14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

[64osby]

Found another Tinny to fix up.

The number 14038 is stamped on the hull and on the Duracraft tag. Thinking it's the serial or hull number.

Looked for a model number on Fiberglassics but nothing seemed to match. 14' bow to stern, 48 or 49 beam and the transom is 36 at the top. It's a hefty boat, certainly not a car topper.

The capacity plate reads a little different from most I've seen.

"and an outboard motor". I just happen to have a '56 10 hp Rude sitting on a stand.

Have to love the bow eye. The 52 literature shows a boat that looks really close to this one.

Cont.

 

[64osby]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

The transom is welded, the rest of the boat is rivets. One end cap has a bit of a hole in it.

The transom will get new wood and hardware. The hull seems to be in pretty good shape.

The front seat has a few issues. Have to come up with something on that. Might have to pull it and get it welded, or maybe BD can coach me through some brazing.

Made it legal today with just a bill of sale and a donation to the state. Can't wait to see how this boat handles the water.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

Had one that looked like that when I was a kid. Uncle died and aunt gave it to me. Some drilling and electrical tape and a broom handle, maybe it was a mop handle, was attached to the tiller. Trolled from the middle.

 

[m casey stock]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

Yep, looks like the same hull as mine, right down to the splash rails not bending as far up to the top of the bow like the later fifty something ones do. Yours could be even a late 52, There are no records to go by as they were lost in a fire years ago. As I continue to compile documented SN's and manufacturing dates I'm able to get a better grip on production numbers to hopefully some day be able to date early Duracrafts even more accurately.

 

[64osby]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

John, so is that a hint that it will be stern heavy.


Casey, Thanks for the PM. So maybe a 53 or possibly a late 52, the guy I bought it from thought it was a 60 or 61.

It seems to be in good shape, but a water test is the true test.

 

[m casey stock]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

John, so is that a hint that it will be stern heavy.


Casey, Thanks for the PM. So maybe a 53 or possibly a late 52, the guy I bought it from thought it was a 60 or 61.

It seems to be in good shape, but a water test is the true test.

LOL, that's what I was saying about previous owners. The guy I bought mine from said he "guessed" it was a 60 something model because the officer that inspected it for registration thought that's what it was. It satisfied the blank spot in the registration form and that was that. Mine looks nothing like a 60 model DuraCraft. "I don't know" is an acceptable answer

 

[64osby]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

LOL, that's what I was saying about previous owners. The guy I bought mine from said he "guessed" it was a 60 something model because the officer that inspected it for registration thought that's what it was. It satisfied the blank spot in the registration form and that was that. Mine looks nothing like a 60 model DuraCraft. "I don't know" is an acceptable answer

The State of Michigan didn't even care what year it was when filling out the registration. They didn't ask and just left it blank.

 

[m casey stock]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

Be sure to post more pictures as you go! Surely you plan on painting the shark mouth and eyes back on.

 

[64osby]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

I've been cleaning it up a little, I'll post some pics next week or so. Off to the Trout opener for 4 days tomorrow. No boats, stream fishing and camping.:tickled_pink:

Sorry to say the shark graphics have been removed. Don't think I could replicate such a great work of art, thankfully.

 

[64osby]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

Been a while, but here is the DuraCraft fixed up a little bit. New transom wood, cleaned off the ugly paint. Added my $50 trailer and took it to the water for a leak test. Turned out to be leak free :joyous:, not too shabby for a 60 year old boat.

I'll be putting on a 1956 Evinrude 10 hp for the test run soon.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

Looks good. Great lines. She'd make a sweet little poling/flats stiff. The '56 10hp should push her along nicely as well.

 

[64osby]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

Thanks kfa, she should go just about any where, no pole fishing for me.

It's a little narrower than my Lone * Star, have to see how stable she is and how the 10hp pushes. Thinking High teens to 20mph.

 

[m casey stock]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

Looks great!!! i Kinda liked the shark teeth though.

 

[64osby]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

Looks great!!! i Kinda liked the shark teeth tough.

I'll look for that on your next project.

Thanks, mcs

 

[64osby]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

We took the DuraCraft out today. 65 degrees and winds at 15 to 20 mph. Had the '56 Evinrude 10hp mounted to it.

Motor ran great, the boat sliced the water nicely. Left my phone at home and the gps batteries were dead, so can't say how fast we pushed it.

It definitely not as stable as the Lone * Star but still a nice Tinny.

No pics or videos without the phone, so maybe it really didn't happen.:watermelon:

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

Looks like the rentals we had on a PA/OH reservoir back in the late 50s and 60s. They had a 9.9 -- no idea of the make. Rental was $3 for the boat and $5 for the motor plus gas from 8am to 5 pm. My uncle used to give the guy $10 -- that covered it all plus a tip.

 

[64osby]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

ccj - Those days are long gone.

 

[64osby]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

Today the DuraCraft wandered off the property, behind a pickup that wasn't mine.

I hope it sees a lot of use. :joyous:

He didn't buy the motor which was okay by me.

 

[Toad49004]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

I'm the proud new owner of the Duracraft. I've had it out several times and really enjoy it. Thanks 64osby for the fair deal on a great boat. Sorry it took so long to post.. If anyone is curious with a Johnson 6hp according to the GPS it topped out at about 13mph.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: 14' Duracraft Utility, Maybe a 50's?

Glad she survived her sea trial! Those old 10hps are plucky little motors. I miss my old '61.