Where to start? Restoring a 9' Penn Yan canvas-covered dinghy in the UK

[David Satter]

Yes, defiantly get some frearson bits. if you haven't already. I've done a few Penn Yans over the years. Their pretty boats....but...they have SO many nuts, bolts and screws. I have to label the containers just so I remember to put them back correctly. I usually put #8 canvas on them. Their not too bad to canvas. I probably have a lot of photos if it helps. Dave

 

[MGC]

Their pretty boats....but...they have SO many nuts, bolts and screws. I have to label the containers just so I remember to put them back correctly.

I think I may still have an assortment of hardware, nuts and bolts, pieces of mahogany from a PY tender I worked on (I had to give this some thought...oh baby) 52 years ago. I recall giving some of the accumulated wealth away about 10 years ago, but if someone is looking for odd bits, I'd be willing to dig around. I have a pretty good idea where I put those things, even now. Nothing too exciting as I recall...screws and bolts and possibly some painter rings I was hoping to sell to Andre for Chestnut decks.

 

[Todd F]

If you have any Whitworth tools please DM me. Recently picked up a couple dozen British Seagull motors.

 

[Worth Gretter]

Todd, a "couple dozen"? How did that happen?

 

[TedHJ]

Ted, what a thorough summary. I usually do mine on a yellow legal pad that sits on my shop bench until the job is done. They often sit for a very long time gradually fading away in layers of shop dust and gun oil. Messy.
The screws you will encounter in a Penn Yan are Frearson screws. Philips tend to strip in wood where the Frearsons are more robust. They may be our turnabout is fair play for Whitworth, my bane from my days as a machinist. Setting a lathe for that thread still gives me nightmares. Needless to say, my machinists days were brief.

Thank you MGC, as they say every day is a school day and I had never heard of a Frearson screw or screwdriver, now I have, so I'll try and get hold of the right-sized bit so that I don't strip the heads.