Miss Canada: The Restoration Begins
01st August 2011
By Tim Du Vernet
I dropped by Tom Adams boat shop in Port Carling a day or two after she was delivered from the Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre to see what was up.
She looked very much like a vintage running shoe that had seen some reworking here and there. It will take some time for Tom to get a complete picture of what will be involved in the restoration.
Sourcing an engine, transmission and gauges will be among the challenges to bring her back to period authenticity. Rolls Royce Griffins aren’t easily tracked down. Even after all the hardware has been sourced and installed, it will take the input of engineers of various kinds to trim her properly. There may also have to be some concession to safety and practicality by including a transmission.
Miss Canada IV is a marvel of experimentation and pre-conceived design. Her two step hydro hull was designed to ride up out of the water like a giant water foil. The curve of her bow deck provided more lift as she went faster.
There is no question that it would have taken enormous courage, nerve or something else to propel this plywood craft to her speed record of 138 mph. Tom pointed out that plywood was a new concept when Miss Canada IV was designed and her construction made extensive use of it. Tom also notes the glues in the plywood of the period didn’t have the longevity of modern materials and some of the plywood has begun to delaminate. As a result, it may be essentially a rebuilt boat once finished.
Much of the work will be quite ordinary too. The thin deck plywood was fastened with screws. Each of the thousands of screws will need to be removed and replaced. Tom and Bobby Genovese will have to decide how to preserve the original character of the boat and while maintaining her as a safe boat to run near the speeds she was designed for. Seat coverings, lettering for the boat name and colour and stain choices will be among the many decisions to make.
Unlike more obscure boats that are discovered in barns or the lake bottom, Tom will be able draw from many sources to help answer these questions in the coming months of her restoration.
I dropped by Tom Adams boat shop in Port Carling a day or two after she was delivered from the Muskoka Boat and Heritage Centre to see what was up.
She looked very much like a vintage running shoe that had seen some reworking here and there. It will take some time for Tom to get a complete picture of what will be involved in the restoration.
Sourcing an engine, transmission and gauges will be among the challenges to bring her back to period authenticity. Rolls Royce Griffins aren’t easily tracked down. Even after all the hardware has been sourced and installed, it will take the input of engineers of various kinds to trim her properly. There may also have to be some concession to safety and practicality by including a transmission.
Miss Canada IV is a marvel of experimentation and pre-conceived design. Her two step hydro hull was designed to ride up out of the water like a giant water foil. The curve of her bow deck provided more lift as she went faster.
There is no question that it would have taken enormous courage, nerve or something else to propel this plywood craft to her speed record of 138 mph. Tom pointed out that plywood was a new concept when Miss Canada IV was designed and her construction made extensive use of it. Tom also notes the glues in the plywood of the period didn’t have the longevity of modern materials and some of the plywood has begun to delaminate. As a result, it may be essentially a rebuilt boat once finished.
Much of the work will be quite ordinary too. The thin deck plywood was fastened with screws. Each of the thousands of screws will need to be removed and replaced. Tom and Bobby Genovese will have to decide how to preserve the original character of the boat and while maintaining her as a safe boat to run near the speeds she was designed for. Seat coverings, lettering for the boat name and colour and stain choices will be among the many decisions to make.
Unlike more obscure boats that are discovered in barns or the lake bottom, Tom will be able draw from many sources to help answer these questions in the coming months of her restoration.