Is my boat really a 1965?

[gran398]

Exactly. Well stated my brother.

You have a title dating from '65, original state of issue. We have previously established a strong dealer link from Florida to Maryland, Ct, and Mass.   Based upon your pics, she is period original. From the correct console to the green gel finishing rough interior sides to the foredeck cleat. Whether she is a '65....first fifteen or so of production...we'll never know. But really doesn't matter, part of the mystique. All production records were destroyed by fire.

I'm with Fitz. Keep her as original as possible. And to reiterate, if you'd like to sell, I'd like first shot.

Sweet boat, thanks for sharing.

[Gt30691stang]

That is basically my plan is to keep it as original as I can while restoring it. The modifications I planned on was a t-top which I have but not installed yet and a jack plate. There several things that need to be addressed and I have found a lot of excellent info here so that I can tackle this rebuild properly. A few sections on the bow railing are damaged I have access to industrial pipe bender and I plan ordering some 6061 t6 aluminum tubing through work to fix or replicate with all new tubing. I am missing the original windshield that I believe this console had as well as the consoles front seat. The teak rod holders are in really bad shape will most likely use the best one I have as a template to duplicate them. But the biggest task is the floors and transom. Where the original seat post goes the floor is rotted and a 2x3 piece of plywood was put down to prevent further damage to the floor. The port side near the transom is slightly squishy. The transom feels solid hung 400lbs on top of the johson and gave it some tugs and shakes and there is no movement/flex but there is a crack across the top edge which I have filled with fiber glass resin to prevent the weather getting in and further damage it. The reason I really was looking to find out if it indeed is a 65 would be to determine if I would do the transom and floors myself, I will leave this up to someone who is experienced with these boats and not any Joe Shmoe boat builder so that it is done correct.

[Gt30691stang]

[Gt30691stang]

[Gt30691stang]

The previous owner had the boat for several yrs before his wife was diagnosed with MS so the boat was sent to a boat yard and unfortunately the boat has spent the last ten yrs exposed to the brutal cape cod winters siting in a boat yard under a tree.

[RickK]

That is basically my plan is to keep it as original as I can while restoring it. .... The reason I really was looking to find out if it indeed is a 65 would be to determine if I would do the transom and floors myself, I will leave this up to someone who is experienced with these boats and not any Joe Shmoe boat builder so that it is done correct.

I guess I don't understand what you are saying - if it was a '66 would you farm it out or do it yourself?  Your skills won't change nor should your decision to do it yourself based on the year.  If you have basic carpentry skills and a creative, researching mind, you'll find this is really not too hard.

[Gt30691stang]

As far as my skills I am a good mechanic so when it comes to engine builds, wiring and machining custom parts I have that part pretty much covered. As far as carpentry skills I'm not bad but I would not call myself a professional just do not do it everyday. I currently work as Swiss CNC machinist so I am a perfectionist most of my parts I can hold .0001 tolerance throughout out the entire production run and as little as .00006-.00007 for 50 or so parts depending on speeds feeds and material. But when it comes to body work I was never really good at it and have not worked much with fiberglass so I would not want to use this boat as my 1st real in depth attempt at it! if it happened to be an early 70s I may have attempted and not feel so bad if I made a mistake. I really would like to restore it correct! I'm considering doing the bimmini top that I think it originally had and around the bow above the forward deck there are buttons for I believe for fabric cover and would like to get that made again unless I can find original items vs replicating I have helped restore several classic cars so I have some experience in bringing something original back to life but nothing like this! I just don't feel comfortable enough

[RickK]

I can understand the hesitancy as I was not quite ready for what I got myself into BUT if you take it one step at a time and read through the many rebuilds we have here, you should be fine.  Plenty of FB rebuilds documented here.
You could always sub out stuff like the fairing, paint or re-gelcoat.  The rest is mostly a mechanical approach.

[dburr]

I have some experience in bringing something original back to life but nothing like this! I just don't feel comfortable enough

Have no fear!! You can NOT ruin the hull unless you go at it with a cutting torch and then try and weld on it.. All it will take is time, $$, patience, and research.  You have a great hull to work on.. You can do nothing to that hull that can not be fixed with some grinding and some glass....

[GoneFission]

I'm considering doing the bimmini top that I think it originally had and around the bow above the forward deck there are buttons for I believe for fabric cover and would like to get that made again unless I can find original items vs replicating I have helped restore several classic cars so I have some experience in bringing something original back to life but nothing like this! I just don't feel comfortable enough

I have the bimini from mine that I replaced when I put the t-top on.  It's yours if you want it - and if you are in Mooresville, come on down and get it!  Good to see another local here on CAS!   

[fitz73222]

I also have an extra original bow dodger canvas with bows from a '73 if you want it! Keeps the kids warm....

[Gt30691stang]

Appreciate the extra confidence boost. I have been reading a lot of rebuilds and the differences between how they went about doing them. I am going to continue doing my research till I'm ready, and probably work on my fiberglass skills on some small projects till I feel confident enough to do right so it lasts lol. Gonefission really appreciate it!

[RickK]

That's what this place is all about - good people helping good people.  Nice offer too Fitz 

[Callyb]

I have a couple of observations about the sole and casting deck configurations... Which I suppose they could have changed for production reasons from '65 to '66. The big obvious one is that the hatches on the casting deck along with the side cutouts are totally different. And then the sole should have been molded so that it looks like a grout line (for lack of a better description) runs down the center. Also, I notice that there is a rigging provision visible. If I'm not mistaken this was not introduced until the 12 degree hulls???

Also, a quick side note. My boat came from Mass also. I have paperwork going back to 1980 (reg, sales receipts, etc...) and my title is incorrect also. The two things that stick out on yours is that the length is incorrect and the make wrong (as is mine) and the serial number (state issued?????). I'm not trying to be negative, and please don't take it that way. What I am saying is that you don't need to pay big bucks to have someone else do the work. Honestly, a shop isn't going to give a crap what they do compared to the level of care you will do to make sure your rebuild is right.

On the flip side, the holes where the I.D. plate should be are 1000% in the correct spot!

Good luck with her!

[Gt30691stang]

Appreciate the observations, if you could post pics of the differences I would really appreciate it! There are many things that may have been added over the yrs that are not original like the hand rails definitely not even for a boat and I have not seen the pieces of teak by the hand rails on any other boat. I have emailed the Boston boat reg. office about the things you mentioned waiting for a response. In my serial # msz00165.... I have been told 2 different things not sure which it is, the 00165 is the exact serial from the previous title before it was given the full MSZ.... Serial # from mass. The other was that it was the 165th boat to be considered homemade that yr so I'm not sure what to make of the #??? With having the boat redone by someone else to have it done right I only ment someone who has extensive knowledge with these boat. Example if you have a 1967 split window corvette you would never go to maaco for the body work and you would find a classic restoration shop who is experienced with that car! It would be sad to see a 600$ Maaco paint job on car like that is all I'm saying. And not to bash maaco but the saying is you get what you pay for!