1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

[Nivekt]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

Wow Andrew. I just got finished reading this entire thread. It is truly amazing to see this boats progress. I cant wait to see it completed and on the water. Please take some video for us when you get it on the water. Fantastic work and congratulations on this beautiful baby and your more precious one!

 

[sphelps]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

The before and after shot of the wheel ! Wow that polished up great ! Do you think the sparkly paint was factory ?

 

[southkogs]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

The before and after shot of the wheel ! Wow that polished up great ! Do you think the sparkly paint was factory ?

The wheel on our Lake-N-Sea was this crazy clearish/sparkly gig with white spokes and grips. I'm guessing the Lake-n-Sea's had a few different options for true 50's "kitsch."

 

[andgott]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

I'd say that the 'glitz' was probably original- The coating was a thick translucent vinyl, but was mostly gone. A polished wheel will fit right in to the overall scheme of things- I have a nice mix of 50's 'kitsch' and 'class' planned. Everything about this boat screams 50's, so I have to go all the way

The majority of boats in this era came from the factory with little or no hardware. Things like the deck hardware, steering, electrical, etc were usually dealer added, so you find a variety of different setups on the same model boat, depending on what dealer rigged it. Lake N Sea boats came from the factory fully rigged and ready, so most are the same, or close.

-Andrew

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

Looking good...to keep that wheel all nice and shiny...you could use ZOOP's wheel polish or give it a couple of coats of clear spray paint...

 

[andgott]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

I love the smell of grease in the morning... Errr, Evening.

I have a short break in things on the lake N sea- I'm waiting to get some parts, and until they get here, I've reached a stopping point. I HATE it when I can't work because someone shipped me the wrong color of trim

So, I decided to start getting a little bit of work done on the mechanical part of things, so I got out the 'Lark twins' to see what they were going to be needed to them to get them going-

Both of them are '59s- and supposedly, according to the people I bought them from, both strong runners. The one that I thought was the most intact, and pretty much ready to go, is missing a few parts here and there. The other one seems to be almost intact, with only a few small things here and there missing. I'm sure that between the two, I'm going to be able to get a decent runner!

Even though the first motor was missing some parts, it came with the controls and electrical, which is the tough part to find!

I've also got a slight dilemma - I've got two shift boxes, the one on the right is a '59 and would be 'correct' for the boat, and the one on the left is a slightly later model, probably early 60's, and would probably look a little better. They're both in great shape, other than being dirty.

I'll probably go with the 'right' one... But I've got time before I have to decide for sure.

I might put the motor in the 'test tank' (read- Garbage can ) tomorrow and fire it up... Or at least try to

 

[sphelps]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

Yep I agree the one on the right seems like it would look better .

 

[southkogs]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

Wish I had a photo of ours for you Andrew ... it was a ball handled lever built right into the gunwale. More "kitsch"

I agree the one on the right'll look better.

 

[andgott]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

More progress...

I got the windshield project DONE! I did a separate thread on it,

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=577021

where I'll post better directions, and dimensions.

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I've still got to mount two of the deck brackets on it- But it's good to go otherwise.

I also got the dash ready. Originally, it had a vinyl covering on part of it, with a textured finish. I was able to find something that was VERY close to the original. It was just a matter of cutting a template-

Then cutting a piece to fit, then CAREFULLY attaching it to the dash, while working the bubbles out slowly.... I'm pretty happy with how that turned out, too-

There is one creased area, but it happens to be right where I'll be making cutouts for instruments in the dash anyways, so it won't matter much

Now, If the edge trim I ordered would finally get here- The first time I ordered, they sent the wrong color.... The replacement package I got today was the right color, but it was 10 feet instead of the 45 feet it was supposed to be. Hopefully, the THIRD time they ship it'll be correct!

-Andrew

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

Windshield & dash look exceptional!

 

[andgott]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

Some test fitting of hardware, to see what's going where!

Bow light, cleat, chocks, and horn. The bow light & horn are NOS- The light is identical to the ones in the Lake N Sea brochure.

The deck hardware (Cleats, chocks, etc) that I am using is a nice complete set. I had a pretty good set, but then I found a nice NOS set- It's not here yet, so I put the old ones on just to see if I liked 'em... And I DO

The stern light isn't NOS, but darn close other than a little yellowing in the lens. I put the motor cowl there to see how it was going to look- It looks right at home on this transom for sure.... One more set of fins!

And, the dash layout-

I've been accumulating those AquaMeter gauges for a while now- Getting nicer and nicer ones from time to time. I like their look on the dash! Of course, I've got the '59 golden jubilee badge in the starter plate, too.

Now I just need to install it all

-Andrew

 

[sphelps]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

Wow ! incredible work as always Andrew ! This is gunna be one sweet ride when complete !

 

[Trooper82]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

Andrew - your work is fantastic..really starting to come together too....you'll be ready for a cruise in real soon...

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

Now I just need to install it all
-Andrew

Man, the first cut into all that great glass & paint work, yikes.... Not for the timid or faint of heart... Or the hand that shakes.....

Steady as you go. The dash & hardware all look great! The fins on the bow light make it a perfect fit!

 

[andgott]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

The fins on the bow light make it a perfect fit!

Yeah, there is a method to my madness, believe it or not

I've been planning the restoration since I got the boat home, and have been slowly acquiring the required parts from various sources... That light is the same one pictured in the 1959 brochure- It came rigged from the factory that way... It took me a while, but I tracked one down that was new in a box, never installed!

As for drilling into that shiny deck... I just measure twice, or three times, or more, then DO IT. It's painful, but it's got to be done! I figure if I mess up, I can always fix it

-Andrew

 

[GT1000000]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

Definitely gonna be a show stopper...anywhere and every where you go...folks are gonna be all over this boat...I honestly, would not be the least bit surprised if some production company would want to put it in a commercial or movie...This is like the June or July Calendar page boat...absolutely outstanding!

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

I have the same or very very similar bow light around in the garage somewhere. I think it came on the FireFlite, red or blue. Let's just say that like the boat, it isn't in perfect shape either & let it go at that. Eventually, on something more like geologic time scale, I will put it on the FireFlite...

Bet it's nice to finally be putting all the parts & pieces you've been collecting for 'later' or the next project over the years into it's forever location.

Any Ford work around the boat house lately? That's been great to follow too...

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

Looking sweet! Getting excited all the mock up pics look awsome. Have to agree with GT gonna be a calender girl.

 

[andgott]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

Slow but steady progress... Somehow, my three month old daughter doesn't always agree with me about how I should spend my 'free time', Although she DOES seem to like the new deck hardware-

It's a NICE set of N.O.S. Jervis hardware!

Hopefully, I'll get some time this weekend to do some real work. I've just found a minute or two here and there to get small things done- But as long as all the progress is in the right direction, It'll all get done eventually!

I've got a whole pile of 'bling' to install-

Everything above deck is pretty much original to the boat, or to the era... There will be a few modern conveniences here and there, like the modern electrical system- But they'll be hidden away so you'll never know that they are there.

I moved it to the 'upstairs' garage, where I've got more tools...

I moved the motors up there, too- Hopefully I'll get one of them started this weekend, then it'll be time to install it...


-Andrew

 

[sphelps]

Re: 1959 Lake N' Sea Restoration

I have major bling envy ! All my original hardware was white so I guess I,ll repaint them ..
The little one looks almost ready for a ride in her pretty pink boat !!