Is this oddball a good project?

JasonJ

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 20, 2001
Messages
4,163
Re: Is this oddball a good project?

Glad you got it. It will be a cool rig....
 

G DANE

Commander
Joined
Nov 24, 2001
Messages
2,476
Re: Is this oddball a good project?

I think the boat really has potential, and will save you from a good part of the hard work. Everything will look different with a new paint job. Congratulations.<br />How comes they installed gas tanks to cross the atlantic ?? Did they use it for long off shore trips. Otherwist they would have been burning old gas most of the time.
 

84CJ7

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Nov 13, 2005
Messages
41
Re: Is this oddball a good project?

I thought the inboard drop tanks were kinda funny myself, dunno why he needed so much gas, but it was mostly used on the rivers (st. croix, minnesota,mississippi) so I think he did long hauls up and down. He could fill up at a gas station and not on the water that way. Only problem is you hafta swing the thing around to fill it cuz he put the gas doors on opposite sides.<br />I had considered changing one to a water tank. Hafta replace the whole thing though, never get the crap outa there.
 

swimmin' for shore

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 25, 2004
Messages
490
Re: Is this oddball a good project?

Good thing you jumped on that boat, 84CJ7. I'm coming to IL this coming weekend, and was all set to stop by and bring it home. I hadn't figured out how to strap it on top of the rental car yet, but who works out the details? <br />Seriously, good luck with that. I can't wait to see how she turns out. And G Dane is right. That's going to be a whole different animal when you put some paint on it.
 

84CJ7

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Nov 13, 2005
Messages
41
Re: Is this oddball a good project?

Which brings up an important question, original or custom paint?<br /><br />I found pics of 57 and 59 which have very different paint from eachother, dunno what a 58 should look like (iam still convinced its a 58). I assume its white as a primary color like both of those years, and the original red is showing through the grey on the underside so that was its secondary color. I am considering lightly sanding to see if I can find all the original paint lines and decal outlines, maybe even do that now since the snow left again and its just cold and not wet. Anyone know what the best way to take all the crap off is? Sand blasting seems too harsh for aluminum and sanding wont work with the rivets, I thought maybe aircraft stripper would be good.<br /><br />It helps that I went to school for automotive autobody and have all the guns an compressors and stuff to do the work, plus am a marine mechanic for the technical stuff. Good thing we are putting up a new building for work cuz this thing wouldn't fit in my garage and I would hate to paint outside.<br /><br />I may see if I can find a way to take those curved winshields out too, they're both really beat up and cracked, I believe the previous owner said they're like $300 a piece if they are custom made, not bad if I make the rest look nice. I did find someone on ebay selling repro Lone Star decals that look pretty good too.<br /><br />If I don't get bored and start sanding now, I'll probably end up waiting till spring and getting it useable before I redo it cosmetically.<br /><br />I think it looks rather like some kinda P.T. boat at the moment, kinda funny.
 

AguaSki

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 4, 2005
Messages
545
Re: Is this oddball a good project?

I just saw a similar boat while traveling to the in-laws for the the holiday this week. It was off highway 89 near Kanab, UT. I will see if I can get some pictures on the return trip.
 
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