65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

[North Beach]

OK, we have the Sunchief pretty much done so it?s time to start on another project. This one we?re gonna do a little slower than the last. As on the last project, I have little or no experience doing glass work and I haven?t been able to find much in the way of pictorial documentation on a G3 rebuild so far.

I have been able to connect with the folks over at the Fiberglassics.com G3 forum and so far they?ve been very helpful. There?s a whole group of these folks all over the country and several of them have done exactly what we?re gonna try here.

Here?s what we know so far.

The G3 was marketed as a ski boat from 59 to sometime in the late 60?s by Glaspar. It was named after a rocket of the same era. They were made at several plants across the country. The serial number designates what year and where it was made so we know our boat is a 65 G3 manufactured in Petersburg (actually Colonial Heights) Virginia. It?s 13?7? in length and should turn out to be a real fun boat once it?s done.

Folks run all sorts of power plants on them from period correct 35 hp to twins to 110 hp. Also some folks run the newer motors. We?re gonna try and salvage the 1969 65 HP Mercury Thunderbolt 2 stroke that came with the boat. It?s full of acorns, doesn?t currently have a lower end, and has some of incorrect cowling issues so we?ll be looking for parts as we go.

Also some folks put the transom back together as is and some folks raise the overall height of the transom I assume so as not to be limited by motor choices. We?re gonna try and raise ours. I think we should get that out of the way while we?re into it.

Any of you G3 folks see me posting anything you feel is incorrect, feel free to correct me as we go.

Here?s a couple shots of the boat as I got it. I traded a 72 Cox trailer for the boat, trailer and the motor.

 

[robbankston]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

That's definitely just a runabout. Nice lines though. Kind of looks like Batman's boat.

 

[North Beach]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

Here's a shot of the interior (or what's left of it). This boat has not been very well taken care of. It's been setting out in the weather for a long while and there have been several "upgrades" done over the years which we will have to correct.

First thing on the list is pull the outboard.

Here's a shot of the acorns!

The next step is to rip open a little of the floor to see what's going on. Of course we're gonna split the hull and the cap to do a complete job but the spare lower end tore a hole in the floor when i was moving it around last week revealing a ton of trapped water. We propped up the bow and I guess it all drained out. Looks like the stringers are good and it appears someone did a halfast floor job on this boat at some point in time.

Here's a couple shots of the added stern reinforcment. That's also gotta go!

Continued due to too many pics............

 

[North Beach]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

And of course I'm searching the internet looking for pictures and info on what this boat was supposed to look like. Here's an ad from a 64 Rudder magazine showing the 65 G3.

 

[robbankston]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

Looks cool. I'm subscribing to this thread.

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

Hi North Beach, sweet G3!
are all of those other boats yours too? must be nice to have that much room to work if they are yours and that is your yard....

I am also suscribed, (we're watching you!!)
lol

I am wondering if that windscreen on yours is original, looks possibly custom made......
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
We just got a G3 too, just 2 days ago, $100 for 1961 75hp evinrude included the trailer, only snag no titles! Should be able to get past that problem hopefully without too much trouble. we also got a running, old 75hp johnson for an additional $100

What condition is the gel kote in on yours?

ours has some cracks in the gel, couple small dings in the fiberglass, seems pretty solid though overall, luckily we also have all of the original seats and steering wheel, gauges and such, all the trim is there, only one piece broken partially. also olong the front "hood" ours is sagging, looks like someone big sat on it up frt, we plan to reinforce taht area with a plywood form and fiberglass to get it back to where it needs to be and for strength.

is there wooden stringers in yours? I was under the assumption that these G3s had 99% glass very little wood except in the transom. ours has 4 drain plugs!!!!!!!!! 1 for the eng area, 3 along the bottom for "air bladders" since I believe there is no foam in this boat.

heres a pic of ours, in the guys yard that we bought it from

check out the giant old timey bow light...Im not sure if that is stock. same with the frt and back facing intakes on the hood deck. all of the pics I find there are NO LIGHTS especially on the advertisments from the old days.
Im sure there was an UPGRADE for nav lights.......

I'll let ya know when we get workin' on that project and if I find any interesting info beyond what you already know.

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME! get some Big ol casters for that hoist!

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME! get some Big ol casters for that hoist!

North_Beach, after looking at your engine hoist on gravel, and all those other boats on grass, have you thought about adapting that engine hoist by adding some 8" or 12" tires? must be a bear to get that thing moving and I'm sure it is irritating as heck on gravel. (tip happy too)

about $45 at harbor freight for mega casters
cheaper than concrete!!!
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42485
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=42714

just a thought!

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

Northbeach, here are a couple interesting links,

http://www.oldmercs.com/gallery.html
theres a couple g3s here and some before after resto pics

http://g3.clickusfirst.com/
some more g3s

http://www.fiberglassics.com/

some project boats being worked on, photos----------
http://g3.clickusfirst.com/Brads_project_1973_XL.html
http://www.geocities.com/larson_xl5/

 

[North Beach]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

VPM,
I saw your post on the G3 forums and was watching to see who would buy the Vegas boat. Congrats on a GREAT steal! No those are not all my boats. I just have the G3 and the recently restored Liquid Limo. And one parts boat for the starcraft. My boat has complete running lights and yes there is no wood in the bottom of the boat. the stringers are glass. Be carefull when you remove the plywood. The area on each side of the floor is your hull. The plywood runs to a point as it goes towards the bow. So, remove the plywood from the center out.

We're gonna take our time with this one so be patient watching.

thanks for the links.

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

Hi again North_Beach
thanks on the congrats, and congrats on yours too
have fun with your rebuild!! and thanks for the advice on tear-down.
yeah had to drive 55 miles each way twice to get it, nice previous owner.

Do you have a color scheme picked out? are you re-gelkoting? or auto paints for final colors? I know lots of guys use regular type paints for their aluminum hull boats. Must be nice to have it that easy!

Do you know if you can add metal flake powder, to clear or colored gel kote??????

I would like to learn the gelkote process as best as possible, so all of our future projects are top of the line. though from what I can tell, a car clear coat type paint job, would hold up pretty good for weekend use boats (trailered) not sure how tough they would be for beached boats though
What are your thoughts???

We would like to do a heavy red metal flake and white on ours. toss in some metal flake vinyl as accents on a white interior (like on the old barstools from the 50s)
due to a slow photo business, we have more time for tinkering, so lots of boats!

Keep on keepin on!

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

NB I will be wathing this one if the Liquid Dingy turns out half as nice as the Liquid Limo it will be a slick little sport boat .


Rick

 

[North Beach]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

VPM,
Now you're starting to ask questions that I don't have answers to My G3 currently has blue metalflake, but personally, I was never a flake fan. Nothing against it, just not my thing. Haven't even began to think about color. I'm still tryin to talk my wife into letting me keep it

Rick, we'll be naming this one Pocket Rocket! And this boat has a Lonnnggg way to go. Specially since I just found a 72 Chiefton 140 I/O just up the road I think I can get for around 8 bills

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

Thats what I like to hear . Once a Starcraft man always a Starcraft man .


Rick

 

[vegasphotoman]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

Name the boat after your wife, then she HAS to let you keep it !!! LOL

work on it as a "Im gonna sell it" project, once she takes a spin in it and it is named after her, she love it! heh heh maybye she can "help" pick out a color, as long as it isn't pink!

 

[sschefer]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

Thought I'd drop my two cent's in the hat. I'm thinking that might look good with my V-135 and an Alien Cowling on it. Should be able to hit the mid 80's with it. On second thought, I think I'll just shut up and watch. Danged, now I'm wanting a go fast boat.... Hydro... Yeah, that's the ticket.

NB that little guy is cool, you have your work cut out for you but a great project for sure. My winter project was supposed to be my 135 but I'm thinking I'm going to need something else. Looks like it's going to be a long wet winter. A hydro is not completely out of the question. I'm only 56, I can still play!

P.S. Glad you picked something closer to the ground this time.

 

[Miranda]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

Hi NB

Just checkin to see if you started your G3 and are just slackin posting the info LOL
I'm sure you've been busy working or playing....hope all is well!!!!!!

Vegasphotoman..........

ps this is my wifes computer Im using...so...its on her handle

 

[APPALOOSA2]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

Dam NB you got boatitis 2 in the same year...

 

[evildocrsx]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

You have like a thousand projects there! Is that your back yard?

 

[justchange]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

That's a HOT little boat. Like those with the extra wide spray rails and tailfins.


That blue boat next to it looks interesting as well.

 

[parrisw]

Re: 65 Glaspar G3 Rebuild GLASS TIME!

That's a very cool looking boat. Nice lines.