| Old boat restoration is not unlike vintage car or | | | | If you spent a small amount of time to learn the |
| motorcyclerestoration, i.e. you'll find many parts | | | | basic techniquesof how to cast metal you would |
| that are unsalvagableand will need to be replaced | | | | soon realize and understand the real value of |
| or reconditioned at some stage during the | | | | being able to create your own special parts such |
| restoration. | | | | as cleats & chocks which you could easily |
| While it might be argued that most people who | | | | make from bronze. |
| choose to restore old boats have access to | | | | There are so many small parts that corrode and |
| considerable funds to pay for the labour & to | | | | decay over theyears from exposure to salt |
| purchase many of the expensive metal parts and | | | | water and the atmosphere. |
| materials that need replacing during the | | | | Metal decay or oxidation is just a natural thing. |
| restorationprocess. | | | | Some of the items that you could make as a |
| But for every well-heeled re-builder there would | | | | boat re-builder are: gudgeons & pintles both |
| be another fivepeople whose passion and love for | | | | large and small, what about the deckhardware like |
| old boats drives their desireto take on extensive | | | | the bronze or brass oarlocks, herreshoft cleats, |
| restoration with little funds but usingingenuity, and | | | | hook & eye straps, perhaps you need to |
| many old crafts and skills, which sadly arequickly | | | | replace some of the solid or open base cleats.... |
| diminishing from this world, except for the small | | | | there are just so many things that can be |
| bandof people who are determined to keep them | | | | reproduced by the practical boat builder. |
| alive. | | | | And you of all people will understand that marine |
| One would think that restoring old boats is all | | | | parts are expensive to buy, you could reduce the |
| about workingwith timber and wood working | | | | price considerably by casting and machining & |
| tools, and to large degree it is. | | | | finishing the castings and parts you need right in |
| But what about all of the metal components used | | | | your own workshop you can do it just like many |
| in boat ormarine building, there are many | | | | others have before you. |
| hundreds of parts made frombronze, brass, | | | | Perhaps you are beginning to wonder how the |
| stainless, aluminium...the list goes on. | | | | devil you will go about this metal work. the |
| For the budget conscious boat builder/restorer | | | | answer is to build your own mini foundry gear to |
| the replacementcost of these special metal parts | | | | melt and pour bronze, brass aluminium etc, you'll |
| can be quite expensive to say theleast, to | | | | use the old traditional method of green sand |
| purchase many of these parts in one lot would | | | | casting, you can also use the old parts as |
| certainly put a strain on the re-building budget. | | | | patterns. |
| Did you know that there are methods and | | | | The techniques and principles are not difficult to |
| techniques that you canuse to acquire many of | | | | learn and you will enjoy the creative part of the |
| these expensive parts for a mere fractionof their | | | | work just as you enjoy the rebuilding of the |
| retail cost. If you are a DIY boat builder or | | | | hundreds of other parts, which will receive your |
| restorer, then you are a practical person and you | | | | dedicated attention as you bring your pride and |
| enjoy the personal reward when you build and | | | | joy back to the pristine condition your floating |
| create things your self. | | | | treasure once enjoyed. |