Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

[rubberbelly]

Hello all, figure I would get my introduction in and share my project. Thanks to all on the forum, I have been researching posts lately. Needless to say I am excited!

So here is what I have just picked up as a winter project. Pictures from the person who sold it to me.

Now here I am bringing home a 16' 1966 Larson Lapline with a Mercury 950SS.

As you can see there is a lot of work ahead of me and my time will be limited but felt I should post and share for ideas/critiques and most importantly encouragement.

Have always like the looks of the smaller outboard runabouts. Grew up going down to the lake of the Ozarks and spent alot of time on a i/o trihull. Eventually got a 1986 Malibu Sebring, which I got re-upholstered and played with it for several years. Got rid of it to pursue other toys. Eventually got a 14' Glasspar to restore but just didn't have the time to commit to it at the time and got rid of it.

Hope to have it ready for a late spring launch. My oldest girl is excited to learn to ski and the other is a bit timid about boating.

At this time my plan is to get the floor replaced properly along with the transom, then I will move on to the exterior.

Thanks,
Jason

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

Hi Jason , and Welcome , she is going to be a great ride !! Is that the orginal motor for her ?? a 1966 ?? just wondering ?? I got a 100 hp 1962 merc, love it !!

sounds good on your plans !! keep them pics comming , were all here to help all we can !! John

 

[rubberbelly]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

Is that the orginal motor for her ?? a 1966 ?? just wondering ??

Yes it is all original, all 1966. While cleaning it out I even found the operators manual for the engine. It was a bit oil soaked.

 

[kbomb]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

Jason, Good luck on the project! It looks like a great candidate for a restoration. I also love the looks of those old runabouts. Can't wait to see your progress.

 

[rubberbelly]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

So we made some progress today removing the floor although I got side tracked and removed gauges/wiring/controls/windshield. Even got the steering cable moving, it was froze in place, it wasn't lubricated anymore as the grease had turned tacky!

Was expecting to see more stringers than what is there but I guess it is a small boat after all.... That wet wood was heavy. Previous owner had put a quick fix in at some time or another for the failing original floor.

Hope to get the engine pulled off soon then I will seperate the two halves.

 

[zach103]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

looks really clean

 

[WizeOne]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

.....Was expecting to see more stringers than what is there but I guess it is a small boat after all....

Don't think those old Larsons needed much in the way of stringers, just something to anchor the floor to. Those hulls were built like tanks.

 

[waterwezl]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

Howdy do there and welcome! That's a good lookin' old boat ya got there! My grandpa had one real similar when I was growing up in Arkansas. I loved that old boat. Eventually it fell apart and it sat until the trailer rotted out from under it. I managed to salvage the bow light and intend to finish my current project off with it. Grandpa may be gone but at least a part of his love for boats will live on guiding mine around!

Good luck with the restoration and again Welcome!!!!

Jason.

 

[rubberbelly]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

Alright, so excuse me as I talk to myself here for a few moments as I tend to overthink things, wanted to put them in writing somewhere before I forget....

So the goal is to rebuild the boat to make it last and you know nothing about fiberglassing. Stringers definately need replacing and even though you haven't made it to the transom, my guess is it will need replacement as well.

There are lots of threads on how to fiberglass but I think you should reconsider Seacast. Your initial reaction was it was expensive but is it really compared to the items required to fiberglass everything in?

Here are the two options currently under consideration:

1. Just put it back as it was and fiberglass in some wood. Fiberglass mat, resin, wood (won't even go into the which type can of worms debate since it is addressed all over the forum), time, etc.

2. Dive in and put in Seacast, requires more prep but looks to be stronger, faster, easier, possibly even less of a mess overall.

So I'll go measure the transom and stringers tonight.

 

[rubberbelly]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

Thanks for the comments guys.

Last night I researched engine stands and think Imay use an automotive engine stand that is setting in the garage with nothing to do. If that doesn't work, I'll build a complete stand.

Until I get the motor off there is not much I can get done on it so I am getting restless.

Jason

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

Great picks but makes me miss my 14 runabout I sold with my 65 Merc a few months ago. Looking forward to the project pics.

 

[rubberbelly]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

Good luck finding your next project Nelson!

Had some good times last weekend! Satuday I made the engine bracket to mount.

On Sunday, the Pops came over and getting the engine on the stand went rather quickly so we decided to go ahead and pull the cap off, how difficult could that be?

VERY!

The rub rail had some stuborn screws so some of those heads were removed with an angle grinder and a cut off disk. Next were staples that were holding the top and bottom halves together. Not sure what to do when I put this back together.

Not too bad, time consuming but not bad. What it won't lift off!?!?!? Looks like they put resin inside to keep them from coming apart. Needless to say it took most of a day.


Everyone say it with me, "ahhhh, just as I expected for a 42 year old boat." Sorta explains the 1/4" aluminum plate someone put on the inside and outside of the transom where the engine mounts.

Haven't done anymore probably won't be till November 1 or 2 before I get back to anything

We are almost past the part I hate which is tearing it all down.

Jason

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

That looks like a solid transom. Throw a piece of 1/8" plywood on it, mount it up and go for a ride

Looks like you've got a great project ahead of you.

Love the engine stand. Was thinking of building one out of wood, but is that a commercial stand (I've never seen anything but the sawhorse setup but then again I'm a computer guy, who wants to tinker)

 

[rubberbelly]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

Yeah I set at a puter all day long too but I didn't want to go buy any materials and didn't want to store another contraption once the project is done.

Came up with this idea as I was out measuring to make a stand out of wood as well. Looked over and saw the automotive engine stand setting there with nothing to do. So I added the 2"x2" (1/8") angle to the stand, bolted in a 2x10 and called it good.

 

[sandys1969]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

I just got my son and I a 1966 "I believe that is the year". We are restoring the poor old thing ourselves. I could not stop laughing when I saw your page because our boat looks just like yours "all torn apart". I have some major plans for this boat.

 

[Kevin O'Connell]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

I've got one of these boats and have done the transom repair- cut out all the old glass and wood leaving the outside glass in place, putting marine plywood back in place 1-3/4" thick bonded together and glassed back in place.
I still run a brace across the transom since I'm running a jack plate with a 115 hp Johnson.
I've redone the interior and paint several times since I bought the boat in 1985. I've had thousands of hours of fun in her though.
She's got a new trailer that I lucked into from a friend that managed a dealership- I got it brand new, galvanized single axle trailer for $750.
I'm in the process of fixing a rotten place in the floor this year and hope to have her back in the water this spring.
I'll post pics soon.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

That Larson is a real classic. I love those old runabouts too. My '65 MFG Niagara is just a blast to drive, especially with just myself and one passenger. Kind of like the sports cars of the water. These old runabouts were quick, nimble and just plain old fun.

Good luck with it, and keep posting pictures!

 

[rubberbelly]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

Well post some pics of the Larson and give me some inspiration! I have been holding off spending any $ right now.

The boat is tore down completely, trying to decide on how I want to put it back together. The transom I am still going back and forth between pourable and wood/fiberglass laminate.

Then the whole floor thing. It had foam with no stringers, but had a 1x12 layed over on its side as the main support between the foam and the floor. The seats had lag type bolts which comprised the seal, trying to figure out how to mount the seats without creating issues later.

Hopefully the trash man took the ol seats today

 

[LARSON69]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

Hey there, that boat looks alot like mine except I have a Tri-Hull Shark. The stringers/transom look identical and I'm in the process of restoring mine as well. I also noticed that you have a Holsclaw trailer too I believe. I have a Holsclaw also and it's a really good old trailer. Good luck with your project!

 

[Ironpig]

Re: Project Rubberbelly Rebirth - 1966 Larson Lapline

Hi,
i have the exact same boat with the exact same trouble. The stringers were white cedar at 1x10 inches, not the same as commercial lumber these days which isn't 1x10. I cut the tops of the stringers off and am laying new foa and red cedar stringer caps, then fiberglassing over the top of that. I am holding off getting going on it again till the weather warms up and i don't need the garage for the vehicles.