TOPIC: 1951 Fiberglass Runabout?

I had posted about this boat back in the old forums. I've known about it for a couple of years but I could never get ahold of the actual owner. Today I decided to go check on it again and the guy was finally home. I ended up buying it(God help me, another one? Really?).

At first glance, you might not think this little boat was anything special(and it might not be, I dunno), just another ho-hum old runabout, but when you get up close, you can tell she's early and odd. The guy told me he had it for years, and he was told that it was a 1951 model by the guy he got it from. I'm not sure how reliable that info is, or even if it could be that early, but it does look dead-old to me. There's some odd styling going on like the pieced together fiberglass covered topsides with wood underneath, and wooden dash that's part of the front deck for like 10 or 12 inches. The hull is made so primitive that it's almost funny, and when you get down and look at her from down low, she almost has an old woodie-boat bow styling.

She's not in good shape, there's some serious hogging going on toward the front keel, with the chine buckled and the bow pointing down some. But, I think it could all be fixed if someone had the interest in doing so. For 25 bucks I had to save it, even just as an odd conversation piece.

First pic is from '09 when I first found it, windshield intact(I believe it's just an old off-the-shelf Taylor Made anyway). The second two are from today, taken with my cell(forgot my digital, again!) I'll go back in a few days to pick it up and I can post more detailed pics then.

Has anybody got any ideas as to what this thing could be?

looks like an old pipestone that i once had. frog

Plasticraft by Winner????

There were several builders of RFP boats in 1951 including Plasticraft by Winner and Wizard. Others too.

The original Plasticraft by Winner boats did not use glass fibers as the reinforcment. It was orlon or sisal or something like that.

Andreas

Looks like my neighbors tomato garden. Sorry couldn't help it.

Seriously, really does have the lines of early 50's. Probably all 1/4 thick glass hand laid. It's definatly a project. Good luck.
Cal

It shares lines with my 59 Winner but different.

Yes, I'd say we have a "Winner" here.

Check out this photo of the "Possibly the oldest fiberglass boat" located in the Library section here(lots of similarities):




1952, but I see some differences:



I'd say this definitely is an early one, possibly very early.

Hope to get it home in the next few days and post more pics.