1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration - Questions

[cjreents]

Hey Guys & Gals -

Boating is somewhat new to me but I'm always one for a challenge and enjoy new projects. I wanted to get something that I could restore to it's original beauty and have a great family boat (we have twin boys - 3yrs/old) for fishing and water sports. I kept my eye out for a long time and finally found EXACTLY what I was looking for - a sweet '61 Glasspar Citation w/ Merc 700 6cyl engine that I bought last October.

I just began restoration a couple weeks ago and have already separated the deck from the hull in order to replace the rotten floor. While I have the deck and hull apart, I have a couple questions:

1. I'd like to install a "semi-permanent" fuel tank (15-19ga) but not sure if I should put it in the stern or the bow. I figure the bow would be better to compensate for the the weight of the 6cyl engine. Your opinions?

2. As you can see in the pics the boat had no foam underneath the floor. Should I install foam or leave it as it was?

Thanks a bunch!
Chris
West Linn, OR

 

[coolguy147]

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration - Questions

got a picture on how big the tank is?

 

[cjreents]

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration - Questions

It'll be between 15 & 19 gallons - just depends on what will fit. Would like some confirmation or dispute on weight distribution...

Bow:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/im...75251&s=sporting-goods&qid=1250179505&sr=1-20
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/im...75251&s=sporting-goods&qid=1250179654&sr=1-35

Stern:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/im...75251&s=sporting-goods&qid=1250179598&sr=1-30

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration - Questions

I put a 12 gallon "portable" tank under my closed bow held in place with brackets made to hold a cooler

By the way, your boat is cool and I LOVE that big old Merc. You should definitely put your fuel tank in the bow. Good luck with your project. Looks like you are going about it the right way by popping the cap. It doesn't look like you have a lot of room under the floor so I don't know if I would bother with the foam.

 

[cjreents]

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration - Questions

Thanks for your reply "ezmobee" - I'll order a tank that will fit in the bow, appreciate the pic as well!

I actually just pulled out the stringers this afternoon and glad I did. They didn't look too bad but once I pulled away the fiberglass, water ran out from underneath the wood. And you are correct about the floor, at a maximum there is 7" or so from hull to top of middle stringer.

Hope to have the boat refinished and back together before the NW rain begins in October. Then I'll work on the engine throughout the winter and she should be ready for next summer!

 

[jdsgrog]

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration - Questions

Nice boat. I have a Lido I am planning on restoring some time. I had it running, but I want to do some modifications on it.

Just a thought, if you plan to do transom work, take note that the glasspars had a curved transom.

 

[cjreents]

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration - Questions

Thanks for the note and I did indeed worry about having to redo the transom with the curve in it. Luckily, it's solid as a rock - I plan to coat the top of the transom with fiberglass and resin to prevent future rot....

 

[andgott]

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration - Questions

Very cool boat- I just bought the same year/model- and will be starting a similar restoration project!

 

[cjreents]

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration

Been busy the last couple of months. Removed rotten floor and stringers as well. Re-installed floor and epoxied with 6oz. cloth and West Systems 105 and 206 resin and hardener. Turned out great and is very solid.

Left a cutout near the transom so that I can install a bilge pump...

Fiberglassed and primed:

 

[cjreents]

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration - Questions

Also, painted the deck with Pettit Bikini Blue, the outside of the hull with White and the interior of the hull with Off-White. Grinded all the rust ofthe trailer and painted with Rustoleum Gloss White.

Before:

 

[cjreents]

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration - Questions

The after pics:

 

[cjreents]

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration Complete

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration Complete

Well it took almost two years to complete this project but I am happy to say that we finally got the boat out on the water a couple weeks ago and it ran like a champ.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration Complete

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration Complete

Beautiful work!!!!

 

[RobbyA]

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration - Questions

WOW!!!!! She is pretty.

 

[andgott]

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration - Questions

Looks GREAT! I was wondering how she was coming along... I'm getting there with mine, too- HOPEFULLY she'll get wet before the end of the year!

-Andrew

 

[cjreents]

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration - Questions

Thanks for the comments guys!

Andrew, I peaked at your blog last week and you're not too far behind. Sounds like you're going to be away from home for awhile on your next assignment. Stick with it you'll get it in the water by next summer... it's a great feeling having it out on the water.

BTW - I posted some pics of my Merc700 in this thread:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=2951919&posted=1#post2951919

 

[wishboneZ51]

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration - Questions

Nice job on the resto the boat looks great. Are those the origional seats you put back in? What did you use for paint on the hull and top cap? Your motor looks outstanding, great job how much did you have to do in order to get it running right? I was looking at keeping my origional engine so I can put it on for shows.

 

[cjreents]

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration - Questions

I used Pettit Paint and tried to get as close to original as possible.
Bikini Blue for the deck, White for the Exterior Hull, and Off-White for the Interior Hull.

The seats are all original but most likely re-upholstered at some point. They are actually some-what faded and could stand to be re-done or at least re-dyed.

As for the engine, I started off just replacing the spark plugs, the water impeller and the fuel pumps. The first time I fired it up, water was leaking from the #1 spark plug hole. Ordered a gasket for that, then tried again. Didn't have to adjust the carbs much but did replace the floats and gaskets. I also had to play around with the throttle a bit. When going into gear the motor would die, but finally sorted that out so it was off to the river for a test run.

I left the boat at the dock while trying to start it up and after a couple of tries, the timing belt snapped. Ordered a new belt, bought a harmonic balancer puller tool from Harbor Freight to pull the flywheel, replaced the belt, torqued down the flywheel, then took it down to the river again.

The motor fired right up and we stayed out on the river for a good hour or so, top speed was around 32mph. The carbs are still leaking a bit of fuel, not much but enough that I'll probably tear into those this winter.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[prevention officer]

Re: 1961 Glasspar Citation Restoration - Questions

Nice work on your glasspar. My wife and I just started to restore our 1977 glasspar tri-hull. Everything is rotten in it. So we got the floor out and all foam. All the wood is rotten. We also started to take the top and botttom off. We are just about there. Then the fun start's, the rebuild. Very nice work on your boat it looks like new. I will put pictures on soon of our work.