Please help-- WHAT IS IT?

[rockyrude]

Just got my first project boat, all the important stuff is solid. I would really like to know who made it though. I am believing that the deeper midsection of the trihull will make it better riding. Since it has a 69 motor, it probably was made around then, no HIN or coast guard plate to help.
Thanks in advance.

 

[JB]

Re: Please help-- WHAT IS IT?

Looks like a Chrysler to me.

 

[wire2]

Re: Please help-- WHAT IS IT?

Pictures are rather pixelated, hard to tell. Front looks a lot like my old '74 Glastron V179.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Please help-- WHAT IS IT?

Looks like some sort of "airslot" hull..seems a much deeper V than normal...pretty cool..aint the faintest though

 

[rockyrude]

Re: Please help-- WHAT IS IT?

Wanted to update this post, after a lot of hunting, I've found out this was made by thunderbird boats. Still trying to find out the model though. I understand they got their start in the racing world. Will post when she hits the water.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Please help-- WHAT IS IT?

sure does look like an old Tbird. go to fiberglassics.com brochures.
http://www.fiberglassics.com/thunderbird/thunderbirdb67001.jpg

 

[MikDee]

Re: Please help-- WHAT IS IT?

Well, I had 3 Wellcraft Airslots, and it looks exactly like them from the front, it definitely has an Airslot design hull, but it's abit hard to tell from the side pic it's really pixilated, it does look like a Thunderbird of some type from the side. Either way, Richard Cole designed the Wellcraft Airslot, and shared the design with Thunderbird and it was used on some of their hulls.

 

[rockyrude]

Re: Please help-- WHAT IS IT?

I'm hoping that it'll ride better than a traditional tri-hull, don't know too much about the air slot design.

 

[MikDee]

Re: Please help-- WHAT IS IT?

Everything you ever wanted to know about an Airslot hull design:
http://www.hsmarine.com/WellcraftAirslots/index.htm

 

[sreiner]

Re: Please help-- WHAT IS IT?

That is definitely a Thunderbird cathedral hull. My family has a small collection of these boats. Does it have an open or closed bow? I've got a couple of brochures with all of their models from the late 60's early 70's so I can probably tell you what it is. It looks like an open bow. If so, there were three models: 15'4" Shawnee, 17'0" Seminole, 18'7" Apache. The open bow models started sometime around '69 or '70 and went thru '72. Hope this helps. As for the stringers, my Shawnee has totally encapsulated stringers. The floor was rotten, but the stringers were solid as a rock. I now have a '67 Sioux, but have not gotten into it yet. I assume they are all similar though.

 

[rockyrude]

Re: Please help-- WHAT IS IT?

Thanks for the input. I know it's a '70 and I measured 18'6 and it's open bow so I guess it's an Apache, right? I'm in the middle of redoing the deck now, PO ply over rotted ply. I've seen the stingers totally glassed, just can't tell if they're rotted yet. Old under ply acutally had water puddled in it. I can't find a coast guard plate on it, what do you show for dry weight and max horsepower? It's got a 69 evinrude 115 on it now.Thanks again

 

[sreiner]

Re: Please help-- WHAT IS IT?

Yes, sounds like the Apache. 1970 would make sense. Probably the first year they made those. Here are the stats from my brochure: Centerline length - 18'7", Beam Amidship - 7'3", Max. Depth - 5'6", Weight - 1490 O/B, 2735 I/O, Max. Rec. HP - 135. Sounds like your engine will be perfect for that. These are fairly heavy boats so in my experience you want to be as close to max as possible. I have a Shawnee that has has half the recommended HP on it and it is way underpowered. I have a great picture of your boat from the brochure, but am not sure how to send it. Let me know if you are interested and maybe I can e-mail it to you.

 

[rockyrude]

Re: Please help-- WHAT IS IT?

As soon as I can figure out how to update my profile to accept e-mail I'll let you know, any pictures would be greatly appreciated.