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Raising a naptha launch after 21 year...

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andrew
Moderator
Username: andrew

Post Number: 1046
Registered: 11-2001


Posted on Saturday, March 06, 2010 - 03:35 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Paul D. sent the following


quote:

Subject: : This is the setup I used for raising a 1985 (note from Andrew: that is the date shown in Paul's email but seems to be wrong. Maybe Paul will add comments in the message below) converted Naptha laaunch after 21 years under 65 ft of water in a lake in the tahoe basin ion Memorial day 1972 scan0021,

scan0022, scan0023, This is what the engine looked like after raising, the other pictures are about the condition of the hull, scan0024, scan0025, scan0026, scan0027, scan0028.

Here I am reribbing the hull. I had to replace 2 inches of the keel, 6 or 7 planks and over an inch of the stem. All the seam caulking of the planks was routed out with a skill saw, Then they were laminated with a paste of epoxy and glass fiber, next was fairing the hull with a disc sander. Then the entire hull was glass epoxyed with many coats of glass fiberi cloth. scan0029, scan0030

More to come




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Great photos! Hope we can hear more about it.
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scott_n
Senior Member
Username: scott_n

Post Number: 148
Registered: 02-2008
Posted on Saturday, March 06, 2010 - 04:32 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Was their a Naptha block in it?
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andrew
Moderator
Username: andrew

Post Number: 1047
Registered: 11-2001


Posted on Saturday, March 06, 2010 - 05:13 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Another dispatch from Paul

quote:

The Naphtha Launch was listed in a 1896 reprint of the Gas Engine and Power Co. brochure as having been sold to Harold Babcock, 306 California St, San Francisco Ca. The launch was used on SF bay until some time in the 1920's. It was then transported to Babcock's home at lake Tahoe. Some time later it had the Naphtha engine removed.

The replacement was a 1910 hp 2 cylinder Union engine. This engine was purchased by the Dept of agraculture, Tahoe City. CA in July 1910.

The launch was then used as a work boat. Vic Lundeen, an employee of Babcock purchased the boat and moved it to Fallen Leaf Lake in the 30's. Vic named the boat MERVIC after he and his wife Muriel. He used the boat as a work boat at the lake until 1951. He and his wife Muriel were moving to So. Lake Tahoe. As the condition of the boat was un usable as the pictures show. Vic took it out and scuttled it. The inlet cooling check valve was dismantled to let water in and let it sink. The check valve parts were found in the hull after raising.

An old timer at Fallen Leaf Lake told me about the sinking in the summer of 1971. I went looking for it that summer and found it. You could see it on a very calm day at 65 FT. I spent the winter 'of '71 designing the winch for attempting the recovery. Memorial day of 1972 with help of 2 diver friends ropes were attached to the propeller shaft at the back of the transmission and a sling around the bow of the hull. The with=inch was started with a 3/8" electric drill. When the drill ran out of torque I switched to my 1/2" drill motor. Murphy struck the 3/8" drill was reversible and running in the wrong direction. We had to unwind and re wind the winch. Everything worked as planned and the hull was brought to the surface. We had to modify the sling to get the hull level.

I put in a fire pump and the hull floated. once we had it at the dock the engine was removed. I had to pump it out several times before beaching the hull. While pulling it out of the hull the flywheel rotated.

The engine was brought to my cabin and the engine was completedly dismanteled before things could dry.


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paulgray
Senior Member
Username: paulgray

Post Number: 73
Registered: 05-2003
Posted on Saturday, March 06, 2010 - 06:36 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

That is a NEAT story- let's see the engine please....
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lou
Member
Username: lou

Post Number: 6
Registered: 05-2008


Posted on Saturday, March 06, 2010 - 10:35 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Great story. Do you know anything more about the boat manufacturer? I recently purchased a hull that looks exactly like your naphtha launch and before I restore it I would like to learn more about it.
Thanks
Louie
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andrew
Moderator
Username: andrew

Post Number: 1048
Registered: 11-2001


Posted on Sunday, March 07, 2010 - 12:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I think we posted the photos of Paul's Union engine many years ago, but I don't see them on the site now. I will post what I have in my files below. I have them listed as "Paul's Union engine" so I think these are right, but I will email him the link to this page to be sure.

Paul, you can post a response directly to the site by using the "add message" box below.

Thanks! Great project and story. How about some current photos of the boat?

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andrew
Moderator
Username: andrew

Post Number: 1049
Registered: 11-2001


Posted on Sunday, March 07, 2010 - 01:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Paul sent another email with more photos which I didn't notice until after I posted the message above. That is definitely his engine and some more great photos are below.


quote:

These are pictures of the first time at the lake, first outing and first boat show. Chambers Landing Lake Tahoe 1974.

Pictures of the Union engine as installed in the launch. The launch is now named Cathedral after an easterrn slope of mount Tallac which borders Fallen Leaf Lake.

Cathedral has been at the lake every summer for 36 years.




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bartropr
Advanced Member
Username: bartropr

Post Number: 40
Registered: 06-2006
Posted on Sunday, March 07, 2010 - 01:34 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Hull is very similar to my Truscott launch, especially the stern and in a catalogue I have the hulls were available with the decorative rails on the bow and stern decks. Does it have a Truscott chain store/deck fitting on the bow?
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paul_d
New member
Username: paul_d

Post Number: 1
Registered: 03-2010
Posted on Sunday, March 07, 2010 - 02:27 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

I have assumed that the hull was made by Gas Engine & power Co. It does have a deck fitting and chain locker in the bow.
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robert
Senior Member
Username: robert

Post Number: 351
Registered: 07-2003
Posted on Sunday, March 07, 2010 - 10:06 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Beautiful job on the boat and engine. There is a similar but larger Union near me.

This story reminds me of an old tugboat captain I knew who passed away last year. He could tell you where a number of different boats were sunk on various lakes and rivers and what engines were in them. Sadly, due to geography, I never got a chance to sit down with him and record it all. RIP John Hugh.
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paul_d
New member
Username: paul_d

Post Number: 2
Registered: 03-2010
Posted on Monday, March 08, 2010 - 09:04 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Being new at this I am trying to get the pictures in order to add text.
New pictures of Cathedral, scan0064.jpg, scanoo63.jpg, scan0061.jpg, scanoo55.jpg
Next are pictures of a model about 1/7 scale that I made. The rest are pictures of my wife in costume at the Concors De Elagance at Lake tahoe.
scan0067, scan0066' scan0059. The second small launch is another of my restorations it has a 5HP 2 cylinder Buffalo engine.
A story on that launch will be forth comming.
Paul
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ldobbins
Senior Member
Username: ldobbins

Post Number: 53
Registered: 12-2002
Posted on Monday, March 08, 2010 - 09:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

Greetings all,
For those of you that have not had the pleasure of riding in an old launch such as Cathedral (Murvic), I highly recommend it! It is a religious experience to say the least.

There are many launches out there with new or more modern power, but many of you know the pleasure and well being that comes from the sound and feel of old motors.

Cathedral has it all, best therapy I can think of and Paul has been the best caretaker of this boat for approaching 40 years. This is a daily driver and cherished historical treasure.

Cheers,

Lew
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andrew
Moderator
Username: andrew

Post Number: 1051
Registered: 11-2001


Posted on Tuesday, March 09, 2010 - 06:42 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

More from Paul.

The pictures he mentions above are posted below also.


quote:

Picture 0059 is Cathedral, and my second restoration, Wren. She is also an old Lake tahoe boat built in 1905 by John Teigg & Sons, S.F Ca. Wren will be a whole new storie.




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SCAN 61
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SCAN 63
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SCAN 64
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SCAN 66
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SCAN 67
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andrew
Moderator
Username: andrew

Post Number: 1052
Registered: 11-2001


Posted on Tuesday, March 09, 2010 - 06:47 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Moderator/Admin Only)

SCAN 65
SCAN 65

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