TOPIC: restore bell boy ballerina in Portugal

Hello,
I am starting to restore a Bell Boy Ballerina I found here in Portugal.

Here will be impossible to find parts for my boat as I believe could be the onlyone in Portugal.

Could anyone please help me trying to find parts and acessories. I really want to restore it exactly as original.

I have checked your library and found a brochure for this model, so gives great help with the layout of the interior.

Any help will be welcome.

Thank you all,
Regards

Welcome to FiberGlassics!

Many folks come here looking for replacement parts for their vintage boat. As you progress on your project, post photos of parts you may need to refinish or replace and we may be able to help with refinishing tips or finding salvaged or extra parts. Polishing, painting, or re-chroming expensive, hard to find parts such as deck hardware, windshields, and trim might be the best option at times.

The first step in restoring an old boat such as yours is a thorough inspection. Check the floor and transom- they most certainly have plywood cores which may have rotted over the years. Determine the budget and time you have to work on the project. Learn about the tool and techniques of fiberglass repair and restoration. And be sure to ask lots of questions- there are many knowledgeable people who frequent this forum.

Thanks HandyAndy;

Nice to receive some feedback on this.
First nice problem will be the winshield, Broken.
Sterring wheel not the original.


I will keep an update on progress.


Regards from Portug

Not sure if this will help, but here are a few photos of a 1960 Bellboy Ballerina from a boat show in McCall, Idaho in 2009. The owner indicated that this was an all original boat.

Again...

that steering wheel is a very rare "vollrath" steering wheel,i have one in my 59 cutter jet de ville,i only know of 3 ,including mine and this one,at least this style of vollrath steering wheel is rare,john

Did Glasspar use that wheel in some G3's?
Neil

Thanks,
Really glad to get feed back from people who relly know about this.
The wind shied may be a problem to restore, at least here in Portugal.
If anyone can find one thar will fit in this model, plese tell me and I will ship it to Portugal.

Do you think this type of sterring will look good there?

Many thanks.

luv the controls on the floor.....ron

Thanks Duke.
Yes it does help, and a lot. These pictures together with the brochre can guide to restore the interior.

Most important.............. Motivation, shows me how it can look nice after some very serious work.

Regards

sorry guys i was talking about the steering wheel in duke's picture.
especially if it still has the center cap and name tag at the top.

neil im not sure but they might have.john

Hello.....
Started today to restore the boat as promissed. Got the hull ready to go into workshop to sand blast and paint it. Now struggling to find somewhere to have the windshield done here in Portugal, not easy.
Promisse to put in some photos untill the end of the week.
Can anyone help with which original colours this boat came, or what would look good based in your experience?
Regards
Gabriel

Gabriel, I don't know what labour rates are like in Portugal, as sand blasting and respraying will be a waste of time and money if the hull gelcoat is usable; find a paint stripper for removing paint on GRP, antifoul remover works, or Dilunet gel (a UK product). Remove it, hand or machine sand with a DA through 400 to 1000 grit and polish the hull if the gelcoat is still workable. For the screen look for a lexan, or polycarbonate and take a mould (pattern) from your windscreen, cut the lexan to shape and fit. 2mm thick is fine for your use. I am in the UK and will look for one of our members who is english, but restored his boat and lives in Portugal, he may have some contacts who can help you. Post on www.cmba-uk.com and I'll PM you with his details if I can find him.

Nick

Hi Nick,
The hull is in bad shape, the gel coat is comming off and in many areas we can actually see the fiber. I found a guy who is used in restoring boats and i think the final work wiil be great as i could see in other boats hw has restored. But you are right, not cheap, it´s going to cost me about 1200 euros but will look brandnew.
The windshield i will take your suggestion and try to do it with my brother who is a good handyman.
Thanks
Regards
Gabriel

Gabriel, doesn't sound good, but the price to fix is on a par with what it cost me to do my boat here in the UK. If you are struggling to find deck hardware, try www.timage.eu

enjoy!

Nick

Hi sfumato,
at the moment I also restore a Bell Boy Ballerina.
Do you know where I can find the serialnumber or any number of the production? And I search for some spare parts (Lettering "Bell Boy")and so on. Can you give me some help with this problems?

regards from Bavaria

Hello again!!!

Took longer then I expected, but finally assembling back my Bell Boy Ballerina.

I am putting on some photos of the Hull after being completly restored and painted.

This was two weeks ago.

I will keep on with photos of the work, so you boat entusiastics can keep up with the work done.

Gabriel

Hull is ready.