Re: 1962 Australian Pride Skiboat and Evinrude Starflite IV
I too just stumbled across this thread, and I'm seriously interested in the pictures, as I have the exact same hull that I'm rebuilding at the moment as well. I've never seen another Pride of this model before anywhere apart from this one, and I've been unable to date my hull or even find a model designation for it, so I'll try that forum as well to see if I can get any more info on it. The traditionalists on the furum may throw their hands up in horror, but mine is getting a full rebuild as a dedicated fly fishing boat, complete with a new transom, pod, swim platform, side console, and casting platforms fore and aft. I picked the up the hull, the same trailer as the one above, which is pretty much bombproof, and an old evinrude 65hp, which was unfortunately a junker, for $300, so I figure it's worth a radical rebuild. When I first was offered the hull, I was struck by the similarities of the lines and flared bow to many of the modern dedicated fly and flats boats, and the cogs started turning. If the author of the original post is still about on the forum, and looks at this thread again, I'd be interested in having a chat. My hull had a spongy transom and sole plate when I bought it, so out they came, but fortuitously, the stringers are like the day they were glassed in, so it's a straightforward build so far. I'll try and keep the build updated.
) While you can certainly change the seals and bearings in the lower unit as a precaution, you can also just resign yourself to changing the gearl oil a few times a year. It's cheap, quick and effective. ALL lower units leak a little, expecailly when they're this old, the same way ALL old cars burn a little oil. Don't drive yourself crazy if you continue to get a bit of moisture in the lower end. The biggest problem would be having water in the LU, then having it freeze and expand while in storage for the winter causing the LU to crack, but it doesn't look like you get much of a winter down under 
