Building a tribute boat to my grandfathers 1963 Custom Craft Sea Ray

[matt167]

I was in the process of restoring my grandfathers 1963 Custom Craft Sea Ray ( cap off, total rebuild ) when the building it was in collapsed last winter. My grandfather bought it new and gave it to me thinking it was ok, but he did not realize/ understand it needed a transom/ stringers/ floor ( I did, but wanted to restore the once gleaming ship that it was )

At first glance The collapse took out the structure and did major damages and I could never lay eyes on it because of what it meant. At that point it was probably savable but it was pretty rough. I had my mom and brother help finally clean up while I was at work one day, and they just deemed it scrap and cut the thing up without asking me.

So I salvaged what I could from the original boat. I have the rear fins, the dash and steering wheel, the windshield and all of the lights, and tie hooks as well as the original seats which are safe in storage in great shape.. I'm not going to build a complicated boat that will take forever. I'm thinking something along the lines of a Lewis boat Works Chugger just a little bigger ( 16'x the original width of the Custom Craft dash, must be around 5.5', have not put a tape to it _.. The dash will be put in the cabin below the windshield, and the original windshield, if I use it will be ontop of the cabin.. I'll match the fins to the lines of the boat.. Will have a Tohatsu 5-9.9hp with remote steering, and main use as a flat lake boat but also I've always wanted to cruise the canals

 

[sphelps]

It’s a shame about the boat getting destroyed. A very noble gesture on your part for a tribute ..
‘Was your grandfathers boat a 63 or a 61 that is in your signature..
After thumbing though FL http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/index.php?title=File:Customcraftb61012.jpg
this was a 61 . Also learned that they sold kit boat plans ..If you could find one of those sets of plans and build it that would be pretty cool !
Good luck with the project !

 

[matt167]

The serial number put it at 1963 when they were in financial trouble. My grandfather thought it was a '61 and I never updated the signature. I had to file for lost title and I think I have it as a 1963. The dash is also the later dash. There were I think 3 versions

Custom Craft got their start in wooden boats and wooden boat plans. I think the Sea Ray was their first step into fiberglass in 1961. I'm going to reuse the original serial number and hull numbers as well. since it will have a majority of Custom Craft parts. I think I can make it look ok, and with a ~6-8hp it'll be pretty fuel efficient and hopefully still get 10 mph. Sadly the Merc 650 just can't be used.

 

[matt167]

here is what the boat looked like, and a very close version of what I will build. The Custom Craft padded vinyl dashboard which is still in near mint condition will sit in the cabin. Steering/ controls may be in the cabin I'm not sure yet. Otherwise I'll cover the steering wheel hole up with a clock or some other gauge. The large fins are going to be grafted to the gunwales, and a reconstructed splash well will tie in as they originally did. Splashwell will be overkill for the ~9.9hp but just in case it will be there. It won't look as good as I could make it but the boat is simple enough to build that I can get it done and splashed..

I also had some rustoleum matched to the original boat color and so the boat will match the original boats color, blue top, white bottom. I'll tie in a stripe on the side with the fins.