An Update from the Crystal S Restoration Project
Shipwright Dave Sharp describes some recent finds from a collection of items salvaged from the workshop of Crystal S boat builder, Mamoru Sakamoto.
I’ve been over to Bud’s place and picked up a selection of ½” galvanized carriage bolts that he has donated towards the restoration project, and future use in the Richmond Boatbuilders.
These are new, old-stock bolts from the late fifties to early sixties that were brought over from Mamoru’s workshop when it closed down. They’re nicely made and notably include square nuts, which are very uncommon nowadays (newer style nuts are mostly hexagonal).
Bud still has a fair stockpile of other bolts and boat nails that came out of the Sakamoto shop, which he is happy to donate to us for use on the Crystal S, or other future projects. We will be using these high-quality, original fastenings as much as possible through the restoration.
Our next steps in the restoration will be to rebuild the stern ring framing, then work our way forward with stringers and ribs.
See the images below for examples of how these nuts and bolts have been used.
