FEATURED RESTORATION
The "MER-NA" last of the Blanchard Dreamboats.
For more than six decades, the N.J. Blanchard Boat Company produced some of the finest yachts, sailboats, and motor boats in the Pacific Northwest. Blanchard had built his business on manufacturing large custom motor yachts and stylish sailing vessels. It wasn't until the early 1920's that he decided to mass produce a standardized cruiser. He joined with designer Leigh Coolidge to create his own perfectly proportioned 36 foot "Dreamboat" The first of these standardized vessels hit the water in 1924.
Upholstery
We are relentless in our search for original upholstery materials. We regularly have leather custom-dyed to match original colors and patterns from the twenties and thirties. We have innumerable sources for vinyl materials and production processes to match almost any later interior. We also have skilled artisans who can re-create hand tied, cotton covered coil spring seat bases, horsehair seatbacks, and biscuit stitched kapok cushions, right down to original seat cushion Coast Guard labels from the thirties and forties.
Instrumentation
Original instrumentation is a must in a vintage boat, even if modern power has been installed. We have a number of great suppliers who are expert at restoration, and we have a great deal of experience in matching those instruments to whatever engine inputs are available.
Engines
We encounter a wide variety of engines in our business, spanning a broad time frame. We have significantly increased our mechanical capabilities, to provide even more peace of mind for our customers. From World War One surplus-vintage Hall-Scott and Liberty engines, to Chris-Craft six cylinder engines, to fifties and sixties Chrysler Hemis and Chris-Craft 430 Lincolns, we have the expertise to restore and rebuild these performance icons of the past.
Electronics
Many of our customers want to be able to listen to their favorite CD while enjoying their boat. We have become quite good at "hiding" the equipment while providing concert-quality sound. We have gone as far as to create speaker grilles of stainless and bronze screen, to provide just the right vintage feel.
Flooring
Flooring is one of the "make-or-break" details in a restoration project. We are accomplished at finding just the right original materials. We also have available a number of vintage-type flooring products that add an extra touch to a restoration. We have recently added a fabulous "teak and holly" vinyl flooring product that you can't tell from real wood from three feet away. If you want real teak and holly, we can certainly do that, as well!
Trim Tabs
Many of our customers who have "skiff" (lapstrake) style boats have found that a set of trim tabs significantly increase their enjoyment of the boat. Trim tabs provide greater control of the attitude of the boat, both side to side, and fore to aft.
Vintage Parts
When it comes to vintage parts, knowing what you need is one thing. Finding what you need is another. We are therefore relentless in our search for original parts and materials.
We encounter a wide variety of engines in our business, spanning a broad time frame. From World War One surplus-vintage Hall-Scott and Liberty engines, to Chris-Craft six cylinder engines, to fifties and sixties Chrysler Hemis and Chris-Craft 430 Lincolns, we've developed a large group of suppliers and can find the appropriate parts (if they exist!) If they don't exist, we have an equally large number of skilled fabricators who can recreate everything from Gar Wood Liberty V-12 transmission parts to brackets to accommodate a modern alternator.
Canvas
Swim Platforms
Swim platforms are a popular option with our customers, especially on larger "skiff" (lapstrake) boats. We offer a number of swim platform options, from cost effective "off the shelf" teak platforms, to custom teak or mahogany. We can meet the challenge of integrating a swim platform into the restoration of a vintage boat, and have it look like it was always there.
