New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

jbcurt00

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Well, the dreaded MBS has struck again, and despite other projects in my boathouse, this one has jumped to the front of the line. I truly love this boat. A few things condition wise concerned me, but we'll get to that, and I'm over those concerns anyway.....

Towing it home:
IMAG0785_zpsd1fd2cd8.jpg

Bow handle:
IMAG0786_zps7e22bed7.jpg

Duracraft plate:
IMAG0787_zps59a50a45.jpg

Details:
IMAG0790_zpsc7166529.jpg

The motivator:
IMAG0791_zpsa5146835.jpg

Overhead shot:
IMAG0794_zps6a322ecc.jpg


The bow seems really deep, and when sitting at the helm (NO MOTORBOAT noises were uttered) the boat feels much larger then it's 14' 9"+/- size.

There is some speculation that it's not a 1957, as serial #'s were consecutive across all lines of production, regardless of model. When boat model A rolled off the line it got the next # in the series. When boat B was finished next, it got the next available #. I think it's a 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom, so that's what I registered it as.

Since it had a 1958 fat 50 Johnson OB hanging off the back, I registered it as a 1957. M Casey Stock is doing tons of research into Duracrafts & may have more details about serial #'s & year of manufacturer, if anyone wants them. His thread:
1952 Duracraft Sportsman
 

jbcurt00

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

1957DuracraftDurafliteCustom_zpseb42b821.jpg

Further 'proof' that it's a 1957 Duracraft Duraflite Custom^^^

Another profile shot:
IMAG0801_zps707984eb.jpg

Ignition plate:
IMAG0793_zpsd1827bc0.jpg

Steering wheel:
IMAG0792_zps87c86580.jpg

The helm:
Portviewoffrontbench_zps1cfb00e1.jpg

Another shot:
IMAG0796_zps4e7d5e16.jpg
 

jbcurt00

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

Rear of the front bench:
backoffrontbench_zps769b19c4.jpg

Rear bench seat:
rearbench_zps7c496a61.jpg

View aft:
IMAG0828_zpsc1ff4745.jpg

Transom knee brace:
IMAG0879_zps59bf7b54.jpg

Bolts were all corroded & frozen, and the transom was trash:
IMAG0884_zps0c873c0d.jpg
 

jbcurt00

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

There were lots of roots growing under some of the ribs on the interior, and into the area beneath the bench seats, so I rustled up some tools & set about removing the rear bench seat top:
Exterior hull rivet:
IMAG0946_zps5b5031ab.jpg

Seat top rivet:
IMAG0950_zpsa8651966.jpg

Lifting the seat top:
IMAG0951_zps95d25171.jpg

'Flotation' foam, clearly less then sufficient:
IMAG0952_zpsd4f4c4aa.jpg

'Pan' to keep the flotation foam off the bottom of the hull:
IMAG0956_zps9490fc99.jpg


The ugliness below that ^^^ pan:
A nearly 1.5" mat of roots:
IMAG0955_zpsf491c99d.jpg
 

jbcurt00

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

The 'debris' from inside just the rear bench:
IMAG0958_zps02c93a8c.jpg

The transom:
IMAG0961_zps031abb7d.jpg



Surface corrosion only behind the transom ply:
IMAG0964_zps1f27fe02.jpg


The transom was only 1.25", and because of the downward turned lip, the new transom will be 1.25" thick as well: 1 piece of 1/2" MDO & 1 piece of 3/4 ACX ply:
IMAG0965_zpsdfed8036.jpg

From another forum, I hear rumor that quite a few Duracrafts were retro fitted w/ bow tanks to reduce porpoising & help w/ the boat listing to the stern w/ an as rated 50hp OB. Bow tank was suspended from the bow cover:
Underbowcoverfueltanksuspension_zpse40bd46a.jpg


A bow tank will be going back in, but NOT this ^^^ tank. It's got bad scaling inside, and is in much worse condition then it appears.....

Fat 50 remote control:
controlbox_zps1247d1d6.jpg
 

jbcurt00

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

Snagged some vintage trim tabs to help w/ porpoising too:
00v0v_4XhaIqRenfZ_600x450_zpsda2b7cf0.jpg


Setup shop and got to work building a motor stand:
IMAG1038_zps0c7de6b3.jpg

Stockpile of flotation foam:
IMAG1039_zpsf25afc9a.jpg

New boat cover & support piping to cover her up once winter is upon us (soon I fear):
IMAG1044_zpsf5fcb7fe.jpg

Setup a material warming station, building isn't heated if I'm not working there:
IMAG1045_zps0e06954c.jpg

Going to be below 30* tonight.... bummer.
 

jbcurt00

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

Thought I had some pix of the boat w/ the steering wheel, windshield & all the nav lights removed, but I don't, so I guess their still on the boat :facepalm:

Finally, today, I also started some actual boat work. I love MDO:
IMAG1023_zps2b315355.jpg

Laying out a 19" X 60" area on the back of the MDO to minimize the # of empty knot holes:
IMAG1024_zpse54f16e5.jpg

Thanks to our northern neighbors for sending me some nice wood to work w/:
IMAG1025_zpscbc3a37a.jpg

Laid out the centerline of the transom, and spaced down 4" to allow for the 'bat wing' stick ups on the transom to all be fab'd from a continuous piece of plywood:
IMAG1027_zps8fce3048.jpg

Added a helping hand to give me a way to clamp it to the stern of the boat so I could mark out the profile:
IMAG1028_zps209dd3ed.jpg
 

jbcurt00

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

Then clamped it to the back of the boat:
IMAG1031_zps8c76381f.jpg

And traced the top half of the transom.

Then quickly removed it, moved my helping hand down 1/4" to allow me to trace the lower half of the hull's layout:
IMAG1032_zpsf72256ea.jpg

Moving the helping hand down, raised the bottom of the transom 1/4" and should be a fairly good fit 1st time out. But I have yet to figure out a way to avoid removing the knee brace from the bottom of the hull & get the transom installed. We'll come back to this.....

Notice that the hull isn't symmetrical:
Port:
IMAG1034_zps270a7a5b.jpg

Starboard:
IMAG1033_zpsf57f255f.jpg

Oh well, at 56 I probably won't be either.....

Then moved all the traced lines inward a 1/4" to allow for the welded seam:
IMAG1036_zps162e7c4c.jpg


Then laid out & pre-drilled some holes for screwing the 2 pieces of plywood together:
IMAG1037_zps090564a2.jpg

I plan to use Gorilla glue to laminate the 3/4" ply to the raw wood side of the 1/2" MDO prior to cutting it to shape. Once cured, I'll remove the screws & cut the profile.
 
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jbcurt00

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

I had to order the 3/4" ACX, it will be on-hand Mon am, and I hope to have it roughed Mon pm. Then layup & glue the 2 pieces together Tues am. It will then have 2.5days to fully cure undisturbed as I probably can't get back to it til Thurs. pm.

I will take some inventory this week, as I have quite a bit of collected boat stuff to move this project along.

I'd really like to have the hull flipped before the snow flies, then I can do some motor work w/ my new OB stand.


Thanks for stopping by!

Very pleased to be working on an actual boat and NOT just be an armchair BYBB......

To the glassers in the bunch, I have not pulled the plug on the FireFlite, but it has fallen another peg in the work flow............

To the Starmada, I have hoarded quite a bit of tin and will be working on some vintage SC tin soon. They are all tucked away & covered for the winter, once again.... My apologies.
 

GA_Boater

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

First JB - No apologies needed, for cryin' out loud.

Second - She looks pretty good really. As expected a lot of mulchy wood with roots and is that moss? I swear the gas tank is out of a pick-up. She has some nice hardware on the bow, very original and cool. The long bow is very sporty looking. What's written on the wheel above the Duracraft hub cover?
 

jbcurt00

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

Turns out I had a list of boat stuff:
Rivits: closed/blind in various lengths & various solid rivets on hand
Air rivet hammer & 2 heavy duty hand riveters on hand
May bite the bullet & order the HF air riveter too.. :rolleyes:
A few various types of aluminum angle & channel on hand
All new wiring harness for the boat (switches/lights/etc not the OB) on-site
Various gauge tinned marine wire on hand (no battery or OB wiring though)
MDO & exterior plywood for transom & seat cushion bases on hand
GluvIt, Coat-it & epoxy on hand
1.5" rigid foam on hand
SharkHide & variable speed sander/buffer/polisher w/ 4compounds & bonnets on hand
New steering wheel on-site
Original Johnson OB dash panel in good shape so it'll stay on the dash. No other holes to be cut :)
Some maintenance & rehab parts on hand for an OB rebuild (I have 2 or 3 OB's that are possible for the transom)
Remote starter relay solenoid ordered (backorder 10-14 more business days)
Bilge pump, dash switch panel, hose & fittings on hand
New fuse panel on hand
2 new plastic Moeller bow tanks on hand to choose from (I'll hack a thru hull vent fitting off a donor boat soon, have it on site too)
boat cover on site and gray PVC support piping to help keep cover from allowing water to puddle.
Material & large casters on hand to remove hull from trailer & flip it for hull work while on a cradle on site

I have chosen to hoard materials & supplies so that I can't loose steam waiting for parts. The boat building fund kept getting raided for other necessaries around the house & vehicles. So I've been shopping $20-50 here & there since I brought the Duracraft home. W/ the occasional $100 order to secure larger tix items. Helped to wait & watch for a 'deal' on some of the stuff, which helped out immensely.

Best deals to date are the new Moeller 19 gal trapazoid shaped bow tank for less then $95 delivered, which was for a different boat but may go in the Duracraft. Oddly enough a 2nd tank presented itself for $80 delivered that is also new and an 18gal that might even fit better in the bow..... And the Rule bilge pumps: their 12v model 41 3way (auto/off/manual) lighted switch panel for $10 & a 500GPH new Rule auto bilge pump for $37. Turns out the 500GPH was backordered subbed the 750GPH auto on at no extra cost. 1100gph Rulemate Automatic bilge pumps retail $66 from this vendor and w/ the trade up to a larger in stock pump, I'm VERY happy w/ their cust serv...

Working thru how I'll fab a splashwell or how to hide the battery & remote starter relay box. But that'll be 1 of the 1st 'Hey guys, what do you think....?'

Won't be a speed build, but should have some continued progress this week & set some goals set soon :D

Thanks for caring enough to harass :faint2:
 

jbcurt00

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

First JB - No apologies needed, for cryin' out loud.
I only meant sorry, but the Duracraft jumped a few other projects & I actually started the work part not 'just' the demo :facepalm:

Second - She looks pretty good really. As expected a lot of mulchy wood with roots and is that moss? I swear the gas tank is out of a pick-up. She has some nice hardware on the bow, very original and cool. The long bow is very sporty looking. What's written on the wheel above the Duracraft hub cover?

I need to figure out a 'good' medium term support for the front bench seat backs so I can remove the front bench seat top & get the roots & etc out of it too. I'll probably drill out the rivets & remove the seat top, and temp something together w/ some spring clamps. Then put the top back on & reinstall a couple rivets to hold it back in place. The gunwale at the seat back is already slightly bent on both sides of the boat & in both the forward & rear seat, as well as the opening around the missing splashwell area...


The bow area is HUGE, w/ that big 19gal trapezoid tank, there is still PLENTY of room for some storage & my legs/feet. One of the things that makes it feel like a bigger boat.

It's a Kaiser wheel, w/ a Duracraft center cap. Unfortunately, it is toast. Almost 50% of it cracked & exposed the steel core, which rusted, expanded & has been pushing the bake-lite (or whatever) off. :mad: Too bad, they are highly sought after....
 

Vintin

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

Very nice!
 

jigngrub

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

Hey JBC! What're you doing hiding way out here in the weeds???:confused: This is prime/cherry/boat porn mang, and should be up there in the main resto forum!!!

You've got some really fine vintage stuff to work with here... for instance:
IMAG0785_zpsd1fd2cd8.jpg

IMAG0786_zps7e22bed7.jpg

IMAG0791_zpsa5146835.jpg

IMAG0793_zpsd1827bc0.jpg


Them there pictures right there made my sticker peck out!!!:happy:


Did that Canadian plywood smell like beer???


Check all the nooks and crannies in that boat for contraband, looks like someone was using that boat for an illegal grow-op for them magic marlboros by the looks of those roots.

*expletive deleted* I can't wait to see what she looks like when you get'er done, I'm sure anyone that gazes upon her will have multiple eyegasms!!!
 

jbcurt00

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

Yep, not as much traffic over here in the Duracraft forum, but for now, here is good.

No barley or hops aroma from the wood, but I do like working with it. Wish I had a miter & table saw, but for now, the worm drive chewed thru it right nice.

I need to take some pix of the bow cover, the PO went after it w/ a grinder. That's what caused the damage to the bow handle. Hit a good windshield w/ the grinder too :mad:

Really chewed up the cap rivets around the entire bow, so I have some work to do there. We'll come back to that too...

Thanks VTF & Jig
 

jbcurt00

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

I'll take a pix of the bit in action, but I LOVE the 135* split point drill bit for drilling the head off a rivet:
5003b.gif


I don't HAVE to punch a divot to start a drill bit or do a pilot hole w/ a smaller bit.... Depending on the access to a specific rivet, I may pre-drill w/ a smaller 135* split point bit, but I find that it isn't required.

Just bump the trigger a few times on a variable speed cordless drill, w/ a 1/2" bit, and quickly the head is no more....

Okay, that's all I got for today :D
 

kfa4303

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

cool project! can you get the 135* bits at a regular hardware store?
 

jbcurt00

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

I'm pretty sure, I don't even remember the brand, let alone where I got them, but I do a bunch of shopping online.

I used to travel quite a bit for work & often surfed the net when I couldn't unwind......

I know I have a great set of pilot point Dewalt bits:
dw1361.jpg


and great set of Bosch DareDevil spade bits:
bshndsb5013p.jpg


that are both GREAT for wood, so maybe 1 of those brands??? IDK, those bits are at the shop......

I googled:

135 degree split point drill bit

And it looks like Dewalt labels them split point, and sell a decent size set, reasonably IMHO, so it's likely those are them.....
DW1363.jpg


NOTE: the No-Slip Starting advert on the labeling


I also stay away from HSS black oxide bits. Moved to coated a while ago & couldn't be happier w/ any of the drill bits I use...
 

jbcurt00

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

So yesterday I setup & cut out the 3/4" ACX plywood for the other 'half' of the transom layup and clamped it up to keep it flat until I could do the glue up:
IMAG1049_zps9dde487c.jpg


I cut the 3/4" larger so there was a 1/2" 'ledge' all the way around the edge of the 1/2" MDO plywood. This gave me a good place to spread the Gorilla glue to (kept it from running off the edge) and a good visual that I was getting good squeeze out:
IMAG1050_zps626ab903.jpg


So today, I stole a half hour just before lunch to run over & glue up the transom:
IMAG1077_zps13f521ec.jpg


The $5 spreader from HD worked great, just squeezed out a HUGE puddle of Gorilla & spread it around, right up to my 1/2" allowance at the edge.

Getting 100% coverage w/ the Gorilla, I thought I should probably add a few 1/2" 'vent' holes to keep help make sure I was getting all the air out from between the sheets. Based on the mushrooms that grew while I was teaching this afternoon, mission accomplished:
IMAG1080_zpsad69e4ac.jpg


Yep, good squeeze out:
IMAG1081_zpse7dfdf5b.jpg


So I unclamped & unscrewed it:
IMAG1082_zps597500b4.jpg


All in all a good day
 

jbcurt00

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Re: New project jumping to the front of the line: 1957 (?) Duracraft

Housekeeping, yep, it's fairly stripped down:
IMAG1066_zpsebaff0f7.jpg


And I briefly mentioned the hack job on the bow cover by the PO:
IMAG1067_zpseebc5bd5.jpg

IMAG1070_zps49e5f9aa.jpg


So I'll likely be removing a rivet or 2 at a time & repairing (sanding/JB Weld, both?) and reinstalling new rivets. I'll shoot some pix of the riveters, buck bar & rivets I've stockpiled. Some of various length in both closed end blind pop rivets & solid rivets. This work is probably a ways off..... to be continued.....

I've also been able to grab a donor or 2 along the way:

Free w/ a Golden Javelin 35hp Johnson:
IMAG1058_zps1b40c310.jpg


A fiberglass encased wood boat that is TOAST.... Trailer may be of some value, that's still TBD...
IMAG1051_zpsb80a9e5d.jpg

IMAG1055_zps95302a1a.jpg


So I also owe you a pix of the OB.

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