1961 Larson All-American 14'

[Geo2008]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

This is the rebuild of my boat. I'm doing most of this from memory. I'll try to recollect the important details, as well as the mundane ones, in hope that it will be of value to some.

That is really cool looking boat, how does the wakeboard holder mount to the boat? Any photos up close?

I many need to put one on my boat.

 

[stevewolverton]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

That is really cool looking boat, how does the wakeboard holder mount to the boat? Any photos up close?

Thanks Geo. They're 1/8" steel holders. I have one wakeboard and one kneeboard and they work very well. They're attached with (8) 1/4" bolts. There is a foam rubber pad between the rack and deck.

The one thing I don't like about them is the powder coating is really thin and already beginning to flake in a few places. You might be ok in fresh water, but I do most of my boating in brackish water.

I will cover them with bedliner when I do my trailer.

2 wakeboards on the left (port) and 1 kneeboard on the right.

In a 14' boat they make all the difference. I don't like having gear laying around in the bottom of my boat. There is no way I could have 3 boards with me inside the boat and be able to move around without a setup like this.

 

[rice]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

great boat. i am just finishing up my project boat. i have 2 - 12" subs that i wanted to put in there but i dont think the charging system on my 85hp force will be able to keep up. how do you keep your stereo powered? and for how long? thanks

 

[stevewolverton]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

great boat. i am just finishing up my project boat. i have 2 - 12" subs that i wanted to put in there but i dont think the charging system on my 85hp force will be able to keep up. how do you keep your stereo powered? and for how long? thanks

I put the boat on a charger for a couple hours before going boating. I really don't listen to my music very loud. The girl who goes with me rocks it really loud when I'm boarding, but most of the time it's really loud the boat is running 4200 rpms or more. I've never had a weak battery, or noticed any drag when starting the motor. I make sure to top the battery off before rolling out.

EDIT: I just noticed in the photo a couple post up you can see the little charger I use to keep my battery topped off. It's sitting on the front seat.

 

[douglee25]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

The girl who goes with me rocks it really loud when I'm boarding, but most of the time it's really loud the boat is running 4200 rpms or more.

Ok, enough pictures of your boat, where are the pics of her? Does she board too?

Doug

 

[stevewolverton]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

Ok, enough pictures of your boat, where are the pics of her? Does she board too?

Doug

Yes, they all board. Hayley, Lisa, and Analisa. I've got some good wipeout videos, especially from Analisa, as she's the most daring.

Analisa and I are rolling out today at 1:00 to head to the river. I just got a ATC2K camera so I'm going to get some footage of my mediocre boarding from my point of view.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

I like your, uhhh, humm, fishing buddies!

 

[stevewolverton]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

I like your, uhhh, humm, fishing buddies!

Haha. Those are "ski buddies!" Thanks, I like them too.

 

[douglee25]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

Yes, they all board. Hayley, Lisa, and Analisa. I've got some good wipeout videos, especially from Analisa, as she's the most daring.

Analisa and I are rolling out today at 1:00 to head to the river. I just got a ATC2K camera so I'm going to get some footage of my mediocre boarding from my point of view.

That's awesome man! Nothing beats an activity that the women enjoy doing as well!

Post the vids when you have a chance. Wipeout videos are great!

Doug

 

[dinghy berry]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

Congrads on a project that looks great..hats off to u!!!!

 

[WizeOne]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

Why is she boarding in the mud? Must be cold mud too!

 

[stevewolverton]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

douglee25 - I'm in the process of archiving a lot of the videos. I'm moving them from 8mm to digital - so I'll get some up as soon as I get them.

dinghy berry - Thanks. It's been a lot fun. There is always something to tinker on.

WizeOne - Very cool mud. That pic was taken in Feb or March? The river we board has a lot of silt.

 

[stevewolverton]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

Hi All,

I have a little kneeboarding video on my site now. This was video I took during Friday's ski run. (Fri. June 27th) It's just me behind the old Larson having some fun on the kneeboard. You can view it here:

http://www.stevewolverton.net/kneeboard.wmv

It's about 10 megs and in windows media. Also, there are a few "f" bombs in the music, so if you're offended by that, please don't view it, or turn your sound off.

 

[douglee25]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

Steve, you rip pretty damn good on that board! Good video.

Doug

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

Hi All,

I have a little kneeboarding video on my site now. This was video I took during Friday's ski run. (Fri. June 27th) It's just me behind the old Larson having some fun on the kneeboard. You can view it here:

http://www.stevewolverton.net/kneeboard.wmv

It's about 10 megs and in windows media. Also, there are a few "f" bombs in the music, so if you're offended by that, please don't view it, or turn your sound off.

Hey Steve cool vid!

Was just cruising your Blog, nice little piece of land you got there.

Hope things go well with the “CB” escapade , we have some of the same sort here, most are pretty cool around us (we only have 6inches of freeboard), but a couple seem to enjoy swamping other boats. Maybe he will enjoy his little “boater education course”.

What part of Texas are you in?

 

[stevewolverton]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

douglee25 - Thanks. I'm hoping to get a tow behind a big boat someday to see what I can do with a wake. My wake is tiny.

SnappingTurtle - The "CB" thing did indeed suck. I pass wakeboard boats all the time - but that wakesurf thing was not good. My little boat just couldn't handle it.

I'm in Pearland, TX - just south of Houston. Where are you?

 

[WizeOne]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

Cool vid SW! z'dat a chick drivin' yer boat? I particulaly like shots of the boat from your ski cam. Really makes your boat look business like. Seeing your boat makes me wish I still had the ol family Larson that I grew up with. Never thought you could have so much fun in such a smallcraft and make it look so cool!

My big question, however, is why would mortal man abandon his perfect shock absorbers to get down on his knees and beat himself to death?

 

[stevewolverton]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

Cool vid SW! z'dat a chick drivin' yer boat? I particulaly like shots of the boat from your ski cam. Really makes your boat look business like. Seeing your boat makes me wish I still had the ol family Larson that I grew up with. Never thought you could have so much fun in such a smallcraft and make it look so cool!

My big question, however, is why would mortal man abandon his perfect shock absorbers to get down on his knees and beat himself to death?

Yup, that's a chick driving the boat. I only boat with women. I don't have any guy friends.

I'm digging the new helmet cam. We've named it the "dorkCAM" because one can't help but look like a dork wearing it. If you notice, I didn't have any footage from the boat of me wearing that setup.

What type of Larson did you have as a kid?

I do more than kneeboarding - I also wakeboard, but I really suck at it. I'm getting much better with my face-plants though. They tend to hurt for only 15 minutes after a wipeout on the wakeboard now instead of 30 minutes.

I'm just about the point to try heelside wake to wake jumps. My toeside is really weak.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

Yup, that's a chick driving the boat. I only boat with women. I don't have any guy friends. (

With those Tejas gals in your pics, who could blame ya! I'd sure rather be rubbing elbows (in small boat) with them than with a bunch of muscle heads.

What type of Larson did you have as a kid?(

T'was my folks, of course, but to the best of my recollection it was just like yours except likely a late 50's version. They had a white 40 hp Merc on it. I do not remember a model name but when I have occasion to go thru the tons of old family slides, I'll keep a sharp eye out for the boat.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

douglee25 - Thanks. I'm hoping to get a tow behind a big boat someday to see what I can do with a wake. My wake is tiny.

SnappingTurtle - The "CB" thing did indeed suck. I pass wakeboard boats all the time - but that wakesurf thing was not good. My little boat just couldn't handle it.

I'm in Pearland, TX - just south of Houston. Where are you?

When I am in Texas, which is not often now a days, I'm on Texoma. The other end of the State from you. The family, minus me, was in Clear Lake for many years though, just up the road from you.

What kind of helm cam are you using?

I was looking at one from Oregon Scientific, but since the Chinese took over the company, I can't find anything from them now. There seems to have been a complete breakdown in their distribution and marketing in Germany.

Can you recommend one from some one else?