Thought I had a late 1950s FDR. But it says FDS

[Smccarthy]

I'm trying to learn more about this boat, so I'm hoping to tap into the expertise of this group. I just bought an old AlumaCraft from the late 1950s or so. I thought it was an FDR (for Flying D - Runabout) because it looks exactly like the photos I've seen of old FDRs.

However, I just noticed that the letters stamped into the transom support actually say FDS - 484.

I can't find any info at all on an AlumaCraft "FDS" model. Does anyone know about this, and what the difference is between an FDS and a classic FDR?

I've attached a few photos. Thanks for nay info you can provide!

 

[Vintage Aluminum]

Re: Thought I had a late 1950s FDR. But it says FDS

Looks like the FDR that I have. Same sweep line of the spray rail, same longer bow cover, same transom setup, same seat bottoms. There was no boat labeled FDS in the 50s...perhaps it was a mis-hit by the stamp? They had a Flying D, but I don't recall what the stampings were on that boat. And, if it were one of those one would find holes in the center of the boat on the top rails where the center dividers were. I don't have a good explanation for it...except for the mis-stamp? Others?

Vintage Aluminum

 

[Smccarthy]

Re: Thought I had a late 1950s FDR. But it says FDS

Yeah, I did wonder about a possible mis-hit of the stamp. But it really does look like an S, not an R.

I've heard that AlumaCraft made various versions of the Flying D up until the mid to late 60s. So maybe the S was a later model?

Either way, I do like the lines of this boat and I'm anxious to get it into the water.