1969 Correct Craft Barracuda

Forum Members:

I apologize for taking my frustrations out on the entire forum. I own, appreciate and restore, or at least re-do, Correct Craft boats. Leaving the forum spites no one but myself. I look forward to future discussions and hope to be able to make positive contributions regarding the preservation, in any form, of Correct Craft boats.

Here is the web address of my Restoration Photo Log of the 1986 Ski Nautique we recently restored. We will begin work on a nearly identical 1982 next week. The owner has requested the same interior treatment as we gave the 1986:

http://www.nautilusrestorations.com/main/1986-ski-nautique/

This is the web address for the Restoration Photo Log of the 1963 CC Debonnaire:

http://www.nautilusrestorations.com/main/1963-correct-craft/

I have attached three photos taken this afternoon of the 1969 CC Barracuda. All that remains to do is install the engine and the outside aluminum rub rail. The owner provided the upholstery and we scrubbed it as clean as it would come.

Not to rub salt into any wounds but I have also attached a photo of a 1954 Atom Skier which I converted to dual cockpit runabout configuration at the owner's request.

hello nautilus.i hope my 69 barracuda ss turns out as nice as yours when it is done.keep up your good work.original or not we need to keep them still on the water.dan in ohio

'Cuda looks great,I can just imagine the hours involved. Did you do the paint? Is the whole hull the same paint or is something else used on the bottom? Since the interior matches is it safe to assume it was orange to begin with? I just Imron'd my Shamrock this summer so I know the time,expense and the amount of work you went thru on just the hull alone not to mention stringers,electrical work etc. Great job!

Yes, the boat was originally orange and cream colored. I took my best shot at matching the colors. I think I got the orange right on the nose but the off-white turned out to look bright white so we repainted it. I used PPG automotive paint.

The engine is finished and will be installed on Monday, as will the outside rub rail trim. We'll do a shakedown cruise late next week then winterize the engine, load her onto the trailer and she'll be ready for the first warm day of spring.

The links I posted were not meant to be "clickable"...just be copied and pasted into your browser.

Nautilus

I lurk on the site a lot, but rarely post anymore. Too much drama and BS and "my way is the only way". I've enjoyed looking at the pics you've posted and following your previous thread.

Don't let a couple of a**holes run you out of the site. Keep up the good work!

Rob

Jan,
Do you have a personal boat? If so, can you fill us in?

Up until two years ago, this was my boat:



I now own eight boats. The newest is 1988. The Stingray and Formula both run. The other six are projects, including a 1955 Shepherd that I will be converting to a rear cockpit racer powered by a V12 American-LaFrance engine.

Gary S wrote: Just so you know you can't copy and paste on a phone or a pad, just saying------

Gary - try leaving your finger on the text for a second or three it might give you a couple arrows to move to the front and back of the text you want to copy - and a menu that allows you to copy - when you want to paste after that go to where you want to paste and touch there for a second or three and the paste option should come up

Jan,
Thanks for filling us in. I've never seen an American-LaFrance in a marine application. Was it originally in a fire truck and you're converting it? What's your plan for a trans? The Sheperd's being a heavy and very stout built hull, it sure will be able to handle that engine.

Hi Jan
On the Barracuda is that a glass windshield ? and the windshield corner brackets are those original to that boat ?

Kirk

Nautilus wrote: The brackets are pot metal and they were painted Eastwood aluminum rather than having them re-plated.

Jan,
Have you ever had any problems with coatings adhering to zinc die castings? How do you prep?

Yes, your windshield is original.

Nautilus wrote: Up until two years ago, this was my boat: I now own eight boats. The newest is 1988. The Stingray and Formula both run. The other six are projects, including a 1955 Shepherd that I will be converting to a rear cockpit racer powered by a V12 American-LaFrance engine.

Me LIKEY!!!!! BUT, we need more info on the engine!!!!



.

The engine is a 1947 American-LaFrance V12-J, 527 cubic inch displacement, 215 HP @3,600 RPMs, OHV, 24 spark plugs, two 12-point distributors each with two sets of points and four coils. The 12-spark plug version was originally used in mid-1930s Auburn automobiles. When Auburn went bankrupt, American-LaFrance bought the rights to the engine and re-worked it for firetruck use, including secondary heads holding four spark plugs each and a second distributor driven from the generator. It originally had two top-mounted carburetors and cast iron exhaust/intake manifolds.

I designed/built an aluminum intake/exhaust manifold sending the exhaust straight out the top and allowing the fuel to be supplied by six Carter YH marine carbs. The engine will drive a PCM 1.23:1 transmission through a Bentzen adapter and flywheel through an aluminum BBC bell housing. I'll be using a 14/20 cupped nibral prop (per Michigan Wheel) which should allow 50-55 MPH at 3,600 RPMs.

Now all I need is time and energy to work on it...and money. Donations accepted.

That's not too oddball of a size, at least if he's running a 1-1/8" shaft. There were big block 1.5:1 boats that used similar sizes, though most were LH.

You must have quite a bit more than the original 215hp if you expect to see those kinds of speeds!

Neat engine for sure.

The prop is a little rare but is built by Michigan Wheel. They did the calculations based upon length, width, weight, length at waterline, transmission ratio, horsepower, etc., etc. This engine has a ton of torque. Frankly, I'll take whatever speed I can get. I'm just building it to pick up hot senior chicks with big boobs. Think it'll work?