Has anyone restored a Hourston Glascraft 1973?

[ack.alexander]

Hello everyone!

New to the site and the forums and truly impressed by the wealth of information and the abundant expertise of the members!

I shall attempt to completely restore a 1973 Hourston Glascraft 16'. It SEEMS ok but I am positive it needs a rebuilt from the glass haul and up. It has an original 1973 115HP Evinrude on it (with tilt and trim which is not functional but all the pieces seem to be there). Last I started it it run - alas sputtering a bit...

To make things even more interesting for me, I plan to re-design aspects of that boat (install a gas tank instead of the portable ones used to date) inclusive of building a hard top on it to enclose the cockpit area.

Although not very experienced in this kind of work, I have a set of skills which I believe will help me do the job as I envision it. Yet, no matter what the skill-set, the hands-on experience of someone who already has done something similar to a similar boat will prove invaluable!

For anyone willing to participate with their knowledge and experience in my effort, all I can say is that I will welcome it and reciprocate to the best of my abilities in what I may be of help to them as well.

Kindest regards to all,

Alex

PS: Topics I am interested in to start: Does anyone have an schematics of this boat's construction. I have not lifted the floor yet. My request to Mr. Bill Hourston for possible old drawings and specs in their archives did not get an answer so I am kind of diving in blind....

 

[Bondo]

Re: Has anyone restored a Hourston Glascraft 1973?

Hello everyone!

New to the site and the forums and truly impressed by the wealth of information and the abundant expertise of the members!

I shall attempt to completely restore a 1973 Hourston Glascraft 16'. It SEEMS ok but I am positive it needs a rebuilt from the glass haul and up. It has an original 1973 115HP Evinrude on it (with tilt and trim which is not functional but all the pieces seem to be there). Last I started it it run - alas sputtering a bit...

To make things even more interesting for me, I plan to re-design aspects of that boat (install a gas tank instead of the portable ones used to date) inclusive of building a hard top on it to enclose the cockpit area.

Although not very experienced in this kind of work, I have a set of skills which I believe will help me do the job as I envision it. Yet, no matter what the skill-set, the hands-on experience of someone who already has done something similar to a similar boat will prove invaluable!

For anyone willing to participate with their knowledge and experience in my effort, all I can say is that I will welcome it and reciprocate to the best of my abilities in what I may be of help to them as well.

Kindest regards to all,

Alex

PS: Topics I am interested in to start: Does anyone have an schematics of this boat's construction. I have not lifted the floor yet. My request to Mr. Bill Hourston for possible old drawings and specs in their archives did not get an answer so I am kind of diving in blind....

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... I'll move this down to the drydock for ya,...

That way this can be yer Rebuild Thread,... Keepin' things all together, keeps yer story together,...

Post lotsa Pictures,... We All Love pictures here,...

Picture postin' instructions can be found at the top of the Technical, Non-boatin' forum, down low on the main iboats page,...

 

[ack.alexander]

Re: Has anyone restored a Hourston Glascraft 1973?

Thank you!

I will do so, starting from where and how she is sitting currently...

I look forward to this!

 

[chriscraft254]

Re: Has anyone restored a Hourston Glascraft 1973?

Welcome aboard Alex. Look forward to the pics. Hardtop on a 16' boat can be challenging.

 

[ack.alexander]

Re: Has anyone restored a Hourston Glascraft 1973?

Thank you! Indeed it will be. I am thinking of a simple design I picked off youtube and I think, if I can modify it, that it will work... As I move along I will be posting the design and specs for your comments and input. It is far off yet as I am just starting to organize this project, from working space and tools, to tearing it apart to pieces - down to glass.... It will be a long winter in the garage but I am actually excited about this. It must be my way of dealing with the "empty-nester" syndrome

 

[maryhannaj]

Re: Has anyone restored a Hourston Glascraft 1973?

That's a nice looking boat. It looks to me from the pics like it's pretty clean. I hope it turns out to be good and strong on the inside for you too. In my opinion, you're definatly in the right place. I think you will find as I have, that the members of this furum are willing to help and lend a hand with every aspect of your project from the glass to the motor.
Good luck!

 

[ack.alexander]

Re: Has anyone restored a Hourston Glascraft 1973?

That's a nice looking boat. It looks to me from the pics like it's pretty clean. I hope it turns out to be good and strong on the inside for you too. In my opinion, you're definatly in the right place. I think you will find as I have, that the members of this furum are willing to help and lend a hand with every aspect of your project from the glass to the motor.
Good luck!

Thank you for the wishes and, from what I've seen so far in this site, indeed the members here are great people bound by a common passion! This is why I decided to join in. I am certain that all the mistakes I am about to make in my little adventure will probably be useful for someone else to avoid....
Yes she is a classic looker and I - like many other BC open ocean fishermen - set store by the Hourstons... The early days ones were built like tanks, hand-laid glass thick and strong! The rest, well, no frills! The thing about this particular boat is that it has never seen salt water - it was used here in Alberta as a lake boat mostly for water-skiing. I need to convert her into a no-nonsense open water fishing boat (we fish off the West side of Vancouver island just North of Washington State with the open Pacific hitting us. The Banks we fish at, sit at about 300-400 feet in depth and on top of a 4,000 foot deep trench... You can imagine the size of the swells we get not to mention the strength of the tides).

She does feel strong overall but I am certain that - after 40 years - the foam is water-clogged. The transom feels strong but a couple of loose screws on top indicate that it has given in to the hard play of past years... (For her length she is overpowered by that 115HP. I made the calculations and it seems that she is more the 90HP Max type of boat. I think they went with the 115 because of her weight and the need for speed for water-sports. In any event the extra power won't hurt by the time I am done with her.

I need to create a truly weather-protected small area for 2 people in the cockpit, create and install a permanent fuel tank, re-foam and seal her well and of course re-wire for all new electronics in a clean and organized way. Plus create all the necessary spaces needed for fishing gear of all kinds and storage areas. A complete re-design of the interior and re-build.

Ambitious for my age