Soon to be back on the water...finally

[threedeesmax]

Hey there. I've been busy with life, so I haven't checked in here in, uh, about two years...man, where has the time gone?
I spent last spring, summer, and fall managing a friend's campaign for district attorney, and didn't spend a single day at the lake or doing substantial work to my boat.
This year, however, I'm going to play.
I've been ordering parts for the 1958 Mercury Mark 58ae for the last few weeks - a timing belt, carburetor kits, water pump impeller, spark plugs and wires, points, condenser, yada yada yada, plus the dreaded $50 service manual. All the goodies are here now. If it ever stops raining here in Oklahoma, I'll get busy and freshen that motor up. Hopefully I'll be on the water by May 1, at least for a shakedown cruise.
My boat is ready to go, except for a few things, like a new steering cable and new upholstery for the built-in back-to-back bucket seats. It's a 1961 Red Fish Shark, a 15-ft. runabout. But I can sit on plywood for a month or two, and the cable's a simple thing. Some of you from way back when might remember this boat.
One of the photos shows how bad the gelcoat looked before I revived it with Mark42's famous ScotchBrite and cleanser treatment. It came out pretty good.
Looking forward to boating on the lakes of Oklahoma this year!

 

[drewpster]

Re: Soon to be back on the water...finally

Cool boat! I like the spot lights. Did you win? (election) Is he planning any trips, so he can misrepresent the President's foreign policy too?

 

[threedeesmax]

Re: Soon to be back on the water...finally

Cool boat! I like the spot lights. Did you win? (election) Is he planning any trips, so he can misrepresent the President's foreign policy too?

Yeah, he won, and I'll never do another campaign again...too much time, money, and work. On the other hand, having the D.A. as a friend can't be all bad.
Those spotlights have adjustable rearview mirrors on the back. And the hardware, including the nifty navigation light, is from the Attwood SeaFlite Riviera line, except for the horns and the spotlights (which were also popular on late 1950's hot rods - they sold at boat shops and auto parts shops).
I'd like to add a glow-pole or two to the stern, and I need to find the Attwood burgee pole that inserts into the nav light on the bow.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Soon to be back on the water...finally

Hey ThreeDeesMax! Good to see you're back! I was wondering what ever happened to that cool Red Fish project. Can't wait to see some pics on the water.

Keep posting!

Mark

 

[drewpster]

Re: Soon to be back on the water...finally

You are right politics and boating don't mix. (nice dodge of the question BTW Senator)
The tail fins really make that design. I have an image of a guy with a flat top hair cut in a white tee shirt and "slacks" with a big smile waking through the water. You know, in one of those early color movies, all grainy?

 

[iwombat]

Re: Soon to be back on the water...finally

I love the 50's boats with tailfins.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Soon to be back on the water...finally

It looks like you parked it too long in the sun with the strap too tight around the middle LOL. Have you ever considered old Chrysler or DeSoto taillights on the back of the fins? I had an old fg 16 Owens with fins that I put old Caddy lights into. Got a lot of comments.

 

[threedeesmax]

Re: Soon to be back on the water...finally

You are right politics and boating don't mix. (nice dodge of the question BTW Senator)
The tail fins really make that design. I have an image of a guy with a flat top hair cut in a white tee shirt and "slacks" with a big smile waking through the water. You know, in one of those early color movies, all grainy?

Don't forget the black socks with sandals...and a good soundtrack would finish that picture.

As far as the D.A. taking trips and misrepresenting the president...nah, the prez already has enough people doing that job. This guy's not much of a politician, but he's doing a bang-up job as a prosecutor.

Hey Mark42, I'm glad to see you're still around! Remember this pic, before I attacked the finish with a ScotchBrite pad? Sure looks better now.
I'm thinking about doing some sanding too, on the fins, to get down to a better surface for polishing. Is 600-grit too rough? I also need a clear lens cover for the navigation light - mine's broken at the tip - and I'd love to find the burgee staff that goes with this light.

 

[threedeesmax]

Re: Soon to be back on the water...finally

Dang it, I can't get that "before" pic to load...ahh, there it is, up above. Titiled 'oxidation.jpg'

 

[threedeesmax]

Re: Soon to be back on the water...finally

It looks like you parked it too long in the sun with the strap too tight around the middle LOL. Have you ever considered old Chrysler or DeSoto taillights on the back of the fins? I had an old fg 16 Owens with fins that I put old Caddy lights into. Got a lot of comments.

Some taillights would look great, but I don't want to do any cutting on the boat. If I could figure out how to mount them without making fiberglass modifications, I'd do it. Maybe taillight assemblies from a '57 Chevy...