1976 Browning Aerocraft

[magnumdeke]

Well just became a tin can owner, new to me 76 18' bow rider with twin 84 50 hp Johnsons. Goona be a long term rebuild. Cool part is I have been shooting Browning shotguns for years and My boat has the Browning name! Lord Help Me For u Michigan guys it was built near Saginaw

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[Bob_VT]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

Welcome to iboats!

Very nice looking boat! What are your plans? What does it need?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

Neat boat! I've never seen one like it.

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

Well My plan is to get it usable for this summer and gut it this winter, I want to figure out how I want it set up for fishing and strip it and make it mine!!! Floor is soft and the transom needs replacement. I may close the bow in also, need to see how it handles the water before I make any decisions. The last time it was registered was 00 so its been sitting for a while, Motors have 150 lbs of compression on all cylinders and good spark, will put new impellers in before starting, did some work last night and here's some pics

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

http://s831.photobucket.com/albums/zz239/Magnumdeke/boat012.jpg


Got it figured out, the pics are up

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

I got it figured out a little better Do an edit to see how I did it. That last one still needs to be re-sized.

Cool boat!

 

[Mustang77]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

I am also a Browning Aerocraft owner..mine is a 1977 Mustang 1 that i'm in the process of renovating with the help of the good people on here...thats a sweet find!

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

well got the twins running cleaned carbs and rebuilt them, new fuel lines from tanks to motors and replaced all lines under the hoods, two new impellers, new steering cable, stripped out a ton of wiring that had been added over the years and put it back to stock, new bilge pump,got the lights working and horn. Ready for sea trial. Took it out last night and purrs like a kitten. 31 mph with three people, running two motors, 21 mph running one. ran it for two hours used 12 gals fuel, had to turn bilge pump on once for about 30 sec. not bad. I removed the two boxes they had the windshield mounted to and put it back on the console like it came from the factory'

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

Now I want to build a hard top and get my pole holders mounted on it so I can do some trolling and figure out the direction to go with it over next winter. What do you guys think of 1" schedule 40 aluminum pipe for the framing for a hard top? Then cover it with some 16 gauge sheet stock.

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

Wow pretty quiet out there, no replies on the hardtop idea

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

Magnum I can't believe I missed your thread up until just now

I've got an AeroCraft I've been restoring for about a year now. It's just a little 12' tinny but I love it.

Your boat is a real gem! That will be a great boat for the big lakes. High freeboard and deep-V. The dual outboards is a personal favorite, I will have a boat like that someday hopefully.

I would do a T-top or soft top personally, they really catch the wind and are heavy.

I would want the capability of driving the boat open and in the sun I think.

Depends on what materials you use though. Are you thinking aluminum or stainless tube framing?

My dad has a hardtop Seaswirl and it sure is nice to get out of the wind and rain.

Awesome that you got both Johnsons running, good job.

Congrats on the new rig and good luck

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

Thanks Huron, I just ordered a pile of aluminum and plan to t top it and make it removeable , pipe slip fit with pins. Going to frame up a new set of side rails to raise the windshield back up in a more appealing manner than the po had it with the boxes that were on it. need it to be higher so I can see through it. Also will give me more room on dash to fit electronics, the old browning going to be more of a working boat than a show rig thats for sure

 

[Shife]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

Love the boat. The T-top is a great idea. I'll be watching with interest as I'd like to do something similar and I have a pile of 6061T6 1in tubing in my basement from a previous project.

I had the same problem with the windshield being too low and raised my consoles by 3in. I would like to go higher but the proportions of the boat started getting all wonkey.

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

Well I started on the t top and windshield risers,

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Slowly but surely!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

Nice work on that aluminum framing, this rig is gonna have a nice custom look to it. Nothing on the water like it.

Are you going to put some glass in the openings under the windshield?

Looks like it will be nice to handle the helm while standing up with that rise you put in.

AeroCraft was a great Michigan company, too bad their plant burnt down in the 70s or else they'd probably still be manufacturing boats in Saginaw.

Can't wait to see this thing when you're done.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

Looks like a Major Shop to work in that must be real nice.

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

YES it IS!!!!!! I run a maintenance shop for a large construction company, good job for a wrench!, got some more done on the boat that I need post pics, have been using it all summer and fall fishing the eyes. Now in holding pattern looking for a large chieftain or Islander before I gut and dump money into total restore on this rig.

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

Been a while since I have been in this thread, used the boat for two years, added a Hummingbird 798 cs, minnkota Terrova 80 Ipilot and 4 bank charger, been fishing the heck out of it!!! Did the transom this spring, was way bad! Well went out Memorial day and noticed smoke from the left wheel on the trailer oh oh bearing gone. Was closer to the launch than home, went fishing got done and put it on the trailer, not making it home. Well as some of you know I am rebuilding a Starcraft Islander and also scrapped one this spring. Spare Caulkins roller trailer set up for a 22' boat, saved the day, loaded like crap, rear rollers stuck past the end of the boat 3', no lights, not good. (oh ya when we backed the old trailer back in the water to swap the boat the bad bearing tire fell off and floated to the surface LOL:facepalm: )
Realized last night that it was 4th of July and my truck, trailer and boat had not moved since Mem. day, been busy as heck and then hurt myself a week or two ago, too much going on and NO fishing, usually try to make it out 2 or 3 times a week. Today we limped the boat to the shop and attacked the "new to me" trailer so everything fits and works. Can not wait to launch it and see how it goes, worried about recovery, may have to adjust the rollers again we will see.Following post's I will go through what we did today.
Too many pics for sure

 

[magnumdeke]

Re: 1976 Browning Aerocraft

Today's to do list.
Fit trailer to boat Done
New transport safety chains Done
New 2" trailer coupler, old surge brake one is junk. Done
Jack sux, New flip style jack Done
Complete rewire, and add wire for future elec. Brakes Done


We hooked a Pettibone to the rear of boat with a sling and a Hilo to the bow eye and got the boat repositioned on the trailer so the rear rollers are just shy of the back of the boat, No pics of this DUMB OF ME! But now we could get it in the hoist bay and fine tune the fit.
If you look at the jack area you can see where the winch post was

Rollers adjusted

And the winch post adjusted and safety chain added

Hopefully it loads and unloads nicely, never had a true roller trailer before.
Pile of crap we removed, and the Squirrel stash of pine cones in the winch post