1958 Rich Line 14' Knight aluminum runabout

[clemsparks]

Howdy all,

Recently, I tagged along with a friend when he went to buy a $50 outboard (for his '58 Lonestar project) that was advertised on Craigslist (a 40 HP, electric shift Lark is what it turned out to be). When we got there, the seller also had the boat that it had come from on a rack in his garage. I asked if the boat was also for sale and he said yes. Here it was:



It's a fairly typical abandoned project story. He tore it down, redid the transom, and repainted it. Several life-events came along and by now he was ready to let it go. I have been looking for a bargain aluminum runabout to cross my bow.


I came back the following weekend (with the same friend) and we dragged it home.



I'll be posting more here soon with some details.

My plan is to basically get it on the water and enjoy it fully. Some stuff has been done to the boat that I would not have done...but I'm just going to go with it. My philosophy here is that if the boat is operational, it will be enjoyed. And that's what it's all about.

Thanks,
Clem

 

[hadaveha]

Great find I'll be following

 

[clemsparks]

On the boat's ID tag, which is still attached to a chunk of the previous transom indicates that it is a 1958 Model. Actually...at the moment I don't recall how I came up with that year. Anyway...it's titled as a 1958.



Note...looks like the tag has been mangled a bit. I suppose that means it is likely that the transom has been replaced more than once. Who knows...and it really doesn't matter. Just something I noticed.

Based on literature I found online, it looks like it was one of the "Knight" models. I'd say Deluxe or Super Deluxe...,hard to say for sure, though.



Here's a shot of the interior layout of my boat:

 

[hadaveha]

With a old classic like that. You will be shocked at how many people will come up asking you about it. I have a 57 line star Malibu Pretty close, I wouldn't take a anything for it. I just need about a 25 hp remote controlled outboard for it.

 

[clemsparks]

Thanks, I myself love the style. Speaking of power ... I've been on the lookout. I'm not sure whether 40 horsepower or 35 is the max for this boat...but I've been looking for somewhere between 30 and 40.

Two weeks ago, I picked up a cheap 40 horse evinrude. The seller had no details. All I know is that it's not stuck and he had a title in his name. It is electric start and mechanical shift. IIRC, it's a '68. No controls/cables, and the wiring has been cut about 3 or 4 feet from the engine. It was worth the price as a potential parts engine.



It's not completely period correct, but I'm not real particular about that. As you'll see in the next post, it could be moot.

 

[64osby]

Looks like an awesome beginning to a great project.

 

[clemsparks]

I also have a wanted ad on Craigslist looking for an engine and had a guy contact me about a 35 horsepower Evinrude he'd like to sell. He used it 10+ years ago and it has just been sitting. I got a bargain on it as well, but I feel confident it'll be usable after some cleaning, resealing, etc.

Seems to be a '57 model. Electric start, manual shift, and I got some old simplex controls with it. Here are some poor, cell phone photos of it:



Mice have called it home:





I'll have to get some photos of the controls tomorrow. I went through them today and cleaned/greased everything.

 

[hadaveha]

That would be so perfect for my boat I had a gale 40 Hp it was just way to heavy

 

[clemsparks]

In the first photo of my last post, you can see the Simplex controls over on the side of the photo. They were set up to be mounted on the port side. The Rich Line has the steering set up for the starboard. I had a suspicion that the controls are convertible/reversible.

I took them apart, scrubbed them down, regreased, and switched them over to be used on the starboard side.

I still need to check to see if the cables will be a usable length for the boat.



I'm also not sure if the cable ends will attach to the outboard. I think the actual end will work, but I'm not sure how the housing will attach to the outboard. If anybody has any advice or photos of this application (this housing end), please feel free to share.

 

[hadaveha]

If I was you I would pallet that motor up and send it to a freind in Alabama It looks good I'm pretty sure the controls are reversible have you checked the oil in the lower unit

 

[clemsparks]

I have a 57 line star Malibu Pretty close

My friend has a Lonestar Nassau that might be similar to yours. http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/for...t/88670/page1/

 

[clemsparks]

If I was you I would pallet that motor up and send it to a freind in Alabama It looks good I'm pretty sure the controls are reversible have you checked the oil in the lower unit

Haha...shipping would probably cost more than it's worth.

The controls are, in fact, reversible and have now been reversed (set up for starboard-mounted orientation). I actually rather enjoyed going through the controls and getting them ready to use. I didn't do any kind of "restoration" but rather just cleaned, lubed, etc.

I haven't got the motor on a stand yet, so I haven't checked the lower unit oil. If it doesn't have water in it, I'll be surprised. I pretty much expect to reseal the lower unit.

Right now, it's lying down with some oil in the cylinders, soaking. I hope to build another engine stand in the next week so I can get it up and start inspecting it.

 

[clemsparks]

We've had a strange winter with lots of temperature swings. This weekend, it's too cold to want to go out and do much work on it outside (or in the barn). However, the kitchen counter is toasty warm so I've been doing stuff like the controls (in the last post) and I also did a once-over on the voltage regulator / starter solenoid junction box.

I opened it up and looked it over. The insulation on the wires is getting pretty brittle (I suppose 58 years will do that) and the board that the fuse blocks mount to is warped.



I cleaned out all the cocoons and such. I'll clean the contacts and put some contact grease on there for good measure. I'll see if this is operational for starters. In the long run, I may look to re do this box somehow. Has anybody updated the wiring on their old Johnson/Evinrude? I'd be interested to hear how you did it.

Here it is after a not-very-thorough cleanup:

 

[Jigginglow]

On the boat's ID tag, which is still attached to a chunk of the previous transom indicates that it is a 1958 Model. Actually...at the moment I don't recall how I came up with that year. Anyway...it's titled as a 1958.

[url]http://s123.photobucket.com/us...ch Line Model K/P1010555_zpsbacce4bf.jpg.html

[/URL]

Note...looks like the tag has been mangled a bit. I suppose that means it is likely that the transom has been replaced more than once. Who knows...and it really doesn't matter. Just something I noticed.

Based on literature I found online, it looks like it was one of the "Knight" models. I'd say Deluxe or Super Deluxe...,hard to say for sure, though.

[url]http://s123.photobucket.com/us...Rich Line Model K/img253_zps76bd6b24.jpg.html

[/URL]

Here's a shot of the interior layout of my boat:

Looks like a fun project. As you know I'm working on a Richline as well. The exact model is still not known with certainty but I think it may be a ' Guides Favorite'. Good luck with the restoration. Yours is a lot further along than mine.