TOPIC: 1974 Manatee 15ft Utility?????

Friends,

I've found the OB Utility (on a GREAT galvanized trailer, but W/O motor) sitting out in a field near here & would like to return it to "original". = Both the hull & trailer are in good shape, though the interior is "trashed".
(The owner has the trailer for sale at a good price & the hull for free.)

There is ZILCH in the FG Library on Manatee Boats of FL.

Does anyone know anything about Manatee and especially have any photos or brochures for the company?

thanks, satx

hey satx, pick it up and take some pix . I kinda remember that name from when my folks had a resort. frog

They pop up regular on CL down here miami.craigslist.org/pbc/boa/4281552117.html

CAT*FINK,

That is a MUCH bigger/fancier hull than this little open 15 foot utility hull.

I'm interested in it as:
1. It would be suitable for fishing lakes/rivers/bays in south TX.
2. Has a title for trailer/hull,
(a real PITA to get in TX)
3. It's wide enough to fly-fish out of safely.
and
4. LOOKS like a REALLY easy "re-do", as transom/sole/all the "hard parts are present/solid/sound.

yours, satx

Hi,
We sold Manatee Boats for a number of years, and we liked them quite a bit. In guessing, this may be the closest flyer to the boat in question. We do have a very few nice new old stock Manatee parts, but likely none for this model.

Regards,
Joe
www.fergusonpoolemarine.com
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Joe,

That's her alright!!! - She is even the same gold color.

Do you happen to know what the recommended HP was?

THANK YOU very much.

yours, satx

frog; All,

Joe of Ferguson-Poole Marine "has pulled the rabbit out of the hat" for me.

ImVho, we here on FG are blessed with a large number of GREAT folks and numerous "subject matter experts".

yours, satx

satx, that is one cool boat, I have a duo tri hull and they also make a fishing version of the same hull, which I wish mine was. that boat should be at my place.lol frog

Glad to help a little, here is the lower part of the flyer's reverse side. The rating will be for remote steering (not tiller steering). The flyer pictures the Lime, but Gold, of course, was offered and popular. We have a Gold jump seat cover pictured on this page of our website: www.fergusonpoolemarine.com/canvascoversupolstery.html

Regards,
Joe
www.fergusonpoolemarine.com
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frog,

For the "giveaway price", I just couldn't resist her.
(I can resist anything except temptation.)

Now I have to start looking for a suitable 1974 OMC OB, so that she can be a tender for the (hopefully soon to be built) MV FOREVER PRINCESS.

yours, satx

Joe,

MANY THANKS. = I owe you a BIG one.

yours, tex

We had an early 70's Manatee many years ago. It was 16', a trihull, and had a gas guzzling 115 hp 4 cylinder Evinrude on it. That baby would fly! We had a great time with it, then sold it for a bunch more than I had paid for it, and bought a cuddy cabin with an i/o in it. First and last i/o I ever had.

Frank

PC1000,

I'm sure that it WOULD "fly". = Unless the 16' is a LOT deeper/wider than the 1550-TC, your Manatee was SERIOUSLY over-powered.
(Manatee said that the little utility shouldn't exceed 85HP.)

Otoh, I'm looking for a fishing rig for the bays/lakes in south TX & am interested in economical/long-lasting operation & just enough speed to get to/from the fishing grounds W/O spending half a day going/coming.
Over the last 2 days, I've heard from 2 men, who have a very similar power-skiff. One has a 50HP Mercury on his & the other a 60HP Johnson. Both said that their skiffs did fine with that amount of power.

yours, satx

I never thought it was overpowered, but maybe you are right. Seems to me it was sold as a ski boat. It did fly, and we sure had fun with it. It rode rough though, at least compared to our 52 year old Power Cat!

Frank