Long Point Punt Boat - repair question

K

Kim Ross

Active member
I picked up a 14" Long Point Punt Boat last week, built in 1995. These were also marketed under the name of "Bass-oe". Builder was NorFolk Heritage, so probably someone near Port Rowan on Lake Erie. If anyone konows more about them I would apprciate any information you can share.

The boat is in good shape topside. However there are 3 problems on the bottom.
1. The bottom against the transom was repaired with glass cloth and resin. No surface prep on the gelcoat, so the resin and cloth have beeled away.
2. the keel has cracked next to two bulkheads that form the decoy storage midhsips. The bottom of the boat has a mild rocker, but in the decoy area the bottom is pushed up (my guess either boat was dropped or a left on a trailer roller set too high) so the keel line is hogged upwards between the two keel cracks
3. to seal the keel cracks, and lord knows what else, most of the bottom was painted with clear fiberglass resin. Again no surface prep, so it is peelable.

I can live with the superfluous resin coating on most of the bottom for now. I only have limited time available to work on the boat before duck season, so seaworthiness is the priority. To repair the keel cracks I will use f/g matting and resin and 3M filler, after grinding/sanding away the affected gelcost, as recommended by the local marine chandler. Also will add some matting and resin on the inside where it is cracked through, after sanding away the paint. Not going to worry about painting the repaired areas - the boat is olive green, and the ducks will never see the bottom.


My question is - how can I best push the keel back into the original rockered profile and keep it there? There is no reinforment in the keel, it is just f/g cloth and resin lay-up like one would find in a canoe hull.
 
I have no advice on the repair but I have seen and hunted those boats. My understanding is that Bass-oe boats were built in St. Williams, next door to Port Rowan. I have a friend who owns one and he knows the story. I will ask him when I see him.
 
Thanks Paul. I am also hoping to get some original literature from the prior owner if he is able to locate it.
The boat design is appealing, though I would say the construction is not as robust as my Bankes, Gheenoe and Scott boats.
 
I am a big fan of the Scott Duckboats but I do like the design of the bass-oe. I once saw a keel hogged like you described by letting the boat fill with water when sitting on the trailer. It broke its back. I would think the best way to return it to the original shape would be to cut out all support in the area and replace it while reshaping the fibreglass.
 
Someone may be building them again. I googled up "Long Point Punt" "st williams" and there is an adlisting with picture for a new boat with trailer for $2500. Claims to be foam core construction, so maybe they are using the old molds but using different construction.
 
Kim, I had a chat with my friend Tim last evening and he has now sold his boat. He knows a lot about them and was able to give me some details. The boat was developed and built by a fellow in St. Williams who has since sold the rights. Tim has been to the fellows house and tells me it is amazing to see how the boat was built. Everything was completed on site including sand casting the aluminum fittings using scrap aluminum including pop cans. Apparently there are part boats and completed boats on the property and Tim tells me he could take me there but he doesn't recall the address or name. St. Williams is a pretty small place and it shouldn't be hard to figure out the property. I was also told that a mutual acquaintance used to work for the guy so he would know more.

The hull is a displacement hull and I wonder if yours is concaved from being forced to plane over a longer period of time. I have seen that in other boats.

I also learned about one of the early production hulls possibly coming up for sale at a really good price. It is supposed to be in pretty good shape.
 
Thanks Paul, this is getting more interesting as you discover more.
I have seen an ad for one of these with a 9.8 Merc which would probably be enough to plane it. However I doubt I will put more than a 5 HP Merc on it, more likely one of my 3HP weedless Johnsons or my Ducktwin.

The bottom has eased back into almost normal form. Since the boat was never run with more than an electric motor (the transom is almost unmarked) I think the damage came from a trailer roller or impact.

Drilled out the transom edge along the bottom and dried out the wood, injected it with Git Rot and sounds/feels more solid. Next is to lay down f/g matting and tape with resin, finish with 3M filler and some sanding. May not be pretty but should keep out the water.
 
Sounds like a good plan!
I will try to PM you later but now have to deal with roof and water damage from this morning' storms.
 
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