1961 Larson All-American 14'

[EricR]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

Steve I have watched your kneeboarding vid about three hundred times for inspiration, here is a vid of me on the board. Sorry about the camera work, my wife and camera holder was trying to wrangle two three and a half year old girls (mine and my buddies, who was driving the boat) at the time.

A friend has seen the vid and he's a fairly good kneeboarder, he suggested I shorten the rope to get me into the wake better. I also noticed, what kind of board are you using? I have a Hydroslide "Revolution" board, and it seems heavy. Is yours better for more advanced riding?

http://s170.photobucket.com/albums/...on=view&current=MediocrekneeboardingAug08.flv

 

[stevewolverton]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

A friend has seen the vid and he's a fairly good kneeboarder, he suggested I shorten the rope to get me into the wake better. I also noticed, what kind of board are you using? I have a Hydroslide "Revolution" board, and it seems heavy. Is yours better for more advanced riding?

Cool vid. I would agree with your friend and suggest a shorter rope. I usually have people ski a very short rope when learning to jump the wake, and then add length as you get more proficient at it. A shorter rope will also get rid of a lot of rope slack while cutting.

The biggest tip I can offer is to keep the rope pulled down very low, especially when cutting. Force the board over hard on edge too. You'll really need to force it over hard.

I'm using an Obien Lowrider. They're actually really nice boards, but I don't like the pad too much. I have to ride with water socks because I'll scrape my toes up badly without them.

I've been checking out the 5150 board too, but it's a little too expensive for my level of boarding. Good luck out there - keep tearing it up!

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

... I'm in the process of trying to locate a place near Austin that doesn't have a lot of boat traffic. ...

Great city, great Mexican food, great music, great wakeboard girls, great water, great weather.

But if you are looking for a quite place all to yourself, with mirror flat waters on the weekend in the summer, you are going to have a little problem.

This is a normal shot here, at one point there were six boats with wakeboards & skiers passing me, and that was just in one direction. Then add the big yachts, and the commercial traffic and I think you get the picture.

You are just spoiled.

 

[stevewolverton]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

You are just spoiled.

Damn straight!

I tried to find a job in that area so I could be close to my ski river. I may have a lead on a good place to board. I'm calling tomorrow to check on the specifics to see if I can pull it off. I called today and the answer I received was "I guess you can ski it, I haven't seen anyone do it."

Sounds like that's the place I need to be. Scouting mission planned this weekend.

BTW - your photo didn't show up.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

BTW - your photo didn't show up.

Sometimes it is there, sometimes it is not. I think it is a iboat thing. I can see it now, but if you can't, check the boat blog in my signature. There are a few from the weekend I just uploaded.

I didn't get a shot of the “six boarders at once”, I was too busy trying to look cool, while making sure I didn't flip my little boat in their wakes as they went by, and waving at the boatgirlz!

 

[coolguy147]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

hey man great boat im planning on rebuilding my soon but how much do u think this all cost u? can u give me prices with and without the motor and can u give me info on the motor please

 

[stevewolverton]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

hey man great boat im planning on rebuilding my soon but how much do u think this all cost u? can u give me prices with and without the motor and can u give me info on the motor please

I haven't ever added up the price on everything. Here's a quick breakdown:

boat/trailer = $500
motor = $900
paint = $200
ski tow bar = $200
subwoofers/speakers/amps = $800
teleflex steering setup = $100
vinyl/foam seats = $100
trailer paint = $100
trailer guides, lights, & misc = $100
bimini = $30
jackplate = $120
carpet = $50
wood = $50
epoxy/fiberglass = $300
shift/throttle cables = $40
wiring = $20
ski mirror = $90
wakeboard/kneeboard racks = $200
title/registration = $140
fuel tanks = $50
instrument/gauges = $120
boarding ladder = $100

That's the bulk of it. Looks like $4310. I wish I wouldn't have added it all up.

It definitely wasn't built as a budget boat.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

boat/trailer = $500
...
subwoofers/speakers/amps = $800

-------------------------------------------------

HUM?

Nice to see you have your priorities straight.

 

[coolguy147]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

wow thanks man great thats good enough for me but ill now that i knwo it i might keep the stuff to a down low and just get a removable ladder lol but i will probabalt try to paint and redo transom and hull like sanding the hull and paint

 

[stevewolverton]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

boat/trailer = $500
...
subwoofers/speakers/amps = $800

-------------------------------------------------

HUM?

Nice to see you have your priorities straight.

It does seem a bit silly when you group them together like that. I like me jams.

Oh, and add another $100 on the tab for the anchor and battery.

 

[stevewolverton]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

wow thanks man great thats good enough for me but ill now that i knwo it i might keep the stuff to a down low and just get a removable ladder lol but i will probabalt try to paint and redo transom and hull like sanding the hull and paint

Oh yes, I went a little nuts on this boat, but I plan to keep it for awhile. You can get a nice rig for a fraction of what I've spent on my boat.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

Oh yes, I went a little nuts on this boat, but I plan to keep it for awhile. You can get a nice rig for a fraction of what I've spent on my boat.

You can also get a nice new car for the price of a restored classic, but it is not the same. Some people are happy driving a run of the mill, suburbia clone, others are individualist. It takes money, talent, or both to be a individualist.

Thank god we have people like you, you make life interesting.

P.S. As far as jams go, you and me both. My living room will heat the whole neighborhood when running at full tilt.

 

[stevewolverton]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

It takes money, talent, or both to be a individualist.

Maybe a little mental instability as well?

I managed to find a launch area on the Colorado River. I found a small ramp in Bastrop. We rolled up and there were about 50 kayakers sitting around looking nervous. I had some people walk up and tell me that the river was too shallow for my boat. Hmmmm. I sense a bias?

A guy in a white van that runs some river outfit backed up while I was unloading the boat and almost hit my boat. He gets out of the van and walks up to ski buddy and says "That boats a little big for here don't you think? You are going to launch it?" Boat buddy then points over to me and I start walking over towards him because I thought he was going to give her a hard time. I said "Yes, we're launching. We're also boarding. Would you like a tow?" He didn't respond. I then asked if we'd be ok in the middle. I told him we were staying between the bridges. He said if I stayed in the middle I'd be fine. Well, my squirrel meter went off and this guy pegged it. After we launched, ski buddy took the oar and we checked the depth as we idled along. Come to find out the middle was the shallowest part of that river. The channel was off on the right heading downriver. Isn't that odd that someone who makes their money on that river would mistake the middle for the deepest part? *rolls eyes*

After checking the depth of the water and finding the sand bars, we then stuck to the channel and ended up boarding for about 4 hours that day. It was awesome. We saw one other fishing boat, but no more canoes or kayaks. If I saw a canoe or kayak I would have come off plane, but it never happened.

I hope to see Mr. White Van kayak service at that ramp again. I'll inform him that his information wasn't correct and that I scoped out the river for him. I'm sure he'll be happy for the update.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

Maybe a little mental instability as well?

Oh great! Now you tell me!

A guy in a white van that runs some river outfit backed up while I was unloading the boat and almost hit my boat. He gets out of the van and walks up to ski buddy and says "That boats a little big for here don't you think? You are going to launch it?" Boat buddy then points over to me and I start walking over towards him because I thought he was going to give her a hard time. I said "Yes, we're launching.

Sounds like someone was feeling a little territorial. See it here all the time.

Rowing Skulls and Kayakers, hate the Sail Boats, who hate the Run Abouts, who hate the Ski & Wakeboarders, who hate the Crusiers, who hate the PWC, who love the Commercial traffic and everybody else that makes a big wake. The fisherpeople hate everybody, and everybody hates them. The Commercial Captians couldn't be bothered by the petty wars taking place three stories below them at the waters surface.

All of the above, claim personal ownership of the river.

Oh yea, did I forget to mention, that, that area has a lot of alternative lifestyle types. The kind that think that home rolling granola cigs with banana peels, is going to stop the next (place chosen future scenario here) Ice Age/El Ni?o. Their easy, they hate the whole world.

But all in all, it is a great place to live, you just have to know when to ignore those who are determined to force their life style on you, and concentrate on those that consider "live and let live" to be the dominant character of the region.

Glad you found a piece of water to call your own.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

I haven't heard or seen anything from you in several months, and was a little worried about Ike and your family down south.

Did yall make it through OK?

Give us a sign of life.

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

This thread is my inspiration and the reason I started my own 14' restoration. This one is book marked in my favorites.

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

He did a really nice job, didn't he.

Lets just hope, that he had it up in Austin when Ike hit.

I showed Steve's boat to my girlfriend one night, and she fell in love with it.

Don't give up, don't let the weather get you down, and yours will look just as good keepNitreel! You got all winter to work on it.

I read everything you post, and my expectations for your boat are pretty high now.

 

[colobiker]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

hi all,

this is a truly inspiring thread.. what a beatiful machine...


this is the kinda thing I needed to see. .it lights a fire in me.
you can have a blast with a small boat. when I get my boat, I hope it turns out half as nice.


thanks for sharing steve,

keepnitreel, your boat will be just as fantastic.. I have been watching your thread.. your off to a great start

 

[jcsftwre]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

Nice boat and nice job on the rebuild. I like your attitude when you say ?Nothing on these boats can?t be fixed? sort of mine also. You have/had by far more work to do one your boat than I do. I don?t mean your boat is in worse shape what I mean is your boat is bigger and has a bigger top portion than mine does. My boat is 12? 3? front to back and far more basic than yours. But it?s nice to see photos of your rebuilt and read everything to glean tips and tricks from.
Thanks for posting.
Rick

 

[stevewolverton]

Re: 1961 Larson All-American 14'

Hi Guys. It's been awhile so I just wanted to swing in and say hello. The boat is doing well. I don't get to go boarding as much since I left Houston, but I'm hoping to get back on the water more this winter when people with common sense stay indoors. I'm picking up a new prop this weekend as I hit something a few weeks ago and bent my prop.

I haven't had any problems with the boat. I'm about to make another bimini cover for the top (the first one was black cotton fabric) out of Sunbrella. I'm also going to paint the bimini frame white, as I think that would be a nice contrast with the black top.

I appreciate the kind words about my boat. I'm really pleased with it.