Wooden Boat Design
“Behind its beauty – correct design.”
With a six generation background of building ships and boats of all sizes, Tim starts a design by creating the traditional half model that is made to scale of what he wants a boat to look like. From this half model he can predict how the boat will run and perform in the water. Lines are then taken from the model and lofted on to a full size body plan. Patterns are made from this and the construction begins with one piece of mahogany at the band saw. From a modern day aspect he can use that same design background and work from any naval architect computer generated plan to create the boat of your dreams.
Custom Wooden Boat Building
“Beneath its surface – skilled construction.”
Sometimes it’s a judgement call on whether to restore or go for a new build. Patience is an essential ingredient if opting for the latter. We have the knowledge and the capacity to build anything a boater might want. We will marry any customer’s interests into our construction of their boat. Depending on the length of boat and building it traditionally, as we do, your custom built boat will take an enormous amount of work and craftsmanship to complete it. We will be precise and exercise our many years of experience to build you a boat that will exceed the demanding standards of the past. If you didn’t know that our custom boat building was done in this twenty-first century, you would swear it was a century older.
Repairs
We have a passion for all that is wood. We take great satisfaction in our repairs, giving boats a new life – sometimes making them better than before while still following tradition. Our extensive experience includes repairs on boats built by Minett, Minett-Shields, Ditchburn, Greavette, and Duke – all of the famous Muskoka boat builders, plus many Shepherds, Centuries, and Chris Crafts. Our repairs are as meticulous as our restorations, from the first assessment of the problem to accessing, removing and the replacement of the entire troubled spot. When doing this we can tell what pieces have been replaced and what work has been done previously. We strive to have our repairs looking as original as possible, like the boat has never been touched. We see the possibilities in any wooden boat regardless of their current condition.
Restoration
Our restorations are painstakingly detailed. A thorough inspection of your wooden launch is done before any restoration work begins. During each step of the process, from ribs to planking, to fittings and interior, every piece is hand crafted to exact replication of the original. We use traditional methods and the finest materials available are used. After detailed hand sanding your boat is ready for final finishing with the best varnish. Add beautifully upholstered seats and gleaming chrome fittings and the end result is a beautifully restored antique wooden boat, true to the original design and ready for the lake and boat shows.
Refinishing
“Tim Butson puts an absolutely beautiful finish on a boat.”
This is accomplished by skill, a steady hand, and especially patience. Tim sets a high standard for the quality of refinishing he wants to attain. He can mix his own stains to create a shade of colour that appeals to the client. It is brushed on and then rubbed and blended into the mahogany for an even colour effect. Mixing his own stains is a very important skill when having to match the original stain of a boat just repaired. The spar varnish is applied by brush and hand sanded between each coat – up to twelve coats on a new build. If the final coat is not up to our standards, delivery of the boat may be delayed. But that frustration felt with any delay will melt away at the dock at the first sight of the beautifully finished, gleaming launch you can see your reflection in.