Another project boat?

[reelfishin]

Well, I think I am about to add another one to the list of things to do. I went today to look at one boat and found something totally different. I went to look at an older aluminum boat and found what I think will make the perfect fishing boat, and it runs too.

I haven't found the Hull ID number on it yet, and the title is a state reissue from 1975, so it's at least that old. It's a 26' cuddy cabin, with a raised helm or steering platform, self bailing deck, and a single 175 OMC on it. It appears to have had twins before and now has a single 25" V6 on a jack plate. The transom and floors all look immaculate, but the dash area and cabin need to be gutted since mice have had a field day on the padding. It's been sitting for 12 years under a tree but it's tarped over well. The transom seems good and I was brave enough to crawl under the steps to inspect the stringers, under floors and rear bilge area and everything is super well sealed and protected.

My main question is what brand hull it might be, so far I haven't seen any markings anywhere. It was getting dark when I was there, and did secure the deal, so as soon as I free up a trailer, it's coming home. It looks heavy. It's sitting on huge 'V' blocks now. I was originally looking at it as a motor or parts donor, but I think it may be too good to strip.

The hull is interesting, the lower hull is a deep V with a huge flare, very high railings, an extended pulpit and windlass that looks to have been designed into the hull. The lower hull has large reliefs on the underside, they run diagonally from the outer most chine to the keel, after each one, the shape and depth of the lower hull changes. There are three points of change. The boat retains a fairly deep v the entire length. It appears to have originally had twin V4's, since I found two mid 70's V4 engine covers in the lower cabin. The cabin is tall enough for me stand up in, at least 6'5" tall, the drivers seat is raised abouve the floor about 24" and on top of that platform are two captains chairs. There is two huge livewells in the floor, it has twin SS tanks mounted in the floor, and several other in floor hatches that I didn't have time to inspect before dark. The beam width has to be at least 10'. There is at least 3' of flat area on each side of the double wide splashwell and sea door. The entire deck is closed off and washable, there is nothing on the floor at all in your way. It also has several long rod cabinets and tackle boxes on each side below the gunwales.

I've never seen this style lower hull, its a deep V with the usually offshore broad blare to the bow, but the way the lower hull has sweeps or cuts that form steps is definitely different. I am curious whether or not they work or what was their intended purpose. I will try to get pics of this, but it won't be for a few days or more. Moving it will be a real project, it's way back off the road and blocked in buy an old barn and a fresh plowed field. I may have to wait till the field is harvested to pull it out, it may be the only path out of where it sits.

The motor appears to be a mid 70's V6 and I would guess the hull to be about the same age. It is red or orange trimmed on a white bottom with all inside glass being white in color. The red or burnt orange color is a wide band that covers all but about a foot above the waterline.
Any ideas? If not I guess I have to wait till I get some pics.

 

[gcboat]

Re: Another project boat?

I'm just getting antsy waiting for you pics. I have my mind already made up what it looks like but boy oh boy - does that sound like a fun project !!!
If there's nothing on the transom for ID then look around on the inside for some other mfg's plates, etc. Even though she may be titled as an 1975 it could be an earlier model ( nothing needed on transom until 1972 ) or she could be a homemade. I wouldn't think that as from your description. Either way, if you have a title then maybe there will be a HIN or something on it.
Good luck getting her out through the hay field.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Another project boat?

The owner has the title in a safety deposit box, he promised to supply it at the time of pickup. I didn't see any numbers on the transom, but I would guess that it's at least mid 70's just going by the instrementation and other items. The odd part is that he told me he thought it was an Aquasport, but I didn't think they were around back then, and I've never seen this style lower hull.
The lower hull actually has steps or cut lines made into it forming transtion points as the hull sweeps rearward. My main interest was in the motor and all the spare parts, but the hull may turn out to be a keeper?
Other than the odd looking hull bottom, what really caught my eye first was the huge 4' scuppers on each side to self bail the deck.
Everything on deck is sealed to the weather, there are no open areas from the outside to allow water to get below. The transom is completely sealed off from the bilge and the deck, it looks like heavy sprayed in gel coat and it's well finished. All hatch doors are rubber sealed.
My only concern is that if I decide to keep this one, I'll need a much larger truck. This really looks heavy. The owner has it sitting on V blocks now with the bow about 6 feet off the ground and the transom about 2 1/2 feet high, so I don't think it's had much chance to accumulate any water inside. There's a military looking tarp on the boat but a section has been torn and the cabin door has lost its louvers allowing mice and birds to get in. Surprisingly the cabin don't look that bad other than the dust and loose foam all around from the cushions. The hull is fairly low in the rear, probably only about knee high inside, but it sweeps upward fast to about waist height up front. The rear wall of the cabin is about 6' tall, so if you are not in a front seat up on the platform, there is no veiw forward. Standing in the aisle by the cabin door, the steering wheel is about chest level. There's a windshield above that as well. There is a hatch and folding steps to get up on the deck from inside and a door to gain access to the windlass and rope box. The pulpit is made of Teak or Mahogany but the hull is formed to accept it and the railing wraps completely out and around it. I didn't measure it, and I took the owners word at this point that it's a 26', but I am wondering whether they are counding the pulpit or not. It seems larger to me. Maybe since the hull is so thin or shallow at the rear it looks longer. It is super wide for a trailerable boat.

The worst part is where it sits, it's going to take some thinking to get it out of there and onto a trailer. I'll have to bring a small tractor to maneuver the trailer in position and to turn the boat around once on the trailer. The ground is also soft, I doubt that a truck will go back there. It's in the woods in a clearing with the only exit being blocked by a corn field. Along the port side there's an old barn about 3' away. The other side it blocked by trees. I'll have to get the trailer under it, then get it to make a 90 degree turn to be able to hook up to it and tow it out. There isn't any room to get the trailer and tow vehicle in front of it, the truck would be into the corn field. I think if I drop off a tractor or loader I can get the trailer in position and pull it out and make the swing with the tractor, it won't get stuck and I won't ruin the mans crop. If not I'll simply have to wait till the crop is harvested. That's really the only stipulation in taking it, not to damage the crop or field. It looks like its been back there since before the field was used for a farm. The guy who owns it lives behind the farm fields, I am not sure if he or the neighbor owns the field. There may be enough room to turn the boat on the trailer to go behind the barn and out to the driveway too if I use a tractor. The ground is mostly leaves and soft dirt with vines and scrub brush. Theres lots of logs and junk that will have to be moved too. I think the boat sort of got forgotten there and got grown into the situation it's in. I was really amazed at how well it's faired over the years. Even the gell coat has survived. One avantage is that it's completely shaded by the barn and tree cover and it's been 90% covered.

I don't really want to go there and start taking pics, when I go back, it will be to load it up and take it, or at least to get it on the trailer and turned around.
I don't think there's much chance or anyone else jumping in on the deal in the meantime, it's totally hidden from the road and it's going to take at least a days work to remove and you have to have a pretty hefty trailer and the means to get a heavy machine in there to do the work.
Some of the trees down around it will take a tractor or more to move. It may take two macines to get it out of there if I have to slide the trailer around the turn to clear the barn.