12' Sears Gamefisher resto

[57chris]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

...And one coat of white rustoleum paint, brushed on. I'll put one more coat on tomorrow and then let it dry for a couple of days.

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

That boat is looking GREAT Chris! Better than new! I can't wait to see it finished with the 18hp on it. Keep those pictures coming.

BOB

 

[57chris]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

Thanks Bob, I'm going to re-paint the old Sea horse 18 too...i've got a whole set of replacement decals for it on the way. I will probably run it this weekend though, before I tear the motor down for re-paint, so I'll get some good pics of it all together.

 

[57chris]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

I'm trying to get all my gear together, but I needed a few things from Academy

I love this tiller handle extention...I could barely reach the tiller before. Also have trailer chains and an anchor chain, air horn, fire extinguisher, nav. lights, trailer wire harness, cig. lighter plug for accesories, and bumpers. I want to build some sort of box in the back that will have my rear light plug, solenoid and ignition, and accesory plug. I'm thinking something made out of aluminum and about 8" square bolted to the rear seat or transom...not sure what to do exactly, any help there would be appreciated.

 

[keepNitreel]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

...And one coat of white rustoleum paint, brushed on. I'll put one more coat on tomorrow and then let it dry for a couple of days.

When I turned my boat over to paint it, the wife said I should paint HELP in big letters incase the boat flipped over

 

[57chris]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

LOL....painting "HELP" on the bottom of the hull would be hilarious, yet functional at the same time. The paint was getting pretty dry, so I went ahead and set it down on the carpeted bunks on the big trailer so I could roll it in the garage and get started rigging. The first order of business is to get my electrical stuff figured out, mainly the ignition switch, starter solenoid, and aux. power located somewhere dry and safe. This is what I came up with, a battery box with a battery tray as a false floor...plus I have a little dry storage in the upper part of the box. This will sit right next to another identical battery box with my actual battery in it. What do you guys think?

 

[57chris]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

So here's the boat going together in the garage, you can see the electrical box sitting next to the battery...i will pick up another box for the battery later. It sure does look good with that Johnson sitting on the back!

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

That boat and motor look awesome! You've got to get it on the other trailer though...that one makes it look tiny! Are you still going to put the pin stripe on the hull to match the motor?

BOB

 

[57chris]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

That boat and motor look awesome! You've got to get it on the other trailer though...that one makes it look tiny! Are you still going to put the pin stripe on the hull to match the motor?

BOB

Thanks Bob, I may still put the stripe on, i'm undecided at this point...impatient tendencies struck today, our whole extended family is going to surf fish on the Island tomorrow morning and we needed bait...Mighty Mullet to the rescue!! Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera, but we launched the boat this morning and after a few tweaks of the air/fuel mix we were off hunting bait. Maybe it was the magic of the new boat, but we've never done so well catching bait...and filled a whole 5 gallon bucket to the top with finger size fish. The fish are now safely packed between layers of ice in the igloo, ready to hunt bigger fish. We returned home with big smiles on our face. The boat got lots of attention at the boat launch, and cheers from all when it fired up and took off. We are looking at another boat, should be here by next weekend, a '97 22' Sea Stealth nearshore/offshore boat. Now the Gamefisher will be a bait getter for those trips out in the gulf!

 

[Nico2112]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

What an awesome job Chris!

One thing I'm curious about, don't you suffer from too much weight on the stern? with the fuel tank, batteries and you seating on the aft bench?

Yeah, bummer you didn't take the camera; don't forget it on your next outing, I want to see that baby on the water

Congrats mate!

 

[57chris]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

What an awesome job Chris!

One thing I'm curious about, don't you suffer from too much weight on the stern? with the fuel tank, batteries and you seating on the aft bench?

Yeah, bummer you didn't take the camera; don't forget it on your next outing, I want to see that baby on the water

Congrats mate!

You are correct, all that weight on the stern makes it a problem to drive by myself. It will get up on plane, but it's a wild ride getting there. Fortunately, I hardly ever go out in it alone, and the weight of my brother sitting up front does the trick. I can move the gas tank to the front of the rear seat with the length of fuel line I have, and that helps when i'm solo. I was solo in one of the first outings before the boat was painted, I actually removed the battery as the Johnson is also a pull-start, and moved the tank forward. The great thing about this little boat is nothing is too permanent, just a great all purpose boat.

 

[57chris]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

Hey guys, check out the new addition to the family...22' Sea Steatlh CC offshore ride.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?p=2223677#post2223677

 

[Nico2112]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

Yeah, that's the beauty of small boats, you can move things around to suit your riding conditions

I want a vid

 

[57chris]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

I've got the little boat docked behind the house now, ready for everyday fun. I am having a problem with the tiller gears still, it jumps off at full throttle and you're stuck idling back home. I've tightened the gears as much as I can tell how, no fix for 50 year old wear. So I am shopping for parts to convert it to remote throttle, and I will still steer it with the tiller arm. Here's a couple of shots of it sitting at the dock, I'll get a video next time

 

[Ms.Rivergrover]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

Hi Chris. You are an inspiration but I think this is more work than I had thought. My Dad died recently and my Mom puchased a new aluminum fishing boat with seats with backs which my brother-in-law selected. She lives on a lake but I think he may have had in mind what he wanted. So Dad's old green fiberglass boat has to go and according to my brother takes on some water from cracks in the seats, etc. I am not sure how bad it is as I haven't been in it for a few years, but for years we had a cut down plastic milk jug that we kept in the boat for occasional bailing. My Dad repaired it a few times with fiberglass over the years so it only leaked a little bit. I believe it is from Sears and he bought it new in 1974. It looks like yours, but has three seats and no cooler or whatever that is in the one seat. Or is that for fish? Or maybe for the hard core, a cooler for your drinks and your fish? It's that green port a potty color too. So I assume it is a 1974 but I will check the serial number because I know there is one. He also bought an aluminum canoe from Sears in 1974. I should look around the house in the filing cabinets because he may have a file somewhere with information on them. So, I am going to go look at the boat in a couple weeks and decide if we will attempt repair. I live near a large river that goes over several times a year and everybody gets out their small boats and canoes and rows past the flooded homes. You can even fish in the flooded streets. But eventually I would like to go in lakes. Also, the boat never had a motor on it. I need to carefully review your progress and carefully examine the boat. If we do the restoration, I would like to document the progress as you have. However, I see that you are in Texas so you have better weather than we do here.

 

[rl_stamper]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

I bought the same boat from some one who had stored it out in a field for several years. The finish was so bad on it, it made me itch from fiberglass when I just turned it over to look at it. It also had several cracks that appear to be from someone cinching it down too tight when it was tied down. I share your passion about the boat having a lot of character. I was talking with a fiberglass guy for some pointers and he thought I was nuts for wanting to put so much work in to it. I told him I had more time than brains! I do not have a title. How were you able to figure out the year? Mine is the game fisher 12' and the label on the side says Ted Williams.

 

[Ms.Rivergrover]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

The reason I am quite sure that it is a 1974 is because we moved onto a lake & he bought the canoe and boat together from Sears new. We moved in February and he bought the boats as soon as the weather got warmer. So I assume they were both 1974. My Dad was an engineer and kept records on everything. So I am sure if I hunt throught the filing cabinets I will find the title, manual, and probably the original receipt. Everybody thinks I am crazy for doing this too, but I just don't feel like throwing it in the dump if I can patch it up. At this point, I just want to get it to float. My brother said it has quite a bit of water in it. I intend on posting photos, etc., but I don't know how to do that yet. I will have more details later. I know it has the serial number and I believe it to be 12'. I wonder how much fiberglass, putty, etc. I will need. I suspect I should buy alot. Do they sell it in 55 gallon drums? Hee, hee. It will be fun to have similarly situated correspondents.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

....%....Everybody thinks I am crazy for doing this too, but I just don't feel like throwing it in the dump if I can patch it up....%.....

NO! Don't dump it. The beauty of a fiberglass boat is that as long as it is still shaped like a boat it can get repaired as good or better than new. Secondly, the whole sentimental value of the thing makes it important to do. It WON'T be expensive.

Some thoughts for 57chris and everyone else that wants trivia on these Gamefishers.

First, these boats were private labeled for Sears. The Gamefisher was part of the "Ted Williams" moniker for sporting goods which Sears sold. These boats are very solid and were built fairly light weight for fiberglass due to the manufacturing method used.

They were manufactured by MFG, a company that built fiberglass boats, observatory domes, and also originally developed the molding process for the Corvette back in the 1950's. Fascinating trivia. To me anyway. I don't know but maybe you can find some more info in the MFG pages here on iboats...

I am fixing one up myself right now. po apparently either dropped it or ran it aground a few times. It is a 12' boat, but it doesn't have the livewell/icebox like yours.

As far as the power rating of the hull- that boat is old enough that by the numbers your 18hp overpowers it. But if you are comfortable with it that is up to you. If you want to get technical, a modern 15hp overpowers it as well.

Mine only has one of the nameplates which were attached near the stern on both sides of the hull. I am thinking of scanning it, cleaning it up with my image-editing software, and sending it out to a local vinyl sign letter guy and getting decals cut. If he doesn't charge an arm and a leg for them. Probably a little anal... Going to make the hull white inside (going to consider the spatter application) and a two-tone cream hull with blue sides.

I am bad about taking pictures but maybe I will take some and make it a "project" to post.

Have fun! Enjoyed reading about your project.

 

[Ms.Rivergrover]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

Thank you for the encouragement. In rereading my post(s) I think I should clarify the boat's condition somewhat. Through last year, you had to bail with a cut down milk jug. This year, according to my brother, it is beyond bailable. Essentially floating alongside the pier with alot of water in it. I will take some photo(s) of it in the lake for my documentary. I have to drive a few hours each way to retrieve it. I have no trailer so will tie it into the back of my extended Ford Club Wagon (van) which also was my Dad's. I measured 10' behind the front seats with the other two seats folded down (cargo area) so I should only have a couple feet hanging out the rear. I have to wait for a nice day for this hell ride with me and the red rags flying.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: 12' Sears Gamefisher resto

Sounds like you'll do just fine!