BY Greg Hatten Download PDF version of this article
| The McKenzie style drift boat is designed for maneuverability and is especially suited to get you down wild rivers (above) and not-so-wild rivers (below) to where the fish are. |
The wet winter months in Oregon are perfect for garage projects like boat building and car restoration. They are less than “ideal,” however, if you want a perfect epoxy finish for your boat and your garage is unheated.
After failed attempts at space heaters and patience (waiting for a four-day warm front in January), I had to improvise. My wife graciously let me move my boat building indoors to a perfect 72°F, dust-free, climate controlled environment. The WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy set up great in our front entry way and produced just the finish I was after for my 16' McKenzie Style Drift Boat.
Moving the shop indoors was not without precedence; the winter before, I restored an FJ40 Land Cruiser that required warming up parts in the kitchen before I could paint them.
I married a saint.
| Hull side panels curing in the comfort of Hatten's warm and cozy foyer. | |
| The drift boat is close to completion in the normal setting for boat building. |