1957 skee craft

[skee craft]

Hello everyone, I am a new member to this forum and also a new owner of a 1957 skee craft wooden boat. This is my first wooden boat. I currently own a 33ft pacemaker sportfishing boat. The skee craft I purchased is 14 ft long in excellent condition. It sat in a barn since 1979 and from what I can tell was used very little when it was in the water. I would like to strip it down to the bare wood and refinish it. I want to use this boat in saltwater. I have several questions. Can anyone tell me about skee craft boats? Should I do anything special to the bottom of the boat as it will be in the saltwater for the summer? Any suggestions on what I should use to refinish it? I would like to put several coats of varnish. The boat also came with a 57 merc mark 30 turbo four engine. The engine is in wonderful shape. I am planning to swap the merc for a similar vintage evinrude as I have been told that older mercs don't do well in the salt water. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I am excited to be apart of the wooden boat owners group and look forward to communicating with all of you via this forum. Thanks Greg Walsh

[Art Read]

Bump.... (Can't really help myself, but someone here must know about these boats? As for the bottom for salt water use, any good marine "bottom paint" would be my choice. Preferably the soft, ablative type. What's on it now?)

Welcome to the forum, btw...

[Art Read]

And here's a link to others with similar questions, for what it's worth... web page (http://www.gmp.co.nz/forum/m/2003/11/05/1965_Wooden_Skee_Craft_boat-203373.html)

[Gary E]

Welcome to the forum Greg,

I also owned a 1959 33ft Pace, and kept it "down the shore"

Sorry I know nothing of skee craft, but since all those wood boats seem to get along just fine in salt water, give it the same treatment you do the Pace.

I agree on the Merc, and if it was me, I think I would treat the Merc with kid gloves, and to make it last as long as possible, in other words, flush the engine with fresh water after every use. Then look for a replacement for when the Merc quits.

Good luck
G

Edit...

On the other hand, if the Merc is in wonderfull shape, maybe there's a colector that want's it? Give it a go on Ebay? then look for another motor for the boat. Just thinkin out loud smile.gif

[ 01-04-2004, 03:39 PM: Message edited by: Gary E ]

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

Welcome to the forum Greg. smile.gif

I found some photos of a 1963 18ft. Skee Craft Outboard. Very nice boats with fine wood interiors. This one is selling for almost 8 grand. :eek:

http://www.antiqueboat.com/boats/images/kell18-1.jpg

http://www.antiqueboat.com/boats/images/kell18-2.jpg

[ 01-05-2004, 05:55 AM: Message edited by: Mr. Know It All ]

[Andreas Jordahl Rhude]

The only Skee Craft boat I have seen is a 17 or 18 foot long wooden lapstrake hull, outboard. I have pictures someplace. I'll try to dig 'em up and post. They were made at Intercourse, PA by Skee Craft Boat Company according to the January 1959 issue of BOATS magazine. They had two models that were 13'-9" long and four that were 17'-1" with plywood planking and semi-V hull shape.

[cbob]

Art, What is "soft" ablative (bottom) paint, are you thinking of sloughing(sp) like sluffing? cbob

[Art Read]

Yup! THAT'S what I meant... ;)

[Andreas Jordahl Rhude]

Mr. Know It All pictures a Skee Craft at Antique Boat Center in Cincinnati (above). I saw that boat earlier this week. A nice looking craft. She's sheet plywood planked, not lapstrake.

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

Oh yeah, The Antique Boat Center is on the top of my list of "must see" places. About a five hour drive for me. Were you buying another boat Andreas? Another Thompson perhaps? They have some nice ones. ;)

http://antiqueboat.com/index.asp

http://antiqueboat.com/images/showrmtitlepg.jpg

[ 01-18-2004, 09:51 AM: Message edited by: Mr. Know It All ]

[Andreas Jordahl Rhude]

yup, yup, a little 14 foot Thompson Thomboy followed me home to Minneapolis from Ohio! A 1955 model, exactly the same as my other one. But this "new" one is in horse sh_t shape. Will stick her in storage and get at a restoration in a few years.