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Floorboards in wood runabout1/5/2024 This shows up when the anchor gets banged against the hull-the fiberglass debonds when the wood is dented. The staining was unnecessary, and it appears that it made the bond between the wood and fiberglass weaker. The mahogany on the deck grew nearly as dark as the stained hull sides. Over time, it has developed a two-tone layout.īy the end of the first or second summer, the walnut had faded, to a lighter color than the mahogany. Our goal was a three-toned design (dark mahogany hull, darker walnut edges, and a light mahogany deck with white stripes). The finishing board outer band is black walnut. The deck, on the other hand, was not stained. After reading and consulting with the Technical Advisors at Gougeon Brothers, Inc., we decided to use an oil-based stain, dry it well and scuff sand prior to applying fiberglass. When we built the freshly sawn and sanded hull, it looked too light colored compared to the classic look we wanted. My hope is to fill in the gaps for others. We’ve learned a lot caring for WOW over the years, and there are a few things we would have done differently regarding WOW’s construction, maintenance, and improvements if we’d known better at the time. The deck at the front edge of the rear cockpit of my home-built runabout has scratched varnish and the small blisters in the fiberglass. There are tremendous advantages in not having to trailer the boat for each use-we have easier access to water, and we get to skip the boat launch lines, or worse, the “Boat Launch Full” sign that typically goes up in our area by 10:30 AM most summer weekends. ![]() But since this location isn’t a good place for a boat lift, WOW is in the water the entire summer. The boat requires maintenance due to use and “abuse.” We’re fortunate in that we can leave the boat in the water from early May through late October, at a friend’s house. This works particularly well when you have dozens of pieces to assemble, such as a Craftsman-style bed. It lends well to the Craftsman style furniture I build, and my “finish first, assemble second” strategy. I have continued using WEST SYSTEM Epoxy products for WOW’s upkeep, as well as for a variety of unrelated furniture building projects and repairs. I chose WEST SYSTEM Epoxy due to the ready availability of information on its use, the testing data available at, and the single best reference book I could find on boatbuilding: The Gougeon Brothers on Boat Construction. The project continued with ongoing additions for the first several years, including upholstering the seats, installing a snap-on cover, a swim platform, cup holders, a wakeboard pylon, and a sound system. We started the build at the end of August 1999 and launched at the end of June 2000. Primary construction was over one winter (see WOW by Mike Barnard in Epoxyworks 43). The hull is constructed of white ash frames, okoume plywood inner laminations, and a Honduras mahogany outer layer. WOW is a 20′ Glen-L Riviera with an inboard 350 cubic inch V8 engine. The majority of WOW’s use has been in Lake Nagawicka in Southeast Wisconsin. We’ve spent hundreds of happy hours out on the water, and taken it on vacations to northern Wisconsin, Kentucky, and New York. WOW, the home-built runabout I completed in 2000, has been a focal point of summer activities for our family and friends over the years. LapStitch™ topsides w/ Vee bottom (12.5° deadrise at the transom) ![]() Builders can choose the kit with integral wooden seats, or, for those who prefer aftermarket seats, without seats. The kit includes CNC-milled grooves in the plywood deck, with dark cedar strips glued in, evoking the traditional runabout decking. She looks almost Norwegian at idle speed. The deep sheer line in unusual in a retro runabout. The boat doesn't skid in turns, is well behaved in general, and is not much slowed by a crew of three adults. In trials we saw 24mph, just under 21 knots, with a 25hp motor. Full-size plans are also available for the scratch builder. The complete kit can be assembled in 250-300 hours. ![]() The Rhode Runner is part of our CLC ProKit fleet, a design suitable for confident builders with a couple of stitch-and-glue boats under their belts. Yet the hull has a striking, sculptural - and fully functional - shape. This is a CNC-cut stitch-and-glue design, requiring no building mold. We chose the name "Rhode Runner" for this shapely and able boat, referencing the nearby Rhode River, site of decades of CLC prototype launches, photo shoots, and small boat symposia. We wanted one for ourselves, so we designed this small runabout to echo the grace of the post-war Lyman and Chris Craft runabouts. 30 years of experience designing wood-epoxy composite boats allowed us to create a smooth-running powerboat that is light, durable, and fast. ![]() The beautiful 1950s-era runabouts are icons of style in the world of wooden boats.
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