Aerocraft progress report

Scott,
Very cool. Looks great. Now, we going to use that for Fly Fishin' bassNgills in your pond also? Time for more Sapphire as I see it.
Also, it was great having you & Tom over to the shop the other day for jawing & Sapphire.
Later my friend and you are always in my prayers.
Lou
 
Nice job Scott! I can't wait to see it finished. What is your plan for propulsion? Pole, paddle?

Chuck
 
Thanks for the kind words, Chuck. It IS a cool boat and I still have not found a single reference to this particular model anywhere. The closest thing to it is the picture here in the forum's boat reference section and that boat is a square stern.

As for propulsion, I think I'll be rowing.

Those 45 degree angle brackets in the picture support the boat's oarlock sockets and I just bought some new oars and locks yesterday. I scuffed them up and will paint them to match the boats final paint, if it would stop raining long enough to do that.
 
I was able to get a couple of coats of the FME #26 Light Brown on the boat, then started on my "muskrat house" camo job.

Its pretty labor intensive but I think when I am done, it will be worth it.

Sort of like painting a huge hen mallard decoy.

The camo portion is maybe 50% complete...I just had to take a break from freehanding swamp grass and cattails.

Who knows... I may go back to all brown.

View attachment aerocraft2.jpg
 
Awesome looking rig!! Great job on the restoration....Better than new!!
I think a nice cedar slat floor would be the "cats a$$" in that boat
 
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Scott, She's turning out really nice. You've probably posted it already but, any idea what she weighs?

I'm envious!
Scott
 
Cant say for sure yet Scott, but I picked it up and carried it into the garage to set on those sawhorses to paint (don't tell my wife).

If I was guessing, I'd say its less than a 100 lbs.

I do want to weigh it to know for sure, so I will post when I do
 
Charlie - I am planning a slat floor...I just wish I could find a brochure or some other info about this boat to see what was originally intended to be there. There are two "c" channels in the floor about 18" apart that must have had some sort of sliding seat arrangement. (I also wondered about the channel around the cockpit coaming)

For the wood experts - if I did make a seat from cedar slats, would I need white cedar and is that what they use for deck material? Thinking that 3/4" slat material thickness would be sufficient to bridge the 18" span of the seat sides

View attachment aerocraft3.jpg
 
Took the advice and went with a pine seat...still need to finish cutting it out, figuring out the folding back, designing the decoy and coffee cup holders :-) (that was for you Sutton)

I will seal and paint it then we'll see what we get

View attachment aerocraft4.jpg
 
This is the (almost) finished folding slat seat as it will sit in the boat.

In the open position, it rests against the inside of the coaming in a layout sort of position. In the closed position, it folds forward and provides a flat seat to sit on while rowing.

All pine, except for the two white oak boards at the hinge point. (I figured oak would be a little tougher.) The whole thing is light, maybe 20 lbs (I'll doublecheck that at some point) and pretty sturdy.

I need to finish painting it and then its done and I'll start the cover.

View attachment aerocraft5.jpg
 
aerocraft6b.jpg


Man, I could take a nap in that chair...

aerocraft5c.jpg
aerocraft5b.jpg


Three questions:

Is your lap top Waterproof?

Does it self-right on that boat cushion?

How's the wireless strength in the duck marsh?

Otherwise...looks good!

Chuck
 
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