TOPIC: Difference in '57, '58 and '59 Redfish Sharks?

I have a Redfish Shark I pulled from a field. I'll be getting the registration done soon and would like to register it as the proper year if possible. Looking at the info in the library and pictures around the web it's not obvious to me what the differences are, if any, from those years.

Is there anything I can look at to tell, or is there even a difference in the hull at all? Seats are gone, so it would have to be a fiberglass change. If posting pictures of any specific part would help tell me what to get a picture of.

I have not been able to locate a serial number, so unless there is a hidden one someone can tell me about, that route is out.

Thanks for any help.

Gene in Central Mo.

Post a picture of it. We'll tell ya what year it is.

various pictures

Oddly enough (and it usually fools everyone), That's a 1961. One of the few builders to take fins into the 1960's.

The "horseshoe" fin caps and the indented side triangles in the fins are a dead giveaway... plus, I owned one.

It looks like you have the original transom aluminum piece. Look on the top of the aluminum for a stamped number. it should be there.

www.fiberglassics.com/wiki/images/5/50/Redfishb61005.jpg

www.fiberglassics.com/wiki/images/d/da/Redfishb61010.jpg

To top it off, those boats came with one of THE coolest bow lights ever invented. Typically you'll see these lights on late 50's restorations because they're just "cool factor" stuff, but were made in the 60's.

... they had removable hard tops too... a sweety for sure.

Save that one.

this one is on the web being sold as a '57. It looks the same as mine. Guess they don't know either! That is part of what led me astray.

I have seen a couple with more outrageous fins. I didn't know what year they were, and I don't have pictures.

Found the serial number! It was on the left side, front of that transom cover, upside down.

15A1212

Does that convert to anything?

Cool! It's a common mistake that people advertise things with fins as a 57.

That one for sale is a 61.

I'm really unsure of the serial number strategy they used, but one might assume that 15 = 15 footer, A = possible plant of origin and 1212 = possible number of boat in the run for the year from that plant. This probably doesn't mean there was 1212 red fish sharks but more just a number from the plant.

... and that's just a guess.

Red Fish made a lot of boats.

cool! Now I have a high confidence level of the year and the SN. l'll get a bill of sale from the lady whose field I drug it out of, go see the water patrol and I should come away with a title.


Thanks much.

Yep, definately a '61 model. Here's a brochure page showing the '61 and the different seating options.