~1965 Wacanda Husky~

[wacandahusky]

I just bought a 1965 wacanda husky. I'm starting this thread in anticipation of the restoration and repowering of this beauty. I love the boat, but I gotta change motors. A lot of the local lakes are going 4 stroke only and the 69'
merc 1000 is just a gas burner. Powerful and fun motor, but i gotta change.

I got some fat paychecks recently and am thinking of repowering with a 60hp yamaha 4 stroke. My boat was originally mounted with a 40 or 60 hp evinrude back in the 60's. So I'm assuming 60hp is enough to get her going nicely and pull a skier out of the water?

The 275lb merc 1000 is about as heavy on the back end as i think my boat can handle. The dry weight of the boat is ~750 lbs.

What y'all think?

this winter, i am plannning on either restoring the original gelcoat, refinish, or paint. I'll show y'all some pics and give me some ideas. I want to make her look showroom quality. And, this being my first fiberglass restoration (i'm only 22), I'm gonna need a little assistance from the kind folks here at iboats.

the boat has all fiberglass stringers and no wood below the water line except for the sealed transom. so not gonna be a lot of work there. It also has a fiberglass floor, so i'm assuming i'm not going to need to tear it up to find "rot" or soaked foam.

Anyways, enough with the jibber jabber and here's some pics. I'm looking forward to any kind of responses.



I'm looking forward to y'alls responses.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: ~1965 Wacanda Husky~

what is the length of the boat, i think the 100 is way overpowered for that boat. 60 should be nice. with it having had the 100 hanging on it. check out the transom, very well. those tall straight 6's put a lot of strain, on those old transoms. i have done quite a few of that style boats.

 

[wacandahusky]

Re: ~1965 Wacanda Husky~

It is a 16ft boat. The transom looks great, straight as an arrow. a few blemishes on the transom, but it looks and feels solid and has no bowing I can see. This boat was garage for some years, and for her age, is in great condition aside from the faded colors.

 

[INJUN]

Re: ~1965 Wacanda Husky~

She looks to me as though all she could use is a new set of seats and a good waxing. Maybe even a little Armorall for the windshield. I agree that motor is too much.
Nice find.

 

[wacandahusky]

Re: ~1965 Wacanda Husky~

I already applied rubbing compound and wax by hand. took me a while and it was a lot of work, but she looks better. the pics make the gelcoat look a lot nicer than it really is. I'll try and take some new pics that show the gelcoat better so y'all can give me a few ideas on what to do.

 

[wacandahusky]

Re: ~1965 Wacanda Husky~

bump

 

[out2c]

Re: ~1965 Wacanda Husky~

I just bought a boat that is just a spitting image of yours...but my title say 1969?...wondering if they didnt change styles? I have a 75hp super sea horse johnson motor,which i believe is a 1965 motor....any way any help with finding info or restoring it would be great!

 

[jcsercsa]

Re: ~1965 Wacanda Husky~

Hi there wacandahusky , welcome !!!

Man i love my 1000 , I have a 1962 merc, she is a runner, I have it on a t-166 glastron sportster, 15.6 feet, tri-hull, I got a lot of hull to push, cant imagine it on there she would run 50 at least, mine was running 40 last year !!!

What year is yours 73 ??

Ok keep us posted !! John

 

[wacandahusky]

Re: ~1965 Wacanda Husky~

out2c : Wacanda changed styles often. Yearly, I think. I have a 1970 15' Vandal that doesn't have the rear decals on it, and never did. Little different styling as well. The bow isn't squared off as deeply as the above 1965 16' Husky and it has strakes on the bottom. I'm passing the 1970 Vandal off to a friend and he is stoked.

jcsercsa : My merc 1000 is a 1969. She runs like a top. I ended up pulling it off the above boat and replaced it with a 2004 Suzuki 40hp 4-stroke. The 40hp pushes her to about 30. Which is fine b/c she sips gas now instead of guzzling it down like the 1000. This is mostly a salmon fishing/trolling boat and a big 2 stroke on the back required too much gas and weighed a little too much. Was great for water ski-ing though.

I'm planning on selling the Merc1000 here soon. It's in Bellingham, WA, if anyone is interested.

With the Merc1000, my boat went about 40. It had great holeshot with the ski-prop, but topped out too early with the motor still wanting to rev higher. With a larger pitch prop, I would guess the boat could go 50. I know they made the Wacanda Husky above with Inboard Outboard and Inboard Jet power. All different size motors. I've heard of, or seen on craigslist, a few with 155hp v6's and ~120hp 4 bangers. My Suzuki mechanic fully restored a inboard/outboard wacanda husky with a 4 banger for marine school. I wish I knew where that boat was today. Would love to snatch it up.

I am an absolute enthusiast about Wacanda Boats. They are the most versatile, well built, sturdy, smooth, SMALL boats I have ever been in. My 16ft Husky is VERY Seaworthy. I have yet to get water to come over the bow or get a drop of water on me. The hurricane bow is for real. I love it. For a 16ft boat, they don't come any drier.

If anyone sees this and has an Inboard/Outboard or Inboard Jet Powered Wacanda, I would love to take a look and possibly fully restore it. I want a fishing wacanda, which I have, and a ski boat Wacanda!