Need Help Identifying a Boat

[gsh]

My brother bought out a business and got everything on the property as a part of the sale. This boat was on the property and the previous owner is having trouble finding the title, so we don't know much about it other than it look basically sound and could be put into working order fairly easily.

It's just under 14' long and has a max beam of 60" and the actual transom is 16" high.

Anyone know what it is and have some data on it?

 

[DeepCMark58A]

That is not a transom.

 

[JimS123]

That is not a transom.

That statement makes no sense.

What you have is a Wagemaker Wolverine boat. Most were wood, so yours is one of the later ones after they started making aluminum hulls.

The transom looks like it was modified, possibly to put a long shaft motor on it. In any event, the amount of rotten wood would make the boat unsafe to use as it is.

The registration numbers are circa 1960 (or later), when universal statewide numbers were first introduced.

Google "Fiberglassics.com" and search for Wagemaker to find more info.

As a youngin in the '60's my grandpa had a Wagemaker and that's what started me down the path. Lots of good memories here...

 

[gsh]

That is not a transom.

That was a piece of crap that was on there from the previous owner. So was all the junk in the boat and the cheap floor. All of that is gone now and it's back to the bare boat. The actual transom, not the red-necked POS in the picture, is 16".

 

[gsh]

That statement makes no sense.

What you have is a Wagemaker Wolverine boat. Most were wood, so yours is one of the later ones after they started making aluminum hulls.

The transom looks like it was modified, possibly to put a long shaft motor on it. In any event, the amount of rotten wood would make the boat unsafe to use as it is.

The registration numbers are circa 1960 (or later), when universal statewide numbers were first introduced.

Google "Fiberglassics.com" and search for Wagemaker to find more info.

As a youngin in the '60's my grandpa had a Wagemaker and that's what started me down the path. Lots of good memories here...

That modified transom has been removed and the registration stickers on the front are irrelevant to what year the boat was made. However, I can't find any serial numbers or other identifying marks.

I did find a model that is VERY similar, but it's hard to know for sure. It might be a 1955 Wagemaker Wolverine Savoy (Model #7346)

https://indytriple.smugmug.com/1950s-Wagemaker-Wolverine-Aluminum-Boat/i-8zW7fGh

 

[JimS123]

the registration stickers on the front are irrelevant to what year the boat was made. It might be a 1955 Wagemaker Wolverine Savoy (Model #7346)

https://indytriple.smugmug.com/1950s-Wagemaker-Wolverine-Aluminum-Boat/i-8zW7fGh

Boat registration numbers "usually" stay with the boat for its entire life. Universal registrations went into effect in 1961, with the AA suffix, and the state prefix. Grandpa's was a 1939 Wagemaker, and originally had a 5 digit (1 letter and 4 numbers) number, switching to a NY xxxx AW registration in 1961. Yes, the number doesn't tell the exact year, but we do know that it was registered in 1961 or before. Your Savoy guess is probably pretty close.

 

[gsh]

Boat registration numbers "usually" stay with the boat for its entire life. Universal registrations went into effect in 1961, with the AA suffix, and the state prefix. Grandpa's was a 1939 Wagemaker, and originally had a 5 digit (1 letter and 4 numbers) number, switching to a NY xxxx AW registration in 1961. Yes, the number doesn't tell the exact year, but we do know that it was registered in 1961 or before. Your Savoy guess is probably pretty close.

South Dakota didn't start doing the lifetime number thing until just recently. It used to be that every time the vehicle changed owners, it got a new tag number. Also, there is no correlation to vehicle year and the tag number. My boat tag number is 114, but I have a 1959 Alumaline.

 

[roffey]

I think that boat looks like a lot of fun. Put in new transom, OP said that's done, slap on a 9.5 and go fishing... up here in Canada you don't even need to register it if its under 10 hp.

 

[gsh]

I think that boat looks like a lot of fun. Put in new transom, OP said that's done, slap on a 9.5 and go fishing... up here in Canada you don't even need to register it if its under 10 hp.

I wish it was that simple.

The transom still needs to be replaced. I just peeled off the old crappy extension they had on it and the rotted "floor" they had put in.

At the very least I still have to power wash the mud out of it that collected over the years, repair all the holes they drilled in it to install their "transom extension", replace the bow eye so it will stay on the trailer properly, patch or cover the holes in the benches, redo the transom, put a proper drain in the back, repair the trailer, transfer the title, register it, and get a motor (preferably something around 25 hp).

It's going to take awhile before this boat gets in the lake again.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

That statement makes no sense.

What you have is a Wagemaker Wolverine boat. Most were wood, so yours is one of the later ones after they started making aluminum hulls.

The transom looks like it was modified, possibly to put a long shaft motor on it. In any event, the amount of rotten wood would make the boat unsafe to use as it is.

The registration numbers are circa 1960 (or later), when universal statewide numbers were first introduced.

Google "Fiberglassics.com" and search for Wagemaker to find more info.

As a youngin in the '60's my grandpa had a Wagemaker and that's what started me down the path. Lots of good memories here...

A transom is where an outboard motor is mounted, the example in the picture is nothing a motor should be mounted on. The OP agrees and is going to remedy that.

 

[roffey]

I hear ya, but its all fun. Sounds like you have it all under control.

 

[GA_Boater]

I think you already have a drain if you have the same brand and model as the SmugMug pics. It's in the hull beneath the rotted deck.

 

[JimS123]

A transom is where an outboard motor is mounted, the example in the picture is nothing a motor should be mounted on. The OP agrees and is going to remedy that.

The original picture showed the transom of the boat with a bubbaadded extension added to it. it weren't the bow so that's what made no sense.

 

[JimS123]

South Dakota didn't start doing the lifetime number thing until just recently. It used to be that every time the vehicle changed owners, it got a new tag number. Also, there is no correlation to vehicle year and the tag number. My boat tag number is 114, but I have a 1959 Alumaline.

Is the tag number the same as registration number? So, does your boat have the number 114 displayed to the side of the bow? Or does it show "SD 1234 XY".

 

[Blind Date]

Around here we call that a rowboat. Slap some oars in it and hit the water. Or sell it for 200 bucks. What else is there to know?

That's kind of what I'm thinking. And oars might be the be the only thing that boat is good for. The transom on my 12' Lund is 15 1/2 inches and it doesn't look like the transom of that boat is anywhere near that.

EDIT: I see the OP stated the transom is 16".

 

[gsh]

Is the tag number the same as registration number? So, does your boat have the number 114 displayed to the side of the bow? Or does it show "SD 1234 XY".

It does the SD 1234 XY bit. The SD is the state, the rest is what the state assigned.

The point is that none of it pertains to the year. The state even has the wrong year for the boat. At some point in the past it was registered as a 1972 Alumacraft and that was that. However, it's actually a 19569 Alumaline according to the number stamped on the bow cap, the fact the side says "Alumaline" and by comparing it to other boats of the same make and model. Also, the Alumaline boats were made by Alumacraft for only 2 years, 1959 and 1960.

 

[gsh]

That's kind of what I'm thinking. And oars might be the be the only thing that boat is good for. The transom on my 12' Lund is 15 1/2 inches and it doesn't look like the transom of that boat is anywhere near that.

EDIT: I see the OP stated the transom is 16".

Definitely 16". I actually used a tape measure.

What make it look so short is that the bottom of the boat goes from a V in the front to a flat bottom in the back.

 

[gsh]

I think you already have a drain if you have the same brand and model as the SmugMug pics. It's in the hull beneath the rotted deck.

Yes, that drain is there, but it is VERY small and plugs with small debris very easily. Also, since it is not at the actual back of the boat at the bottom of the transom, but 6" forward of the transom, it always leaves a little water in the boat.

A modern style drain plug would not only drain faster and clog less, it would empty more of the water.

 

[GA_Boater]

One advantage and the purpose of the drain where it is and the small reverse scoop underneath is you can pull the plug and drain while underway. Not stopped because that is the same as launching with transom drain plug out. S-O-S.

Those small drains work well, just keep the inside clean and it will act as a bilge pump of sorts.

 

[gsh]

One advantage and the purpose of the drain where it is and the small reverse scoop underneath is you can pull the plug and drain while underway. Not stopped because that is the same as launching with transom drain plug out. S-O-S.

Those small drains work well, just keep the inside clean and it will act as a bilge pump of sorts.

I understand the idea behind it, but it's not working well.

I haven't had the boat out on the water yet since I haven't found a motor or done the necessary repairs, but it has been rains a LOT up here and there has never been a time that I've been out to that boat and not found the back end holding water between the drain and the transom.

South Dakota, as well as most other states, are VERY fussy about your boat not transporting water from one lake to another and being completely drained before leaving the dock area to prevent transporting invasive species. My little Alumacraft even got inspected and I was told to dry up the half cup of water in the stern before leaving by the game warden.

Putting in a larger plug isn't going to hurt the value of the boat and will make it easier to drain any water that might get in the boat. Plus, it's cheap to have done.