Advice for possible restoration project

[Trooper583]

Hey guys, I posted a thread a few weeks ago about looking for a boat to restore. Something in the aluminum starcraft was suggested over fiberglass. However, I found a 1963 Newman for sale for around $300. I would like to upload some photos but can't from my phone and ill be out of town for a few days.

The owner of the boat doesn't know a lot about it and I don't have any experience with vintage runabouts. Here are the specs, some are for sure, others are guesses.

Year 1963 (according to owner)
65 evinrude with selectric shifting
14' x 5'?
all the chrome is in really great shape for the age
Appears that all fiberglass is in decent condition.
windshield is the old curved style and also looks good.

My two main questions for you veterans are the following:
What trouble signs should I look for? Transom rot, etc, not sure if its even got a wooden transom

How do you guys like the price?

Also am I correct in assuming that Newman boats are fairly rare. Couldn't find anything about them on google.

Thanks

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Advice for possible restoration project

There were literally HUNDREDS of companies making little fiberglass runabouts in the 50s and 60s. Some only made a handful of boats. Most were pretty similar. That's probably why you haven't found out much info on it. Price sounds fair. Unless it's a barn find, it probably needs transom/stringers/deck. If the electric shifting in the that motor is working, great. If it isn't, parts are difficult to find for the electric shift (solenoids, switches, etc).