American Rope & Tar

10/02/2017

Stephen Cossman's Pearson Triton 'Juno' was named the winner of the Concourse d'Elegance at the 2017 Plastic Classic Regatta on San Francisco Bay. Steve's restoration included his complete rebuilt of the original Atomic 4. Every inch of Juno is 'better than new', inside and out. Steve finished off his project with some Le Tonkinois Original on his brightwork. Congratulations Steve.

09/28/2017

Mike Robinson finished the varnishing on the extensive woodwork below on Eleanor May, his Cal Cruising 35. Mike took the work to his shop and used the roll and tip method with Le Tonkinois Original to achieve these wonderful results. Hard to tell where the floorboards end and the bright work begins!

08/22/2017

Another great project from Wayne Mattson, this time using Le Tonkinois Original on outdoor decorative frames at his house. Wayne wants to see the deep, glowing finish of Le Tonkinois wherever he goes. It also helps him get by when he's separated from his classic Chris Craft 'Truant'.

Have a unique application for Le Tonkinois? Post it here or send it to us on Messenger. And be sure to include your techniques and tips!

08/21/2017

Wayne Mattson did the deck and transom of his classic Chris Craft 'Truant' using the surprisingly un-slippery Le Tonkinois Original. While you're unlikely to see a deck application on a sailboat, Uncle Billy has many spar-less friends who use it to brighten their decks. Great job, Wayne! 'Truant' is definitely turning heads in the California Delta.

Have a photo of your Le Tonkinois project you'd like to share? Post them here or send them to us via Messenger and be sure to include your techniques and tips!

08/18/2017

Mike Robinson is using Le Tonkinois Original to refinish the cabinet doors and drawers aboard 'Eleanor May', a Cal Cruising 35. He used the 'roll and tip' method with a closed cell foam roller and foam brush to great success--Mike says it cut the application time in half and gave beautiful results.

Have any photos of your Le Tonkinois projects that you'd like to see on our page? Send them to us on Facebook Messenger or feel free to post 'em yourself! We'd love to show off your work.

08/16/2017

The beta testing of Le Tonkinois Parquet (coming soon to our website: www.tarsmell.com) continues! Leo and Laurel Pershall just used it along with Le Tonkinois Bio Impression to finish the cabin sole of their beautiful Shannon 28. Leo was kind enough to send along his entire process (below). Follow these steps to a flawless finish!

1. Old Urethane stripped from cabin sole with heat gun and then 100 grit random orbital sanding.
2. Thorough vacuum followed by denatured alcohol wipe down.
3. Light coat of Bio-Impression using a Redtree badger brush.
4. 24 hour cure followed by hand block sand with 220 grit. Wipe down with damp rag.
5. Second Bio-Impression coat using Redtree Badger brush
6. 24 hour cure followed by hand block sand with 220 grit. Wipe down with damp rag.
7. First coat of Parquet using Redtree badger brush.
8. 24 hour cure followed by damp rag wipe down. No sand
9. Second coat of Parquet using Redtree badger brush.
10. 24 hour cure followed by 220 wet sand. Wipe down with damp rag.
11. Third and final coat of Parquet using a Redtree badger brush. Brush and tip .

08/14/2017

Bob Hanelt just finished restoring the mast on his beautiful wooden sloop 'Lydia'. Rehabbed rigging, reinforced spreader fittings and, of course, 12 coats of Le Tonkinois! More pictures to come when the mast is restepped. Gorgeous work as usual, Bob!

10/05/2016

Thousands of years before cats took up residence in 37 percent of American households , and managed to outnumber dogs by roughly 75 million across the globe , they were hopping continents with farmers, ancient mariners, and even Vikings, scientists...

10/04/2016

For the first time in several years, we attended the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival as tourists, not vendors. And we had a fabulous time. We talked with our old friend Joni Blanchard, the Queen of Varnish in Port Townsend about some things we think you'd be interested in.

09/10/2015

Come see us this weekend at the Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival!

http://tour.offcenterharbor.com/ptwbf-15/

OffCenterHarbor.com is a membership website with over 270 professional videos on boat handling, repairs, maintenance, boat building, dream boats and more.

04/06/2015

A very happy birthday to Merle Haggard!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyR5ILdlYMk

This is a song originally written and preformed by the father of country music Jimmie Rodgers. This cover by Merle is from his 1969 live album Okie from Musk...

07/30/2014

Nothing a little Le Tonkinois couldn't fix!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2709963/Scientists-solve-mystery-shipwreck-world-trade-center-Analysis-tree-rings-finds-ship-built-1773-Philadephia.html