Stauter CPS 15.5' Refurb

[Bacardi Marty]

Hi all. I recently bought a 1972 Stauter 15.5' Cedar Point Special. These are built in Mobile, AL, with plywood hull and hardwood trim, and are legendary in the Mobile delta area as reliable, hard working boats. She is sound with no rot or soft places, but the guy I got her from was using her as a fishing boat in and around Mobile Bay, so she needs some TLC. The previous owner installed floor boards, I guess as a casting deck, from the bow back to the center console. I tore those out this weekend, wanting to get back to original as much as possible. Now I'm trying to figure out what "original" is. I don't want to do anything to sacrifice structural stability, so I've stopped tearing stuff out until I figure out how she looked originally.
Is anyone out there familiar with Stauter boats and can give me some advice?

[ben2go]

I am not familiar with the name.Could you post pics?That may jar someones memory.

[Matt Middleton]

We had a Stauter growing up - it was the 14' v-bottom fisherman. We mostly used it to fish in the river just north of the causeway - lots of good memories, and a great little boat.

I assume you have already been to their site, http://www.stauterboats.com/default.htm. I imagine they would be the best resource for determining what "original" is for your boat. FWIW, I think Mobile Paints (BLP?) at one time actually sold a paint color called Stauter Green.

Best of luck with the refurb and don't forget to post some pics!

Matt

[ben2go]

I'd say it's worthy of a factory fresh resto.

[Matt Middleton]

Hey there - I was thinking more about our little Stauter and I seem ti recall that there were longitudinal floor boards made from solid stock running from the stern up to one or two frames before the forward deck. The floor forward of that was plywood and did resemble a very low casting deck, and I am almost positive that it was original.

Here are some more pages with pics or info:
http://www.wkrg.com/countyroad5/article/stauter_boats/4671/ (even has a short video)
http://www.toplineboats.com/boat_type_model.php?MID=STAUTER%20BUILT

Matt

[skylark]

I have a '68 cedar point special. there are many of them around me. There were both production and custom made boats so it impossible to say whether the floors, soles, were original. Mine has no floors, only the fore/aft stringers and the framing. I have seen many with the floors. Usually there are several thwarts, mine has three. Some have live wells. Mine does not. Be careful with the main structural pieces; the stringers, the frames, the plywood. cnustomize the rest for yourself. I will be glad to send you some photos if you will give me your address.

[hwsiii]

Marty they are still in business, the nephews took over some years ago. Here is there website, hope this helps.
http://www.stauterboats.com/cedarpoint.htm

HWS

[Bacardi Marty]

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions. I tried to post pics, but it says my file sizes are too large? Anyway, I'm now afraid that I tore out some original floorboards that I now wish I had just sanded and finished bright. Now I plan to replace them with some nice wood and finish them bright. Any suggestions? I'll keep trying to post pics.

[bamamick]

We had a 12' for years and years. Hold on to it. Stauters, especially the old Stauters, hold their value amazingly.

Mickey Lake

[Greno]

i have been looking for a stauter for years, but most folks want too much money for most that have to be disassembled and put back together. woodenboat did an article on the lamis, the back issue is available, good reference photos.

eric

[Bacardi Marty]

I have the back issue of WB. Great story and some good pics. I too looked for a while before I found this one. Had to drive about 300 miles to pick her up in Bayou la Batre, but she is in sound shape and I got her at a good deal, along with a 25 HP Johnson. I could tell the owner hated to part with her, but he was getting too old to keep her in shape and fish from her.

Has anyone on her ever attended the Wooden Boat Festival in May in Josephine, AL? I'm trying to get my boat ready to take there this year, but wonder what it is like.

[Thorne]

Here's how to post photos on this forum:

First - don't attach photos. Most web forums don't allow it, and space
limitations are the main reason why.

Second - Instead of attaching them to a thread, post the pics on the web
somewhere. You have a free website area with any paid ISP's email account,
or use www.picturetrail.com or other free hosting service. Once posted on
the web, right-click the image to copy the URL (web address). Always test
first by pasting the image URL into the window of a web browser and see if
the image displays.

Remember, the IMAGE URL will end in .jpg, not .htm or html. URLs ending in .htm are the page that the image is at, not the image location itself. If the image URL ends in other code, try deleting everything after the "xxxxxx.jpg" part of the URL to get it to display on web forums.

Third - once posted on the web, try this procedure while logged in to this
Forum:

1. Click the "User CP" link in the browser window in the top left of the
menu bar.
2. Click the "Edit Options" link about 1/4 of the way down the left column.
3. In the "Misc Options" at the bottom of the next page, select "Enhanced
Interface" from the pulldown list.
4. Once this interface has been selected, in any "Reply" window you can
click the "insert photo" icon --> a little yellow square icon with the stamp
in the upper right corner, the mountains in the lower center.
5. Once the little dialog box titled "Please enter the URL of your image"
comes up, paste the URL of the photo in the field.

If unsure of the procedure, test first by pasting the image URL into the
window of a web browser.

[Bacardi Marty]

Finally, I can post pics!! Thank you Thorne!
This is a pic of the floor I was asking about after tearing out the floorboards
http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2291/11914910/21175670/347205612.jpg
This is the boat before I tore them out.
http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2291/11914910/21175670/347205535.jpg
Any ideas, suggestions?

[PaulC]

You are real close on the pictures, paste the url into the yellow box with the gray mountain.

http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2291/11914910/21175670/347205612.jpg

[Bacardi Marty]

Ah! Like this?
http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2291/11914910/21175670/347205612.jpg

[Bacardi Marty]

And here is another view....
http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2291/11914910/21175670/347205498.jpg

[pipefitter]

That will be a fine little boat when you are done with it. Congratulations.

[Domesticated_Mr. Know It All]

I've never heard of these boats.
Very cool.
Thanks for the education.
Still in business too, that's rare and a big plus.

[Greno]

i will tell you, lived here my whole life and have never seen floorboards other than what you have posted. about fifteen years ago i found one of the molded hull boats for sale. had a great paint job but was rotted through. there are still a few duck hunting and a lot fishing, but i would say most that one sees in the delta are newer lami built boats.

[Bacardi Marty]

That's why I was glad to find this 1972 model that was built when Gene Stauter still ran the business. Actually learned about Stauter boats from a business broker I was having lunch with at Original Oyster House out on the causeway. We had a table overlooking the water and saw a good looking little boat come by. This started a conversation about fishing and messing about in boats. That's when he told me about a "little wooden boat" he had for years that was designed and built for running around the bay. He sent me the web link and I started searching the web for one for sale. Finally found one back in the fall, and now I have my winter project.
http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2291/11914910/21175670/347205581.jpg

[Greno]

that is a nice on. the newer ones had forty horse evinrudes and would fly for a fifteen foot boat. i may have to start looking again.

[Bacardi Marty]

Thanks! She is a nice little boat. I don't think the guy I got her from knew what he had. He just thought he had an old wooden fishing boat. I plan to add some newer HP this spring, depending on my finances and how much I have to spend on the refurb. The 25HP does pretty good, I can't wait to get a 40HP on her. They are rated to 50HP, per the Stauter shop.

[Greno]

Stauters are everywhere in Mobile and Baldwin County. Most folks just want too much money for rotten boats. They will last forever under a carport or in a garage. Don't forget the boats were rated for 2 strokes. 4 strokes are 30% heavier, at least.

[Bacardi Marty]

I didn't know the rating was based on engine weight, I thought it was based on how much horsepower the hull was designed for. Thanks for educating me!

[Greno]

that boat will handle a two stoke fifty, a four stoke fifty will be too heavy, will make it squat and may require a little reinforcement to the transom. these boats were designed and built for light outboards.

[Bacardi Marty]

Well, she is done! Now I have her up for sale, want to get a sail boat. I think she turned out pretty good for a novice. http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2291/11914910/21175670/397669016.jpg
http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2291/11914910/21175670/397669012.jpg
http://pic90.picturetrail.com/VOL2291/11914910/21175670/397669013.jpg

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Nice, like the color plan