1955 Alumacraft M14

[mkoeh475]

Pretty much all I need to do is clean the aluminum up and make some seats. What is the best way to go about cleaning up the aluminum and keeping it polished? Any other recommendations are welcome as this is the first time I've done anything like this. Thanks!

Matt

 

[matthewp]

Re: 1955 Alumacraft M14

That is one cool boat, Matt. Is that a second one I see in photo #3?

I used oven cleaner on the inside of my hull - others here have simple green, scotch bright pads, etc.

How's that old Merc run?

 

[mkoeh475]

Re: 1955 Alumacraft M14

Actually it's an Alumacraft FD. This saturday I'll do some measuring but just from looking at it, the hulls seem to be nearly identical....just a different interior setup. That's also the day that I try it out on the river. The motor starts up fine but this will be the big test.

 

[Vintage Aluminum]

Re: 1955 Alumacraft M14

That's a 14' Merry "M". Its 2 inches wider amidship and used styrofoam flotation--only apparent differences from the catalogs of the era. Nice boat...worth keeping original, they are pretty rare.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1955 Alumacraft M14

Sweet! Are you going to pull the windshield or re-attach it...doesn't quite look stock. Nice boats...we of course need pix of that Merc in action.

 

[willyrocket]

Re: 1955 Alumacraft M14

Love those boats. Noticed the trailer has shocks!!!! Cool stuff.

Im kinda partial to this one, tryin to make my starcraft the same look as this......

A real kinda sporty/racy/resto look to it.

Andy why cant I find boats like that!!!!

 

[mkoeh475]

Re: 1955 Alumacraft M14

Thanks for all the kind words. I am going to attach the windshield when I get the boat back. The water pump is getting replaced on the Merc as we speak. For the brief little bit that I opened up with my friends dad and I in it (425-450lbs together) we hit 29.3mph according to the GPS. It goes pretty good.

What should I do/use to clean up the aluminum?

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: 1955 Alumacraft M14

that's a pretty cool looking little boat...it'll be awesome when you've got it polished up

 

[proshadetree]

Re: 1955 Alumacraft M14

Man that the oldest Merc Ive ever seen.I always liked Johnsons and rudes due to the fact thats all the old kickers I saw on the water.Now I might have to reconsider that.Awesome boat to hope she polishes up like chrome.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: 1955 Alumacraft M14

Nice project. PLEASE resize your photos to 640 x 480.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1955 Alumacraft M14

Check out this thread: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=297724
to see how murph cleaned up his aluminum water caddy. Very thorough and the results are great.