1961 14' runabout

[keepNitreel]

I paid my neighbor $100 dollars for the trailer and it came with the boat and a 1960 Merc 400 (it does not have prop shaft), new 35 pound thrust trolling motor and a brand new trolling battery. The battery was worth a $100 alone. I intend to Replace the floor, transom, steering system, wiring, windshield and who knows what?
Here she is, OLD GURL

closer look

The neighbor repainted her and told me he put in a new floor and new transom. I forgot to take pictures before I removed everything.

This is what he called, Replacing the floor?

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: 1961 14' runabout

The Floor looks like a hack job, think I better pull it up.​

I could not stop laughing! Yeah, it's time to start cutting!

O' BOY new stringers! OK, it took me almost 30 minutes before I stopped laughing at this hack job.

New Foam too! Boy he really went all out.

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: 1961 14' runabout

Is that liquid nails? Yes, liquid nails was used to lay down the 2x4's (I refuse to call them stringers). With this kind of a hack job I'm surprised he just didn't screw them into the hull.

More rot. I'm glad OLD GURL is only 14' because I only have 1 more empty trash bin left. Had 2 trash bins worth of rotted wood.

Almost fully guttedand she's dry now and if you noticed I pulled the cap off.

Getting this off was easy bit not a 1 person job. The nuts on the screws kept moving so I inlisted my 9 year old part time tomboy helper. She unscrewed with the drill from the outside while I held the nut with socket wrench. After all screws where out (about 6 had to be cut out with a hand saw) I inlisted the wife and 17yr old daughter to help remove. There was only screws holding it together, no glue or staples which made my life alot more easy. Boy, OLD GURL sure looks a whole lot smaller in this picture. She's small but the bow end of the cap was heavy!

Time to inspect the transom my neighbor reinfoced

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: 1961 14' runabout

Boy i'm sure glade he reinfoced the transom! If he didn't I think in stead of peeling off by hand that it would have just been powder

I put a wet vac to it and it just started sucking in the transom.

Here's a nice close up of the neighbor's reinforcment.

Well this is all I have done for now. This is a project that I will do on the weekends. I have given myself until May or June of 09 to get it done. Any comments or ideas are very much welcome.​

 

[fraannk]

Re: 1961 14' runabout

VERY well documented! Thank you very much and can't wait to see the progress on this one!

 

[WizeOne]

Re: 1961 14' runabout

Keep up the good work KIR. You'll have a real gem when you are done.

What will you do for the motor?

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: 1961 14' runabout

Keep up the good work KIR. You'll have a real gem when you are done.

What will you do for the motor?​

Well as for the motor that came with it, a 1960 merc 400m (45hp) it is missing the prop shaft. I have a post in the merc forum inquiring the compatibility of other lower units for this motor. If that doesn't work out then I will look for something between 40 & 55 hp. The painted over plate on the boat has an engraved rating of 55hp. ​

 

[jbo_c]

Re: 1961 14' runabout

Wow! I have a '57(or '58) Thompson 14 footer that looks exactly like that. Has to be a 'sister' boat.

How sturdy is it without the "hood"? I'm thinking about converting mine to a fishing boat. I'd replace the hood with a casting platform and put on a rear platform too.

Happily, my floor seems to be solid. It's actually a great little boat - just a little crowded for my little family of five. But I'm a 90% fishing-10% cruising kind of guy, so I bought the wrong boat.

I wonder if my hood would be that easy to remove.

Jbo

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: 1961 14' runabout

Lots of work but looks like you know your stuff. Should be a nice one that will last another 40 years.

 

[LORDY611]

Re: 1961 14' runabout

Man, that baby sure rides low in the water! Speaking of which, that water looks a bit thick, eh??

You must have the patience of a monk and nearly as much money! Good luck with your project.

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: 1961 14' runabout

HI there and welcome !!! OOOHHH man wasnt it nice of you neighbor to put all that work into it for yea !!! lol man it really does look like mine when i started !!! lol looks like you got your work cut out for yea , so keep us posted !! John

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: 1961 14' runabout

Wow! I have a '57(or '58) Thompson 14 footer that looks exactly like that. Has to be a 'sister' boat.

How sturdy is it without the "hood"? I'm thinking about converting mine to a fishing boat. I'd replace the hood with a casting platform and put on a rear platform too.

Happily, my floor seems to be solid. It's actually a great little boat - just a little crowded for my little family of five. But I'm a 90% fishing-10% cruising kind of guy, so I bought the wrong boat.

I wonder if my hood would be that easy to remove.

Jbo

JBO_C It's funny you ask that, my wife wanted me to leave the cap off because we do mostly fishing and she wanted the extra room. But I plain on putting the cap back on and replacing the windsheild. As for sturdy, she has not flexed at all even without a the floor in yet. I'd like to see your boat If you have a pic to post.

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: 1961 14' runabout

Man, that baby sure rides low in the water! Speaking of which, that water looks a bit thick, eh??

You must have the patience of a monk and nearly as much money! Good luck with your project.

Lordy611 I do have the patience of a monk, I have given myself until May/June of 09 to have this complete. As for money, I intend to stay under $2000. Most of money will be spent on the fiberglassing and new steering controls, O yeah and a paint job. I saw a 60" walkthrew windshield on craigslist for $60 looking to pick that up soon.

 

[jbo_c]

Re: 1961 14' runabout

How you gonna replace the windshield? What's wrong with the one you've got? That's the only problem with mine. The windshield was broken, so I'm without. I've lined up a new one. It's the right period, but not the 'correct' windshield.

Otherwise the only thing mine needs is refreshing the gel-coat(crazing and such). I'll let the next guy do that.

I'll try to get a pic of mine, but it may take a while. I floated my camera last weekend when I flipped my kayak. I swear they came out of the same mold, though. Mines red.

Jbo

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: 1961 14' runabout

Well this weekend did not go as planned. Tropical storm Hanna let loose rain all over Petersburg,Va including the boat. I don't have a garage and never really wanted one until now. But I did have someone from work offer me a 1987 Force 50 with controls and battery cable for free The only catch is that I have to buy a prop for it. I've haven't heard many good things about them, only bad but for the cost of a prop I will give it a shot! I can always part it out if worse comes to worst right? Hopefully I will be able to do something on the boat next weekend if i'm not busy playing with the motor. Thanks to all that have left comments or ideas because it's always good to have input other than your own

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1961 14' runabout

the force may work out.

 

[maxum247]

Re: 1961 14' runabout

My 1989 125hp Force outboard has served me well. Had a few small problems that I caused mostly myself by not ordering and useing a good engine manual. Get a repair manual for the motor before doing anything to the engine.

max!

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: 1961 14' runabout

Welcome to iboats keepNitreel.

Nice project. I look forward to seeing more of it.

Thanks for the progress photos, keep em coming.

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: 1961 14' runabout (With Pic's)

Re: 1961 14' runabout (With Pic's)

Quick Update: Picked up the free motor yesterday, 1987 Force 50.

I will be spending some time in the engine forum to find out as much info as I can on why these coils may have cracked

Well that's all that I did this weekend due to the wifes family from out of town staying over for the weekend. It wasn't ok for me to work on the boat but it was ok for me to cut the grass .​

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: 1961 14' runabout

Looking great KIR. Looking forward to future updates. Looks like a fun project. Love the old floor your neighbour installed. Very top quality work.