Turning 100-Year-Old Wood Into A Rice Lake Skiff with Jimmy Diresta

If you're a fan of woodworking and boat building, you've probably heard of Jimmy Diresta, the master craftsman behind the popular YouTube channel of the same name, jimmydiresta. In his latest video, which is Part 2 of this series, Jimmy builds a beautiful wooden boat using plans from Bear Mountain Boats. The boat, named Carolina, is a 13’ 9'' Rice Lake Skiff made from 100-year-old wood.  Jimmy is repurposing doug fir from his deck renovation.  He saved the wood that was installed over 100 years ago, and it is a incredible thing to see this wood live its second life as the boat takes shape.

In the video, Jimmy walks viewers through the next steps of the boat building process, from constructing the gunwales, stem and keel, to fiberglassing and finishing the final touches. He attaches the pieces to the boat's hull using High Performance Epoxy.  Next, Jimmy moves on to the fiberglassing process. He lays 1708 Biaxial Fiberglass Cloth over the boat, which he also wets out with High Performance Epoxy. He uses a chip brush and a roller to evenly saturate the cloth, doing four layers and sanding between each one.  Jimmy is meticulous in his work, taking great care to ensure that every inch of the boat is coated in the epoxy.

Once the build is complete, Jimmy finishes the boat with Gleam Spar Varnish, which adds a long-lasting beautiful shine and protective layer. This gives the boat a classic, polished look that is sure to turn heads on the water.

At the end of the video, we see Jimmy launch the boat and take it for a spin around a small body of water. It's clear that he's proud of his work, and Carolina looks absolutely stunning on the water. The attention to detail and craftsmanship that Jimmy put into this project is truly inspiring, and it's no wonder that he has such a dedicated following of fans and fellow woodworkers.

This video is a great example of the beauty and functionality of wooden boat building, and it's a testament to Jimmy Diresta's skills as a craftsman. Whether you're a seasoned woodworker or simply appreciate the artistry of handmade boats, this video is definitely worth a watch.

1 comment

very nice work.

allen russell

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