1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

[sphelps]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

She looks good back right side up! I'm still doing a few things in the gunnels and cap while mine is still bottom up. I 'm gunna try and flip next weekend. What color are you painting the inside of the hull and floor deck?

 

[SteveMFG_Oxford]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

The interior will be nothing radical. The plywood floor is a buff (tan) color and the original edge "scallops" as well as the splash tray are the same brown as that used on the hull bottom below the waterline. The brown helps color coordinate the mahogany stained seat boxes so that they all look like they belong together.

The hull inner sides are a satin white.

Here you can see some of the finish colors. This photo taken during a float/leak test not long after purchase.

 

[SteveMFG_Oxford]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

Well you all may think I've been sleeping on the job. Not true!!

Progress IS being made!! Coat number one has been applied ...

It's kinda hard to get this color to display well on the web, but it's gonna look great against the white.

One more coat then I can untape it and see the whole picture!

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

Hey Steve ..... that looks great. I love the color .... I don't know why but I really love the color.

Mine looks more of a light blue in the pics but it is more green then it looks.
I see that you have a section of the bow masked off. Is that going to be a different color?

 

[sphelps]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

Lookin good!! Yeh whats up you puttin one of those fancy two tone paint jobs on?
I saw on one of the brochures there is the blue and a greenish color .. Mine is gunna lean towards the green side ..

 

[SteveMFG_Oxford]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

Yes, my is color is leaning a bit to the greener side ... turquoise I hope! I didn't want to end up too light or "powder blue". So far I'm pretty happy with the color. When I just had the "chip" I was tempted to darken it some but I'm GLAD I didn't now. You just never know what a color is going to look like until it's on!

You guys are too observant! Wait till you see my bow section untaped! oooooooo .... coool ...

Jon ...you're lookin good! Wish I had the patience to remove that rubrail but it was just too much work. I'd never get in the water this year.

I'm already late.

I'm even debating that second coat ..... It looks good now and only has one bug on it!

Did you guys do multiple top coats?

Later in the day ...

The sun came out and I moved the boat out to cure. The color in bright sun appears lighter and bluer than in the garage. It's still a nice color. When it's finished it will be fine.

 

[SteveMFG_Oxford]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

Taaaa Daaaaa !

The sun started causing the tape to pull the white under color so I had to untape the bow pre-maturely, so here it is!

After 24 hours the paint is firm and dry to the touch but it certainly IS NOT hard. I don't even think its safe to sand.

I wonder how long it will take to get really hard???

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

Wow ..... that really looks sweet!! That strip down the middle almost looks like vinyl. Is that paint? That really came out good Steve ..... nice job.

Did you add hardener to your paint?

 

[sphelps]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

Incredible job Steve!! Now just how long were you gunna keep that a secret ! It kinda looks like it has a texture to it. The wood base plates look great!

 

[SteveMFG_Oxford]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

Thank you all!

I thought it was an interesting interpretation. I had to have something that was just a "bit" different from every one else! I thought that making the entire deck blue would result in a "too blue" look. This is a nice color but too much is too much! This seemed like a nice solution.

Masking all that was a real pain and my taping job didn't make me totally happy. Taping contours and getting tape to stick properly is not easy. I used green "Frog Tape" for the tougher spots. That left a nice sharp line.

The center silver area is naturally textured right into the fiberglass as is the "dashboard" which is also silver. I wanted this to look as 1960s as I could so this paint scheme seemed about right.

The white is spray can Rusto gloss. Nice paint but slow drying to full cure. Be careful taping over this. It feels hard but isn't.

The silver is the same with clear coat over the top.

Yes, I did add 1 oz of hardener to 1/2 quart of blue paint as recommended. I guess I need some drier weather to finish the "cure".

After having it out in the sun it looks good and nice and even. No runs, one bug and nice gloss. I'm debating the second coat. It looks good now, I'd hate to screw it up.

Sometimes you need to know when to leave well enough alone ...

 

[yanks21]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

Sometimes you need to know when to leave well enough alone ...
When it comes to paint, "perfect" is when you have to debate a second coat...

 

[SteveMFG_Oxford]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

Well, Yanks, I wish I could say mine was "perfect"! It has a a few flaws for sure ... but I don't have to point them out!

When I get too fussy I have to remind myself that I'm not creating a "museum piece". That was never my goal. I just want a pretty little boat to USE! I'm sure it will get dinged up soon enough. If it's too perfect I won't want to use it.

And believe me, I am getting anxious to get on the water!

 

[yanks21]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

great attitude! so do we all! I have to get my house done before I even uncover mine, to get the stuff i stored in it out!

 

[SteveMFG_Oxford]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

I'm still at it and making progress ...

Placed the engine on the transom, rigged the fuel and bought a battery! Then I fired up the Honda! She started, idled and pumped! What else could I ask for? Now I have to finish rigging all the controls and steering.

It's starting to look like a motorboat now!

 

[kfa4303]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

That 20 hp Honda looks great on there! Hold on tight. She's gonna fly.....!

 

[sphelps]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

Lookin good Steve ya almost got her ready ta go !!

 

[yanks21]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

Wow Steve! It's been a long road! A weekend or 2 and you'll be out on the water! 20 HP might be about right for that one.

 

[SteveMFG_Oxford]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

I finally got the engine through-bolted on the transom and the cable steering hooked up. The mounting for the engine control is almost worked out too.

I figure that I'll be finding a number of things that "aren't quite right" after the first time out so I am doing some of the installations with an eye towards having to make some slight changes ... that is ... in temporary sort of way. Once I see that all works as intended I'll make a permanent installation.

Memorial Day weekend was my intended splash day for initial testing but here in PA it's rain, rain, rain.

So I'll just keep chipping away at the small stuff ...

 

[SteveMFG_Oxford]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

I finally got out Memorial day for some on water testing. What should have been a happy day turned into a real bummer!


MAJOR SCREW-UP!!

I thought my long shaft Honda 20 would be OK. WRONG! It's just too darn long. Way too much drag. At anything over 6 kts water pushed up inside the gearcase housing, exited at the top and cascaded like a waterfall into the boat!

Below is 3/4 throttle at about 12Kts. Water, water everywhere including in the boat!


The good news is the engine started, idled, ran and shifted great. Too bad I can't use it!

What a drag ..... Didn't see this coming! :facepalm:

Know anyone needing a Honda 20 Long shaft with remote control? Sweet motor ...

Got lots of nice complements on the boat though ...

 

[sphelps]

Re: 1961 MFG Oxford Deluxe - Beginning a New Life

Can you make a full transom? Or maybe find the right foot to install on that motor..