Diaries | Details
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Updated:
9/29/2014 (10 years ago)
Originally Posted: 10/27/2012
Total Views: 3,048
Owner: Dave & Bruce Hart, Reid Pinkham
Forum Nickname: DHart
Location: Portland, ME
Model: 1966 Barracuda SS
Length: 17
Engine: Interceptor Ford 427
HP: 300
Hours:
Modify this Diaries Listing
Forum Nickname: DHart
Location: Portland, ME
Model: 1966 Barracuda SS
Length: 17
Engine: Interceptor Ford 427
HP: 300
Hours:
Modify this Diaries Listing
This Barracuda is a project that started through CCF in 2009. There was a 1968 Barracuda SS that was for sale in New Hampshire. I went to look at it for Dave Dorson, (Mojo), and it was a basket case that needed a total restoration. It was an interesting boat as it had a big block Ford in it which is unusual as most Barracudas of this vintage had Chrysler 318s. It was too much of a project for Dave or anyone else on the site, so we passed. About 4 months later, the owner lowered the price and Reid Pinkham asked me to pick it up as it was at least a good parts boat. My son David and I got the boat home and decided that it was far too nice to part out, so we parked it in the garage as a future project for us.
We brought the engine to a friend of ours, Jim Harris at the Engine Room in South Portland and he really liked the project and made us an offer we couldn’t refuse on engine work. We ended up with a beautiful Interceptor Ford 427 sitting on a cradle waiting for us to finish the boat.
Reid asked me how long I thought it would be before we had the 427 in the Cuda and I told him probably 3-5 years. He had recently purchased a beautiful 1966 Barracuda SS from Dave Dorson that my son David had been working on restoring the gel coat, and offered to do a joint project with us using his ’66 Cuda and our engine. Reid, Laurie and David brought the ’66 Cuda to Maine in 2011 and we used it a little bit at the NE Reunion where it won Best of Show, and locally before pulling the engine out and starting on replacing the floor, removing the foam and a few other repairs. We thought we would have it in the water for the summer of 2012, but everything takes longer that expected and instead it will be summer 2013. Most of the time-consuming work has been completed such as installing the engine, replacing the exhaust through hulls, wet sanding and replacing the floor.
Driving this boat for the first time was a thrill as it drove just like the ’67 Cuda my family had back in the 70’s. This has been a great project and we can’t wait to run it next year. This is an very good example of a 1966 Correct Craft that has been preserved and is in good hands with the next generation.
9/18/2013 We finally got to water test the boat mid summer. It runs great and has plenty of power. We are looking forward to a full season of use in 2014.
We brought the engine to a friend of ours, Jim Harris at the Engine Room in South Portland and he really liked the project and made us an offer we couldn’t refuse on engine work. We ended up with a beautiful Interceptor Ford 427 sitting on a cradle waiting for us to finish the boat.
Reid asked me how long I thought it would be before we had the 427 in the Cuda and I told him probably 3-5 years. He had recently purchased a beautiful 1966 Barracuda SS from Dave Dorson that my son David had been working on restoring the gel coat, and offered to do a joint project with us using his ’66 Cuda and our engine. Reid, Laurie and David brought the ’66 Cuda to Maine in 2011 and we used it a little bit at the NE Reunion where it won Best of Show, and locally before pulling the engine out and starting on replacing the floor, removing the foam and a few other repairs. We thought we would have it in the water for the summer of 2012, but everything takes longer that expected and instead it will be summer 2013. Most of the time-consuming work has been completed such as installing the engine, replacing the exhaust through hulls, wet sanding and replacing the floor.
Driving this boat for the first time was a thrill as it drove just like the ’67 Cuda my family had back in the 70’s. This has been a great project and we can’t wait to run it next year. This is an very good example of a 1966 Correct Craft that has been preserved and is in good hands with the next generation.
9/18/2013 We finally got to water test the boat mid summer. It runs great and has plenty of power. We are looking forward to a full season of use in 2014.
