Well, here I go...
Thanks to the fine folks over at Fiberglassics dot com I discovered the style and the "kool" of old classic era boats a few months ago. I had been driving past this old aluminum boat several times a month for the past two years and pretty much blowing it off as "just an old, alum fishing boat" Until one day back before Thanksgiving.
So I'm driving by one day and, thanks to my new found appreciation for old boats, that little bell starts ringing ever so softly way off in the distance and this voice speaks from the far "Hey, I think that boat might be kinda neat. let's make the block."
As I come back around for a closer look I say to myself, "Hey, that boat has a closed bow... And what's that, another cockpit opening in front of the steering wheel? Yes it is. Now, thats cool!!"
That was the start of about a month of researching aluminum boats and the restoration there of to see if this is something that I would be interested and capable getting into. As it turns out, YES to both.
Thanks to what I have learned so far and the confidence I have in the support of the people and resources of this great forum, I am ready to take the plunge into restoring this cool old boat.
It is a 1956 lonestar, 15ft. From what I can see from photos on the web I THINK it is an Admiral, But I am not sure.
There is a third pair of bench support/cross members aft of the pilot's station and there are holes for what I suspect were the seat back support brackets for this third seat. I think that the Admirals I have seen photos of have a strip of "cap" behind the pilot that I don't see evidece here so I have to wonder if that is the correct model of my boat. All help with ID would be appreciated.
Cuz I know you'll be asking, here are a few pics:
So far I got new tires, new axle bearings and a little paint on the trailer wheels. Trailer lights don't work but I managed the 15 miles home, just after sunset of course, without trouble.
The trailer looks quite good actually, I will probably repalce the hitch with a better one some day, other than that some paint, new rollers, bunk boards and winch cable and it should be good to go.
You can see from the pics that the transon Ply is way rotted and both dashboards are gonners. Besides that the hull is already stripped out and seems to be in really good shape. I would say that about 75% of the original paint on the interior is still intact and what is bare the alum looks very good.
No pitting or signs of corrosion and sofar only one hull rivet replaced with a bolt.
At two places one of the pilot seat support cross braces have broken from the tabs that rivet them to the hull bottom and will need repair.
The "V" shaped piece that is riveted to the bottom of the hull along the bow curve is pretty beat-up from rocks and such and will need to removed and welded up or replaced.
There is much work to be done but the shell seems to be quite sound.
I am really looking forward to egtting into this project and will work to keep this thread up-dated. And I know I will be asking MANY questions as I move along.
Thanks to the fine folks over at Fiberglassics dot com I discovered the style and the "kool" of old classic era boats a few months ago. I had been driving past this old aluminum boat several times a month for the past two years and pretty much blowing it off as "just an old, alum fishing boat" Until one day back before Thanksgiving.
So I'm driving by one day and, thanks to my new found appreciation for old boats, that little bell starts ringing ever so softly way off in the distance and this voice speaks from the far "Hey, I think that boat might be kinda neat. let's make the block."
As I come back around for a closer look I say to myself, "Hey, that boat has a closed bow... And what's that, another cockpit opening in front of the steering wheel? Yes it is. Now, thats cool!!"
That was the start of about a month of researching aluminum boats and the restoration there of to see if this is something that I would be interested and capable getting into. As it turns out, YES to both.
Thanks to what I have learned so far and the confidence I have in the support of the people and resources of this great forum, I am ready to take the plunge into restoring this cool old boat.
It is a 1956 lonestar, 15ft. From what I can see from photos on the web I THINK it is an Admiral, But I am not sure.
There is a third pair of bench support/cross members aft of the pilot's station and there are holes for what I suspect were the seat back support brackets for this third seat. I think that the Admirals I have seen photos of have a strip of "cap" behind the pilot that I don't see evidece here so I have to wonder if that is the correct model of my boat. All help with ID would be appreciated.
Cuz I know you'll be asking, here are a few pics:
So far I got new tires, new axle bearings and a little paint on the trailer wheels. Trailer lights don't work but I managed the 15 miles home, just after sunset of course, without trouble.
The trailer looks quite good actually, I will probably repalce the hitch with a better one some day, other than that some paint, new rollers, bunk boards and winch cable and it should be good to go.
You can see from the pics that the transon Ply is way rotted and both dashboards are gonners. Besides that the hull is already stripped out and seems to be in really good shape. I would say that about 75% of the original paint on the interior is still intact and what is bare the alum looks very good.
No pitting or signs of corrosion and sofar only one hull rivet replaced with a bolt.
At two places one of the pilot seat support cross braces have broken from the tabs that rivet them to the hull bottom and will need repair.
The "V" shaped piece that is riveted to the bottom of the hull along the bow curve is pretty beat-up from rocks and such and will need to removed and welded up or replaced.
There is much work to be done but the shell seems to be quite sound.
I am really looking forward to egtting into this project and will work to keep this thread up-dated. And I know I will be asking MANY questions as I move along.
