The first two pictures are my 72' VW Westfalia and 71' Super Beetle.
I've had the VW sickness for a long time. After I finished the Bus, I was ready to start my next project, as soon as I found it. A friend told me of a 1962 Micro-bus that needed a good home. I went to take a look, and next to it, was this cool little boat. The rest is history, needless to say, I didn't come home with the bus. Now, instead of welding new metal in, I'm cutting very expensive mahogany plywood.
On this page I'll track my progress as I restore the Boat. These projects always look worse before they look better. Trust me.
The Boat: 1954 14' Speedicraft Cold molded mahogany plywood, one of the last Speedicrafts that Borum built, before selling Speedicraft later that year.
The boat sits on the original Gator trailer it was sold with. All Speedicraft's sold in FL, came on Gator trailers. (the Borum's were good friends with he family that owner Gator Trailers)
Motor: 1960 Mercury H400 rated at 45 hp
The motor came with two props, and appears to have never been in salt water. The previous owner, painted the motor black, I guess he wanted it to look newer.
In 1960, the Merc 400 was painted white.
(I think it looks much better back to white) The decals came from Bob Shapton in Grand Rapids MI. Bob makes Mercury and Wagemaker decals, check his site out.
www.iserv.net/~shapton
Well, here it is finally finished. I've since had "Spedicraft" decals made for the stren, really make it look original.
The boat does about 35 mph with the Merc400 behind it. It hates to have 4 people it, put 3 in and away we go. No problems!!
and yours truly.
Sand Lake FL
AOMCI meet
Right:
My better half.
On the bank of the Manatee River
Please check out www.AOMCI.com
Antique Outboard Motor Club Inc. Join today!!!
These guys have a life time of information, and are all willing to help!!
Also:
ACBS the Antique and Classic Boat Society
Local chapters are everywhere
These boats are way to much fun to let rot away
