an old aluminum?? what is it?

[SPK]

Hi guys,
I was wondering if anyone could identify this old aluminum boat. I have no idea what make or model it is but I have an opportunity to buy it.
What do you think?
Thanks.
Sean.

 

[m casey stock]

Re: an old aluminum?? what is it?

If the price is right, I say buy it, but that's just me and I happen to love those things. As for the make, a few more pictures would be great. One of the bow, and a better shot of the sides and closeups of the seams. Are there any ID#'s on it? I'm guessing you have already looked on Fiberglassics and didn't see a match? I'll be glad to help.

 

[SPK]

Re: an old aluminum?? what is it?

Hello and thanks for your reply. I asked the guy for some transom identification and some more photos. He told me that the transom had been beefed up and/or replaced so there are no tags on it. He told me he may have more pictures of it tonight. I have been looking all over the net for one similar but can't find one with the seat back all in one piece like in the picture. He did tell me that it would need a long shaft motor but I don't see that need based on the picture. If you had to guess, what would you think it might be and in what time frame in years?
Thanks,
Sean.

 

[m casey stock]

Re: an old aluminum?? what is it?

Too hard to tell from those shots, but I know I've seen that type of seat backs in my searching, better pictures would be a great help. I'm not even going to guess on the make at this point, but I'd say in the 60's as far as manufacture date.

 

[jcchappy]

Re: an old aluminum?? what is it?

It's an awesome looking project is what it is. Score on that one. late 50's to 60's juding by the 2 pictures I see. I'm no expert just been looking at a lot of aluminum boats here lately.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: an old aluminum?? what is it?

I'd lean more to 50's then 60's. Length would help, as would beam.

It looks like it's got longitudinal ribs running left & right instead of stringers running fore & aft.

Early FeatherCraft were similar, but I don't recognize it from here

If the owner sends any more pix, post them up, maybe something in 1 of them may help ID it.

The 2 holes in the back of the seats may not have been original, but the 1962 Ski-Dart DD14 by Aerocraft looks very much like it though:

The hull forward of the windshield looks to have the same body line that your pix shows:

The artwork from the brochure may not be wholly accurate to what was produced, so the divit between the 2 helmseat may be an as built change.....

There are LOTS of possibles in the FG Library, Duracraft & Crestliner would be likely too....


No matter the lineage, it's a fine looking tinny. Vintage tin is in!

 

[SPK]

Re: an old aluminum?? what is it?

Thank you for providing the additional information. I hope someone out there can put an identification on this one. I don't have much to go on other than the pictures I have posted. I did however find out that it is 16 feet in length. I am hoping the seller will provide additional pictures as promised. I have yet to see the boat as it is about a 2 1/2 hour drive away from my home. Asking price is around 300 dollars but I might be able to negotiate a better price as there appears to be a dent on the bow if you look closely at the pictures. I am hoping it is not a leaker. Again, thanks for your help and keep me in mind if you get any more leads.
Sean.

 

[m casey stock]

Re: an old aluminum?? what is it?

$300 is a good price, so anything less is great. That's trailer and all right? I would go for it and figure out the history later. The time to buy something is when it is for sale LOL Leaks can be repaired, so no worries there and I can't tell about the dent you speak of so maybe it's not even a dent but a seam or structure design? The few pictures are really hard to tell a lot from, but jbcurt00 might be on to something on the ski-dart idea. The transom doesn't look quite the same but it could just be from a different year or the fact that it is a 16 footer and not a 14, but the side and splash rail sure look like it, and I think I see that same crease in the bow below the splash rail.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: an old aluminum?? what is it?

Ask seller to measure transom depth for you.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: an old aluminum?? what is it?

The way the seam is formed in the bottom and the spray rail I'm thinking a very early Lund.

 

[SPK]

Re: an old aluminum?? what is it?



Hello again, as requested in an effort to identify this old aluminum boat I have received from the seller three more pictures. I hope they are helpful. I also received some measurements that are as follows:
Length of boat overall 15 feet 8 inches, transom width 54", transom depth 20", widest point of the boat[beam 68"], and deepest part of the boat inside, 32". I would expect that these measurements are fairly close but maybe not right on. I guess the transom depth rules out my short shaft motor - would I be correct in assuming that? I do have a "like new" kicker plate that will take up to a 20 horse motor if that would work. Please advise. Presently this is all I have to go on so I hope someone will be able to identify the make of this craft. The seller also told me that there is indeed a small dent in the top of the deck to the far left of the steering wheel. If I had to employ the use of a kicker plate, how would that effect using steering controls and throttle controls if at all.
Thanks so much for your help thus far and I eagerly await your future input as I have not made the purchase as of yet.
Thanks so much.
Sean.

 

[64osby]

Re: an old aluminum?? what is it?

As someone said earlier, if you like it, go get it. Details will follow, but all the searching for an ID will be for not possibly.

It's a great looking boat. The only value it will have is what you put into it.

 

[m casey stock]

Re: an old aluminum?? what is it?

Man I sure wish I could see some pictures of the whole boat. Most all the benches inside are very similar and the transom braces are not seen in many pictures so unless somebody has one of these and happens to recognize one if those characteristics it's still hard for me to tell. Like I mentioned before, for the price it looks like a good deal, so if you want it, get it! Then you can take some good all over pictures and look the whole boat over for clues yourself. If you are wanting to know what kind it is first to see if it is some long forgotten rare tinny that is worth a ton before you invest $300.00 in it, then most likely you will be disappointed. Most of these old things are not worth a bunch even fixed up. But if you like the way it looks, who cares what it is worth, buy it have fun fixing it up and then have fun buzzing along the water.
I have an early 50's Duracraft that is from very early on in their "pressure and hammer formed" hull manufacture process, and I still think I probably paid a little too much @ $600.00 trailer and all. But you know, something about it, the curves, the welds, the history, not sure why, I just love the little boat, so it really doesn't matter. It didn't matter before I bought it who made it or how old it was, I just knew I had to have it. Of course, after I got it home I did really have to know all that stuff, but for no other reason than I just wanted to know. I would hate to see someone else buy it while you are trying to figure all the details out and you loose out all together. Just ask him if it has any damage anywhere that is not shown in any of the pictures and if he says no, take a chance and go look for yourself, if all is up to snuff, PAY UP, and try to keep your eyes looking forward where you are going instead of in the mirror at the little gem you just snagged. Good Luck

 

[Sunsetrider]

Re: an old aluminum?? what is it?

FWIW I do not believe it is a Crestliner. The stringers are not built that way in any that I've seen. You may have to be happy with an ongoing mystery!

 

[m casey stock]

Re: an old aluminum?? what is it?

Hey SPK, did you wind up buying the boat?