I didn't grow up around boats but wanted to try restoring one for my boys and me. Horror stories and lack of knowledge had me shy away from a project but when I saw a $500 Craigslist ad... why not try, hell the gauges and wheel might be worth it. I was surprised to learn there are 50's-early 60's plywood hulled outboard boats for cheap. These boats are often overlooked lacking the quality of a higher priced collector boat, but gives guys like us a chance to have fun with a little imagination and a limited budget. Mine is a 1959 Luger "kit" boat. I wanted to build it as a young man in '59 would do who also was into hot rods.
These 60's OMC boats look like a Weesner drawing come to life. Affordable and V8 swaps are common. I'd love to see someone give the custom treatment to one.
I might do a thread here on a decent collection of vintage toy speedboats, aka "runabouts"... windups, clockworks, steam, battery, etc/ quite a few Countries of origin...1920s thru 1960s..but it will take some dedicated effort to get them photo'd.. .
Angie and I just got our Boater Safety Certificates last Saturday. Hoping to take out our '61 Grady White with Homelite 4 stroke outboard (It's a Crosley motor!!). We live 30 minutes from "On Golden Pond".
I dig old wooden boats! The flathead I'm running in my car now came out of a vintage hydroplane from Nabbs Creek Maryland. I dont have too much info the old guy died that ran it before I could get back there. Sure wished I could find the boat, I'd put that engine back in!
Well, hopefully this fits in here. Saw this at the MSRA Back to the Fifties in St. Paul MN yesterday and had to shoot a few pics. It's a beautifully restored fiberglass runabout sold by Herter's Inc. of Waseca MN. Herter's was a big mail order hunting/fishing/sporting goods company back in the 50's and 60's, I knew they sold canoes, duck boats etc. but never knew they had powerboats too. I would guess it's fairly rare. Totally cool.
My 1959 Sea King Hornet with 1959 35 Horsepower Evinrude and 1959 Mastercraft trailer. PS it's for sale or trade?
At Last! An opportunity to ask about this! It is sitting down the track from where I used to live. The chap who owned it got it vaguely seaworthy and launched it. By all accounts he nearly drowned. I am not sure what outboard he put on it but it took on a lot of water under power. Can anyone tell me what make it is and what is the correct type of outboard for it? Someone who knows more about boats than I do said that the shaft of the outboard was either too short or too long. Does this make sense? I think the owner is now so scared of it that he may be open to offers =full]3958591[/ATTACH]
OK, here's my latest it is a 16' 1959 Buehler Turbocraft that has a 327 SBC with a Hamilton Jet Drive.
Yup, Just picked this up in Maryland. 56 Feathercraft Ranger 3, 35hp merc,50s gator trailer. I also have a 57 F.C. Vagabond shell ,57 Lonestar 16ft open-4 bench seats, 62 Meyer 12ft and a 55 Lonestar cruisemaster. Big Lonestar is in my shop being massaged back to life.
My dad won this 14' Alumacraft Torino in a sales contest in 1961. I spent many years fishing and watersking with it. I completely restored it a few years ago. just
Thought I'd throw up a few pics of boats I've lettered over the years. First up is a 1956 Turn-A-Craft 10 ft.made in Quincy Michigan.The builder is still alive at the age of 94. This is one of two Turn-A-Craft boats I've done for the client. Had to paint the decals on as none were available and also added some striping. He brought the boat to me inside a Chrysler Mini van with the cradle on the top. Powered by a 10hp Mercury. Next is another Turn-A-Craft;this one an 8ft that also has a 10 hp Mercury for power. Also made in 1956 it has some very subtle differences in styling. Next is a hand-built in 1955 that was originally powered by a 100hp flathead V-8.It now has a Capri 3.0 liter V-6.The owner's dad built it. Next up is a glass boat(not sure of the maker)that I lettered and put a devil graphic on the sides. The next is another I'm not sure of but it was a mid 1950's vintage as I recall. The next two boats I didn't paint but took photos of them because I thought they were unique. The Cutter was in a boat yard on Rte 127 in Michigan heading toward Jackson. The Skipper Craft was in a client's shop for sale.
My dad had one of those Herters runabouts. They were called a Duofoil Flying Fish, they always had crazy names for their products. His was a 1956, I think the one you saw was a few years newer - maybe a 1959. They were heavy as sin, but also very durable. When we sold off the lake cabin in the early 90s, the boat went with the property; as far as I know the new owners are still using it.
A 1956 mercury mark 55H race motor that I restored, and my dads 1956 mercury mark 25, I also restored that motor. Sent from my SM-A102U using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Here’s my 1966 Correct Craft. Just finished the transmission rebuild. Fresh 302 is on the stand under the towel and I completely refinished the non-original trailer.