1960 Carver Commander 16'

[fallguy1000]

Greetings All,

I have only a few things left on the Carver, and I need some help with the final fitting out and such. I especially need help determining what to do for a windshield on it. I water tested it several years ago before any caulk and it was a great ride and only leaked where the caulk should have been on the splash rail if my recall works ..

I purchased a 2nd Carver (slightly different model) that was junk, but had some nice fittings and a great trailer and a windshield that I could use for a model.

Andreas Rhude and I spoke for a brief time and I know he posts here, so I'm also trying to find him again and see if he knows how to go about doing the windshield. I am still not certain as to whether Carver used plexiglass or real glass. The model I have is bent plexi, but I have no way to bend plexi. Even a lead on a vendor would be helpful. I have been told glass was never bent in a windshield and the pictures sure look like there were curves in the windshield.... and so on ....

At any rate, I will get some pictures posted soon on this thread once I get the boat in the garage and take the shrink wrap off. Thanks for any interest or especially knowledge.

[Chip Chester]

fallguy1000, I've got a '65 Carver 16' (I think Sportsman) that had the curved plexi windshield... and I'm currently looking for an alternative one, also.

A few years ago, I think Taylor (windshields) had various sizes of curved plexi windshields. I saw them in a Defender catalog, but I think others have them as well.

But I'm looking to build/buy a windshield like on the larger Carvers, and other lapstrakes -- mahogany frame, maybe with an opening center panel. Is that the kind that was on your 'other' boat? I'd be interested in plans, scaled drawings, tracings, whatever. My current plan is to take an 80s aluminum frame walk-thru windshield and 'skin' it with wood trim. But of course, "real" would be better.

Also considering some sort of splash well in the back...

There's a real nice scan of some 60s Carver literature on the web, I think posted by Andreas on some other site.

I'm interested in seeing pics of your boat. I've got a few to post, as well.

Chip

[AndreasJordahlRhude]

Some of the Carver Boat Corp. brochures are at www.fiberglassics.com in the Glassic Library area. The present day Carver Boat firm has most of their old brochures, back into the 1950s, posted on their website.

I suspect that the wooden framed windshields used real safety glass, not plastic. Wrap around curved ones were typically plastic.

Andreas
thompsonboat at msn.com

[fallguy1000]

Well, I brought the Carver into the garage today from its 2 years in outside shrink wrap storage. It stayed in good shape. It has about 4 coats of varnish on the sides and 8 on the decks now. I need to do some fly crap removal.

The serial number is 659-1449 and the boat is either a Custom Commander or a Commander. I found 659-1448 for sale at Southwest something or other antiques in AZ. That one says its a custom commander in the ad. The carver brochure says the custom is beefed up for more horsepower, but I can't find the HP maximum for the custom.. The 1959 beefier 16' boats are rated for a hundred horsepower. I put a 65 hp motor on mine and it goes really fast, so I am not trying to step to the hundred; just like to know. My transoms plywood's outer layer was pretty tough looking and I cut it out and used resorcinol and replaced the outer skin, so if I'm running 35 hp low; I'm okay with that. 5 plies of 3/4" plywood were intact and the transom has a solid piece on the inside (bond unaffected) and is a full 1.5" thick. If I compromised any hull strength; I'd guess it'd be about 10%.

I tried about 50 times to count the plies on the skin to see which boat I have and I can't tell. The custom has an extra ply side n bottom both. The custom is 160 pounds heavier, but I can't imagine trying to determine the hull weight-motor removal, etc. The commander in the brochure does not have a pass through windshield; all I have left of the windshield is a center piece of mahogany that looks original; that commander has no mahogany on the brochure (conclusive?)..

I also bought a 1959 Carver that was junk and got the trailer, a windshield that can be used for a mold, and a bunch of fittings including a Seaflite Riveria handle and light (the star trek thing). I have a bunch of extra stuff from the boat I plan to incorporate. My boat only had one of the windshield fittings; the 59 had both its, but they were slightly different angles...

Here is my to do list...
clean x 4
determine where fittings are going and which fittings will be used
design a windshield (any plexiglas bending vendors would be great)
sand and polish aluminum strips
plan for a permanent cover (any recommended vendors in the twin cities would be great)

I have some of the bimini, but it isn't all that great shape (mouse chewed)..

Right now I need to repair a ball socket for a chrome taylormade mirror-the ball socket is open and cracked a bit and the mirror falls down. Not sure what to do there; ideas welcome.

I am trying to bleach the white step rubbers; they are badly mildewed. (from the 59)

Trying to determine where 4 pieces of aluminum strip go that are slightly rounded and sharp on the edges; no clue.

I will start submitting some pictures asap. Thanks for any replies.

[AndreasJordahlRhude]

There are dozens of places to get canvas covers and convertible tops made in the Twin Cities, MN area. I have never had anything made, so I cannot make any recommondations. Canvas Craft along highway 10 near Ramsey is one name that pops to mind. In fact there is another one just down the road from them. There is one in Mound near St. John's Lutheran Church, just south of county road 15. don't know the name. I stopped at one on highway 13 in Burnsville, west of 35 W a few years ago.

Are the aluminum pieces the trim on the hullsides between painted and varnished areas?

Not sure where to get plexiglass windshield made. I know there is a tutorial on how to make one on your own at www.fiberglassics.com

Andreas

[fallguy1000]

Here is an attempt at a picture upload. This is a picture of the step pads from the '59. I scrubbed and bleached one overnight; came out pretty good. I'm nervous about overbleaching it - is there such a thing? I tried to upload a very small pic and it said I was over my quota...

[fallguy1000]

Here is a picture of the step pads from the 59, one is bleached and scrubbed, the other is not. Can you overbleach?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4959538...in/photostream

[fallguy1000]

Here is the unknown mystery trim.. It does not joint at the edges and come out square. I can't recall if it is from the 59 or not, but I think it is from the earlier hull. Any ideas?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4959538...in/photostream

[fallguy1000]

And here are 3 pics of the mirror. I don't know how it is supposed to mount up. It is about a 45 degree angle on the base and has pan head screws on one side and wood screws on the other side for flush mount? Again, the ball is loose and I need to tighten it up to work... Maybe I'll pull it apart and see if the ball can move forward and the hold can be squeezed?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4959538...in/photostream

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4959538...in/photostream

The ball swivel (you can see a bit of the socket broke away.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4959538...in/photostream

[fallguy1000]

Crude picture of the front.

Imagine the problems I'm having. I have 2 vintage bow lights to choose from, the original, or the star trek riviera-wife chose that one. I set the holes up for the other one before I got the riv, so now I have some extra holes (touche'). My boat had no cleats, but the 59 did and they match the seaflite riviera.

Does anyone know how to hook up a horn so you don't burn it out? Does it need a relay or something?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/4959538...in/photostream

[fallguy1000]

You can see I haven't done the white lines on the decks. I replaced the decks and developed some custom stains. I need to do the pinstriping now before I varnish anymore. Any tips or advice welcome as well. I will do some googles, too. I especially need the dimensions of the striping and the distances apart - a pic would be awesome of another original boat.. Thanks Dan

[Chip Chester]

Looks like you're making progress. Nice looking boat. My (later) Carver's decks were covered in Nautolex, a textured vinyl. They have/had a white-with-black-stripes faux decking product, but don't know if it's still current. If you find some, you might mimic those dimensions. Any brochure shots you could scale off of?

Regarding windshields, I know some runabouts used auto windshields for their windshields... and almost more commonly, auto rear windows. I seem to recall '57 Chevy rear glass being used by someone. If the dimensions and curves are right, you could build a frame around it (pretty much for decoration, as it would be fairly strong by itself) and it should meet safety requirements, too. Lots of repro auto parts available these days.

Also, Luke looks like he's ready to go boating!

Chip

[AndreasJordahlRhude]

All electrical components should be fused. Use a buss bar and have everything go thru it. You can get them with three, four, or more fuses.

Andreas

[fallguy1000]

I will for sure use a buss. If there isn't one in the Carver, I have one from an old Chris Craft.

[AndreasJordahlRhude]

You can get them at West Marine or Fleet Farm and probably lots of other places.

[fallguy1000]

Where can I find someone that bends plexiglas/lexan in the Twin Cities. TIA

[fallguy1000]

Well, I found a plexiglas vendor. I had Masterglas in Lakeville make a copy of the old windshield from the 59. I got a tip from someone at the ACBS boat show in Bayport this summer (kudos to the fellow-can't recall his name).

Now I just need to know how to attach the windshield. It is a wood frame with brackets on the back, but I need some more brackets I guess....

I will take some pictures and update the flickr.

[fallguy1000]

Is there any way to rename my thread when I have more specific stuff?