I have restored some old aluminum boats and old mercury motors over the years. When I moved I had one last hull and an accumulation of parts that sat in a shed at my daughter place, they got sick of my crap taking up space and I tried to give the boat away to a friend but it did not work out. I decided I would just finish the project and sell it no need for a 4th boat. It is a 1957 Alumacraft flying D a 14' covered bow aluminum boat rated for a 40 hp motor, pretty bullet proof boat. Dawned on me this morning why just sell it, it the the perfect first boat for my grandson's, they can learn to operate and also have the feeling of flying over the water in their own boat. Way more memories that what I could buy for what I could sell the boat for.
I dont know what it is about that boat, but its has that look. I know where one is that looks kind of like it in a old barn. Makes me want to go and make a offer for it.
Yes! The one i know about is a 50's boat and still has original motor on it. Believe its a mercury and if i remember correctly it had fins on the motor also.
Pretty close to done I just need to add the motor and drill a few more holes. I had 26 holes filled by a welder and ground and buffed them out.
Ha, she reminded me of a classic car with fins. Can't quite remember but a old mercury? Think my father had one when I was 6 or so
I had 28 holes welded shut on the boat, had to grind those flat then buff for hours to hide the welds. Makes my arms sore just looking at it.
I still have a few more fasteners to put in run cables, really not a lot to it. I am not doing anything with the motor till April. Trust me though there will be a little pressure to have the boat ready to go as soon as the dock is in.
The boat weighs 286 pounds, I will have trim tabs on it but the hopped up old mercury is a bit much for a youngster, will have to limit speed somehow. However I will see how fast I can get it to go have 3 props for it, boat is rated for a 30 hp the motor is built to 40ish plus hp. You do not go full throttle into much of a wind, only the last 12-18" of hull will be touching the water at full throttle.
Worthy project. No need to go fast. I see these tournaments and ponder how many fish they go over at 60 mph.
Saw the weigh in for a PWT on Devils Lake once where the first place was taken by a couple of young guys in a 16’ Lund fishing boat with a 25 hp tiller that never got more than half a mile from the launch on either day. Just got lucky I guess.
There is talk that all the sonar and forward looking sonar that fish feel it and are avoiding, who knows.
