"I spent most of my career sitting behind a bank desk,” writes Dale Brevik of Polson, Montana. While his office job was a good way to make a living, it wasn’t the life he wanted to make for himself. After 27 years behind one desk or another, he retired when he was only in his mid-50s. With a wealth of good years ahead of him, he had “more to do than the day is long. I retired early so that I could spend more time using my hands to construct projects, mostly with wood.” Hidden by Dale's black-walnut cabinetwork is a Murphy bed.
Photographs by Dale and Candyce Brevik
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Great job on that mahogany retro-syled jet ski. Some serious head scratching it must have taken to accomplish this.
I am torn by what to do about my ’80s vintage fiberglass ski boat with V hull which suffered recent tree damage taking out 1/3 the starboard side. i think it is quite repairable. I have toyed with the idea of retro-styling it into a early wood Riva with a mahogany overlay. Fun thought though.
Anyway, congratulations. Nice to see I am not the only with crazy ideas!
Loved the novel approach to clamping using rubber bungee cords and wood sticks with actual clamps holding the bungee cord to the stick! Sort of like an archery bowstring and arrow. I might have used sheetrock screws first dipped in paste wax and then back them out after the epoxy has cured but maybe (1) that would mar the finish and (2) there were no wood cleats under the veneer to drive sheetrock screws into?
Ian Colquhoun
Kawartha Highlands, ON
There was nothing to screw to without penetrating the fiberglass and that would have been more damaging than I wanted.
All through the article, I was wondering about the weight. From the slow-ahead photo, she (it?) appears a bit heavy in the water and it seems like more weight may have been added than subtracted during the modifications. Curious about higher speed performance compared to the original…
The ski is actually somewhat lighter now than the original. I’m a big guy so I should used my attractive lightweight wife for the photo shoot? The speed has not changed, still does 55 mph.
Whenever I see a jet ski, I am reminded of a sort of rescue one fine summer’s day on Lake Perris, near Riverside, California. The unfortunate jet ski driver had experienced engine failure. Other powerboat operators either did not notice or did not care. I brought my Great Pelican wooden sailboat alongside his stranded craft and asked if he needed help. He accepted a tow back to the launch ramp from my sailboat, though he looked a bit embarrassed upon arriving back alongside the float. He was quite appreciative.
Though a lovely job was done and it’s much more attractive, sadly it’s still a jetski, which are basically the leaf blowers of the sea.