1964 MFG Niagara Custom

[David Bradley]

I'm new here, I posted this thread in another forum but was suggested I put it here instead. This is my first post so I'm sorry if i screwed up. Anyway, I just picked up this 1964 Niagara Custom with a 1960Johnson 40 HP Model RDS 22 engine. I honestly know nothing about it at all. It was given to me for free from a friend who is moving to arizona & has no use for it. It hasn't been registered or run since 1998. Came with a 1961 Gator Trailer too. Like to know what you guys think of it...Wortth restoring ? or just a Cool Piece of Junk?
thanks for Your Honest input. DanO'

 

[*EdC*]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

Welcome David,

You've come to the right place. What a nice score Also, seem like it's all there. These early MFG are very collectible. Well worth restoring.

 

[David Bradley]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

Thanks Ed, I don't think it needs a heck of a lot of work. I haven't tried the engine yet but everything else is in good working order, nothing frozen or broke. My friend who owned it took very good care of it but like I said it has sat since 1998 so I have some doubts about that engine coming back to life but we'll see. have to track down a manual for the Boat & Engine too. here's a walk around video that shows more up close what confdition she's in.
Thanks for your input, I really do appreciate it. Hoping to make some friends here and become a MFG collector now. BTW, This is My First "Motor Boat" I'm just a Jon Boat Fisherman, so please keep in mind that I am a 100% Rookie at this game, so please bear with the stupid questions i may ask. DanO' Here's the link to the Video
http://youtu.be/2ZIM6Fkf-P0

 

[*EdC*]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

David,

Nice video.....Those seats are rare Sun 'n Fun seats DON'T scrap them! Highly sought after by MFG owners. Bringing this baby back to original condition is something you should consider.

Here is a link to the original MFG Catalog

http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/File:Mfgb64004.jpg

 

[mr 88]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

Nice! As Ed suggested do not scrap seats.Rebuild and or put new vinyl on them.I would "polish" up the topside gel coat and do the same with the hull.I would check out all the wiring and clean connections including the sockets in the light housings.The white solenoid box should be separated and go over the wire connections in there as well.The motor will have to be gone over,Marvel Mystery oil dumped into the cylinders a few times and let it soak for a couple days before trying to turn over,even by hand.Fuel pump diaphragm will need to be replaced as well as points.Lower unit and impeller will need to be addressed.New bearings and races on trailer before being moved any distance along with wiring on the gator.There is a lot of info on this site.I also think there is a smaller in house group at fiberglassics .com They have a dedicated trailer and Johnson forum that will have more info on how to restore without having to buy any manuals.Right now on the main forum a member is talking about starting a MFG specific site.Most of the good info for all glassics can be found on there main forum including how to sew your own interior.There is also a restoration section that will explain how you can bring the gel coat back to life without being overly abrasive.I would check over there as well as here for info.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

DEFINITELY worth saving... not sure about it being a '64 as a '64 nav light is different or perhaps it is a replacement. You are right it is a Niagara Custom as the deluxe did not have a splash well. The Custom had the splash well, the Fun'N'Sun seats (an option on the Deluxe) and a higher level of trim. The windshield can be polished with cotton bonnet and Maguir's plastic polish after removing it and supporting it on some couch cushions or whatever. DON'T use windex or any window or general purpose cleaner on it!!! Just dish soap and water with a cotton cloth to gently remove grit and then go to town with the polishing bonnet.

Nice boat - you are lucky!

 

[David Bradley]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

Thanks a lot Guys, I really Do appreciate the input. I have to find someone who can go over that motor for me, I know Nothing about them. Mark, not that is really matters to me but You got me thinking about the year possibly not being 1964??? The Registration says MFG 1964 but i looked on the metal plate on the boat and the serial number, which Does NOT appear on the registration is serial Number 5105 Does that mean anything at all, as far as Identifying the year? It is Definitely a Niagara Custom, that I'm sure of.
By The way, Mark, I just checked out the old Post with Pics of your MFG, Very Cool Looking Boat. You did a great Job Setting it up. I'd love to turn this old boat of mine into a functional Fishing Boat.

 

[*EdC*]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

I'd love to turn this old boat of mine into a functional Fishing Boat.

She will be a good one to fish from but, please, please don't chop it up... It's just too....purdy

 

[David Bradley]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

No, No, I definitely will NOT Butcher Her ...I may not totally restore her to original but I will NOT Butcher Her, I promise...maybe just take out the two back seats, that's really all I may not leave original. I just spent today cleaning her up a bit and the Steering wheel, which was BLACK came pretty nice.
This Pic is my New Computer Desktop Picture. Gives me something to Shoot For Over the Winter!

 

[*EdC*]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

OK David,
Now that the honeymoon is almost over, Have you come up with a plan for her?
Are you going to save the motor? If so, I'd pop it off and get in inside for the winter. This way you can tinker with it. Also , if no one has mentioned it yet
don't try to start it until you have looked at some of the basic "must dos"

Here are a couple of links with guys who know a lot about motors like yours.

http://fiberglassics.com/glassic-forums/18-jegos-place.html

http://forums.iboats.com/forumdisplay.php?f=24

Another good one!

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=158086

 

[David Bradley]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

Come on Ed, I had to enjoy "The Thrill of the Find" for a few days at least before Mothballing her For The long winter nap.......I have decided to definitely keep the Boat & try my best to bring her back to life. I hesitate to use the word "Restore" because i am Not a Purist and am on a low budget but I do intend to keep her as original as I possibly can.
I intend to Powerwash the whole Boat this weekend and then she will probably be covered with a tarp for the winter . Engine is allready Off and in the Shop, haven't touched it yet. Definitely need help with that. A friend may let me store the Boat inside his Barn, if so, then I can possibly work on it a little more until it gets too cold. I will definitely be documenting everything I do and sharing it on the Forum as i move along. thanks for all the links, I'll check them out now. One last thing, On all the sites I found so far I have NOT seen any Pictures of a Niagara Custom the same Orange/ Red & White Color Scheme as mine...Is This Perhaps Much More Rare than the Blue & White?
BTW....My User Name "David Bradley" isn't my name, it's the name of the Antique Garden Tractors I Collect & Restore, DanO was taken allready....

 

[mr 88]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

If you go into the library at fiberglassics.com you may be able to narrow it down by comparing hardware pics/lights/cleats/chocks/chrome or white and color schemes for different years.Back then the brochures were more of a selling tool than actually being correct all the time.Today with instant everything the brochure would be 100% correct,back then they were printed up a year in advance and things changed in the plant after the brochure was printed. I would bet that your red has faded to orange and when you get the elbow grease out after reading about restoring gel that's the color you have.Orange for the hull was mid 70's just check out what the people were wearing in the brochures then,disco fever!!

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

...By The way, Mark, I just checked out the old Post with Pics of your MFG, Very Cool Looking Boat. You did a great Job Setting it up. I'd love to turn this old boat of mine into a functional Fishing Boat.

By Mark, are you referring to me or one of the others? If you were referring to me: THANKS! that makes me feel good.

As far as the year: the serial number may not give you any relevant numbers BTW. It's just a serial number as far as I have seen.

As far as set up - mine fishes pretty big for a boat its size. If you were referring to the pics of my boat interior it may not show the last few years upgrades- to electric Big Jon downriggers, 5" color GPS with Navionics, and separate 480-pixel sonar on the dash. Those items plus 7 DownEast rod holders and a tube rod holder for flatlining make it really fishable. The closed bow and windshield help it fish big as 2-foot+ seas don't come aboard. The only boats of others that I have fished from that fish as well are in the 19'-class, although there are a number of 17'+ boats that can handle rough water better. The Niagara is so light and small that running at speed in a chop results in a lot of pounding as it nearly launches over waves. But I can tow it with a small 4-cyl car and that makes the compromise of slower running in rough water very liveable- it lets me travel and fish whereas a bigger boat would be prohibitive unless I got a truck or SUV.

Hope you move ahead on the project, and post progress! One of the first moves that may clean up the weight and layout is locating the fuel tank under the bow. That adds a little balast to the hull on mine, gets it off the floor (I don't have a splashwell) and out of the way, and lets me have the two batteries in the rear.

Looking forward to updates.

 

[woosterken]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

D.B,
here is a couple more articles for you on a rainy day (as you dont have enough) LOL

http://www.shareaproject.com/pages/projectTut,p,27,00.html

http://forums.fiberglassics.com/mfg/restoring_glossgelcoat.htm

the first shows how mark 42 did his, and the second is all the details.

woosterken

 

[David Bradley]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

Thanks for the ongoing interest and help guys. I'm really Glad I found this site, it's encouraged me to take on this project with a lot of confidence. To tell you the truth, when I first Got this Boat I wasn't sure if it would be a KEEPER or a Piece of Junk but I'm convinced now it's Most Definitelt a KEEPER. Ken, Everyone keeps telling me the original color of my boat was RED, I can't wait to clean it up as described in the gel coat article and see what it will come out as, cause to me it looks like anything but RED, maybe a lite Maroon or Orange, Rust color. Definitely a Vintage Sixties color. I had a old AMC Comador Station Wagon that was a simular color! I like it a lot and think it's gonna shine up nice. Thanks for the links.
Mart VT, YES that was Your Boat, the 64 Niagara, I was complimenting on, she's a Real Beauty. I'm NOT a BIG Fisherman, YET, but this boat will definitely allow me to move up to the next level i hope. I own two Jon Boats and Fish as often as possible, mostly Small Lake & River Fishing. I want to try and keep the Boat as Original as possible but also make it a Functional comfortable fishing Boat. I'm Not Looking To "Pimp It Out" but I'm NOT a Purist either and so there will be some changes needed to make it work for me. I'm NOT a Watersports Person, to Me Boating=Fishing, I'm sure you know what I mean.
I'll be sure to keep you guys posted on any and all updates. thanks again, DanO'

 

[Jon Sob]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

Hey DB ..... That's a nice boat and a heck of a deal. I bought my boat and the PO gave me a bunch of papers along with it and in the papers I found a bill of sale from when he bought it and all it said was '64 MFG Fiberglass boat. No model. So I searched on here and Fiberglassics and with a lot of help from members on both forums I finally found that it is a 1960 Corry Carefree and not a '64. I couldn't find my model in the 1964's as the papers said it was because it was a 1960 model. I guess what I am trying to say is don't be surprised if you find that your boat is not a '64 ( and I am not saying that it isn't ) because the info may not be accurate. Things seem to change over the years I guess ....LOL Good luck with your project and keep us posted with lots of photos. I'll be following your thread.

 

[David Bradley]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

Thanks Jon, I think knowing the fact that the Year & Model of the Boat is in fact what I was told it was is really just a curiosity thing. I know that back in the 50's & 60's it wasn't uncommon to use a reg. from a junk car for another that had no reg. and so I assume the same was done with boats. The One thing that i think is possibly solid evidence that it is what i was told is the Dashboard Plaque which certainly looks original. I wonder, Did they Make the "Custom" any other year but '64? However the Reg. says PLAS OUT PLEASURE..???What the heck does that mean??? Anyway, here are some pics of the dashboard Plaque, the Reg. and the MFG Plaque on the Boat, maybe something will make sence to one of you guys in confirming the year and model. Like i said, Not really all that very important, Just a Curiosity factor, If I'm Gonna Restore a Classic Boat I'd Like To Know for sure What the Heck I'm restoring and not find out later that I've been wrong. In the long run, I know, As long as I can register it, that's all that will matter. DanO'

 

[*EdC*]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

the Reg. says PLAS OUT PLEASURE..???What the heck does that mean


Dan

My guess is..... Plastic Outboard Pleasure boat

 

[David Bradley]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

Well That's as Good a Guess as any Ed....makes sence anyway.

BTW, Ed, I just checked out the link to your '68 MFG Restoration, You sure did a Great Job, Very Cool Looking Boat, Nice job on the engine too,

 

[*EdC*]

Re: 1964 MFG Niagara Custom

Ed, I just checked out the link to your '68 MFG Restoration, You sure did a Great Job, Very Cool Looking Boat, Nice job on the engine too,

Thanks DanO,

I appreciate your kind words. It's been a learning experience for sure. Still got a ways to go. But I try to do something, anything, as often as I can. Keeps me in "the groove" so to speak. I got a bit more done on her the past week or so. Will be posting that progress soon.