AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe. :D

[Untame]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

I got the dashboard out and disassembled the steering column. I also put all of the chrome trinkets through the wire wheel bench grinder and I was shocked at how well it dressed up the chrome. Sure it is still significantly pock-marked, but I think it might be good enough... from a distance... if you squint. I'll put a good coat of carnuba wax on them to slow down the deterioration where the chrome is missing.

I contacted the Wisconsin DNR with the hull number to see what information they had on hand. I had a report back in my e-mail inbox from them within MINUTES -- on a Saturday evening! The registration expired in 1987, so here we are 25 years later bringing it back to life. They have it registered as a 1965 boat. The Evinrude motor definitely is original, and I'm sure it is a 1966 model number.

I also contacted AlumaCraft with the serial number to ask them about the year of manufacture as well as production numbers for this model (YR-16). Just nice to know.

Here are some pictures include pictures of the drain hole. It appears to be threaded and about 5/8" in diameter. Noob question -- does the plug install from the inside or the outside?

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

Have you given any thought to Bench seats? Really not that hard to build and the upholstery is pretty straight forward as well. I did mine and it was fun to do and did not turn out to bad. The seat cost less than $75 to build including the cost of the vinyl, wood, aluminum paint, Everything!!! I bet you could do it too!!!
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=524995&highlight=bench+seat

 

[Untame]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

Have you given any thought to Bench seats? Really not that hard to build and the upholstery is pretty straight forward as well. I did mine and it was fun to do and did not turn out to bad. The seat cost less than $75 to build including the cost of the vinyl, wood, aluminum paint, Everything!!! I bet you could do it too!!!
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=524995&highlight=bench+seat

Cool -- thanks for sharing your videos! I'm thinking about doing a bench across the back, but it would have to hinge out of the way to get at the battery / gas tank. In fact, I'm thinking about doing a foam seat and back that just velcro to the boat -- there isn't much height in the back anyway.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

I think you could make a bench in the back like this...

and put a piano hinge on the front of the base so you could tilt the whole thing forward for access to the rear. I thought about it but just made mine totally removable.

 

[Untame]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

Anyone want to recommend a plug based on my pictures? I'd like to do the leak test soon so I can start on hull repairs.

I reconditioned the amp meter (the only gauge in the dash), and I'd like to test it. I'm not electrically inclined, so any recommendations on how I can test to see if it works? I thought about testing it by connecting it to a 12-volt battery on my charger and comparing the meter on the charger with this meter, but I'm not sure how to do this without frying the gauge.

The boat has been named! I've settled on "Superstar" as a tribute to Karen Carpenter whose career was launched in 1965 with "The Richard Carpenter Trio" at the young age of 15.

 

[Untame]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

The gauge works! I wasn't sure because the previous owner had disconnected it and hung a modern one under the dash. There was moisture inside of it, so i removed the rubber washers on the back side and stuck it in the toaster oven for 5 minutes on 200 degrees -- that dried it out just fine (but there is a little bit of film on the inside of the glass).

To test it I used my car head lights (high beam) and put the gauge between the positive post and cable. I reversed the gauge to make sure that it swept both directions, and it does!

 

[Pmccraney]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

Very cool boat... If you can get this rig all gussied up one day, you will have the best before and after pictures ever (from planter to planer)...

As jbc pointed out, the transom is toast...., but you can fab up a new one... The rest of the build should be easy...

Plug it from the inside (a lot of folks chain it to the knee brace so it doesn't get lost)...

Look forward to following along.

 

[Untame]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

Very cool boat... If you can get this rig all gussied up one day, you will have the best before and after pictures ever (from planter to planer)...

Thanks! I'm not going to (allowed to) spend a lot of money on it, so it will be gussied as far as elbow grease will get me. Ultimately, it is just a toy that I think will be fun for my family (I've got four little girls ages 4-9), so it isn't a purist restoration.

Hopefully "one day" will be next summer.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

Thanks! I'm not going to (allowed to) spend a lot of money on it, so it will be gussied as far as elbow grease will get me. Ultimately, it is just a toy that I think will be fun for my family (I've got four little girls ages 4-9), so it isn't a purist restoration.

Hopefully "one day" will be next summer.

No a thing wrong with functional. Again the best thing about tinnies is that thaey wont cost you a ton of $$$$ to fix up and look good.

I know many of the glass guys glass in the decking on both sides before they put it in and is a good pratice for them. On my tinnie after the decking was cut and fitted I just sealed it with 6 coats of spar varnish on both sides. Which is the way Lund originally did it and that lasted 28 years! Also the difference being that the decks are attached completely different. Glass boats they are glassed in around the edges, Tinnies are not and they come out a lot easier. So even if I have to replace it again in another 15 years it is still cheaper and easier than doing a glass boat.

 

[Untame]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

I took a $3 gamble at WalMart tonight and picked up a 1" srew-type brass plug, but my instinct was right -- it was too big for the drain hole. I'll need to actually measure it, but it looks to be around 5/8".

I scored this JBL marine stereo on Craigslist tonight! It isn't fancy, but it is waterproof. $20, and it is out of a 1-year-old Starcraft pontoon. No CD, etc., but we are kind of nerds -- classical NPR and of course, Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, Radio Labs, and This American Life on Saturday.

 

[sqbtr]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

If that drain hole is threaded, my money would be "1/2 NPT

 

[Untame]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

AlumaCraft customer service got back with me and said that the Bel Mara was made between 1963 and 1970. 432 total units were built. Mine, serial 5268, was made in 1965. I'm wondering if the "5" is the year 268 is the production sequence.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

Looks like you could have a fairly rare boat there. Wonder how many of them are still floating?
WOW. That's only 54 units per year! One a week!

 

[Untame]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

I haven't done anything on the boat in the last few days. I've been quite busy rolling this reproduction Delahaye 165 out of our shop. I knew some of you aluminum guys here would appreciate this. You can see more pictures on Facebook under "Coachsmithing" or at www.coachsmithing.com.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

Wow! Double wow!

 

[64osby]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

Nice project you have.

Cheap stereos are great, spent $6 on mine and $5 of that was for an electric antenna.

Looks like your shop could take care of any little or big gouges or tears your tinny has. Impressive stuff. I'll call if the lottery hits.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

Yeah, that oughta just about do it Great looking Delahay!

 

[Untame]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

If that drain hole is threaded, my money would be "1/2 NPT

Strike two! I picked up a 1/2" NPT brass plug, but it was slightly large, and the thread pitch looked a little too fine.

 

[Untame]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

Strike two! I picked up a 1/2" NPT brass plug, but it was slightly large, and the thread pitch looked a little too fine.

After contacting Alumacraft, here is the reply I got:

Thank you for contacting Alumacraft customer service. You can either replace the old style plug and convert it over to the newer style plug. Or order the older style from Dan Fern: 507-289-1494 209 Meadow run Dr, Rochester, MN 55902.


I think it might make sense to convert it over to a new plug style. I'm not sure, though, where I would get the hardware to do this.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: AlumaCraft Alpex restoration... maybe.

I think it might make sense to convert it over to a new plug style. I'm not sure, though, where I would get the hardware to do this.

Can get everything right here in the iboats store.