It’s The Start Of Workshop Season! Robinson Restoration Gets Us Started!

RADM Ken and Susan Slaght’s 1942 19’ Chris-Craft Barrel-Back ‘Ol’ Glory’ in for topsides and deck refreshing.

Thanks to fellow Woody Boater Marten Anderson for sending us in this report from Sunny California!

On Saturday, November 19th the Southern California Chapter of the ACBS held an informative, hands-on workshop at Robinson Restoration in Fallbrook, California.

Robinson Restoration is a working wooden boat shop, so attendees were able to see the projects currently in the shop.

1940 23’ Chris-Craft triple cockpit getting a new bottom.

Chris-Craft Continental awaiting a new, correct engine box.
Father and son restoration team, Tim and Brian Robinson, welcomed nearly 30 participants to their boat restoration shop.
Discussion topics this year included water pump repair and maintenance, bung cutting, staining procedures, and final varnish sanding and polishing techniques which included Dave “ASAP” Anderson’s 1954 16’ Century Resorter to try their hand with the polisher and to provide some free labor!

“ASAP” inspecting his polishing skills.

Brian applying gel stain and talking about proper application techniques.

John Maddox made several sample boards to demonstrate the various stages of varnish sanding and polishing.

Tim demonstrating their method of cutting bungs.
While there wasn’t an official “Ask the Experts” round-table this year, there was ample time during the day to ask Tim and Brian specific questions about our individual projects.

Enjoying morning refreshments, and asking Brian questions.

Waiting on lunch and checking out the boats in the storage building.

Lunch was served up at the Robinson’s storage building, where Henry Ford’s 1924 Hacker ‘Evangeline,’ the Robinson’s Gar Wood ‘Empress,’ and Brian’s newest acquisition, a 1923 Hacker Dolphin, are stored.
The SoCal ACBS attendees had a great time at the Robinson’s shop.  Thanks to Tim and Brian for hosting the event, those who presented, and the SoCal members for making the day a great success!

Marten Anderson