Restoration Project

Around Bob's birthday this year, January 6, 2007, we found out that one of Bob's dreams was coming true.

For about 10 years, he has been thinking that it would be fun to get his old hydroplane back and restore it.  At that time we were working on retiring and it wasn't feasible.  

A couple of Bob's friend's from the 1980's when we were racing hydroplanes learned about Bob's dream.  They saw pictures of the Bolam's Express model he made and found comments he made on the vintage hydroplane website making them believe he really loved these boats still after all this time.  

They found our old boat and it became available for us to get back.  So ... now Bob has a project.  It's in pretty good shape for being 25 years old!

 Bob wrote up this story in his own words: 

Here is a picture of what she looked like originally.  We ran her as the "DeMoss Special" the first year.  Later she was renamed the "Bolam's Express".

Here is what she looks like now:

Bob & Mokie

We got the cowlings back too:

March 2007

We drove to Chelan, WA to borrow Mark's boat trailer and pick up his boat to be worked on at the boat shop in Seattle.  He had the cowlings in the picture above.

Mark's boat is the white boat on the left.

Mark is in this picture.  He tied our cowlings under the boat on the trailer.  
This trailer, which is now Mark's trailer, is our original trailer.  
We are borrowing it to bring his boat to Seattle for repair and to 
bring our boat home to Idaho.

April 2007

Bob, along with our son Brian, drove to Missoula, MT to pick up the V8 motor Bob bought for our boat AND a motor that a friend from Seattle purchased.  Since we were going to Seattle the next week, Bob offered to bring it over for him.  Bob purchased the motors from some classic car friends of ours.  It's a small world, huh?

LATER (May 2007) ... we decided not to run a V8.  We had originally run a V6 and it was a pretty major part of this boat's identity ... first ones to run a V6 in our class.  So we found a V6 and someone who wanted the V8 and we were off.

We drove Mark's boat to Seattle where our "new" boat was waiting for us.

First Mark's boat had to get lifted off the trailer.

Don & Jerry Kelson helped with the back.

The Bolam's Express was lifted up in the air.

And Don backed the trailer under the boat with the forklift.

Bob looked lovingly at his old boat and new project ...

Then ... they positioned the boat on the trailer so it was "just right".

Annette Kelson & Mokie watched the whole process from the office.

Mokie watched very intently!

The inspection process began in earnest after the boat was sitting 
on the trailer.

Jeff Richards came by and helped Bob see things he may have missed.  
They worked on plans and suggestions for Bob's project.

The next morning, Bob put the trailer on the tilt and later strapped her 
in tight for her trip home.

Jerry and Bob spent LOTS of time telling old boat stories with BIG 
smiles on their faces the whole time.

Dick Neeson came to visit us and see the boat again.

Scott Harger came to visit Bob and check out the boat with him.  
(to them this is Scooter and Bobby)

Russ & Carol Dodge came to visit.  
Don Kelson & Jim Codling are in the background..

Jerry & Don Kelson were in a deep conversation with Jim Codling.

Don Kelson & Jim Codling ...

Don Kelson gave Bob some old cowlings to either use in the restoration or use to practice shaping, painting, or whatever.  Bob spent the day figuring out how to strap them to the boat.  Here's the end result:

Ken Muscatel came to visit Bob.  We picked up a motor for him in Missoula and brought it here inside the motorhome.

Here's the motor:

The last visitor for this trip was Dave Hanke.

Here she is, ready for her trip back to Coeur d'Alene -

Next ... the project and the fun begins.  

More visitors (starting tomorrow with Harve Rink), collaboration on 
project ideas, and the actual work.

To read about ongoing progress: Click on the banner below

Bolam's Express - The Restoration Project