that first cruise too……..

  11. Dick Dow
    Dick Dow says:

    Matt, if you are going to do this, soak the boat as completely as possible before adding any sealant/caulk. I have seen too many failed fasteners and chines blown off frames when people have caulked dry bottoms. I think a trailer display is the better plan until the true condition of the boat is really known… Just my $.02 worth.

  12. Randy
    Randy says:

    Yeah, I have used Flex Seal successfully around the house on exterior surfaces and it works great! But one thing it won’t do is hold the planks to the frames.

    Oh, they do make Flex Tape that you could use underway to stop any ‘leaks’.

  13. Mike D
    Mike D says:

    My concern is that the stuff starts to delaminate while underway and it all peals off leaving you with a serious issue. Proceed with the typical caution you have shown for your other projects.

  14. Andante
    Andante says:

    I have used a product known as”Slick Seam” on sealing issues like this. The product has the consistency similar to lube grease.
    It does not dry our but ouzzs out at blanks swell up.
    Works great, just trowel it on.

    • Troy in ANE
      Troy in ANE says:

      Slick Seam is a great product, unfortunately Davis has chosen to quit production of it, so good luck with that.

  15. Malcolm
    Malcolm says:

    Bung them planks and git’er back in the water! She misses it. Sending some inspiration from Seattle where we’re still eeking out a few clear days before dark winter – dogs, water and boats.

  16. Alexander
    Alexander says:

    There are several boats in our Hessel area dating from the 1930’s still with original bottoms. In fine shape too. They winter in their boathouses or on trailers sitting over dirt floors. With temps reaching -30F some winters. Our boats get dryness, humid days, and temps that can reach the other extreme: 90 sometimes. Tommy Mertaugh always told me poor ventilation is the killer of wood – not so much the humidity.

    You do know I love 25 Sportsman’s. Right? 🙂 Can’t get enough of this story. Saving one more of these majestic boats is heartwarming. Keep it coming please.

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