Slowly coming along. I have built the cabin roof, forward companion way / helm, cap rails, sliding doors port & stbd, boot stripe on, rub rails on and added the floor. Everything is loose fit still. Unfortunately, I have to work with the model I received to restore. Cabin was shot so that was a total new build, but the hull is actually from a "Vinyard 40 Model" and it has a lower freeboard and a narrower beam. I have done what I can to marry the two up to look like the Lake Union Dreamboat the actual boat is. see last photo.

"Turtle" update. Drilled out the port holes and enlarged them. Much better See third & fourth, before and after. . You can see I use plastic tube cut in sections and put a plug in them (coat hanger rod cut down to pieces).

I also decided to cut and install a mahogany veneer to the inside of the cabin walls. Will look great when done.

Painted her bottom today. And have also been working on an outboard, which hung on the stern of the "Turtle" as her emergency go home motor. I had a friend 3D print an Evinrude and I cut the top off and mad a new top from balsa wood to more closely resemble the Mercury she had on her. Shaped and ready for resin before I paint her.

Getting there....

Just completed the new foredeck and portholes. I had to contour the deck to make it true to the build. You can see the original flat deck in the layer photo.

Single screw installed. Foredeck set up to apply new deck with proper contour. Once all portholes are completed I will install it. Engine bed in place. Rudder cut to size from one of my brass rudders. Removed last bit of old cabin sides. Had to reinforce her frames with a few sisters. Some were cut right down to the hull to accommodate old Rc. Measured and placed new postholes. Inserts are 3/8" plastic tube cut to length. These will be trimmed out with famowood to form smooth edges to hull. Waiting for my famowood to come in. I am also adjusting the side step down from foredeck to aft deck to match the photos of the real boat.

I have the honour and privilege to embark on a restoration of a model of a boat which belonged to a family I have known since I was knee high to a grasshopper.
She is the "Turtle", which has a very storied past. When I knew her she was plying the waters of the Southern Lakes of the Yukon.

I believe she is a Lake Union Dreamboat designed by the Grandy Boat Co. in Seattle and built in 1929. I understand from her history that the "Turtle" may have actually been built with prison labour.

Her specs are as follows (if she is indeed a Grady Dreamboat).
LOA 38' 0"
Beam 11' 6"
Draft 3' 6"
Designer: Grandy Boat Co.
Gross Displacement: 12000 lbs.
Number of Engines: 1 (model has twin screws)
Engine Model: Lehman
Fuel Type: Diesel
Year Built: 1929 ( "Adelante's" Information shows her as built 1912. I believe this is an error as Grandy started building Dreamboats in 1926)

The model I believe was built from the "Dumas" model boat plans for the 40' "Vinyard" (very last photos), and the cabin modified to reflect the "Grandy" plans.

I have started with a photo of the "Turtle" on the Southern Lakes as I remember her. Then a photo of the only sister I know of her in Seattle, the "Nirvana".

Following is a the photo of the model when she was stored in Edmonton earlier this year. Unfortunately as the following photos show, she floundered and was quite damaged.

She arrived at my shipyard today, and I did a quick survey of her. Her wood is probably close to 50 years old now and quite delicate. She has the old mechanical speed control in her from "Dumas" as well as dated electronics. I have removed all I can so that I can start repairs and reinforce the hull. We will work our way up to superstructure and electrical later.

I would like to honour her builder and keep his work intact as much as possible. I do think I will need to redo the transom on her however. I will save the old one if that is the case.

The model is 28" LOA

Stay tuned for more as we bring her back.