Looking at a 1966 Barracuda

Hello Everyone. I am not an owner (yet) but have been looking at the Barracuda and have fallen for it. Something about that boat.

Anyway, I had a look at a '66 Cuda that has been restored. The fellow who has it is a dealer and specializes in wooden boats. He appears to have bought this off someone else and while he has documentation in the form of pictures and manuals, he does not seem to know who did the work. The boat won an award at the Lake Dora Boat Show in Florida and he has the plaque. Not sure how the boat made its way to my corner of New England, and the owner was not particularly forthcoming. The pictures document a complete tear down to the shell - stringers replaced and reglassed. New decks and bulkheads. The Chrysler 318 was rebuilt (appears to be a Plymouth Gran Fury engine). She looks beautiful.

I need to be careful here - the dealer has been in business since 1978 and I do not want to say anything negative about him. I have some local sources to consult there. I have an uneasy feeling about the pricing - he wants $19k for the boat. I have looked around the web and on this forum and so far that is the most expensive Cuda I have seen. He told me that he started out asking $28k for it, and that this is a bargain price. I have looked at other boats for much less, but they are not in the condition that this boat appears to be in.

I am looking for a reality check. If the boat is a show winner and in Bristol condition, does the asking price seem out of line? This is a boat I want to use - not show. I am going to continue to poke around (boating season is pretty much done here) but any insight from the more experienced people would be much appreciated.

If you have to have an inboard take the 20K you'll have invested and buy yourself the nicest and newest Nautique you can find,you will be way more happy with the ride and workmanship. It's asking price is crazy for a boat that is not 100% correct. As Pete is fond of saying that boat is not restored. I believe that it's painted rather than gelcoated and there is bottom paint on it. There is a reason it's still available. Good luck on your search don't give up.

Michael,
Gary is correct that if I had seen this thread earlier I would have commented earlier that the boat is not restored but now I will! I highly suspect that the reason for the paint and the bottom paint is the hull suffered from gel blistering and spider cracking so paint was the cheap option to cover it up. Whether or not the paint was done correctly or not only time will tell. If not, the cracking will telegraph through the paint. Yes, the boat is pretty but take a pass on it.   

Riley wrote: That boat in NH was for sale in GA for a long time, then it ended up in NH for sale again. It may have won 1st place at the Sunnyland show, but that just demonstrates how little those people in that organization know about Correct Crafts.

Bruce,
I'd like to inform you that the 1st place was in a non judged class of fiberglass and it was a "peoples choice". I mention this to demonstrate to you how little you know about the ACBS.

OK - While I have Bruce, Pete and Gary on the line..............Threadjack:

Started sanding the Al Tyll, working on Gel coat. The bottom stripe is TAPE! What? I know, RIGHT? Have you guys seen this before in 60's classic/barracuda hulls? It came off with a wheel and no evidence of painted strip underneath. Mind-blowing.


Click For Full-Size Image.

Steve,
Yes, the tape for the boot stripe is factory original.

Steve, all the Cudas I have seen have had tape, (although the oldest I've seen is only a 1966). Our Mustang is a 1966 and has paint. Probably 65/66 was in transition where they went to all tape for the next few years? I'd stick with tape. Take some measurements. It can be difficult to get on straight, especially that little piece in the front.

No one can stripe a boat as straight and fast as Reid.

Steve I'll let you in on a little secret,but don't tell Cousin Donald. Don't bother sanding or polishing or even that mop and glow they used on those Cypress Gardens boats.
Flex Seal is your answer,it even comes in red,just the thing for those pesky gel cracks. Why I even hear you can cut your boat in half and use Flex Tape to put it back together ! If you do it right it will look just like bottom paint

Thanks, fellers......... the gel on this is REALLY good, but tired. Nice Solid boat (so far)..... I should start a new thread...........

Gary S wrote: Steve I'll let you in on a little secret,but don't tell Cousin Donald. Don't bother sanding or polishing or even that mop and glow they used on those Cypress Gardens boats. Flex Seal is your answer,it even comes in red,just the thing for those pesky gel cracks.

Gary,

We use Janitor in a Drum on my boats.

Donald

Larry, think you misunderstood. Pete is referencing the "American Crotchety Blowhard Society".

75 Tique wrote: Yes, I stand corrected, I thought it was the Association of Cranky Boat Snobs.

Glad to be a ACBS member since 1981!

8122pbrainard wrote: Riley wrote: That boat in NH was for sale in GA for a long time, then it ended up in NH for sale again. It may have won 1st place at the Sunnyland show, but that just demonstrates how little those people in that organization know about Correct Crafts. Bruce, I'd like to inform you that the 1st place was in a non judged class of fiberglass and it was a "peoples choice". I mention this to demonstrate to you how little you know about the ACBS.

If it was up to Pete, I am sure he wouldnt make such a snarky remark, but I think it is in the ACBS by-laws that he has to.

I think they are still in a daze from when we invaded their party at Sunnyland.