The Allure Of Restoring Wooden Boats

Objects of Affection

The Allure of Restoring Wooden Boats

by John C. Gill | photos by Jeanne Knecht

A wooden Chris-Craft cruises the sunswept lake, her brightwork reflecting the brilliant rays. Trimmed in chrome and bedecked with flags forward and astern, she assumes a graceful presence on the water.

Astriking figure in an arena dominated by aluminum and fiberglass, she is a veritable sculpture on the waves. Her solid yet streamlined construction and meticulous stylings enchant onlookers who gaze lakeward to admire the exquisite display.

The vintage wooden boat evokes images of bygone summer days, when revelers sipped Cosmopolitans by the shore, and Cole Porter melodies floated from lakeside dance pavilions. It alludes to spirited flappers adorned in feathers and pearls, and to pipe smoking gents in seersucker suits. As timeless as an Astaire and Rogers musical, the wooden boat inspires new generations of followers who endeavor to sustain its beauty and appeal.

Rooted in ancient civilizations, wooden boats have evolved over thousands of years, from simple if functional canoes, to the pleasure runabouts that adorn lakes today. And many of these glossy mahogany models with the rumbling engines— branded as Chris-Craft, Hacker-Craft, and Gar Wood, among others—boast nearly a century of performance. Preserving a classic wooden boat, however, requires more than an occasional wash and wax. It demands a commitment to maintenance and restoration.

From enthusiastic novices to seasoned craftsmen, all ranks of wooden boat owners engage in the art of refinishing. Some approach the restoration as a hobby, while others dedicate themselves to preserving a family heirloom. An exercise in patience and skill, a do-it-yourself project rejuvenates not only the watercraft, but also the owner, who radiates pride and fulfillment. One proud wooden boat enthusiast, Luke Knecht, recognizes that sense of satisfaction. “People enjoy a boat more, having invested time and energy in its care,” he said. And for some, he added, the effort “recaptures a youthful memory associated with a particular boat.”

Though summer wanes, her warmth still dwells in those who nurture their venerable craft, seduced by reminiscence.

In the comfort of a lakeside workshop, in the wake of boating season, a boater studies his craft. The vintage wooden runabout, a summertime legend now weathered from sun exposure, lays in hibernation. The boater scrapes, conscientiously, at the hull and the deck, removing layers of blistered varnish. Each stroke is an act of compassion towards an aged and revered companion. And that care continues as the boater glides his hands slowly and repeatedly over the planks, sanding the surfaces. Stripped of her old coat, the boat, arguably, sheds some of her charm. But no amount of scouring can dislodge the legacy ingrained in her boards, embedded in her frame. An unmistakable yet mellow scent emanates from the antique boat. A fusion of varnish, leather upholstery, and engine oil, it hovers within the workshop. Entranced by the redolence, the boater surrenders to daydreaming and revisits the sunwashed waterscapes where the runabout sheared the waves, where tanned faces glowed with delight. He can hear the laughter above the engine’s thrum. He can feel the tickle of a warm breeze.

Basking in his recollection, he senses the warmth of childhood summers spent at his grandparents’ lake cottage. His heart flutters, just as it did years ago aboard this wooden runabout, each time Grandpa started the motor and roared from the dock.

Now, using long, light touches, he applies layers of varnish to the sanded deck. Every brushstroke is a loving caress, a tribute to those who boarded the wooden boat and shaped her story. And the single tear that tumbles from his eye seals the boater’s emotional attachment to his art, and to his craft.