Need Help with 1956 Renken

[tja8327]

I know nothing about this boat except what the Alabama Marine Police have told me. That is, the registration comes back to a 1956 Renken with a 35 hp engine. Anyone know anything about this type boat?

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Need Help with 1956 Renken

Visit www.fiberglassics.com. They have Renken information. They also have a forum where you can ask questions. Lots of good info over there.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Need Help with 1956 Renken

The Renken family is still building boats; the Sea Fox and Mariah brands. They also have a retail dealership in Charleston, SC. Try contacting them. I did a lot of skiing behind a 1956 Renken with a 35 Evinrude when I was a pup. Good luck!

 

[tja8327]

Re: Need Help with 1956 Renken

I went to fiberglassics and it says that Fred Renken started Renken Boats in 1958. This is a 56. I sent an email to Sea Fox Boats addressed to Mr. Renken. I am waiting for a reply. The oldest pictured boat I can find is a 1958. Any thoughts on this?

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Need Help with 1956 Renken

My recollection is the Renken name first showed up jointly on Halsey-Renken Boats in the 1950's. I'll be interested in their response. Good luck!

 

[tja8327]

Re: Need Help with 1956 Renken

Seems that my 1956 is really a 1958. Straight from Fred Renkin himself "it is impossible for this boat to be a '56" because the first Renken Boats were made in 1957 and sold in 1958. Apperently somewhere along the way the 8 was transposed to a 6. The Alabama Marine Police have made the correction and have sent me a copy. As for Fred he is alive and well with Sea Fox and Moriah Boats. My search now is for info on 1958 Renken Boats.

 

[oops!]

Re: Need Help with 1956 Renken

pretty cool of him to get back to you on that.....can ya post pics?

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Need Help with 1956 Renken

The older brother, Ralph, started the business and sold me a set of seats for my first project boat in 1975. The boat I skied behind in 1959 was wooden and must have been a Halsey-Renken since Ralph's independent venture was totally with fiberglass according to Fiberglassics.com. Good luck!

 

[tja8327]

Re: Need Help with 1956 Renken

I have gotten a lot of help with this project so far. My thanks to the posts and I even got a call from a marina in Panama City, FL. Thanks. As for pictures I really do not have any good ones yet. I have turned it upside down and have it sitting on a makeshift set of saw horses. I can say this though. I have removed the rubrails and this is a one piece fiberglass boat in excellent shape. Except for bottom rubbing on sand and such it it has hardly any damage to the hull. Fred and company has made one heck of boat. Thanks again for all the posts and calls. I will post pics as soon as I have some good ones.

 

[tja8327]

Re: Need Help with 1956 Renken

A quick correction here. Fred and Ed were brothers. Their father was Carl who joined his brother Ralph who originally started the Renken boat company. Fred and Ed started Sea Fox Boats after the original Renken boat company was forclosed on. That facility is where the original Renken Boats was started. As far as I know this is what the deal was. As with anything stories get confused and dates are changed.

 

[tja8327]

Re: Need Help with 1956 Renken

Here is some pic. Remember the boat is upside down.