1965 Owens Flagship questions...

[Fingerlakes Boater]

Hello everyone!!!! I recently got my hands on an oldie (but not sure if its a goodie yet) 28' Owens Flagship. I have a couple of questions to ask you folks.

How do I determine if the plywood hull is sound?? This vessel went uncoverered for years before I got my hands on her. She has a lot of rot and punk on the cabin roofs and much of the exterior trim will need replacing. I am a Professional Home Builder for about 15 years, but no more than a rookie boat rebuilder. I have identified several obvious stops on the upper sections of the hull that will need to be replaced. To date I have not found any soft spot above or below the water line. What should I use to determine the extent of repair??

On the same subject, which would be the least costly, but best replacement material for the hull?? I have read a lot of conflicting view about plywood in this forum. At this moment I am leaning towards Marine Grade Dougfir. I am also interested in some type of epoxy sealer.

Next question is power plant. The original owner(I am the second)has passed away, so I could gather no information on the spec's or condition of the Flagship engine. I know it says Flagship 225 on the valve covers. I am not sure if that is displacement or HP, any thoughts??? The trans is a velvet drive, not sure of ratios, but that turns freely. The engine also turns over and fires, but is in bad need of a tune up, timing, and electrical's.

Well I think my post is long enough, and vague enough to get some useful information. Thanks to all that reply :confused:

[brad9798]

We had a 1959 ply Flagship ...

Hmmm, I would guess that there is a LOT of rot in the hull ... more specifically at the transom, chines and keel areas.

Take a blunt object and start going along the chines ... when you find 'give,' get out the phillips screwdrive and start poking until it doesn't poke through any more. Always worked for us.

The engine, I believe, is a greymarine with 225 horse ... probably a 350 block. It's good that it turns, but probably will need a rebuild to run at all. Velvet drives will need new seals, probably ... but the tranny itself is probably okay, no reason it shouldn't be.

Let me think some more ...

[Fingerlakes Boater]

Brad...you are correct, the Transom is junk and I will be replacing with mahogany ply, and adding a swim platform as well. I am familiar with your "Rot Detection Method", as I am in the construction field. I have poked around the keel and have not found any soft spots. And all her lines seem to be excellent. Bottom is sound, although I have noticed a little peeling of the veneer on the inside on the hull in the cabin. Is this cause for concern?? The ply in that area( about 2 sq. feet) seems good. Further thoughts?? Also I thought that Owens produced their own engines under the Flagship tag?? Or were they only assembled by Owens using parts from other Manf.??

[Fingerlakes Boater]

One more note on the Flagship...she was in the water in 1999. If that makes a difference...

[brad9798]

In the water in 99 is a good thing ... so only in the elements for four years, or so. I was thinking a LOT longer for some reason.

No owens did not manufacture their own engines ... used a lot of GM blocks (283, 350, etc.)

YES delamination inside is a problem ... will need to be replaced- and replace more than is delaminated ... just to be sure.

Good thing, at least for a novice, about ply boats is that is does not take a master shipwright to do effective and lasting repair of wood ...

Check your frames/ribs at least 10 feet fore of the transom too ... not just the ply.

Also, with an owens, BE SURE to check the chines on both sides (where the hull joins the bottom) ... this was always a problem area on ours.

[Fingerlakes Boater]

I am finding conflicting information on the engine. I did a search and found that Flagship engines with the tag 225 are 327 blocks. I found several site's that have parts and whole engines forsale. All look similar to the one in my boat. She does run, but will require some work, and I think I will change out the points. My guess is that I will have to crawl around in the engine compartment and find the manf. tag.

[brad9798]

Yes, I believe you are correct-- 327 block ... NOT 350. Just a plain ol' gm block.

[High C]

Originally posted by Fingerlakes Boater:
I am finding conflicting information on the engine. I did a search and found that Flagship engines with the tag 225 are 327 blocks. That sounds about right to me. I used to own a Chris Craft of that era that had GM engines of 283 ci that were said to make 195 hp.

Before the Chris I had a plywood Owens 24 footer with a Chrysler 318 engine. It weren't much of a boat, but that was a great engine!

[dan-marques]

Finger Lakes,

Just a question, this wasn't one of the Owens at Meyer's Point (Finger Lakes Marina).

If so, I keep my boat (fg, though) there, and would love to come by and see you at work sometimes.

Dan

[Fingerlakes Boater]

CFN,

Well i purchased this Owens from the son of the original owner, who is now deceased, for $1.00. He had kept it on Cayuga Lake, although i am not sure at which marina. It was in the water in '99, then was hauled out to have bottom painted(which was never done), then the original owner died and it sat untouch and uncovered until i bought it last October. Much of this boat is original i believe, it even has a rare ship-to-shore telephone. I say rare because i have never heard of it. It needs some work, but the thought of restoring something that is almost 35 years old while being only the second owner, gets me going.

[dan-marques]

Oh, so you got the boat delivered to you. I wonder then if it is one of those at Meyers. If the snow melts and it warms up a little bit, I'll take a drive over there and to do some work on mine and take a look.

Anyway, there are a few (2, maybe 3) Owens sitting there at Meyers, doing nothing but rotting. Most are Ply, but one is Plank on Frame. If anyone was interested in a big project, might want to stop by there and inquire.

Dan

[Fingerlakes Boater]

cfn,

Where is this marina located?? Do you have a phone # for them?? I am always looking for Owens parts. Most are hard to come across. Thanks.

Seth
Watkins Glen, NY

[dan-marques]

Finger Lakes Marine Service
44 Marina Road
Lansing, NY 14882
Phone:(607) 533-4422

This is on the east side of the lake, approx 15 minutes north of Ithaca.

To get there, leave Ithaca north on 34 for about 8 miles. At the intersection with 34B, make a left onto 34B. Proceed about two more miles (past the high school on your right), and make a left on Meyers Road (There is an auto repair shop on the corner).

Just follow that road past the homes, and then down the hill, and finally cross the railroad tracks. The Marina entrance is right there, but is not the same as the entrance to the Park.

Dan

[ 01-19-2004, 03:59 PM: Message edited by: cfn ]

[High C]

Originally posted by Fingerlakes Boater:

....i purchased this Owens...for $1.00....What, you couldn't talk the guy down? :D

Best of luck with it, and those other Owens'ses' that are just sitting around may turn out to be be a gold mine of replacement hardware, I hope so. smile.gif

[Ken Liden]

Flagship is a brand name which used primarily Chev engines. The 225 is the HP rating for the 327 cid engine.