60's and 70's fiberglass buckets

For several years, Ive been promising to start reproducing the bucket seats from the late 60's and early 70's... and I finally followed through. Many thanks to John B for kicking my butt into gear! The first set shown here will end up in his Mustang.

Im pretty happy with the way they came out- theyre a little rough around the edges- but no rougher than the originals (and they'll be covered with vinyl and foam anyways). The shape is correct for the '69-70 boats, an original factory bucket is shown in the pictures next to the new pair. There's a slight improvement in the thickness and strength, though!







There are several more of you who have expressed interest in these seats, so I am tentatively planning to produce some more. I can make them "finished" as shown in the pictures, and could also sell them "shape only" (fresh out of the mold, very thin layup) for those who may want a pair at a lower price point, who dont mind doing all the extra reinforcing themselves.

A few more things Im working on... I have a set of the aluminum frames at a fabricator, so Im hoping to be able to offer those as well. I also recently disassembled a slightly newer bucket (offered '71-74) and I should be able to recreate this shape as well, with a little more effort.

'71-74 version on the left, '69-70 version on the right:



What I still need is a Ski Nautique bucket from the early-mid 70's... when I was able to check out Jackie Dean's '75 at White Lake, I realized that this bucket was a little different from the others. Likely a similar base, but the back was round instead of squared off, and it appeared a little taller. If someone has one of these that I could use as a template, please let me know! I would just need to borrow it for a short time (and could return it in same, or better condition).

At this point I have an idea of what it will cost to reproduce these seats, but would like to get a few more sets made before I publish any numbers. What I DO know is that I will be VERY slow in getting these made- they take a good bit of time, and thats something I dont have a lot of right now. If youre interested, feel free to email me and we can discuss: TRBenj@gmail.com

Those of you who have expressed interest previously, feel free to ping me again!

Tim - understanding how CC worked back in the late 60's and 70's from other posts here, I wonder if the seats were made by CC for CC, or if they were outsourced from a supplier. The thought being, might their be other boat restorer's doing work that might be able to use the seats. The seats you reproduced above are beautiful and just trying to help to expand your market.

Thanks guys!

Steve, I have looked high and low for these seats and have never found the same ones in another type of boat. I am pretty darn certain that CC made them in house. The slightly larger/rounder buckets (there were a few different styles of those) that Ive seen in the Separator/Torino, M17, Southwind, etc, may have been a different story- I wouldnt know as I havent been paying close attention to those!

Mike, from the pictures Ive seen, the larger/rounder buckets made for the Separator, etc were totally different from these. I think they would require a totally new mold. Thats a bit beyond the scope that I'd be willing to take on at this point. Heck, it took me several years to get these done, and I know of several people who need them (and I need them myself). Shoot me some pictures of those seats anyways- and if you have any dimensions, I can compare them to these. If youre interested in a set of either of the styles pictured above, let me know and we can talk options.

Tim,
Great work, honestly some great looking seats, my currently being reapolstered and fixed, so i probably don't have a need, but maybe someday.

I know most of you guys are big on keeping the boat are original as possible, but has anyone, ever tinkered with making the mustang "shotgun" seat a love seat? Stretching out this bucket seat to be 2x it's width?

turningpoint84 wrote: I know most of you guys are big on keeping the boat are original as possible, but has anyone, ever tinkered with making the mustang "shotgun" seat a love seat? Stretching out this bucket seat to be 2x it's width?

My 77 Tique doesn't have the buckets but yes, the "shotgun" has been stretched in width by the PO. Check my diary.

John, dont mention it- glad theyre going to someone who will fully appreciate them! This project was in the works anyways- just needed a fire lit under my a$$!

Like Pete said, yes the wider observer's seat has been done. I stretched the one in my (former) '78 Tique as well. You cant go 2x the width though- theres just no room. At best its a 1.5x seat... so you can fit 2 small children in it. Or maybe 2 really skinny girls. But not 2 normal sized people. So its kind of useless. Mine came out nice (Pete's looks awesome as well) but its really no more functional than a bucket... and I probably wouldnt do it again. Definitely not one of these fiberglass ones either- too much work and it'd look weird! The square wood based buckets look much less out of place.

8122pbrainard wrote: Gary S wrote: I sort of did it,this is an old picture but the seat has not changed. The Mrs hates it and due to other reasons I am changing it back to the bucket. I certainly hope the "other reason" is to to be more original!!

Pete, is there really any reason to keep them exactly original other than personal satisfaction? Do they judge these boats? I see some at the Blackhawk shows, but they mostly feature furniture. How do you get a bleach bottle in one of the shows anyway? I saw a nice Meteor at one, but I'm afraid that most feel we polymer people have Cooties!
Sorry to derail this thread, but I want to show off TIM's work when it is done.

John,
Classic glass is always welcome in our shows and yes, they can be judged. The more original they are the better. I've been called on frequently by other judges for advice on Correct Crafts.

there will probably come a day when wood boats in shows will be the minority . remember when car shows and cruise nights had a large number of model ts and a,s ? now most of them are worth a fraction of what they were then. for the under 55 crowd they seem to be but a curiosity .

Riley wrote: Telling the ACBS/wood boat crowd you have a Correct Craft gets about the same reaction as telling the Correct Craft crowd you have a Malibu. The Mountainview Woodies chapter in Maine puts on a show every August and has allowed classic glass and metal the past 5 or so years, but there aren't many of them.

Bruce,
Your local chapter must be a bunch of Chris Craft snobs! My Atom has received 2 "best of shows". Back here our group knows what a Correct Craft is!!

62 wood wrote: Tim, Does my 73 have the style bucket your looking for? Have you ever taken one of these apart? Are the bases/ backs 'glass? BTW... NICE LOOKING!!!!

Thanks Steve! Yes, your '73 has the bucket I'm looking for. I'm pretty certain its construction is similar to the ones I posted above just with a different shaped back. I would love to borrow yours but the upholstery is probably way too nice!

Oh geez, don't be putting a forward facing bucket in a SKI Nautique!

JBear has been asking me for a bucket and I'm certain that style is what he really wants.. If the time comes to replace your interior let me know- ill need an example on hand in order to recreate it.

TRBenj wrote: Oh geez, don't be putting a forward facing bucket in a SKI Nautique! JBear has been asking me for a bucket and I'm certain that style is what he really wants.. If the time comes to replace your interior let me know- ill need an example on hand in order to recreate it.

I already told her a forward facing observers seat in a SN is sacrilegious. She really does not care, she still likes it forward. Hey, gotta keep momma happy... you know what they say is she aint happy.....

...besides I could swap it back in a matter of minutes.