Building a Classic Mahogany Runabout Boat
Construction of "The Frank J." began March of 2008 and continued to December of 2009. The story is as follows:
"R-Dad's Boat" was a 1953 Chetek Fiesta 15' classic mahogany double-cockpit outboard runabout. This article is about making a replica of that boat.
This is the boat:
1953 Chetek Fiesta 15'
It was made in Chetek, WI and sold thru Montgomery Wards as a "SeaKing" Brand.
Back then, it was common practice to use the measurement of the gunnel as the length of the boat, rather than a straight centerline measurement from bow to stern. The gunnel actually measured 15 feet exactly but the centerline was only about 14'4". I guess if you included the overhang of the motor it was really a 15 footer.
This original boat is still in great condition, but it is being professionally overhauled and reconditioned before being transported back to Chetek for display in the town museum.
Meanwhile, I am creating a new version, not an exact copy, but the same style, without the benefit of any plans or drawings, only pictures and some measurements. The new boat will be a bit wider, a bit taller, and about 16 feet long.
March, 2008 - the beginning layout
The inside bowstem and transom setup
Beginning the bending forms - May 2008 
Shaping up the forms - June 2008 
Bending the Ribs - July 2008
Forms and Ribs complete with Stringers - Aug.'08
Bending Forms removed - Sept. 2008 
Floorboards in place - Oct. 2008 
First Plank on - Oct. 2008
Planking - Oct. 2008 
Planking - Oct . 2008 
Bottom on - Nov. 2008
Epoxy 1st coat - Nov. 2008 
Sanding and Fairing - Keel on - Dec. 2008
Sanding and Fairing with Splashrails on -Jan.'09
2 Fiberglass & 3 Primer coats - Jan. 2009
Sand, sand & 3 coats of paint - Feb.2009
Bottom done! March - 2009
Hung up, Sanding, Chipping glue squeeze-out & Epoxy inside - March - 2009
1st Epoxy coat inside complete- March 2009
You have to be crazy to build a boat, especially without plans!
It has been a year of my free times and Sunday mornings and I'm maybe half-way done. The hardest part is over - getting the shape of the hull worked out, but to come there is side planking, decks and seats, upholstery, windshield and hardware, dashboard guages and wiring, steering and control cables, the motor installation, and the trailer, and the finishing coats and details on everything!
What keeps me going is knowing how much fun it will be when this thing splashes in the water. The first voyage, the champaigne, the waterskiing, the cruising the rivers and the chains of lakes, the boat shows, and all that pride of the accomplishment when it is done!
Stay tuned for updates.....
May '09 - Planking the sides. Each week the mahogany wood changes color.
May '09 - Bunging the screwholes, too many to count!
May '09 - Sanded the sides and coated with epoxy, 1st coat.
June '09 - Inside epoxy coatings
June '09 - Varnishing first 3 coats. 
July 5TH, '09 - Flipped over!
July '09 - Rough Sheerline
July '09 - Fairing the Deck Beams
July '09 - Beveling jig
Aug '09 - Transom Brackets
Aug '-09 - Deck Beams secured
Aug'09 - 3 coats inside
Sept.'09 -Stern Deck Framing & Coverboards
Sept.,'09 - Shaping the Bow Coverboards
Sept.,'09 - Varnishing the Dashboard
October,'09 - Deck glued on
October,'09 - 654 Bungs
November,'09 - 4th Coat of Varnish over Epoxy
December,'09 - On the new trailer!
December,'09 - Varnishing Booth
December'09 - Bow Hardware On
December,'09 -1st Sea trial 60hp Merc 4 stroke
December,'09 - Upholstery - crash pads
December,'09 - Dashboard & Wiring
December 28, '09 - 1ST Voyage
Photo by Boat US Trailering Magazine -
an unplanned event. They found us cruising around Blackwater Sound.
Dec.,'09 - Virginia Jones - 1st passenger
Boat ramp at "Pontoons",
under the new Jewfish Creek bridge
January 10, 2010 - Rex and Mom
Feb.,'09 - Home Port Dock- Riviera Village
Feb.,'09 - Testing different trim tabs
Buttonwood Bay Voyage - happy passengers
March '09 - Sunnyland Antique & Classic Boat Show
on Lake Dora at Tavares.
Rex & Rich Dowty put 65 miles on the boat that day,
cruising the Chain of Lakes and Ocklawaha River.
March, '09 - At R-Camp - Sunrise Lake - 1st Road Trip
Rich & Rex trailered the boat 700 miles round trip- Ocala National Forest.
Boat U.S. Trailering Magazine
April 19, 2010
http://www.boatus.com/trailerclub/old_boat.asp
"Getting a First and a Second Chance"
by Beth McCann
If you are building a boat, refinishing, or have any questions or comments to share, please e-mail anytime!
Building a Classic Mahogany Run-about Boat, by Rex Rothing
