Swift Big D home

[zul8tr]

You have your hands full in this restoration. Epoxy is the only way to go with the gluing because it is great for perfect and not so perfect joints that need a filler. I use fumated silica (Cabosil) for a thichner as it provides a good structural strong filler. Add to suit.

From what I recall the traps on these Swifts were wood and screwed into the chin for easy replacement to different lenghts. I think the aluminum was not original.

Here is a shot of a Big Bee in Feb 1958 issue of Boat Sport - wood traps are evident at least on this model.

http://www.boatsport.org/BSC/c65.jpg

Here is page 37 from the same issue with an add for the Big Dee looks like stepped trap design

http://www.boatsport.org/BSV65/p37.jpg

Post pics of your progress

[curbman]

Thanks great stuff zul8tr

[Ron Hill]

You have your hands full in this restoration. Epoxy is the only way to go with the gluing because it is great for perfect and not so perfect joints that need a filler. I use fumated silica (Cabosil) for a thichner as it provides a good structural strong filler. Add to suit.

From what I recall the traps on these Swifts were wood and screwed into the chin for easy replacement to different lenghts. I think the aluminum was not original.

Here is a shot of a Big Bee in Feb 1958 issue of Boat Sport - wood traps are evident at least on this model.

http://www.boatsport.org/BSC/c65.jpg

Here is page 37 from the same issue with an add for the Big Dee looks like stepped trap design

http://www.boatsport.org/BSV65/p37.jpg

Post pics of your progress

My brother had a C-D-F- X Swift from 1955-57, after he got out of the Army. He bought a Big Bee Swift that I wrecked pretty wellin A Alky Hydro, and Jimbo bought that from us. Ron Loomis had an Atomic A, but I never really saw a Big Dee up close.

Burt Ross ran an all natural Big Dee at Lone Beach at the '59 Provisional, but I only saw it run, never got down to see it up close...

The Atomic A, Big Bee and Bid Dee always seems to be SO COOL looking.... Thanks for posting the BoatSport page!

[curbman]

I started getting the frames out and cleaning them up. I thought some of us would like to see the inside up close. The Okoume plywood is marked HOLLAND if I find a better image of the stamping I will post it.

[curbman]

The second frame from the back forward.

[zul8tr]

http://www.vintageraceboatshop.com/i...0/DSC_0159.JPG

This was at the Lakeland Fla Fantasy of Flight Nov 2010 Vintage meet

[Ron Hill]

http://www.vintageraceboatshop.com/i...0/DSC_0159.JPG

This was at the Lakeland Fla Fantasy of Flight Nov 2010 Vintage meet

One thing I noticed on this "OLD" Big Dee were straight cockpit combings. The Orange one at Lakeland has the cockpit combing as I remembered them from ads.


Who owns the Orange Big Dee???

[curbman]

the Lakeland Swift is one great boat that David Liebetreu rebuilt and the Swift Big Dee I have will also be restored with this same cockpit combing.

One thing I noticed on this "OLD" Big Dee were straight cockpit combings. The Orange one at Lakeland has the cockpit combing as I remembered them from ads.


Who owns the Orange Big Dee???

[Ron Hill]

Those combing side pieces do look like they were glued the the plywood.


Did the Big Dee have the same "S" Curve bottom as the old C-D-F-X Swift Hydro?

[curbman]

No the Big Dee has a flat sloped bottom, I will post some pics as it goes back together but I get what your saying sort of like the Jupiter hydro bottom is what your thinking.

Those combing side pieces do look like they were glued the the plywood.


Did the Big Dee have the same "S" Curve bottom as the old C-D-F-X Swift Hydro?