Paul and The Forumators:

I had to condense these thoughts and ideas into one random thread in and effort to conserve some bandwidth. HA! Never......
1) Paul, in reference to the monthly update, thanks for your contribution to the hobby. As always, you are the man! This place is invaluable to those of us temporarily and/or happily on the outside of the asylum looking in at boatnuts and their Commanders, Lancers and other C.C.
2)The video of varnish being applied seems to illustrate that even Carlo was somewhat profit driven. A fortune spent on the facility, but not an ACBS caliber painter to be found on the staff...Seriously though, awesome vid. I think everyone benefits from seeing that interesting historical moment in the birth of a Riva!
3)Nice to hear from Steve Smith of "Smith's C.P.E.S. Developing an email rapport with him the last couple of days, after running into him on "Thee Forum"
4)Watching Jerry add another CCC to his fleet makes me realize just how rich with friends I am . You have all heard the saying, "I don't need a boat , I have a friend with a boat". Well, I have a friend.....he has so many Commanders nobody knows for sure just how many he has. Especially Nadia....kidding, believe it or not, she has a short leash on Jerry otherwise he would own the whole dang marina and even more Chris Crafts!
5)Finally the last thing to share...I have been lamenting the lack of Commanders within an 80 mile radius of my home base to work on. (I'm hoping in the future to change that!) And then along came something interesting. The proprietor of a local woodworking store that I know has started a reproduction build of a step-hull hydroplane Gold Cup racer!! I have volunteered to help him bend the chines and sheer clamps in a week or two. That should quench my thirst for nautical activity for a while. Man, I hope he lets me help varnish!!!!

Thanks Forum, CW

Hi Chris,

First of all the work on the Gold Cupper sounds fabulous, and that brings the next question of "which one is it"?

Secondly, the CEPS thread is great, but I honestly would never use the stuff on a mahogany speedboat brightwork, as I fear the worst when it comes to removal during a necessary restoration. As Kevin found out, coating one side of his was a mistake, and people even shy away from using polyurethane on woodies because it is brittle, will crack along plank lines, and it is pure hell trying to remove it. The CEPS seems to be a product to be used on a "non-heirloom" type boat, where the act of application is intended to be the last. I have posted a couple questions for Mr. Smith and I certainly want to learn more about his thoughts, at such point in time he is willing to discuss them.

best,

Paul

Good Point Paul, I have been thinking about the cpes from that perspective and it certainly does bring up a good question. It would suck to make the job of stripping to bare wood an even SUCKIER job! I gotta call Kevin and hear more about his experience.

My pal may have over stated the description of the boat he is building a little bit. I have been researching the plans he sent me to review. It is a Zephyr 16 design taken from A.A Apel. Haven't found out much more yet. Gold Cup Racers were much larger I thought. He said he will be powering her with a 1939 falthead ford v8. It is none the less a very sweet design and I am thrilled to help and participate. Hmmmmmmm? I wonder if it would out run a 23'Lancer with Big Dog power?