1959 Bell Boy Banshee 15 foot Runabout

[59Banshee]

Hi All
Just thought I would start a thread for the restoration of my 1959 Bell Boy Banshee Fibreglass Runabout.

The boat has seen better times and needs a fair bit of work, including the Transom and Stringers - which will be my first place to start


Matt

 

[59Banshee]

Re: 1959 Bell Boy Banshee 15 foot Runabout

First questions I have are regarding the Stringers, as mentioned the Transom and Stringers are the first job I will undertake, and I plan on taking the deck off the boat (and do the transom from inside)

In the Banshee the stringers do not look like they continue all the way to the front of the hull, but end just before the "flotation" material box built into the hull, would it be better to continue them up to the bow itself, and rebuild the "flotation Box over them?

Also, how much extra strength would I get from adding two more Stringers in the hull between the existing Stringers? would that be overkill?

Any help would be greatly appreciated

Matt

 

[wambs8]

Re: 1959 Bell Boy Banshee 15 foot Runabout

Continuing the stringers up to the front, would be allot of work. The flotation box adds strength to the front of the boat. Unless it needs to be removed because it is rotten I would leave it. Adding the two stringers in-between would be easy enough and would add support to the floor. Nice boat

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: 1959 Bell Boy Banshee 15 foot Runabout

Welcome to Iboats 59..

Just a quicky .. erm.. those bow skeen chaulks ( line quide thingys ) shoud be reversed.. port to starboard. ( unless you plan on cross tying the bow ).

And um.. were are the cleats up on deck ? possible to add a couple of hershoffs ?

YD.

 

[59Banshee]

Re: 1959 Bell Boy Banshee 15 foot Runabout

Hi Wambs58, thanks for that I will leave the floatation box as it is fine, and maybe just marry the new centre stringer up to it, presently it has a gap open to moisture ingress, and will definitely add the extra stringers - I suppose it can't hurt to beef it up?

Yacht Dr
Thanks for the info on the Skeen Chaulks, this is just how I picked it up, haven't even had time to clean it, but now I know when I restore the boat it needs to have them go back on reversed.
there are presently no cleats up on the deck, will take a good hard look at all the deck hardware and replace as necessary during the rebuild.

I really know nothing about boats ( I am a car restorer / Modifier) so these replies are helping me find out about stuff I will need to consider as I go, thanks very much for your help.

Matt

 

[59Banshee]

Re: 1959 Bell Boy Banshee 15 foot Runabout

Incidentally,
I have not seen many of the Bell Boy Banshees around, are they not a popular boat? were many made? I only know of a few (in the states) and one (in Australia) that have been restored.

59Banshee
aka Matt