Leo Bentz, Ski Nautique and Boat #1 |
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KENO
Grand Poobah Joined: June-06-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 10719 |
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I think you should tell them that Boat #1 is a Glass Craft Ski Nautique
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ultrarunner
Platinum Member Joined: October-02-2005 Location: Ridgefield, Ct. Status: Offline Points: 1809 |
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Hey gang, this just posted on the Nautique FB page, with the following caption:
"The First Correct Craft to ever have "Nautique" on it! NAUTIQUE #1". |
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FLCaptain
Groupie Joined: February-10-2019 Location: Orlando Status: Offline Points: 45 |
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What a cool story
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Nautique2001BC
Newbie Joined: December-20-2020 Location: Kentucky Status: Offline Points: 4 |
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What an awesome story. Can’t wait to see more pics of restoration!!
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Regards,
Brandon Cruse Central KY Inboards 859-396-0518 |
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ArtCozier
Platinum Member Joined: April-25-2012 Location: Orlando FL Status: Offline Points: 1023 |
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Since this discussion piqued my own interest, I Googled (actually duck-ducked) "Gemmer steering box" and found out that 1929-1932 Model "A" Fords used the Gemmer worm-gear boxes. They were used in some Morgans, Land Rovers, and other vehicles. The photos show exactly the box that CC used in the old boats.
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"Art"
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tryathlete
Platinum Member Joined: April-19-2013 Location: Lake Villa, IL Status: Offline Points: 1797 |
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United Technologies, Sheller Globe steering wheels were the standard issue wheel used on tractors and heavy truck through the 70’s until the company I worked for at the time (Vehicle Improvement Products) provided self skinning urethane molded steering wheels.
Sheller Globe made a good $10 steering wheel and they held up well in outdoor applications like this old boat.
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ArtCozier
Platinum Member Joined: April-25-2012 Location: Orlando FL Status: Offline Points: 1023 |
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Pete, I don't doubt that the wheel and column may have been made by a different named manufacturer, or perhaps there was some sort of subsidiary, but about 20 years ago when I was gathering parts for my '63, the steering box was literally falling apart, and I asked Mr. Ralph if he remembered the name of the company that made them, and he instantly said, "Gemmer," and added that they were in Minnesota. He then told me that the reason he remembered that name so well was that they were one of the very last companies that he visited for the purpose of paying off Correct Craft's debt from the bankruptcy. I later cleaned up the one that came out of the '63 and found that the housing had "Gemmer" embossed on the cast iron. Maybe it was a situation similar to the Saginaw - General Motors relationship. |
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"Art"
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ArtCozier
Platinum Member Joined: April-25-2012 Location: Orlando FL Status: Offline Points: 1023 |
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To Leo's credit, other than a couple of blisters on the cast aluminum housing on the Morse control, the 1965 SN that I bought from him in 1966 had been used at the ski school, but showed no signs whatsoever of having been in saltwater. I know from talking with some of his former staff members that he stayed "on" them constantly about cleaning and preserving the boats.
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"Art"
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Gary S
Grand Poobah Joined: November-30-2006 Location: Illinois Status: Offline Points: 14096 |
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So not only did Leo create the Ski Nautique but also the Coastal Edition as well
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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Art, Sheller isn't a boat brand. It's the manufacturer of the wheel, collumn, and gear box used on many WWII vehicals and then the surplus on many boats. ALL the 40's 50's and then some 60's CC's used them
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ArtCozier
Platinum Member Joined: April-25-2012 Location: Orlando FL Status: Offline Points: 1023 |
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Yes, it had a length of brass pipe that went from the pittman arm to the tiller arm. I have seen later ones (such as my 1963) that had galvanized pipe. Remember, Leo operated his ski school on salt water, so maybe for boats that he built to use there got the brass.
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"Art"
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ArtCozier
Platinum Member Joined: April-25-2012 Location: Orlando FL Status: Offline Points: 1023 |
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Not familiar with Sheller. Is that a boat brand? The boat that I referred to was a Leo Bentz built Ski Nautique that I used in my ski school operation 1968 to 1972. The photo of the wheel looks exactly like the one that was on that boat.
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"Art"
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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Was it a Sheller that used 1/2" gal. pipe from the box to the tiller arm? If, so, then like many boats built after WWII, it was war surplus mostly from building Jeeps.
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ArtCozier
Platinum Member Joined: April-25-2012 Location: Orlando FL Status: Offline Points: 1023 |
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Is there a photo of the current wheel on this thread somewhere?
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"Art"
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ArtCozier
Platinum Member Joined: April-25-2012 Location: Orlando FL Status: Offline Points: 1023 |
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No, the wheel is definitely not manufactured by Gemmer. Only the box itself is from them. For the column itself, steel tubing about 3/4" outside diameter. For the column tubing. The wheel itself I think it was whatever was at hand. The boat that I owned that used that steering system had a black plastic three-spoke wheel. It looked a lot like the steering wheel off of an old tractor. It must have had a steel core in it, because it was really heavy. You could stick a finger through it and give it a healthy spin, and it would take the steering from lock to lock. Great for docking situations.
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"Art"
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Hussler
Gold Member Joined: February-04-2012 Location: - Status: Offline Points: 895 |
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Art, do you recognize the steering wheel? Its not Gemmer brand too Is it?
The column works nice, I just greased it. The steering wheel though is boardline. If I could get a slightly better condition one of the same style/brand/year I would. Or maybe there's a way to gently preserve it with some resin? I'm just afraid as soon as it gets used again it will flake apart |
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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I sure agree with that. It's amazing what 13 years has done to my memory!
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KENO
Grand Poobah Joined: June-06-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 10719 |
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Nothing like a stroll down memory lane
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Riley
Grand Poobah Joined: January-19-2004 Location: Portland, ME Status: Offline Points: 7952 |
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Gosh, that thread brought back memories. Our 1st project. Every job was a big deal back then. You would not believe how many tools we have bought in the past 12 years... Eric did a great job on the rebuild. The father and son team had no interest in re building them for anyone else, although they were helpful with information.
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KENO
Grand Poobah Joined: June-06-2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 10719 |
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Pete I don't think it's totally new, just forgotten, click on the link below from 2007, where you mention hearing of a couple of down angle Dearbomatics and a couple people that have some knowledge of them. First post in the thread. The rest of the thread has some good Dearbo info too. It looks like Riley's photo says it has a 10 degree down angle like he mentioned and it's a reduction gear transmission too. Maybe that father and son team is still dealing with the Dearbomatics if Hussler goes that route I think the Italians and PCM blatantly borrowed some ideas from that transmission
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Riley
Grand Poobah Joined: January-19-2004 Location: Portland, ME Status: Offline Points: 7952 |
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[QUOTE=ArtCozier]I don't think the transmission pictured above is a down-angle, but rather a drop-center, meaning that the centerline of the input shaft is offset from that of the output shaft. It is an advantage if more clearance is needed below the engine.
Hard to read from photo I posted, but angle is 10 degrees offset, per manual "The 10 degree downward angle of the output shaft permits engine mounting closer to the horizontal, conserving installation space"
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ArtCozier
Platinum Member Joined: April-25-2012 Location: Orlando FL Status: Offline Points: 1023 |
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"Art"
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ArtCozier
Platinum Member Joined: April-25-2012 Location: Orlando FL Status: Offline Points: 1023 |
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Huss, the Interceptors had wooden spacers between the mounts and the stringers. They were sort of wedge-shaped. I might still have a photo of my '65 with the Interceptor arrangement. Also, I have some Interceptor mounts. Shoot me a photo of the mounts you have; what I have might solve your problem.
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"Art"
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Hussler
Gold Member Joined: February-04-2012 Location: - Status: Offline Points: 895 |
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Also heres some interesting things tearing her apart.
Its a foamed boat! Must have been one of the firsts The floor had a SINGLE layer of fiberglass cloth on it and NOTHING on the opposite side of the ply! Can't believe it 'mostly' lasted 60 years. The motor cover, this one's funny, just gel over plywood. It looks like it cracked several times over the years and they just kept spraying over it. I've reinforced it from the inside with Coosa and cloth to keep it from shredding apart. It doesn't look awesome but it will hold up fine. They probably didn't understand much about the properties of gel back then. I have not been able to identify the steering wheel/steering column. No manufacturers print anywhere on it. Also, no steering limiter, either direction. Allows the rudder to go completely 90 both ways The back transom is actually wood. I have no idea why. The speedo is like the first aquameter ever. It's difficult to even find pictures of it. It has a tracking fin. Looks just as deteriorated as the strut, maybe original? The front bow eye is actually through bolted through the bottom of the boat with carriage bolts, just like a wooden boat. The stringers are pretty much the best fiberglassing job I've even seen. Looks vacuum formed, not a single imperfection |
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ArtCozier
Platinum Member Joined: April-25-2012 Location: Orlando FL Status: Offline Points: 1023 |
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I don't think the transmission pictured above is a down-angle, but rather a drop-center, meaning that the centerline of the input shaft is offset from that of the output shaft. It is an advantage if more clearance is needed below the engine. The Italian-built transmission that we used beginning in 1989 is both a drop-center and down-angle combined. (BTW we no longer use it because Velvet Drive has come up with a better mousetrap that is built like a battle tank. Most of the parts in in look verrrry velvet drive-ish. It is known as the Series 80, and it drops right in where the Italian one (known as Series 40) came out. You do have to change out the drive plate and the oil cooler.
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"Art"
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Hussler
Gold Member Joined: February-04-2012 Location: - Status: Offline Points: 895 |
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The pic Riley posted is the one I saw in a boneyard once, thats probably what it once had. The problem on number #1 is the motor is too low when you try to put it where it 'was' and 1.) the bellhousing hits the hull 2.) The orginal style motor mounts are crazy low and don't catch the top of the stringers. 3.) The exhaust that far back is going to cause some real interference with the motor cover How far I have the motor forward actually resembles how 50s Resorters/Coronados were built, with the pulleys 'under' the seat back |
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Riley
Grand Poobah Joined: January-19-2004 Location: Portland, ME Status: Offline Points: 7952 |
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Pete, it's in the same manual that was on the site for years.
I know someone that has encountered one and it was in a Correct Craft.
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8122pbrainard
Grand Poobah Joined: September-14-2006 Location: Three Lakes Wi. Status: Offline Points: 41040 |
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Bruce,
Wow, that Dearbo is a new one on me. I've never seen one and considering that's an artist rendering, I wonder how many were made? The reduction add on adds length so it still may not solve the problem with SN #1?
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Riley
Grand Poobah Joined: January-19-2004 Location: Portland, ME Status: Offline Points: 7952 |
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Hussler
Gold Member Joined: February-04-2012 Location: - Status: Offline Points: 895 |
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Don't worry, I won't do anything that would detract from the overall aesthetic. I want every part period correct. When somebody sees the boat in person I want them to feel like it hasn't been touched on 60 years. But I do want it to be very reliable so it can be taken to special events and people can get an opportunity to ski/ride in it. If that means ditching a questionable transmission style,, i think that's what's best. You guys are all invited for a ride once its good enough to bring to a meet. Scott, yes I do still want that windshield. Sorry for my radio silence, Covid has made it impossible to take a break from work. I may just have to pay to you to pack it up and ship it along with however much you need for it. Art, this must of had some sort of angled transmission, both the Dearborn and velvet are a mile away from where the motor needs to go. I ordered a 57" driveshaft from elberts. The one that was in it definitely wasn't original, a 51" which is very similar to what was in most 1990+ Nautiques? Bob Cleary did have a 302 with a velvet in it last time it moved |
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