Calling Wooden Boat Experts....What is this?

[timmeraw]

Hello,

I just picked up what I am now calling "Orphan II" as it is the second molded ply hulled boat I have that have absolutely no manufacturing markings. I am hoping that someone out here can give me an idea or tip to try and track down the providence.

It's about 15 feet in length and as you can see in the pics...has a molded mahogany ply hull and decks are all also mahogany ply. Unique staining with mustard yellow center(on both front and center deck) contrasting with mahogany color outside. Padded vinyl tubing running around both front and back area. Large cutwater in front with a bull nose type bow and the small plastic curved windshield. There are no floor boards but just stringers and there is a main transom Knee and two smaller ones as well.

Anyways...have a look and tell me what you think. Thanks. Tim

 

[osborn159]

Re: Calling Wooden Boat Experts....What is this?

have no idea what it is, but i like it, that is really cool, good luck on your search for info, D

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Calling Wooden Boat Experts....What is this?

Way cool...but the trailer is kinda wild looking. Put some oil on that old girl to shine her up. Looks like a 45 hp Merc, too, but can't tell...it if runs, bet it will fly. Love the custom duct tape touch on the port stern...my bro-in-law musta been somewhere in the neighborhood when that was applied. Keep the pix coming...it'za great resto project.

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Calling Wooden Boat Experts....What is this?

Yea that trailer is probably the first one Holsclaw made. I had to get the tires replaced and the guy had quite the time doing it because they are like wagon wheels with a hub and two forks held on by two nuts. Also the trailer had actual glass domes over the lights built right into the frame at the back.

The motor is a 1957 Merc Mark 55e...electric start 40hp and yea I bet this little boat will fly....when I get it re-woken correctly that is.

The duct tape was put on by the lady at the farm I found it in because the metal trim around the top of the gunnal had come loose at the back and she was getting caught up in it when squeezing by ....looks like she really caught it once because about a 6 inch piece was broken off the end and missing.....basically the only orginal thing missing/wrong with this beautifully preserved 55+ year old classic.

Sure would like to find out what it is though. A possible hint is that it may be a Wagemaker Wolverine or other model from them for two reasons. First it is a cold-molded mahogany ply boat which they made(and not too many other did)...and also there was a pristine pair of mahogany water skis with the labels still on them saying Wagermaker Wolverine Co...

The mystery continues.

Thanks,
Tim

 

[jonesg]

Re: Calling Wooden Boat Experts....What is this?

Wow what a classic,
try the woodenboatbuilders website if you draw a blank here.
Those guys eat wood for dinner.
We drink resin.

 

[wa_ssv197]

Re: Calling Wooden Boat Experts....What is this?

Not a Chris, maybe a Century though. Don't think its worth much, I will give you $200! j/k

I love those old wooden boats and can't wait to find the right one for us.

 

[Tipsy]

Re: Calling Wooden Boat Experts....What is this?

My Grandfather had one almost identical in features to this. It was a 12' Milo Craft. Manufactured in Chicago, IL by the Milo Craft Boat Company in 1955. His did not have the separation between the front and back and it did not have the metal bow strip. Otherwise it's nearly identical. Molded plywood mahogany, mustard yellow stain (Chris Craft copy) deck with the same identical windshield and other hardware like the cleats etc. Even had the same red vinyl tubing with the white strip that matched up with the deck. Every time I visit this site I search for Milo Craft to no avail. Can't find much of anything about them anywhere online either. I love yours and still wish his was around, what is your other "Orphan"?

 

[vistacruiser]

Re: Calling Wooden Boat Experts....What is this?

Tim,

That is a very cool boat/motor combination, I hope the resto goes well for you.

I don't claim to be an expert, and I don't recognize your boat off hand. But, I do have a copy of Bob Speltz "The Real Runabouts IV" Outboard Edition. After paging through the molded ply section, I do not think you have a Wagemaker Wolverine. They all seem to have a distinctive pattern on the sides making them easy to identify, much the way Glastron does, only different.

There are many features that stand out to help ID your boat. The cutwater and bow profile, the pattern of the two-tone deck, windshield brackets, splash rails, all bear a resemblance to a builder named Delta Boats Mfg. Co. of Oak Lawn, Ill. And during the mid 50's they appear to have used a decal logo on the side at rear, which could easily be sanded off.

There are other features that I don't see on their boats, notably the profile of the rear cockpit sides extending to the transom. The Deltas pictured have decking behind the cockpit with a cutout for the motor.

Bobs book certainly does not show all the Delta models, or all the molded ply builders for that matter, but you may want to research Delta and see if you can find a match.

Best luck to you,

Brad

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Calling Wooden Boat Experts....What is this?

Thanks for the tips guys. Over the past few months in my search for the maker of my orphan, I have run across many different boats that had various "telling" similarities to this boat but they always have differences as well. I did look at the Delta and as you said the decking on the rear was boxed around engine well etc. The Milo Craft is as you said Tipsy, similar in some respects..especially the cutwater but again different. I thought I had it figured out a while back....a Century Imperial Sportsman like this one:
http://www.antiqueboatamerica.com/ab_list_boatNew.asp?Left=ForSale&Type=ViewBoat&BoatId=26869

That was until the president of the Century boat club told me that Century never made/sold and ply hulls.

Last week I made a little progress when someone mentioned that they found the SN way up under the front deck on the stem. After contorting myself into there I indeed found the first clue on this boat.

After I scraped away some accumulated dirt that had settled there after my initial bath I gave it washing away the many years of accumulated dirt, guess what I found....a small aluminum tag tacked onto the stem. All it has on it is OS-77. I am not sure if the first charter is a zero or the letter O but we are definately getting somewhere. Does this type of SN and plate ring any bells with anyone?

Here is a link to some pics of my first Orphan Barn Find from last year that I am still searching for Pedigree for.

http://s688.photobucket.com/albums/vv241/tmeraw/TK Before/

 

[bailey]

Re: Calling Wooden Boat Experts....What is this?

I hope this might help, back in the mid 50's my parents had a 16' molded plywood type runabout,if my memory is correct it was called "Paceship" molded plywood, we had a 1953 25hp johnson on it. Being from Ontario Canada,I don't know if it was Canadian or American made. Awhile ago I found on the Antique boat forum ????? a chap that was selling some old molded plywood hulls,with out transoms. I think his address was in a small town called "Schomberg" which is about 3/4 hr north of Toronto. Hope this helps,but try that Antique boat forum anyways.
Bailey

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Calling Wooden Boat Experts....What is this?

Thanks Bailey,

I am familiar with the Paceship sailboats being Canadian made etc. Maybe that is a good lead. Now are you referring to my Orpah 2 which has the windshield and the Merc Mark 55E on it or the little Orphan 1 that I just posted the new link to? It originally had about a 54 Johnson 25(green) on it that was also in the barn but rusted near past recognition...The controls are still in the boat so I picked up the same motor and am in mid restore on it as well.

I'll do some searching on Paceship molded outboards.
Found one....
http://www.antiqueboatamerica.com/ab_list_boatNew.asp?Left=&Type=ViewBoat&BoatId=28463

Similar but quite different also.
Thanks.
Tim

 

[bailey]

Re: Calling Wooden Boat Experts....What is this?

Tim the web site that I was referring about is ---www.aomci.org if this is of any help
Bailey

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Calling Wooden Boat Experts....What is this?

Still no luck in identifying the Orphan 2 but I did find a sweet deal this week on a 57 Golden Javelin 35. She fired right up after be put away in 1975 and I have replaced the impeller and hypoid gear lube. Trying to decide now on whether I should put it on the Orphan as I am having issues waking up the Merc Mark 55E.

Have a peek and let me know what you think?

Thanks

 

[bananaboater]

Re: Calling Wooden Boat Experts....What is this?

It might be a bit underpowered but why not? Drop the Merc off somewhere and give them an upper limit on expense and see what they say.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Calling Wooden Boat Experts....What is this?

Is the Merc comatose? how so? It's as simple as that Johnson Javelin 35, when you get right down to it...self contained magneto, mechanical shift and carbed fuel system. The Javelin is sweet, too, but may not have enough umph...depends on the hp recommendation. Is there a capacity/hp plate anywhere on the transom?

 

[garrettcole]

Re: Calling Wooden Boat Experts....What is this?

Hi Tim,

This is a very late addition to your thread. I looked that the pictures you posted. I have a boat that is near-identical to yours. Mine has all the manufacture markings. Mine is a Milo Craft. I got my boat as a result of an estate sale (1999) where the widow that died had lost her husband in 1960 and his boat had been in the garage unmoved since 1960. (the trailer had 1959 license plates on it) I have taken it to an old-timer from the boat building industry in Chicago. He told me about Milo-Craft and these types of boats from Chicago. He told me that the hulls of these boats were surplus WW2 built in Chicago (and perhaps other places) and that a handful of small boat builders bought these hulls to finish and sell as sport boats. It is possible that yours was built (finished and sold) by some other builder. As far as I can tell from your boat, the finishes on the deck are identical (colors of stains, windshield shape/hardware) and the interior paint color is the same. My boat has a Big Twin as an engine. My steering wheel is also on the other (port) side. I have no manufacturing hull #s or identifications (I think this is because of the hulls' surplus origins), but Milo put a prominent (4x5 inch) plate in the center of the console (look for 4 small screw holes). As speculation I would bet that yours is Milo Craft. The exact matching of the paint/stain colors both on the decks and interior would be not a small coincidence.

Good Luck,

Garrett