I took the train down and rode with the new owner to inspect a Kettenburg 40 rumored to be hull number one. We found her in a special shed/shop combo in the foothills of Oregon where she's been for the last 18 years under the stewardship of a gentleman by the name of Rudy Selvern. While I don't know her launch name, I do know she will be called the "Lady J" when I'm done with her.
I was amazed at how tight the seams were on this boat that had been out of the water for over 18 years. There's a bit of putty missing from a few spots but overall, she looks ready to go in right now.
Here are a few photos of the hull. For some reason, the flash on my wife's camera didn't wanna work so I'll have to wait for more pictures from the owner, who took many.
Here's one of the keel area....
and the rudder...
Does anybody know if the K-40 transoms are planked mahogany or ply?
Here's where Rudy opened her up for drainage because he yearly washed her down on the inside to get rid of dirt and critters.
The deck is still good non-skid over canvas over ply and seems solid with no evidence of leaks. The bilges still have a look to them as if they came out of the factory no longer than five years ago. I saw one rib butt that looked soft and nothing else yet. There are four ribs that cracked in the bilge that were sistered. The wood in the cracks looks fresh still with no graying or discoloration.
The mast was rebuilt by reefing the joins and reglueing with West Systems. Rudy, being an Engineer, was so precise as to level the current mast rack with a laser to keep it from hogging. I can follow behind somebody like that as far as completion of the work is concerned. I don't yet have interior photos but will post them up when I get some. Trust me, it's even cleaner than the exterior.
We hope to have her in the yard by the end of the month.
At least I don't have to consider cold molding her anymore, not with a hull like this.
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) good Luck with her!
