Thoughts on "Originality" of old boats

Pete,

I was kind of thinking that for the guys who like to restore the old ones, part of the fun is making "oudated" technology work well. Seems likes there's bragging rights in saying "I made the side drafts work perfectly." BKH

8122pbrainard wrote: Correct Craft did not have alot of consistency in the early years especially on purchased hardware. I have seen ether 2 or 4 step pads and 3 different styles on the same year and model. Flat gla$$ windshields or the old curved plexi on the last run of the 60's hulls. Upholstered and plain fibergla$$ motor boxes. Coaming crash pads or none to name a few.

In the 1966 brochure, the Wildcat on the cover has a curved windshield. Inside the brochure, it has a square windshield. I have a friend that has a 1966 Wildcat that he bought new and it has the curved one. Later models seem to have the square one.

Hi,

I would say that if you have a very early Fibergla$$ CC you should go as orginal as you can. There just aren't that many around like that. I woul say that upgrades should be based on safety or reliable performance only.

For example I am working on a 63 Ski Nautique, with a 312 interceptor. It had the side draft carbs on it, and they flood very easily. So I will be putting a 4 barrel intake and modern Holly carb on it. This will require a slightly higher motor box. Other than that she will be stock when she is finished.

That's just my $0.02.

Correct Craft did not have alot of consistency in the early years especially on purchased hardware. I have seen ether 2 or 4 step pads and 3 different styles on the same year and model. Flat gla$$ windshields or the old curved plexi on the last run of the 60's hulls. Upholstered and plain fibergla$$ motor boxes. Coaming crash pads or none to name a few.

Tim D wrote: OK, back to that ebay boat, not trying to start an argument, but this pic is from the reference section, a '68 and I know this is a 1971 Skier, same scoop as the '71's brochure in the ref. section. What kind of bow scoop does a 70's model have? That ebay boat looks to have the scoop of the first pic.

Correct Craft kept the line of picture 1 through 1970. The 2nd picture design started in 1971. There have been posts of Barracudas and Mustangs with the 60's hull and decks listed as 1971's or 1972's. Some with square windhields and othes with hardware from the 1970's.
I don't know what the story with those boats really is.

There were 2 Barracuda hulls. A short one and a long one. The long one had a larger deck that overhanged more. The short hull had the fibergla$$ motorbox and the long hull had the wood motor box that was upolstured.

It seems starting in 1968 the interior on the Barracuda was slightly different. The padding on the sides had a brown insert and there was a glove box.

There are a lot of Mustangs and Skylarks listed as 1966-1968 that have the old American Skier decks and not the scooped decks shown in the 1966 brochure.

It's not always easy to tell what was original, or even if the year is correct.

MM, I remember thinking how nicely those boats were restored (despite being non-original) the first time you posted them. Gives them some personality on a lake with no shortage of CC's- very cool.

Tim, I dont see a scoop on the ebay boat. Looking through the diaries, I cant tell a difference between the '67-70 Cudas (although I believe that some 70 models had the square windshields). I a$$umed incorrectly that the curved motorboxes were used through '69 like the Mustang.

SkiBum, you can get the "Ski Nautique" and "Correct Craft" emblems through a dealer. If you want the "Performance engineered for..." emblem, you have to get it directly from CC. You have integrated the dash very nicely- do you mind me asking where you got it?

Just FYI, I believe your dash is from a 90-93 boat (not 2003), as your upper dash appears to be the same as mine (and looks nothing like my dad's).

1990:


2003:

OK, back to that ebay boat, not trying to start an argument, but this pic is from the reference section, a '68


and I know this is a 1971 Skier, same scoop as the '71's brochure in the ref. section.


What kind of bow scoop does a 70's model have? That ebay boat looks to have the scoop of the first pic.

What I did to my Tique was to make a rig for the wife and I to just ride while wanting a boat that looked good to me. The wood look of old and the style of the boats just therafter. No way near being pure.

As far as being pure we do have my wifes first car, which she bought May 1967. A 1967 Mustang Conv in springtime yellow with a black top and interior. The graw back to this car is it is a 200 CUI 3 speed. Car has been OEM parts througt out andh as been drive only 4000 miles in the 10 years since being restored

TRBenj, did you read that guys description of that boat on ebay? Crazy, I bet it's a '67 Barracuda, going by the bow scoop and the emblem over the steering wheel.

I like stock, mild and (wild if it's yours and happy with it)My faorites are subtle mods that draw you in, but make you think ... oh I get it now. I saw a 55 chevy small block with 3 stromberg carbs that was clean,clean,clean.
As I talked to the owner & drooled on his car
I noticed the carbs were just air horns,and the intake had custom port injection bungs welded in. Camo IROC Z tuned port injection.
BRILLIANT !!! I have to go lay down now!

reidp; not to throw a curve ball, nor to inject my redneck sense of See All & Know All,but it is amazing how my sense of what is right and what is wrong .If it floats your boat and it don't sink mine,who does it hurt?There is very little purist in me ,It's that hind sight that tells me ;"I wish i would have given that more thought".
My main issue at 52 is to go fast,ie lottsa G's and the boat still look like a 1964 cla$$ic............. boat dr

Further food for thought. I think we've seen some of the biggest modifications on older boats from some of the European and Australian guys. Cheaterpete is one that comes to mind. I guess it makes sense. The boats seem to be inordinately expensive over there forcing people into older boats. The older boats there seem to be really beat up, and parts aren't cheap or easy to come by. If I recall, Cheaterpete was a Hot Rod guy on the car side as well. Painted his boat with flames, and was changing out the original engine in favor of a Corvette engine. BKH

Good points all. I guess what it comes down to is what makes you more comfortable. Obviously, the more original you keep a cla$$ic the more it will be worth in the future if you plan on selling it. If you plan to keep it until the good Lord calls your number and you want to make upgrades to it. Go for it. Personally, I equate this to cla$$ic muscle cars. The purists say don't touch a '71 hemi 'Cuda convertible. That particular car a purist is going to have sit in a controlled environment and never even start the thing. What fun is that???? But you can say that you have one sitting in your garage. Whoopee!!!! I want a driver and if that means I want to put some new technology after market add-ons that make the machine more reliable, more enjoyable and more importantly, safer for me and my pa$$engers, I'm going to do it. Now if it does all this and still makes it faster and gives you a significanty better hole-shot that's even better.

There was another post in here about fire extinquishers. You purists shouldn't even think about having one physically attached to the boat if you really want to be a purist. I certainly don't like the idea of carrying a fire extinquisher as part of your boating paraphernalia whenever you decide to make a day of it. That's just me. I'll find someplace to put a fire extinquisher to keep my me and my pa$$engers safe. Just as I'll put in electronic ignition, HP upgrades, a kick a$$ stereo and anything else that I deem as essential to a fun and safe boating experience.

If you want a purist machine, than keep it purist. If you want a driver than do that. Just don't chastise me about my driver.