New life for 56 Bell Boy cruiser

[Artpop]

Re: New life for 56 Bell Boy cruiser

Thanks Andgott, Vegas, and Utah. To us, this boat is the cat's meow. Can't wait to be on the water. Check out the Bell Boy ad attached. Two Johnson 35HP. Is this what your neighbor had Utah? They came stock from the factory this way.

Anybody got any ideas for the deck drainage?

 

[Utahboatnut]

Re: New life for 56 Bell Boy cruiser

That looks identical to the one my neighbor had, even as a kid I though it was such a neat boat even though my dad had a very nice boat at the time. When I was about 20 I was looking to buy something to get me out on the water and looked at one very similar to yours but it had more wood rather than paint(or whatever that is) it wasn't a chris craft but kind of reminded me of a cross between yours and a chris. I was to young and dumb to realize the potential the boat had so I passed on it. Probably could have bought it for a couple hundred with the trailer and the guy said it ran. Just didn't have the knowledge then, was more into restoring GTO's etc than a cool old boat. Hope to see pics of yours finished, my son is about the same age as yours and we spend ALOT of time on the water as I did growing up and they are memories that will be with he and I forever. I skiied competatively growing up so I think some has rubbed off on him he was on a kneeboard at 5, skiis at 6, and now been wakeboarding for a couple of years, so that is what santa will be bringing him for Xmas this year..

 

[Artpop]

Re: New life for 56 Bell Boy cruiser

Have not posted in a long time. Just wanted to throw some more pix up. Still plugging away. Bulkheads all done. Sole is done. Mostly working on the Vee berth and cabin area now. I just scored a B-load of African Mahogany from a cabinet shop going out of business. Free. Yeah. We plan on having a good amount of brightwork throughout.

 

[sprintst]

Re: New life for 56 Bell Boy cruiser

Great job restoring that cool boat. Thumbs up to looking after that family and giving the boat a new home. With that kind of karma that boat will look after you for years to come.

Make sure to get some pics to the family to show them how well you are doing...

 

[badkins50]

Re: New life for 56 Bell Boy cruiser

Pretty amazing. It was nice going back through and read the original seller post and then reading the buyers info and restore. Looking great! I have to agree with tashasdaddy though, if that was here on the east coast it would have been a race. Good luck.

 

[Artpop]

Re: New life for 56 Bell Boy cruiser

I took a few pix of the cabin/berth progress. Then I merged the photos together in Photoshop to get this cool wide-angle shot. Next comes the cabinetry etc. using the mahogany we scored off craigslist. Woodworking is so much more enjoyable than fiberglassing.

 

[Artpop]

Re: New life for 56 Bell Boy cruiser

It rained today, which means it was a perfect day to work on the boat. We got some quality father son time. Here are some pix.

 

[Rubyat56]

Re: New life for 56 Bell Boy cruiser

another 1956 Bellboy

 

[Artpop]

Re: New life for 56 Bell Boy cruiser

Back at it, with more spare time. Still working on the cabin/berth. We really enjoy this sort of diversion. Just wish there was more headroom. My back is sore.

View attachment 122445View attachment 122446View attachment 122447View attachment 122448View attachment 122449

 

[zopperman]

Re: New life for 56 Bell Boy cruiser

yer pics didnt work buddy.

Cool boat, glad to see you sticking it through!!

 

[Artpop]

Re: New life for 56 Bell Boy cruiser

Thanks, not sure wuz up with the pix?? Try these.