I recently completed a thorough restoration of the Thunderbird. This was done gratis, as a side project in the shop, on and off since 2005 (more off than on). It was built by Fred Smart of Sandy Creek NY, for Fay Welch and Tanager Lodge, and launched as the first outboard motorboat on Upper Chateaugay Lake in 1926. The restoration included replacing the majority of the backbone and framework of the boat. Replaced were the keel, false keel, stem, bow deck and framework, all the ribs, inwhales, seat-risers, seats, oarlock pads, a few sections of planking, floor boards, and the transom knees. The knees for the transom are crafted from natural spruce knees harvested from the forest behind Daddy's Lean-to at Tanager Lodge. All of the paint was stripped to original wood, primed and repainted. Power comes from a 2014 Tohatsu 5hp four stroke, that was largely donated to Tanager Lodge by Alumni.
More pictures of the relaunching and restoration can be seen here:
