TOPIC: Newbie...seeking shopping advice.

Hi Folks,

After 6 years living close to a couple of big 'ol lakes (forgetting that I'd promised myself 30 some years ago I'd NEVER have another boat). I thought it might be nice to have something just to putt around in, do some sightseeing, take the granddaughter for a boat ride.

Nothing new or fancy, just a small cheap old fiberglass boat... maybe something cool and retro...with fins. YEAH BIG FINS! UH-OH! I'm afraid I've opened a can of worms, or Pandora's Box, pick your favorite metaphor.

I started searching the internet and 'Lo and Behold' I'm not alone. There's a whole bunch of people out there interested in old glass boats too.

MY NAME'S JON, AND I NEED HELP.
Before I make a big mistake.

Is there such a thing as "Buying Old Boats for Old Dummies"?
Someplace on this website or the net where I can get educated?

I've talked to a guy at work and he warns me to beware of rotted stringers and/or transoms. How do I tell?

Are there some makes that I should just steer clear of, for whatever reason?

Any other recommendations, advice or questions?

Thanks in advance,
Jon

ps. My first boat. Bought new in '74 with a 10 year old motor. They saw me coming.

..d.F.: WELCOME.. To jump half way into the stream or lake I could
suggest a Aluminum lower or classic. Here is a original owner Barn Find that jumped up in our area last week. a 1958 Arkansas Traveler, 15 foot with a Aluminum lower hull & red fiberglass on the upper.
The 57 model had fins up like a 57 Chevy. ( This would ease your rotten sub floor concerns)... Also Feather Craft ( all Al) is very big with clubs & collectors. These all silver models could polish up like the AirStream travel trailers.... Some models were Gold or light blue Anodized finish .

Welcome Aboard Jon ..Beware old boats get addictive .One boat you might want to look into are the Aristocrafts .Theres suppose to be no wood in them . On a few just a piece in the transom thats fairly easy to replace .They got your Fins , They got your Hard Tops ,They got tons of room inside and they handle well .And for being a roomy boat they dont really take that much HP to push them .
Below is a pic of mine the day I picked it up .She was a free bee !!! Besides some chicken crap on it and smellin a little like Pig Poop before I preasure washed it she is Rock Solid .Mines a 1959 Funliner .They kept the same design for years so there around .I got a 80 hp Merc on her now .Pretty easy on gas even with 6 people in her and pulling tubes ..The Hard Top is nice to . Keeps my Balding old head from getting sun burnt ...L.O.L..
Larry

bobo's right about the aristo being a good pic, but if it's got a cracked windshield,keep in mind they are hard to replace. Man I wished someone would repop those. Another boat that is good on floor construction is an early 60s Crestliner. I picked up one last spring and pulled the floor up to check it out and to my delight, it had no wood in the stringers and easy to take up marine plywood. Also styrofoam just laying loose between the stringers from the factory.

An aluminum lower with a glass upper? Sounds like a good idea. Never heard of such a thing. I reckon that is going to happen A LOT as I learn more.

Just yesterday I saw an ad for an Arkansas Traveler and was looking for more information or pictures. Couldn't find much, even in the Glassic Library. Now I can't even find the ad again. That coulda been the one!

Thanks for your input,
Jon

Pretty boat Larry. I should be so lucky to get a freebie! But It's gotta have bigger FINS!

Jon

Thanks Jim.
I think I read that Wacanda's also did not have wood stringers. Need to find out more.

Jon

Find one of these...........

Bruce Gerard wrote:

Find one of these...........

Hey,you know what they say about a guy with a boat with big fins?

dolFINS wrote:

Thanks Jim.
I think I read that Wacanda's also did not have wood stringers. Need to find out more.

Jon

Jon,there was surely some more built without wood in the stringers back then, but I'm thinking about all had some wood in the transom.IMHO

Skagit boats were built with glass stringers and show up in the Spokane area CL quite often.

Bruce,

Now that's what I call FINS! I like it!

That's Fiber Craf(t) right?




Jim L,

You know what they say about a man with big hands and big feet?

Big gloves and big shoes.

Thanks Oceans2,
I'll file that make with the others.
I have seen some on Spokane CL since I started looking.

dolFINS wrote:

Bruce,

Now that's what I call FINS! I like it!

That's Fiber Craf(t) right?




Jim L,

You know what they say about a man with big hands and big feet?

Big gloves and big shoes.

I would be out looking for that boat you are pictured with.Then get me a 64 100hp L6 to mount on her. Maiden voyage would require the same brand of beer that your holding either for christening or consuming, maybe both.

The boat you're standing with appears to be a Sidewinder. I had a '74 Sidewinder. I'd love to have another one. Getting rid of the one I owned wasn't one of my smartest moves.

Bruce Gerard wrote:

Find one of these...........

Here's a similar AT in Worcester, MA. worcester.craigslist.org/boa/2552046976.html

welcome...is that a sidewinder in your picture a clone?
it doesn;t seem to have the trademark lights up front....

What size of HP was on the back...looks to be that of tower of power.

Jon
I am south of you about 3 hours.
I have this that I would let go.
It is not a Sidewinder. It is make by Sunset Boat Co.
Good hull.
Neil

Dang it Neil there is a no teasing allowed ... if Illinois was closer I'd hit you up... been researching Sidewinders and Hydrostreams lately ... its a nice clone to the 'winder

Hi Matt,

They say that memory is the second thing to go...I can't remember the 1st.

Don't remember what the make was. Got rid of it in 1980. I was THROUGH with boats. I can't find any pictures or paperwork. I was thinking maybe 'Vanson' but that might have been the trailer.

10 year old (then)100 HP Merc. on new hull. My first experience with an outboard aside from driving a 3 horse Johnson on my mom's plywood rowboat.

1st lesson...Nobody told me that I could not go as fast as I wanted. It's a Speedboat, Right? W.O.T. ya know what I mean?
This rookie got real close to 50 mph in good conditions on Mission Bay. Until The Merc sucked a reed.
Getting a powerhead rebuilt on a E-5's wages in 1974 hurt a lot when I was still making boat payments.

Lesson 2. The shop said I over-rev'd it cause I had a power prop (I asked what's that?) for skiing.
They sold me a tach too.
Next time out best I could do @ redline was 43mph. That's very different!

Lesson 3. Don't ever go into a partnership on a boat with your sister and brother-in-law.

Lesson 4. Can't do much skiing when the boat is in San Diego and I'm stationed in Pearl Harbor.

waa waa waa...somebody give this guy a tissue.

Jon

Thanks Neil,

but no thanks. Been there, done that.
Besides no self-respecting Bubblehead would own a boat that said "Skimmer" on the side!

I'm definitely looking for something retro. with Fins.
I'm not real good at finishing projects so a complete restoration is out of the question. Hoping I can find something that doesn't leak and starts reliably. Cleaning, polishing, minor repairs or replacements not a problem.

There is a guy in the Glassifieds offering a Glass Craft down by Boise for $2500. Has he been breathing Castrol or is that reasonable?

Sunset huh? That kind of tickles something in the back of my mind.

Jon

Jon
The Skimmer is not on the side anymore.
It resembles your first boat pic and I thought I would offer.
A guy never knows. I hope you find the one you are looking for.
Neil

Thanks again Neil,
If I was trying to re-live my youth I'd be there next weekend!

The short time I'm been on this forum leads me to believe that you really have your finger on the pulse of boating in ID. I'm hoping that maybe planting a seed might pay off sometime when you see something and say to yourself, "this might be one for 'that' guy"
Best of luck to you,
Jon