which boat do i pick!?

[Scovbert]

hey guys, i recently was given a 15' 1966 wellcraft R1500V runabout all fiberglass with a 1966 johnson 33hp super sea horse outboard. The problem is the boat has no trailer so i was talking to a friend of mine and he said he had a trailer i could have but there is a boat on the trailer i have to take it too....so i went to look at it today and it turned out to be a 1961 16' larson all american with a 1973 johnson 50hp outboard. Heres the delema so ive been working on the wellcraft for the past 2 weeks and i really do love the boat as far as looks go, but the larson is just so different. It seems to me like the larson would be a ton of work although the main components seem to be strong such as the haul and transom. He did say he wouldnt be surprised if the floor were to be shot. Both boats are mostly all original, and the wellcraft has the original boat motor combo where as the larson doesnt. My friend also said that the larson couldnt get out of its own way with that 50hp on it...anyway i guess the final question is do i keep going on the wellcraft keep the trailer and motor and junk/sell the larson or do i keep the larson on its trailer and restore it and sell the wellcraft combo?

also does anyone know the max hp size on a 16' larson?

 

[mr 88]

Re: which boat do i pick!?

I would get the free combo,inspect the floor as everything may be waterlogged and that's why it can't get out of it's own way.Slip the Larson off the trailer after removing engine.Then put the Wellcraft on the trailer and slap the 50 on it. Unless I was doing shows and wanted the same year etc. Hold on to the 66 Johnson for that reason. You may have to take the Larson to a dump after you strip it,or decide it's a worthwhile repair,the you can enjoy the Wellcraft while you tackle the resto.

 

[Scovbert]

Re: which boat do i pick!?

yea from what i've read those larsons are notorious for waterlogging and unfortunitly i just dont have room for 2 boats so it looks like one has to go...

 

[Fisherball]

Re: which boat do i pick!?

I ran an '81 Johnson 70 hp on a '61 15' Larson All American & it worked fine. 33 MPH & sipped gas. I went out 3-2 times a week fishing & put gas in it every 4-5 weeks with an 18 gallon tank. The boat was waterlogged & rotted.

 

[emoney]

Re: which boat do i pick!?

Assuming that both boats need a complete resoration, just based on their age, then I don't think anyone can answer this question but you. It's simple, really; which one do you like the best? I'd enter into it assuming they both need to be taken all the way down to the stringers, so the work load is the same. Now, I'd probably keep as many parts as I could off the one I chose not to keep to include the outboard, controls, railings, cleats, etc. etc. Pick the best trailer between the two and then get rid of whatever's left. Don't assume you're going to get much for a gutted hull on a crappy trailer, and I'd go so far as to say that combo may end up in the local dump. But, you'll have "extras", because you'll eventually need them.

Good luck.

 

[Scovbert]

Re: which boat do i pick!?

the wellcraft doesnt need to much at all...its actually solid all the way around. I am only taking the larson because of the trailer as the wellcraft doesnt have one. The larson has a ton of nice parts on it i could use for the wellcraft, but i was trying to keep the wellcraft somewhat original. Today i finished up the cable and pully steering, but the larson has telefelx which is in working order might make more sense to switch it over if i all worked out length wise. I have done a lot to clean up this wellcraft, it just bothers me to strip down an old classic like the larson and scrap it i guess. Theres no doubt i like the wellcraft more and it needs less....i guess ill take what i can and scrap the larson.

 

[Scovbert]

Re: which boat do i pick!?

was wondering if anyone could help me out finding more info on my wellcraft...i assume it is a 66 because thats the year of the motor and its the original combo. It does have a plate on it with a serial #, model #, and max motor size but nothing that indicates the boats actual year...ive tried googling the model # and i get nothing and i've searched this website and got no hits. Can anyone help me find more info or does anyone have the same boat? Wellcraft R1500V.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: which boat do i pick!?

Wellcraft is a well-made boat with a good reputation, especially the old ones. Either of those old Johnsons are good; the 33 was the perfect match on a 13' whaler back in the day so if it's running you should be able to sell it.

 

[Scovbert]

Re: which boat do i pick!?

Wellcraft is a well-made boat with a good reputation, especially the old ones. Either of those old Johnsons are good; the 33 was the perfect match on a 13' whaler back in the day so if it's running you should be able to sell it.

Yea that old 33hp runs good i just installed a new water pump last week starts on the 3rd pull every time.

 

[emoney]

Re: which boat do i pick!?

I wouldn't worry so much about "keeping it original". Unlike a classic car, an older boat's value increases based on usability. Nothing wrong with having a 1966 boat with a 2006 motor, for example. Finish the Wellcraft and use the best motor of the two and enjoy the heck out of it.

 

[southkogs]

Re: which boat do i pick!?

Older boats of that vintage ran all kinds of HP ratings. We had a runabout that was a 14' with a 35HP that we would ski behind, and later a 15' that was at the low end of it's power range with a 70HP (though it would pull a couple of skiers). If you're going for looks, style and I can get it back on the water it sounds like the Wellcraft is the way. If you're wanting more than a "vintage" boat for the fun of a "vintage" boat ... decide which you like better.

I'd be tempted to look over that Larson and part it out instead of scrap it completely. And I think I might just hang on to the OB to either part out or use later.

My 2? ... enjoy!