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I've lived and worked on the Great Lakes all my adult life. I've never done an aluminum boat restoration, or any other type of boat restoration.  But I've admired all types of small pleasure craft from the deck of the Great Lakes Bulk Freighters I've worked on since I was fresh out of high school.

Though I'm a US Coast Guard Licensed Great Lakes Pilot of Motor Vessels of Any Gross Tons, or more simply said;  "A ship's pilot"...  I've never even been at the wheel of a small pleasure boat. But I've always admired the lines of motor boats, or motor yachts as they are sometimes called.

I've wondered, as we've maneuvered our large commercial ships through harbors in ports on the Great Lakes; how much work and dedication it would take to restore a fine old yacht.

Although in my boat restoration day dreams, I've always thought it would be incredible to restore an old wooden craft built in about the 1950's, I've never made the decision to do it.

The old Cris Craft type wooden yachts I had seen throughout the Great Lakes had such nostalgic lines, and seemed like such sturdy and well designed boats after being restored by a dedicated and talented craftsman.

These old wooden boats are certainly beautiful when restored, and the thought of owning and restoring one myself seemed like a very noble thing to do...

But here is how I decided to do an aluminum boat restoration instead.

Like I said before, I've worked on ships all my adult life and I have a very intimate understanding of water craft. But, I have a very limited knowledge of wood working, and wood finishing, etc.

However, I do have quite a bit of  knowledge concerning steel, and the other metal alloys that go into ships.

It was just a stroke of luck or coincidence, that made me see I could have an old yacht, fully restored and like new, without knowing much about wood working at all.

Like I said; we were unloading grain at the General Mills dock in Buffalo, NY;

I spotted a boat that looked quite a bit like one of those old Chris Craft "type" wooden boats, docked at a marina across from the General Mills dock.

Even though I admired that boat for several hours while on watch that afternoon, it never occurred to me that it was built of something other than wood.

I decided right then and there, while looking at the fine lines of that 32 foot cruiser, (that I thought was built of wood), that I was going to do a boat restoration myself.

So later, after we'd finished unloading, and were out on Lake Erie headed for Detroit, I got to talking to my Wheelsman about the boat I saw at the marina in Buffalo, and about my idea of doing a boat restoration. He had seen the boat too.

My wheelsman had grown up on Harsens Island in Michigan, and had worked at a marina while he was in high school. He pointed out to me that the boat we had both seen was actually built of aluminum.

I was truly amazed. To begin with; I didn't realize that large cabin cruisers had been built that early using aluminum. And I certainly would have never though an aluminum boat could have such fine lines.

So I started researching aluminum yachts, and specifically Marinette aluminum yachts, which my wheelsman said was the manufacturer of the yacht that we had both been admiring.

Well, one thing led to another and I began to realize that an aluminum boat restoration would be the only thing that would make sense for me.

• Aluminum boats are strong and Marinette boats are, according to their owners; "built like a tank"...

• Marinette Aluminum boats are easy to come by, and are a greater value in comparison to even a fiberglass boat of similar size.

• Aluminum retains it's strength far longer than does wood or fiberglass, and aluminum doesn't corrode or rot.

• The hull of an aluminum boat, irregardless of age, will almost always be in fairly good shape, with little need of repair of the hull itself.

• Aluminum power boats and cabin cruisers usually will realize better fuel economy than a wooden or fiberglass boat of the same size.

And the list of good reasons to consider an aluminum boat restoration more practical goes on and on.

So that was the day I decided to undertake an aluminum boat restoration. My decision was made within 24 hours.

At the time of writing this article it has been less than a week since I made up my mind to be the owner of a restorable old yacht built of aluminum.

But the more research I do, the more my mind's made up...  I'm going to take an old and once beautiful aluminum boat, and make it new again.

And I'm certain I'll be rewarded with a boat that will provide fun and excitement for myself and family for many years to come. All for a price far less than it would be for a comparable new boat.

Plus the boat restoration itself will hopefully provide many hours of pleasure and bonding for my wife, and son and I.

I'll be working on my boat restoration for some time. If you would like to follow my progress from the decision to restore an aluminum cabin cruiser, to the actually buying of the boat and on through the restoration process itself, visit... http://oldboatrestoration.com/.

The Non-Cyclist's Guide To Gifts For Cyclists

Quick! What do you give a bicyclist for Christmas or birthdays if you don't have a clue about cycling? Or maybe you do know about gearing and Presta valves, but your cyclist is the type who goes ahead and buys things for him or herself. Never fear, there are gifts you can give that don't have to be a certain size or a particular gear ratio.

Cyclists have a special relationship with their sport. They eat, breathe, and sleep bicycles. But there are times when they have to tear themselves away from their wheels...to go to work, say, or attend a dress-up function. With bicycle jewelry, they can have a tangible connection to the sport with them all the time.

Bicycle jewelry is suitable for any cyclist, and it's something that few buy for themselves. Cycling jewelry is made in all different styles, and it's not just for women. There are dainty necklaces and earrings, bracelets and charms. But there are also cuff links and tie bars. Then there are the rugged-looking bracelets made to look like bicycle chains -- a manly touch, and a reminder of where the cyclist's heart really is. Dainty or macho, silver or gold, plain or fancy, there is a piece of cycling jewelry for anyone's taste.

Vintage cycling posters are a popular item with the cycling crowd. Vintage advertising posters are valued as works of art in their own right. Unfortunately, original advertising art is hard to find, and it's expensive when you do find it. You can enjoy the beauty of the old advertising posters with reproductions. Digital reproductions preserve all the little flaws and imperfections of the original piece, adding to its nostalgic charm.

A single vintage cycle poster can accent a room, or an entire collection on a wall can make a powerful impact as the focal point of a room. The soft colors and gentle lines of the hand-drawn artwork recall a simpler time, when the bicycle was in its heyday.

Vintage posters come in an array of styles, from fantasy to realism to abstract, spanning eras from the 1920s through the 1950s, and covering several cycling categories. Some cycling posters advertise brands of bikes, many of which are obscure and long out of production. Other posters advertise cycling events, like the history of the Tour de France. Still others celebrate the early icons of the cycling world -- those who made a name for themselves and propelled the sport of cycling into the limelight.

Next time you need a gift for a cyclist, you won't have to worry about getting the proper size or brand. Surprise your cyclist with a hand-picked piece of cycling jewelry or a vintage cycling poster. They'll be touched that you recognize how important their sport is to them.

About the Author

Get more gift ideas for cyclists at Online Bicycle Store. (http://www.onlinebicyclestore.net)

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