Thoughts on "Originality" of old boats

There is even a Mustang in the diary section that the transom looks like you could mount an I/O in it.Vents and scoops seem to be put on anywhere on them, so I believe if you like the boat go for it.It also seems many deck configurations have also been used,lower horsepower,more plain decks.Mine has a wood motorbox which I think was because of the motor,why build a special mold for fibergla$$ when not many boats came with that motor.

M3Fan wrote: I'm guessing it's the slightly smaller version of the 90+ dash used in the 89 SN and/or the sport nautiques.

Youre absolutely right. I visited an '88 today and it had the same dash as SkiBum's pictured above. '89 would have been the same.

63csn, You may have missed my post in the "how fast is fast" thread regarding the 312 with the Carter side drafts in my Dunphy X55. I mentioned the setting of the float levels not per the instructions that come with the rebuild kit. I rebuilt the side draft carbs when I bought it and never had a problem with them in the 26 years of owning the boat. I encourage you stay original just as you have recomended in your post.

I painted the topsides white, added a stereo and a swim platform to mine, but kept every thing else as original as I could. The stereo is mounted under the dash, not through it. The swim platform just adds a lot of function to the boat, I'm adding a bilge blower this winter, which will add a couple of clam shell vents to the stern that were not there in '65 but there is so much hardware back there now it won't matter.

Brian, I just got back from a Blackhawk chapter ACBS outing to see the progress of the restoration progress of a 1898 85' lake Geneva "lake" launch. It had been converted from steam to the present engine which is a 1200 C.I. 6 cly. Lathrop. Talk about making "outdated" work, the restorer has had to have a pattern made and is having the cylinders re-cast. (they are individual cylinders) Yes, part of the fun is to make the old work. In the case of the Carter AF side drafts I think they were a great idea and save probably 6" in engine height. They have performed flawlessly for me on a boat that stock does 64.

Brian: Nice thread, very interesting.

john

My thoughts are: It's "old" versus "cla$$ic"

What defines a cla$$ic.? Is it the age of the vessel.? Is it the model.? Is it rare.?

My thoughts are that there has to be something particular about either a specific boat, or about that model boat.

I'll use cars to explain my analogy. (I'm using my limied knowledge of US cars here, so forgive me it I stuff it up.)
Take two 1962 Chevs in factory original condition. One is a belair with the 289, the other a bubble top with the 409.

Now both are worth something, but the belair is simply a nice old car. It is the bubble top that is the cla$$ic because it was a special production of limited numbers etc.

If the same two cars were being restored, you could get away with modifying the belair, but modifications to the bubble top will detract from its original significance.


Now compare that to a mid 80's Chev Eldarado. It could be the most factory condition eldarado in the world, but at the end of the day, what is special about it.? Is it worth anything.?

Getting back to boats, I have a 98 SN. If it's still around in 2048, will it become cla$$ic.? I doubt it, because there is nothing special about it.

In my opinion, cla$$ic correct crafts are boats that were factory specials that were different from the standard production model. Made from special materials, ie wood. Or even if there are very few of a particular model left.

These types of vessels "should" (IMO) be restored to factory "like" specs to keep the heritage going. I also believe the factory should actively encourage this for their heritage sake.

For anything else, do what you like. It won't overly effect the value of the boat. The main reason I see for modification is to cater for your needs.

Hi Chopper,

While I don't disagree with you, your post made me wonder what the group thinks about these two situations:

Say that run-of-the-mill 1962 belair was the first one off the a$$embly line - is it still simply a nice old car?

Say the run-of-the-mill 1962 belair you have is the last one left - is it still simply a nice old car?

What if one day your great-grandchild discovers your old 98 SN is the last one left?

No value judgement about what anyone does with what they own, just curious.

69 Mustang wrote: Hi Chopper, While I don't disagree with you, your post made me wonder what the group thinks about these two situations: Say that run-of-the-mill 1962 belair was the first one off the a$$embly line - is it still simply a nice old car? Say the run-of-the-mill 1962 belair you have is the last one left - is it still simply a nice old car? What if one day your great-grandchild discovers your old 98 SN is the last one left? No value judgement about what anyone does with what they own, just curious.

G'day 69,
If you had the 1st made, or the last left in existance of anything, then, indeed it would be a special thing.

I just used cars as an example as there make more cars than boats, which means there are more "specials" around. That also means that would be much less boat "specials" made.

Personaly I would draw the line in the sand and say that anything prior to the "2001" hull (1982?) possibly even a little further back (mid 70's) could be considered cla$$ic.

From the "2001" onwards they seem to be typical production line boats where the customer ticks the option box, & that's all they made. I know they made a Silver Nautique" which was a special, but that's about it.

Just my thoughts.

312, Great looking boat. Fill me in on the coaming under the engine hatch. Did CC put it in to raise the hatch so a downdraft carb would fit under it or was it added at a later date? I have the 312 with the Carter side drafts and am aware that Interceptor made the engine with a downdraft but don't know which was used by CC in 67.

Hey Paul (67nautique312)

I hear you about being drunk when you thought about putting on a tower, but weren't you probably drunk when you decided not to as well?

I like to keep any that I own as original as possible depending on what kind of shape the boat is in when I get it. I have seen some nice custom work done on these boats as well.
I have also seen some that when I look at them I think .... look what some idiot did ???

Nautique Frk

It only takes a few seconds to see in the diaries section that I like my boats as original as possible. There is a reason for that......I love these boats as they were built. Don't get me wrong, I do have my preferences and I currently own exactly what I like. It only takes a few minutes to "customize" something, but may take years to put it back original if you or anyone else ever wanted to. True, as I have used and enjoyed these boats over my lifetime, there are changes that could have been made to make the boats more "comfortable", or pa$$enger friendly. But one must remember that the boats that I personally like are the Ski Nautique, Barefoot Nautique, and Ski Tique......and these were designed and built for one reason........TO PULL SKIERS. No drink holders, no coolers, no radio, basically no B.S. to get in the way. I like it like that, just a personal thing. I don't think there is anything wrong with working on the engines.....stronger, more h.p., etc.....I need to do more of these upgrades myself. Not a single one of my boats have a drink holder, a built in cooler, or a radio. I prefer to either listen to the sound of the engine exhaust or the gentle slapping of water against the hull while sitting still with engine off.

I will have to say that I prefer ORIGINAL! Just my personal preference.

nautiquefanatic

360 Hours bought from the orginal owner 3 months ago. Been detailed out, and seats redone. Engine cover is orginal, owner bought a new one from Correct Craft in 79 after he did damage to the one in the boat, got it when I bought the boat, he had never put it on.
www.dtaylor373.zoomshare.com

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