Stepney 2,325 #1 Posted April 24, 2020 (edited) Well.. in light of a total lack of tractor/engine shows likely for this season.. and for once all my jonque happens to be running.. (for now) I set about another project. In light of the recent pandemic, uncle decided to not launch his big old v8 FourWins pleasure boat at the campsite. Instead deciding to borrow Gramp's 1953 Alumacraft for camp duty. Which left me without a putter boat. This lead to a month search for a vintage aluminum boat with forward controls.. bad shoulder always made a tiller steer bothersome anyway. And .. somehow along the way, a local tractor buff heard about my search.. So, a deal was struck that literally fouls every aspect of an aluminum boat for occasional runs.. IE.. easy maintenance, or lack thereof. Virtually bombproof.. Annnd.. I towed home a 1957 Chris Craft! She came with her original 1959 Johnson 40hp outboard in pretty nice shape. (1957 model year, sold as a kit and finished in 1959) Has not seen water in decades. Was kept in a barn. Seems to be very solid. Worst damage is the side trim and one spot atop the bow. Nothing major. Some of the chrome was removed and put in a box, which was found my mice.. so the lamp and side badges need rechroming. It wont be a showboat but it will be seeing a good sealer and repaint. Edited April 24, 2020 by Stepney 5 7 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,766 #2 Posted April 24, 2020 Nice ... looks like a nice vintage trailer to match... now we are gonna need of that motor! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,266 #3 Posted April 24, 2020 35 minutes ago, WHX24 said: Nice ... looks like a nice vintage trailer to match... now we are gonna need of that motor! Nice rig man. Looking forward to seeing it.. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 21,300 #4 Posted April 24, 2020 I love seeing the smaller “lake size” older boats when I’m out on my boat. Always catch my eye with their stylings. My aluminum bass boat is just a boat, no class and no style 7 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stepney 2,325 #5 Posted April 24, 2020 2 minutes ago, Sparky said: I love seeing the smaller “lake size” older boats when I’m out on my boat. Always catch my eye with their stylings. My aluminum bass boat is just a boat, no class and no style No style? Ill show you no style.. Gramp's Alumacraft. I see yours has a pinstripe as well as a side name.. this old lady didn't even have graphics or paint. Just bare dull aluminum. Ours never even had the namesake on the side. Family owned since new. In fact the one color break on it is the (rotten) plywood transom board. Hahaha. 2 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 25,490 #6 Posted April 24, 2020 Nice! Do not see many of the Chris Craft outboards around... nice old trailer too!!! great find!!! Our 1972 Fabuglass runabout is still going strong... very partial to outboards. Way easier to work on and very reliable... 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
8ntruck 6,991 #7 Posted April 25, 2020 Nice! Please keep us updated with pictures. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JCM 9,130 #8 Posted April 25, 2020 This was my first boat a 1994 Alumacraft T-14 S . Installed the optional console and a new 20 HP Merc 2 stroke, Ah the old days, love the smell of a 2 stroke. Doesn't look like they changed to much over the years when reading the specs and the looks. Very well built boat. 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Achto 27,502 #9 Posted April 25, 2020 2 hours ago, Sparky said: My aluminum bass boat is just a boat, no class and no style My first boat was a 14ft Fisher fiberglass boat with a 25hp Merc tiller handle, dubbed the "Chum Bucket" Had a lot of good times & put a lot of fish in that boat. Kind of wish I had it back. 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daddy Don 905 #10 Posted April 25, 2020 My first boat was a flat bottom 10ft with a 10hp Johnson hanging on the back. . Had a lot of fun catching fish. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,266 #11 Posted April 25, 2020 6 hours ago, Daddy Don said: flat bottom 10ft I'd love to have one of those. We're rarely on the water. We use a canoe for now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Daddy Don 905 #12 Posted April 25, 2020 11 hours ago, ebinmaine said: I'd love to have one of those. We're rarely on the water. We use a canoe for now. Canoe are something you can get on the water and hit places boats can't Lucky you 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
