1959 Cherokee Full Restore

[Johnboy82]

Hello. I am starting a restore on a 15' aluminum Cherokee. I was hoping someone could help me with some things. I need some replacement badges for the sides. I will post some pictures shortly of what is left of the originals. Does anyone know where to find these? Also I am considering my options for paint, both topside and bottom. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance

 

[jbcurt00]

Welcome to iboats

It is extremely unlikely you'll find Cherokee badges. 1960s Starcrafts are much more plentiful and those side logos are hard to find.

Some choose to go w vinyl logos because actual badges are so hard to come by. You'll have to find a good graphic image of the badge and have a vinyl wrap place reproduce it. I checked the 2 places I usually suggest, but neither had the Cherokee logo.

Add McKenzie to your searches:

McKenzie Cherokee

Some info here:
http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/Cherokee

 

[ssdale]

John- Welcome aboard. Can't tell you where to get new logos, but as a restorer of a 1965 McKenzie Cherokee Playboy, I know there is now a special section of iboats dedicated to Cherokees. At the bottom of the "forums" page there are brands of boats listed in alphabetical sections. You will find the Cherokees under the "A-C" section. There is a little info there, but keep your thread here for lots of traffic. There also has been a brochure for 1959 Cherokees on ebay for some time if you have an interest- it is not mine, just thought you might find it interesting. Hope it helps you!

My 1965 did not have badges but decals, which I had my local vinyl guy recreate from images I found on the internet of the Cherokee logo. It took me quite a while to figure out that it was actually a Cherokee, they are fairly rare. Post as many pictures as you can as they will help others indentify their boats in the future. We love pictures!
Dale

 

[Johnboy82]

Thanks yall. Very good information so far. I am having trouble posting some pictures due to the file sizes being too large. I will send them smaller next round (rain and clouds today) ssdale - I saw the brochure you speak of last night and saved the image to give to my vinyl guy. I still have my hopes up that I will find one or take the pieces of my original and possibly have a new made.

 

[TruckDrivingFool]

:welcome: to iboats Johnboy!

I'll be interested to see and follow along on your restore.

For pics the a free Photobucket account and option #3 is the best for posting pics. As a plus if you need to repost a pic down the road it's just a link and not another upload.

 

[ssdale]

here is a pic of the 1966 catalogue showing the logo that may be similar to your badges. In searching ebay for over 5 years, I have never run across badges for a Cherokee. If you have enough peices of one of your old badges, you can make a mold a create new one with epoxy. There are videos on u tube on how to do it yourself. It would be pretty time consuming, but super cool if you could do it.http://[URL=http://s1194.photobucket.com/user/ssdale/media/1965%20Cherokee/100_4569_zpsj4saog1s.jpg.html] [/URL]

 

[ssdale]

Here is a shot of the logo that was barely visible on the side of the boat before restoration, so I had a local vinyl sign guy duplicate it pretty closely. This scripted logo is also shown inside the 1966 brochure. I,m going to follow along, so let me know if you need anything else about McKenzie/Cherokees.
Dalehttp://

 

[ssdale]

Jon, I just remembered that you have to have 3 posts before you can post images. That may be why your having trouble. Don't get discouraged, about posting pics, it took me a LONG time to get it down. The "option 3" that TruckDrivingFool is referring to is in theFAQ's section-How to post photos using photobucket. I used option 1 for years and it is easy and works ok. Just get us some pics of that Cherokee! Hope this helps.
Dale

 

[Johnboy82]

Hey guys I appreciate the help. I've got some pictures organized onto PhotoBucket and hopefully can get them up tonight. ssdale - Can I ask what kind of paint you used on yours? Beautiful work, by the way

 

[Johnboy82]

 

[Johnboy82]

 

[Johnboy82]

 

[Johnboy82]

The pictures show the condition I brought her home in. I have since taken the transom apart (needs a lot of love there), taken the floor out, and begin to look at the hub/bearing assemblies and spray with penetrating oil to get that replaced or repaired. It had a bad whine in the hub assembly while pulling home. Long way to go

 

[64osby]

There was a member here that made replacement logos for his boat, think it was a Starcraft. He made a mold of one of his then poured in vinyl. Might do a search of the site to see if you could find it. Might be worth a shot if you want logos and not vinyl.

They turned out great as I recall.

 

[ssdale]

Hey guys I appreciate the help. I've got some pictures organized onto PhotoBucket and hopefully can get them up tonight. ssdale - Can I ask what kind of paint you used on yours? Beautiful work, by the way

Jon- Thanks for the compliment! I used Bullseye 123 Primer over all the treated plywood of the transom. Does yours have the 2x4 on edge for reinforcement inside? Mine does and it is a super strong design. The primer provides some barrier between the treated wood and the aluminum, but just to be sure, I used a sheet of clear plastic to separate, sandwiched between the treated plywood and the aluminum.

My topcoat is single stage Dupont automotive paint from O'Reily's, even over all the wood. With a medium accelerator added the paint gets really hard and shines nice. It does also show off 50 years of dings, but I call that character. The colors are mid 60's Ford pickup colors.

Just stick with it and you can do it. What are your plans as to using it when your done? [url]http://[URL=http://s1194.photobucket.com/user/ssdale/media/1965%20Cherokee/100_3661_zpsubyhwpws.jpg.html]

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[Johnboy82]

ssdale - No I do not have the 2x4 on mine. It did have plywood on each side of the transom when I bought it but I got that off in a hurry as it was just a rotten mess. I am about to start on checking hubs and bearings on trailer and replace as needed, then move on to some "body work". You all have a good Christmas!

 

[Johnboy82]

Well I got the new hubs for my trailer in today so I'll be replacing those tomorrow. Ssdale.. Can you share a close up picture of the inside of your transom?

 

[ssdale]

looks like yours just used 2 pieces of 5/8 treated plwood with the aluminum sandwiched between. I don't think I have any better pics of the transom during demolition than those I posted on page 1. Heres the only other pic I have.

I can't quite figure how your inside transom plywood attaches to those two big gussets. The two half moon holes at the top of the aluminum look like they could have been splashwell drains. do you see any other evidence that it once had a splash well? Could someone have cut down the aluminum transom to accommodate a smaller engine and it was since replaced as you found it? More pics of yours would be helpful. I'm wondering if your boat could have started life as a runabout and was modified to its present state? Can't tell enough from your pictures. Anyway keep after itand it will be a unique craft.
Dale
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[Johnboy82]

ssdale - Thanks for the picture. Yes, my transom had 2 pieces of ply sandwiched with about 20 drywall screws from both sides. The gussets in my boat are of course not original and currently it is not attached to the transom, just welded to the floor supports. It is a fine welding job so I am considering leaving that in there for the additional support. I believe you are correct in saying that the aluminum was cut down to its current size, probably for a small engine. I and going to get a sheet of aluminum welded over the current piece covering all of that. I believe that my boat was designed as more of the utility type. My plans is to keep that idea as it will be used for a family runabout/fishing boat.

 

[ssdale]

http:// I have a picture of a picture of a 1959 Cherokee brochure that that someone has for sale on e-bay and it clearly shows your gussets as factory, Also shows your boats bow. I had just never looked at the pictures of the Utility style boats before. The brochure is still for sale on e-bay. if you search I'm sure you can find it. It shows your boat and its model name.
The Cherokee brochure that I actually own is mid 60's and they had changed all of the knee brace/transom design by then, that is why I was confused in my previous post. But looking at the 1959 brochure will help you a lot to unravel your mystery. Info on Cherokee's is very scarce.http://

Dale