'58 atom skier topsides question

Ed,
They were bright. Someone probably painted it at one time because they allowed the deck to go bad.

OK, we need pictures!!!!!

Welcome to CCfan. Tell us more about the project.

Ed,
Be prepared for a down to the frame restoration. That's not glue between the frames and hull but rather a bedding compound CC used to fill uneven gaps and they hoped would provide some adhesion. It's a talc and linseed oil compound that dried out within several years. We refer to it as "dumb-dumb" and it being needed after the "finishing" hatchets were used on the frames at the factory!!    When you tear into the forward section of the hull, you'll understand better.

If the bottom has been glassed, be prepared for rot under it but you'll be replacing the ply anyway.

The standard Atom would have been painted hull sides and Fir ply. The Deluxe would have been bright with Mahogany hull sides. Both as mention would have been bright decks.

If you go bright on the hull sides, your biggest challenge will be scarfing the mahogany ply to make up the long length needed. Modern plys face veneer being only about 1/64" doesn't allow for any sanding. Any epoxy from the scarf joint that gets on the face will not allow the stain to "take". The ply needs to be pre stained and several coats of varnish before the scarf joint is made. The deck is butt blocked but the hull sides need the scarf.

Are you sure someone dropped a 289 in the boat? You could have a 256 Y block with that Dearbo! Does it have a single side draft Carter YH carb on it? That combination was available in the later years when the Atom was lengthened to handle the larger engines. What is the length? It will help to confirm the year.

Keep the pictures coming.

here is the motor

At first I was kind of hoping with a lot of penetrating epoxy and filler I could will this old boat back together... but I soon realized I would need to do complete restoration. I still can't believe my wife gave me the green light, probably because I didn't show her any photos... the boat seemed pretty complete with the chrome parts and I have the original gas tank. The guy who did the transplant put the dearbo shifter up on the dash in front of the steering wheel.

I'll get another closeup shot soon.
Were the deluxe models mahogany planked on plywood with a planked deck with caulked seams? Most of the restored atoms I've seen have a mahogany plywood deck?

Ed,
They were all ply decks - even the deluxe.

Billy,
Yes, that's a unusual location for the shift!

Ed,
Yes, that's the first hull length/model of the Atom. Same as mine. They were lengthened 6" for the 6's and then again for the V8's.

Have you had a chance to take a look at the old brochures in the reference section as well as the diaries? Although there are gaps in the info, still allot.

Ed,
Is Steve Burkett's 58 in the diaries? I couldn't find it! I just wanted to take a look at it to make sure you don't do something non original!

Making some progress! I was able to flip the boat without everything self-destructing, and have removed old topsides and bottom panels. Now on to replacing the stem, keel, and frames...