Restoration of 1965 Taylor Craft runabout.

[rickou812]

I have officially started the restoration of a 14ft 1965 Taylor Craft runabout. I can not find any info about this boat or the manufacturer. The year and manufacturer is what is listed on the title. I would appreciate any info about this boat that anyone could provide.

I got the boat from my father. It was given to him by a neighboring preacher that wanted it removed from his yard. It has been sitting at my fathers house since 05.

It has numerous prior repairs, and overall not in very good shape. When I brought it home, I had every intention of just throwing on a quick paint job and use it. But my compulsive personality would not let me. The more I sanded, the more I knew it was going to require a complete restoration.

Here is a picture journal for the last week.

I apologize about the poor quality. I also did not get any good pictures of the boat upright, since as stated above, I thought I was going to just paint and ride

 

[rickou812]

Re: Restoration of 1965 Taylor Craft runabout.

This is some pics of prior repairs and damage:

 

[rickou812]

Re: Restoration of 1965 Taylor Craft runabout.

Some more problems:

As can be seen from the pictures, the boat was in need of a complete overhaul rather badly. The gel coat is crazed from bow to stern, stress cracks every where, poorly done previous repairs, etc...

 

[rickou812]

Re: Restoration of 1965 Taylor Craft runabout.

The following pictures show what I have accomplished thus far:

I have decided to remove all the gel coat from the water line down. I plan to reglass, block sand, coat with 5 coats of Interlux Interprotect 2000, prime and paint.

Then I will have to flip upright and remove the cap. Then I will replace the transom and the wood in the cap. And I am sure will find plenty more to repair....

 

[rickou812]

At what point do you scream UNCLE!!

At what point do you scream UNCLE!!

At what point do you scream uncle and give up? So far I really have not invested nothing but time in this boat. It does not have any sentimental value. I believe at this point, it would cost more to repair and restore than it would ever be worth. What do you fellows think?

 

[rickou812]

Re: Restoration of 1965 Taylor Craft runabout.

Every once of wood has rotted and the entire boat was full of termites..

 

[PaulyV]

Re: Restoration of 1965 Taylor Craft runabout.

hang in there!! Thats what most of em look like when you pull the floor out..mine anyways. The fun is just beginning.

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: At what point do you scream UNCLE!!

Re: At what point do you scream UNCLE!!

At what point do you scream uncle and give up? So far I really have not invested nothing but time in this boat. It does not have any sentimental value. I believe at this point, it would cost more to repair and restore than it would ever be worth. What do you fellows think?

Most old school runabouts will cost you more to restore than what they are worth. Mine is an example of that but I knew that before I got into the project. I love the old school runabouts and wanted one for my collection. Here's what I think, SCRAP IT and get something that you don't mind putting some $$$$ into.

 

[rickou812]

Re: At what point do you scream UNCLE!!

Re: At what point do you scream UNCLE!!

Most old school runabouts will cost you more to restore than what they are worth. Mine is an example of that but I knew that before I got into the project. I love the old school runabouts and wanted one for my collection. Here's what I think, SCRAP IT and get something that you don't mind putting some $$$$ into.

You live up to your handle..lol
I am thinking along these lines. This restoration would actually be a total rebuild. The bottom hull needs reglassing, all the wood work needs to be replaced, and the kicker is I do not even have any of the hardware for the boat (winshield, seats, steering, etc...). When I started the project, it seemed to be in better shape than it was. I was figuring some minor hull repairs, maybe a new transom and some paint. But now It seems for the money this boat would need to rebuild, I could get a much newer, more comfortable boat. If this boat had any sentimental value, things would be different, as it sits now, it is only a money pit.

Sure I could rebuild it, and it could be a nice older boat. But nothing in it would be original and it is only 14' with very little actual useable space..

So if anyone live close to Marianna, FL., and would like a project boat that a lot of the hard work has been done, let me know

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: At what point do you scream UNCLE!!

Re: At what point do you scream UNCLE!!

You live up to your handle..lol


Sure I could rebuild it, and it could be a nice older boat. But nothing in it would be original and it is only 14' with very little actual useable space..

So if anyone live close to Marianna, FL., and would like a project boat that a lot of the hard work has been done, let me know

You made a very good choice that you will not regret. That free boat wasn't really free after all

Now, that's out the way, what ya thinking about getting? I say something around 17' to 19' open bow with a working motor?

 

[rickou812]

Re: At what point do you scream UNCLE!!

Re: At what point do you scream UNCLE!!

You made a very good choice that you will not regret. That free boat wasn't really free after all

Now, that's out the way, what ya thinking about getting? I say something around 17' to 19' open bow with a working motor?

I guess great minds think alike .
I can say that by completely disassembling this boat, I have gained experience and knowledge about how to inspect a used boat more thoroughly before buying. I think I have ran across just about everything in this one little 14 footer.

I actually want 2 or 3 boats .
I would like to have a 15 to 16' aluminum stick steer with about 40-50hp for fishing.
A 18 to 20' open bow with 150 to 200 for the long cruises.
And would love to have a party barge/house boat just go out on for the weekend and party like hell...lol.

We can always dream..

It is actually funny, I have had a lot of boats, lost the passion, sold them all. Now I find myself missing them.

I grew up on the Chattahoochee river. I had my first boat at 8 years old. It was a 14 foot home made wood boat with a 4.5 mercury motor.
Since then, I have been through trihulls, ski boats, bass boats, and even had a hydrostream with a 200(now that was a ride).

Sorry for reminiscing...

 

[rickou812]

Re: Restoration of 1965 Taylor Craft runabout.

I do have another question about this boats construction just for the sake of curiosity.

I cleaned all the crap out and got down to the layout of the original wood.

The wood was 1x3's layed flat. The first one was started dead center running length wise from the transom to about 3-4 foot from the nose. The rest was layed side to side. Then a final board was layed on edge down the center. They was only glassed in around the perimeter.

Then a layer glass was layed to make the actual floor.

What I do not understand is the logic behind this design. The wood was not protected in any way from water. It actually was forced to lay in water because the drain whole was above the wood, above the floor.

Now the question is, how could this modified or redesigned in a way that would promote better drainage and protect the wood?

 

[rickou812]

Re: Restoration of 1965 Taylor Craft runabout.

Here is a picture to try to point out what I am saying above:

Here is a shot that gives a view of how the boards where glassed in:

 

[67Runabout]

Re: Restoration of 1965 Taylor Craft runabout.

I have been searching for anyone else with one of these boats and have had NO luck until I found this thread. I recently purchased a 1967 Taylor Craft 15' Runabout with a Merc 80 I/O from my Uncle who bought it from the original owner 3 years ago. The PO purchased this boat new in 1967 from a dealership in Daluth, GA and ran this boat up on Lake Hartwell untill roughly 1997 when it was then placed in storage. The boat has always been kept inside and it is 95% original with everything intact (minus the original fuel tank)....I will try and load up some pics. As for information on the boat and the company who built it...the manufacturer was Consolidated Marine located in LaGrange, GA. This company was only in business for a short amount of time so there is little to no history on it...but it makes these boats hard to come by. They were high-end in their day and my particular model was built as a tribute to the 1967 Mustang, complete with Red paint, rally stripe, 4 white bucket seats and a faux transmission hump! It is a VERY cool survivor and I am really excited to share it with you. I have had her in the water 6-7 times now and the Mercruiser 80 pushes it aroud 40-45 mph...the engine is in perfect working order. There are a few leaks in the transom around the outdrive but nothing the bilege has not been able to handle.

I am interested to see your boat apart as I have questioned a few of the design characteristics as well...mainly the drain hole in the hole and it's poor location. I leave the boat on the trailer with the nose in the air to insure any and all water drains, but am not excited to hear that there was not glassing on or around the 1x3 wood runners under the floor. I can only hope that they are in better condition than what you found! I see that you have passed on your restoration but wanted to share anyways...this is my first post on this forum and wanted to say hello.

 

[67Runabout]

Re: Restoration of 1965 Taylor Craft runabout.

A few more....

 

[67Runabout]

Re: Restoration of 1965 Taylor Craft runabout.

I like how she sits...

 

[bananaboater]

Re: Restoration of 1965 Taylor Craft runabout.

Rick, I hope 67 Runabout's boat is an inspiration. You have a long road ahead but the results will be the reward.

Albert