Miss Jean
Miss Jean is the latest restoration project for Dave
Johnson.
The boat has no racing history so Dave has named the boat in honor
of his wife.
This photo is as she was when Bill "Hollywood" Fisk sold her to Dave
in the fall of 2003.
The boat was designed using 1970 Ron Jones plans and was originally
built by Bob Delong for Jake Oriel.
Jake was going to campaign it in the 225 ci class running Studebaker
power but the hydro had difficulty getting on plane.
We will resolve that situation.
Dave & son-in-law Chris Burke at Bill Fisk's home picking up the
Miss Jean.
Notice that they used the Close Shave II trailer to pick up
the boat.
They have just finished loading the boat for the return trip to
Indiana.
The bottom is in very good shape. Dave sanded it and re-applied 1 coat
of varnish just to have it covered. We will turn her back over at a
later
date and complete the varnishing. The inside bottom and bottom battens
are if fine shape. It only needs to be cleaned, sanded and
re-varnished.
The stringers are something else.
Between Jake Oriel finishing the boat and Bill "Hollywood" Fisk
purchasing
it there was another owner. That owner went inside to remove the
plumbing
& electricals. To acomplish that they took what looks like a jigsaw
and simply cut holes in the top deck and stringers. Wood will be cut to
repair the stringers. With the new wood in place we will apply
stainless
sheeting on both sides of the new wood, making for a good sound
stringer.
When the top deck was removed only one deck batten was found. So,
we will be installing additional deck battens for deck support and
strength.
All in all, the boat is in pretty fair shape. There is plenty work
to be done as we will add additional strengthening to the transom also.
Jim Kelley, who was part of the crew of the Close Shave II,
will
be building a modified Chevy 400 small block for the project. Jim &
Dave were on the Miss Madison crew many years ago. All three of
us had the opportunity to crew with Ed Cooper for awhile. That's
an era that I won't soon forget. Many people can only dream of working
with an unlimited.
Time with this project is not a real big concern. Of course Dave wants
to be on the water as quick as possible but quality repair for this
project
is the main issue. I'm sure when we are done the Miss Jean will
be around for a very long time.
.090 Aluminum sheeting being laid out on the bottom.
Jim Kelly helping out with laying out the sheeting for the bottom.
Air trap rails will also be covered in aluminum.
Preparing to drill the new prop shaft hole.
Rear view of prop shaft hole drilling.
Front view of prop shaft hole drilling.
Dave and 2 helpers pick up the hull to show that when completed and
race ready in 2006
the Miss Jean will tip the scales just above the "F" class minumim
of 1608 pounds.
Miss Jean has all new polished aluminum bottom,
completed after countless hours of labor.
May 2008
 July 2008
© Dave Johnson |
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