Re: 14ft DuraCraft Resto
Re: 14ft DuraCraft Resto
Eureka...... Looks like 10227
Perfect! Right where it should have been. It's not the lowest number I've come across, but it's close by only 67 units. This makes yours a solid 1952 model where mine could possibly be an early 1953 but more likely a late 1952. Anyway I think that this boat was an enclosed dual cockpit model in it's earlier days, because there are no seat back brackets for the front bench. The rear bench is common to not have the brackets. With the cockpit arrangement the seat backs are supported by the upper skin and attach to the side of the hull and bench (right JB?). The other thing I noticed was that it looks like the rear corner braces have been cut on? I'm not sure why they would have been cut unless it was done at the same time the bow was cut? But why unless you were cutting off an entire top. I also noticed the steering pulleys are way up front like in mine with the front seat steering, but the shifter/throttle control mount looks like it is starboard side rear bench? is that correct? I've seen plenty with rear controls and steering, so that would not be a surprise, and I've seen the front steering and controls with a rear control bracket too.
Sometimes I wonder if the DuraCraft builders changed their minds in the middle of a build and just left unneeded things in place instead of removing them and having the holes left from the rivets to deal with, Kind of like the little loops riveted to the seat risers on mine and JB's, I just don't know. That is one thing that I enjoy about DuraCrafts, there are still some mysteries about them to track down. Even in my talks with Kim Ward I was unable to solve some (he's pretty old and can't remember the small details) all old records were lost in a fire years ago. Reading the history of DuraCraft tells us that our style of boat was not produced until the early fifties, I don't know if that was as early as 1951 or if it was 1952. So far the earliest well documented one that I have is from 1952. I don't feel that it was before 1951, because the author of the article would have most likely not written that "the press formed hulls started in the early 50's" but would have most likely just said "it started in 1950" Until I come across one older that is properly documented, IMO 1952 was the beginning of our style of runabouts produced by DuraCraft. Here is a couple pictures of what I think your boat might have looked like at one time. You should read the little history article about the company if you haven't already, it's pretty informative and gives you a sense of how influential this manufacture has been on the boating industry. The link is posted in my signature box. There are also brochures of different 1952 models at that link that show different steering and control arrangements and your bow handle. later on (I'm not sure of the actual date) Duracraft started installing the bow handles with "DuraCraft" molded in them.
Although this one is a longer version.
looks like the same bow handle
Yours and mine have the same splash rail angle where the newer ones like JB's angle up higher towards the front to the bow. I really think that JB's is a 1956 and have it posted that way in my notes. Anyway I hope this helped you in some way. I would really love to see your boat put back original, but that would be a major undertaking and it wouldn't make it to handy to fish out of like you plan. Either way it's pretty cool to know the history of it.
:lol:
