1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

[Woodonglass]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

Well...Alrighty Then!!!! I'd still do the extension and add a seat backer with hatches that could also provide some storage for life vests etc... Think it would be easily fabricated and made to look good. 1/4" luan or aluminum if you really want it to blend with the boat.

 

[Stratusair]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

Now that probably would work fine. I'll stay the course for now on the deck extension. My metal skills are probably better than my wood finish work. But I'll let you guys be the judge after. On another topic: windshield. Any reproduction windshield and windshield brackets out there that would look age appropriate?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

Yes, windshield brackets pop up @evil-bay regularly.

But I'll do ya 1better, just give me some time. I've got a vendor that will cast new reproduction vintage aluminum brackets for about the least I've seen them sell @evil-bay rough & pitted. Typical cast texture, but they can & have been polished out to a super high shine. but I can't link them from my phone....

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

The casting of the four parts will cost $127.00 plus shipping from the caster at:
Lake Shore Aluminum Castings
1817 Poplar Street
P.O. Box 59
Erie, PA. 16512- 0059
1-800-458-0463
Inquire about "Windshield Brackets"
On a FeatherCraft:

Starboard ^^^

The 4 pieces ^^^

2 part center spar ^^^

 

[Stratusair]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

Wow those brackets are perfect, exactly what I had in mind. Thank you! I'm def calling. Do people have safety glass cut or use plexi with those. I would think the glass may be pricey?

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

Some put a bit of a bend in the windshield, not perfectly flat from gunwale to center post, so those have to use plexi, acrylic, lexan. Pros & cons for each.

Casey used brackets he got from ebay, not sure what he paid, but he said more then he intended to. I'm not sure what 'plastic' he used, but it's tinted, he didn't add tint film:

1952 Duracraft Sportsman

The plastic type is probably listed in his thread, but I didn't see it during a quick scan.

 

[Stratusair]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

That boat is gorgeous. I like the triple brakett set up and will plan to use lexan. JB I'm going to call the phone number for those brackets today. Thx.

 

[silver_bay]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

Hi all, forum nubie here. Couple questions for the aluminum boat folks. My son and I bought a (I think) a 1949 Aerocraft DD last fall as a project. .......

1: original brochures discuss the aluminum skin as being .051 thick and non weldable. has anyone determined what type it is and is it clad or bare? I'm thinking it's 2024-T3 (because non weldable) not sure if it's alclad?

I'm the owner/creator of the web page mentioned a while back (AeroCraft Boats);

The 1956 brochure says 2024-T3:
http://www.ultimate.com/aerocraft-boats/91956/b/CCI00002.jpg

Is there a serial number plate on your boat? That might help tell the date. Anything earlier than 1950 would likely have a transom that's less than 15 (something like 13 and 3/4).

Here are a couple of DD's on my site:
Larry Carpenter's 14ft 1949? AeroCraft DD | AeroCraft Boats
14ft 1955 AeroCraft DD | AeroCraft Boats
14ft 1946? AeroCraft DD | AeroCraft Boats

And a nice example of it's 12-foot sister, the AD:
12ft 1952 AeroCraft AD | AeroCraft Boats

 

[Stratusair]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

Hi silver_bay. Yes I have viewed your site before, thanks for putting all of that together, it's a huge help and a blast to look at. Jackpot on the aluminum type, I hadn't seen that page before but that's the info I needed. I can't find any hull numbers yet and there is no data plate, but it is definitely 14' length and the transom is just under 14" and it does have the factory center console. So by deduction and looking at the brochures I came up with the year 1949 and the DD designation. It is exactly like the pics on the links you provided, only not quite is nice yet. Again outstanding job on the website!

 

[silver_bay]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

Hi silver_bay. Yes I have viewed your site before, thanks for putting all of that together, it's a huge help and a blast to look at. Jackpot on the aluminum type, I hadn't seen that page before but that's the info I needed. I can't find any hull numbers yet and there is no data plate, but it is definitely 14' length and the transom is just under 14" and it does have the factory center console. So by deduction and looking at the brochures I came up with the year 1949 and the DD designation. It is exactly like the pics on the links you provided, only not quite is nice yet. Again outstanding job on the website!

Thanks!! I think this would be a possibility for the right logo:

Aero Craft Boat Decal Vintage 10"x8" inch Long | eBay

 

[Stratusair]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

Agreed, that looks good. I should order 2.

 

[64osby]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

Love the classic old Tinny's. Great boat for a project.

I'll be watching.:joyous:

 

[Stratusair]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

We did some mock up work this week of the deck extension and a rear seat back and bulkhead. At the risk of being entered in a cardboard flotilla race here are some pics. We used string to extend the basic lines and curves then used pipe to lock in the curve. A piece of string through the pvc tied off keeps the shape which we then transfer to the cardboard. The cardboard will serve as templates to make the cuts in the aluminum sheet. Finally we taped up the five panels and
moved the boat outside for viewing. I'm going with "if it looks right it is right". It will take 10 to 12 stringers or brackets to
form it all up.
To keep the theme of the original design I have decresing widths starting
ing with the bow deck then center deck then rear deck. I believe there will be plenty of clearance for an outboard to tilt up.

 

[Stratusair]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

Now for outdoor view

 

[kfa4303]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

Vroom-vroom! To infinity and beyond!!!!

 

[Jeler]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

I just received our new AeroCraft decals for our '49 JCC from Mark athttp://vinylapproach.com/replacementboatlogos.htm
He did an awesome job and he can also produce your registration numbers in matching colors.
Have a great time with your restoration. Nice to see your children's enthusiasm in your photos also.
Jeff

 

[Stratusair]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

Thanks for the info on the decals. I will definitely order those as I get closer.

 

[silver_bay]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

I'm the owner/creator of the web page mentioned a while back......

I've moved the site to http://www.aerocraft-boats.org

 

[silver_bay]

Re: 1949 Aerocraft DD 14 aluminum

I'm the owner/creator of the web page mentioned a while back......

I've moved the site to http://www.aerocraft-boats.org

&^!@#(*@!^ GRUMBLE.... Sorry about the duplicate... the site SAID it wasn't saved, so I tried it again....

 

[Fleetwin]

As a kid, I ski'd behind many Aerocrafts with as little as 9.5 HP. We were the next door neighbors of one of the founders and knew them very well.

Resist the urge to add a lot of equipment or structure to the hull. The capacities are not very high as they are.

Keep it simple and retro.