Determining age of fiberglass speedboat

axeslinger1957

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 28, 2008
Messages
157
Hi. I've been lurking here for about a month, which is when I bought a used boat/outboard/trailer package. I've been on it, driven it, had a kind of "training course" on it and plan really to only practice loading it, unloading it and maybe go fishing once or twice before I store it for the winter.

The outboard, with the help of a lead I found here, is a 70-hp Evinrude which I discovered was made in 1978. It runs great. No problems there.

The boat itself is rather unusual. The title indicates it's a 1990 Sears. At each side of the stern, it has kind of a stylized SR logo and the manufacturer's plate by the throttle indicates it's a Sears. I wasted an hour on the phone with Sears trying to find something out about the boat. I failed utterly. Some digging around on the net led me to the "fiberglassics" web site. I found out that MFG built boats for Sears, and checked out some pictures. My boat looks an awful lot like an MFG Edinboro from the 1968-1973 period. It has a deep-V hull and it looks like the hull has a lapstrake effect under the gunwales. This is as far as I've gotten... except for one more tantalizing clue. In the process of trying to adjust the compass, I broke it. When I looked at it, I discovered the compass was an Airline, manufactured in April of 1968. Maybe I'm on to something... This is the only thing that has ever been mounted in that spot, although I realize there's no guarantee it came that way from whoever actually built it.

Might anyone have any clues to help me determine the age of my boat? It doesn't really affect anything, I'd just like to know.

Thanks!
 

240sx4u

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jul 21, 2008
Messages
80
Re: Determining age of fiberglass speedboat

Do you have the title? often times its listed there.
 

Pierutrus

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
721
Re: Determining age of fiberglass speedboat

Pictures. We love pictures.
Post some pic's.:D
 

axeslinger1957

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 28, 2008
Messages
157
Re: Determining age of fiberglass speedboat

I can certainly try. What pictures would be most useful?
 

axeslinger1957

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 28, 2008
Messages
157
Re: Determining age of fiberglass speedboat

The hull number -- you mean the one that rumor has it is stamped on the transom? I have a bad feeling that the motor attachments are covering that up.
 

Pierutrus

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
721
Re: Determining age of fiberglass speedboat

Doesn't the manufacturer's plate have a # on it?
 

Pierutrus

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
721
Re: Determining age of fiberglass speedboat

Also the title should have it on there as well.
 

axeslinger1957

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 28, 2008
Messages
157
Re: Determining age of fiberglass speedboat

Doesn't the manufacturer's plate have a # on it?


Yes. It shows both a model number and a serial number. If I am successful in getting pictures, I will attempt to include one of the plate.

I thought the hull ID was the one on the transom. My apologies. I still have a lot to learn...
 

Pierutrus

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
721
Re: Determining age of fiberglass speedboat

I thought the hull ID was the one on the transom. My apologies. I still have a lot to learn...

Actually you are right......On most boats like mine, the hull# is stamped on a plate that's attached to the transom, right side top corner.
I think I read that sometime in the 80's all manufacturer's were putting it there.
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.
 

axeslinger1957

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 28, 2008
Messages
157
Re: Determining age of fiberglass speedboat

Actually you are right......On most boats like mine, the hull# is stamped on a plate that's attached to the transom, right side top corner.
I think I read that sometime in the 80's all manufacturer's were putting it there.
Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

Interesting... If that's the case, then I should have a plate there if my boat is a 1990, right (I don't, by the way)? Was there a time when it was standard to put this plate by the throttle control (i.e. by the driver's seat)?
 

Pierutrus

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
721
Re: Determining age of fiberglass speedboat

They put them all over the place before the placement got "standardized".:eek:

On my 77 sleekcraft, it was riveted to the fiberglass right next to the shifter like yours.;)
 

axeslinger1957

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 28, 2008
Messages
157
Re: Determining age of fiberglass speedboat

Thanks for putting up with all of a newbie landlubber's questions!

I will attempt to get some digital pictures and link to them. It depends on what the spousal and tax deduction units have planned for me tonight. :D
 

Chinewalker

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Aug 19, 2001
Messages
8,902
Re: Determining age of fiberglass speedboat

Last I knew, SR was short for Sea Ray...
- Scott
 

axeslinger1957

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 28, 2008
Messages
157
Re: Determining age of fiberglass speedboat

Last I knew, SR was short for Sea Ray...
- Scott

I'll attempt to get a picture of the logo as well. There is absolutely no "MANUFACTURED BY" information on this boat... anywhere... I've looked!
 

Pierutrus

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
721
Re: Determining age of fiberglass speedboat

Thanks for putting up with all of a newbie landlubber's questions! :D

No problem, just giving back.
We all were in the same boat (pun intended) at one time.
That's what this forum is all about.
Learning and sharing.;)
 

axeslinger1957

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 28, 2008
Messages
157
Re: Determining age of fiberglass speedboat

No problem, just giving back.
We all were in the same boat (pun intended) at one time.
That's what this forum is all about.
Learning and sharing.;)

Thank you. I appreciate that. There are some guitar-related forums I have visited that do not share that point of view.
 

Pierutrus

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Mar 25, 2007
Messages
721
Re: Determining age of fiberglass speedboat

Thank you. I appreciate that. There are some guitar-related forums I have visited that do not share that point of view.

Sorry to hear that.

And welcome to iboats.
This is the best boating forum that I've come across.
If you have a specific problem, post it in the respective forum and it will get answered by very knowledgeable people.

enjoy your stay.......;)
 

axeslinger1957

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 28, 2008
Messages
157
Re: Determining age of fiberglass speedboat

So far, at least, I have no problems. The boat doesn't leak (that I can tell), the motor runs great, and the bloody thing FLIES! :D Since it's had multiple owner-performed "refits", I'm just trying to find out how it might have looked when it left the factory. I'm funny that way.
 
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